Can we straight compare UMTS/CDMA and LTE Coverage?

[amit3111]

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

[labviewlover]

ya, it's true....i fully agree with u bro.

don't u have any doc(s) to verify ur post?

any doc about differences between both 3g and 4g?

thanks

[MyVi78]

An interesting explanation!

However, I'd also like to know whether there would also be any significant difference in coverage when comparing between LTE and GSM? For example, when both technologies are using the same band, ie. 1800.

Thanks

[elkador]

You still can compare w-RSRP (sum of all RSRP for each subchannel) to RSCP. If using the same overall BW (5MHz) you should end-up with similar results...

[wahaha]

I believe the coverage will rely on the link budget settings, such as frequency band used, BS Tx power, features (beamforming, etc...), antenna type (4T4R or 8T8R).........

[MyVi78]

Link budget calculation would show the main difference in coverage between GSM/UMTS/LTE is that pilot power is less.

[AlexSSS]

I have seen a document which shows the results of the comparative link budget calculation for LTE1800 and GSM1800, I'll post it when I find

[mimoX]

well let us put it in dBm format, for rxLev (2g), Rscp (3g), Rssi (wimax) and Rsrp (lte) what would be the level (in dBm) which signal level is equivalent?

[dmitry28]

Document which compares the capacity and coverage in the transition from GSM900 to WCDMA900

http://www.finetopix.com/showthread....ing-in-900-MHz