amit3111
2011-10-05, 12:19 AM
Can we straight compare UMTS/CDMA and LTE Coverage
LTE is mostly overlaid with 3G technologies, and then it is natural to compare the coverage between 3G and 4G. I have often seen that we try to compare the RSCP (Ec) and RSRP and realize that LTE provides a lower / weaker coverage. But is it apple to apple comparison that we are doing?
Let's analyze this further:
There is a difference in how the pilot channels are transmitted and used in the 4G when compared to 3G. There is at least (in general) a difference of approx 15 dB in pilot power in UMTS and Reference power in LTE. Moreover, an LTE site does not transmit the pilot all the time using all the channel bandwidth like in 3G.In LTE the Reference Signal is transmitted some times and in some frequencies only. The RSRP measurement is also different. It's measured as an average power of all the frequencies transmitting the Reference Signal.
Due to the above reasons the coverage of 3G and 4G LTE cannot be compared just based on the received pilot coverage.
Amit
LTE is mostly overlaid with 3G technologies, and then it is natural to compare the coverage between 3G and 4G. I have often seen that we try to compare the RSCP (Ec) and RSRP and realize that LTE provides a lower / weaker coverage. But is it apple to apple comparison that we are doing?
Let's analyze this further:
There is a difference in how the pilot channels are transmitted and used in the 4G when compared to 3G. There is at least (in general) a difference of approx 15 dB in pilot power in UMTS and Reference power in LTE. Moreover, an LTE site does not transmit the pilot all the time using all the channel bandwidth like in 3G.In LTE the Reference Signal is transmitted some times and in some frequencies only. The RSRP measurement is also different. It's measured as an average power of all the frequencies transmitting the Reference Signal.
Due to the above reasons the coverage of 3G and 4G LTE cannot be compared just based on the received pilot coverage.
Amit