Agilent E7478A GPRS Drive Test SystemProduct Overview

Quickly deploy your GPRS networks and manage multiformatenvironments

Our drive test solutiondoesn’t just uncoverproblems on your GPRSnetwork – it allows you tofix them quickly.Agilent’s GPRS and data testplatform offers a true drive testsolution, providing end-to-end datatesting combined with air interfacetesting. Users can easily identifyand resolve problems to speednetwork deployment. Agilent’sdrive test platform will allow theaddition of up to four phones, or acombination of phones and digitalreceivers, to evaluate 2G, 2.5G and3G networks simultaneously fromthe same laptop PC. The flexible,scalable drive test platform isevolving to address the newtechnology formats required tomeet future 3G networkdeployment goals.

Keeping your network optimized isvital. Changes in the environmentcontinually affect networkperformance. You can’t afford tohave unhappy subscribers becausethere are holes in your coverage orbecause interference is causingdropped or blocked calls and poordata quality.

To migrate to new technologies andapplications you need a drive testsystem that will expand with yourneeds. The E7478A allowscomplete scalability on currentformats (GSM, GSM-GPRS900/1800/1900, TDMA, CDMA, W-CDMA/UMTS) (check foravailability). The E7478A hasfeatures for site selection,optimization, troubleshooting, end-to-end data measurement, dataapplication simulation, indooranalysis, and benchmarking.

Drive testing plays an importantrole in creating and maintaining arobust GPRS network. But youneed a system that does more thanjust tell you that your network has problems.

Our drive test system provides afast, easy way to solve them.

Note: This document should beread in conjunction with theE7475A GSM Drive Test SystemProduct Overview (Literature No.5980-0439E) and the Wireless DataMeasurement Product Overview(Literature No.5980-2310E) to gaina fuller appreciation of the drivetest methodology and capabilities.

Your customers expect high quality of service

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Manage your GPRS IntegrationThere is a rapid surge of growth inthe wireless communicationsindustry, with service providersracing to offer fast data servicesand internet access via mobileterminals. To accommodate thisgrowth the GSM world is movingfrom a circuit switched to packetswitched architecture through theadoption of GPRS. Thisfundamental structural changeprovides the network equipmentmanufacturers and wireless serviceproviders with an array of technicalchallenges. Agilent Technologiesoffer the test and measurementsolutions which meet thesechallenges to allow a smoothtransition to the new enhancednetwork and services.

Agilent’s established wirelesssolutions of drive test systems hasbeen expanded to include a GPRSmeasurement capability, theE7478A. These portable tools arean invaluable aid at the initial trials,network installation and in-service/ network optimization life cyclephases. This gives you the fullconfidence that the end user isreceiving a high quality of service,for both voice and data.

The E7478A GPRS drive testsystem provides mobilemeasurement reports and protocoldecode information to allow airinterface characterization and fastproblem resolution. This additionto our drive test portfolio can beseamlessly integrated with allAgilent Technologies’ existing drivetest solutions allowing drive testmeasurements to be madesimultaneously across multipletechnologies.

GPRS mobile measurementsinclude:

• Time slots in use

• TLLI

• Coding scheme in use

• Neighbor Cells

• RLC BLER

• RLC/MAC throughput

• Retransmitted RLC block rate

• LCC throughput and retries

Data Services ImplicationsThe introduction of data servicesraises the importance of planningand site survey activities. Indooroptimization is particularlyimportant to maximize datathroughput in strategic sites.

Maximize the return on your test equipment budgetLarge revenue potential exists fornetwork operators at airports(international roaming customers),shopping malls, subways and officeblocks. It is crucial to properlyoptimize these indoorenvironments to maximizeperformance and revenue.

The E7478A systems easilyconverts from an outdoor to indoorsystem with complete reuse of yourinvestments in receiver and phonehardware. By adding an indoorsoftware license, an optional pen-based tablet computer and aspecially designed backpack, thesystem can be transparently reusedfor both applications.

The system uses scanned maps forease-of-use and allows absolutepositioning to be able to mergeindoor and outdoor data in post-processing. This allows verificationof the complete subscriberexperience in your network.

Optimize the indoor performance ofyour wireless network

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Powerful componentsin a compact package To best measure the performanceof the air interface of your GPRSnetwork, Agilent has combined aseries of powerful instrument andcomputing capabilities in a highlyportable package.

• Specialized GPRS measurementcapability

• Comprehensive GSMmeasurement capability

• Powerful software that logsphone and data measurements

• Dual-band GPRS test mobilephone

• Supports powerful datameasurement capabilities viaClient / Server software options

• Easy-to-use Windows® 98, NT or2000 interface

• Ability to integrate up to fourphones into a single system anduser interface (maximum of twophones for simultaneous GPRStrace / data)

• Flexible export capability tomapping software for easy post-processing

• Compatibility with many thirdparty post-processing packages

• Scalability between indoor andoutdoor capability

• Compatible with compact digitalreceiver with specialized GSMmeasurements and optional,built-in GPS

Don’t just find problems—solve them

Benchmark the competitionWith competition intensifying, youare probably interested in how wellyour network compares with thenetworks of other cellularoperators in your region. In thepast, collecting competitive dataprobably meant owning multiplesets of instruments or doingmultiple drives of the coveragearea.

