RF Design for WiMAX Networks

Course Overview

This WiMAX RF design course teaches all Radio-Frequency (RF) design steps that an RF engineer should consider for a WiMAX deployment. Each RF design task is illustrated with practical examples, hands-on exercises and application of a software RF-design tool. This is one of three courses in a series which prepare students to take the WiMAX Network DesignerT certification exam.

The course is structured as 50% tutorial content and 50% hands-on exercises. The tutorial modules are followed by a network-design case study.

A demonstration copy of the EDX SignalPro(R) software tool, including the Network Design Module, is provided to each student, and used for in-class exercises. Attendees on this WiMAX design course gain experience designing the RF network for a sample WiMAX-served community. Bring your laptop, or arrange in advance to provide one for you.

Audience

Technical staff who are planning a WiMAX network, and who need the skills to design a network, balancing the requirements of service quality (including coverage and performance) with minimum capital and operations cost.

Skills Gained

• List ten design variables that characterise WiMAX networks.
• Demonstrate the impacts of frequency, and various design objectives (fixed with indoor or outdoor CPE, mobile, etc.) on network design.
• Employ propagation modeling tools and various databases.
• Recommend the number of base station locations and spectrum required to serve cities of varying size, subscriber density, clutter and topography.
• Recommend equipment types based on manufacturer specifications.
• Select optimum cell sites based on coverage, demographics, local issues, and cost issues.
• Determine priorities for optimum design: throughput, coverage, operating cost, etc..
• Identify possible interference types and sources based on deployment spectrum.
• Design RF links for subscribers based on throughput and coverage priorities.
• Anticipate evolution to a mobile WiMAX network.

Prerequisites

Attendees should have prior technical experience working in a mobile or wireless planning or design role prior to attending the course.

Course Outline

The Many Faces of WiMAX

On completing this module you should be able to:

• Compare the different architectures of WiMAX networks point-to-point and point-to-multipoint and mobile, as well as the 10-60 GHz vs. 2-10 GHz standards
• Describe why the WiMAX standard has so many alternate options for vendors and operators
• List ten variables that distinguish one WiMAX operator network from another
• Describe the likely future evolution of WiMAX services
• Compare and contrast product options for base stations, subscriber stations, and antennas

Overview of Network Architecture and Modeling

On completing this module you should be able to:

• Explain and follow each step of DoceoTech's WiMAX Planning checklist
• Describe the types of modulation used in WiMAX standards, and the characteristics and limitations of each
• Compare and contrast the design implications of point-to-point and point-to-multipoint service
• Compare and contrast Line of Sight (LOS) Non LOS (NLOS) systems
• Diagram the selected frequency-reuse and sectorization plans
• Plan for network backhaul requirements

WiMAX Performance and Coverage Considerations

On completing this module you should be able to:

• Relate channel options, modulation options, and noise levels to throughput
• Describe the impact of regulations on network design
• Determine site selection criteria
• Determine cell density required for a desired level of service, performance, and coverage
• Consider the impact of noise and interference on performance
• Compare and contrast uplink and downlink performance
• Choose backhaul options to support throughput requirements
• Understand the design impacts of a planned migration to mobile WiMAX service

Coverage and Performance Planning with modeling tools

On completing this module you should be able to:

• Describe the impact of regulations on network design
• Employ a modeling tool to prepare an RF plan for your network
• Understand the effect of frequency, power, terrain, clutter and CPE location on coverage
• Configure a modeling tool for a specific environment
• Import terrain and clutter databases
• Determine service level for business subscribers
• Anticipate throughput for residential subscribers
• Identify the type, grade and quality of service expected by the target customers
• Use a capacity planning tool to estimate equipment requirements
• Perform a drive test
• Optimize the network based on test data
• Estimate the number of base stations required to meet service, performance and regulatory requirements
• List options for accommodating system and subscriber growth

Network Design Case Study