The E7478A GPRS drive testsystem can make measurements ondual-band E-GSM900 / DCS1800and 1900MHz networks. Thesystem can beconfigured to handle up to four phones, allcontrolled by thesame software onyour laptop(maximum of two phones forsimultaneous GPRS /Data).

It is possible to configure a systemto support CDMA as well as GSM-GPRS measurement hardware,giving the capability to collect datasimultaneously from severalnetworks in one drive, using onesystem.

Control up to four test mobile phonesfor competitive comparisons

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Put measurement data to work immediatelyWith highly automatedmeasurements and flexible alertand alarm functions, many more ofyour technicians can perform drivetests and gather data. The alertsand alarms can be set to trigger onalmost any combination ofcomplex measurement conditions,or they can simply be set to warnthe driver when the laptop batteryis running low, or if the GPSantenna is taken out.

The system records measurementsto a disk file that can be playedback using

VCR-type controls. You can jumpforward or backward in the file tothe location of recorded alarms andnotes.

Data recorded by the drive systemcan easily be exported to post-processing tools such as Agilent’sOPAS32, Map Info, spreadsheets ormany third-party post-processingtools.

An optional real-time line tracemap is included that can show thebase station positions and plot asingle measurement result. The

system will update themap plotting line datafrom the GPScoordinates takenduring the drive.

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Flexible export capabilities allow for easy post-processing

Easy export to popular post-processing tools

Key features and specifications

GPRS Test Mobile Phone

The E7478A software platform supports GPRS dualport data/trace mobiles, covering the 900, 1800 and1900MHz frequency bands. Please check availabilitywith your Agilent representative.

Use them to:

• Get a user’s point-of-view of network performance

• Evaluate call-processing operations

• Perform selected call processing functions

• Measure and report the amplitude of the receivedbase station

• Measure and report the signal quality of the receivedbase station

Specialized GPRS phone measurements

• Read and report the neighbor cell list from thebroadcast messages

• Report the amplitude of neighbor list base stations

• Log protocol messages in decoded form for easyinterpretation

• Facilitate characterization of data transmissionperformance

• Quantify quality of service

Refer to E7478A GPRS Drive Test System Data Sheet

(Lit No. 5988-1506EN) for details.

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Key features and specifications continued

Increase the value of your investmentCaring for your GPRS network requires more thangood test equipment, Agilent has the products,knowledge and services to help you and your team dothe job. The range of services we offer includesplanning, optimization, productivity assistance, start-up assistance, training and education programs for RFtechnicians and engineers, on-site product andapplication consulting, product assistance and more.We can help you easily deploy, optimize and supportyour wireless network.

More informationWe offer application notes that span many of today’sRF network issues:

• Understanding General Packet Radio Service(GPRS) Application Note 1377 (literature number5988-2598EN)

• Optimizing Your Wireless Network Today andTomorrow. Solutions for CDMA Networks,Application Note 1345 (literature number 5968-9916E)

• Optimizing Your Wireless Network Today andTomorrow. Identifying Interference for IS-136 TDMANetworks, Application Note 1342 (literature number5980-0219E)

• Optimizing your GSM Network Today andTomorrow. Troubleshoot Network Problems:Coverage, Interference, Handover, Margin andNeighbor Lists, Application Note 1344 (literaturenumber 5980-0218E)

For specific examples of how the Agilent Technologiesdrive test solutions are used to solve optimizationproblems:

• Spectrum and Power Measurements Using theAgilent CDMA, TDMA and GSM Drive test SystemsProduct Note (literature number 5968-8598E)

For additional Agilent Technologies GPRS drive testinformation:

• Indoor Wireless Measurement System ProductOverview (literature number 5968-8691E)

7Powerful integrated measurement capabilities

Agilent Technologies’ Test and MeasurementSupport, Services, and AssistanceAgilent Technologies aims to maximize the valueyou receive, while minimizing your risk andproblems. We strive to ensure that you get the testand measurement capabilities you paid for andobtain the support you need. Our extensive supportresources and services can help you choose theright Agilent products for your applications andapply them successfully. Every instrument andsystem we sell has a global warranty. Support isavailable for at least five years beyond theproduction life of the product. Two conceptsunderlie Agilent's overall support policy: "OurPromise" and "Your Advantage."

Our PromiseOur Promise means your Agilent test andmeasurement equipment will meet its advertisedperformance and functionality. When you arechoosing new equipment, we will help you withproduct information, including realistic performancespecifications and practical recommendations fromexperienced test engineers. When you use Agilentequipment, we can verify that it works properly,help with product operation, and provide basicmeasurement assistance for the use of specifiedcapabilities, at no extra cost upon request. Manyself-help tools are available.

Your AdvantageYour Advantage means that Agilent offers a widerange of additional expert test and measurementservices, which you can purchase according to yourunique technical and business needs. Solveproblems efficiently and gain a competitive edge bycontracting with us for calibration, extra-costupgrades, out-of-warranty repairs, and on-siteeducation and training, as well as design, systemintegration, project management, and otherprofessional engineering services. ExperiencedAgilent engineers and technicians worldwide canhelp you maximize your productivity, optimize thereturn on investment of your Agilent instrumentsand systems, and obtain dependable measurementaccuracy for the life of those products.

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