a proper site survey

7/28/2019 A Proper Site Survey

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SITE SURVEY CONSIDERATIONS

INSTRUMENTS FOR SITE SURVEYS

PRE-SITE SURVEY PROCEDURES

SURVEY PROCEDURES


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Requires an extensive knowledge. Should know how

the system functions.

Attention to the aspects of radio wave propagation, airinterface, equipment configurations and

functionalities, antenna systems and structuralregulations, only to mention a few.

Such as, knowledge of the use of the planning tool(TEMS CellPlanner), familiarity with the place, multi-lingual - which is an advantage, and somecoordination skills.


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Make sure that the sites to be installed will be placedin the correct locations in order to function

satisfactorily.

The survey stage does not allow for mistakes.


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INSTRUMENTS FOR SITE SURVEYS

Camera (Film and batteries) / Video camera GPS (with correct map datum setting) Maps Compass Inclinometer 10 or 50 meter tape measure Site survey document Computer Binoculars

Office materials Safety equipment - Mast climbing equipment Gloves TEMS CellPlanner prediction plots (if available)


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PRE-SITE SURVEY PROCEDURES

SITE HUNTING

Search Ring

It is vital for the quality of the system to maintain thegrid. Thus, site hunters should find a site location as

close to the nominal location as possible.

If the network will expand in the future, there is norisk of relocating the sites, since distances between the

sites are well catered for from the very start


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Building Selection

In places where building heights are approximately

the same, the best choice for the site is as close to thenominal site location as possible

For other areas, where building heights differ, thechoice is made considering antenna heights, antennadirections, upcoming obstructions, leasing contracts,

equipment delivery access, and installation, etc.


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Site Candidates

Distance from the nominal site. (as close as possible)

Strategic location to fulfill coverage objectives.

Better leasing contract offered.

Clear of present and upcoming obstructions.

Ease of equipment and antenna installations.

Easy access for installation equipment (crane, trucks,etc.) and delivery.


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Fresnel Zone

When on the roof, check for clearance in places where theantennas should be installed. Upcoming obstructions mustbe considered. Antennas should be installed at the edges ofthe roof to keep the first Fresnel zone free, if possible.

As a general rule, antennas must be free from obstaclesup to 100 meters horizontally, and 5 meters below theantennas (for 900 Mhz). According to the guidelines, it isalso important to keep the cell sector free from obstacles. Asafety margin of 15should be added on both sides of thesector borderlines, relative to the -3 dB points, and itshould be kept free from obstacles to reduce risk ofshadowing effects and beam distortion, due to reflections.


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SURVEY PROCEDURES

GENERAL The following discussions will be based on the RF Site

Survey Form for a complete survey procedure. The termsurvey form will often be used in place of RF Site SurveyForm, for simplification purposes

BASIC PREPARATIONS

Site List

Usually, the list of sites to be surveyed is provided inadvance, at least one day prior to the actual site survey. It is

recommended always to check the immediate vicinity ofthe sites to be surveyed on the TEMS CellPanner plots andmaps to get knowledge of the intended coverage of the sites


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Survey Materials

Prepare all materials and instruments that will beneeded. It may occur that climbing a tower orpenthouse is required and the instruments should beeasy to reach.

SITE Prior to making the site survey, it is recommended to

fill out known data on the survey form, such as SiteName, Site Number, and Site Address.


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SURVEYOR

Similarly, fill in the Name of the Surveyor and the Dateon the survey form.

POSITION

Once on site, switch on the GPS for a couple ofminutes and then take reading of the site coordinateson the GPS and check if it is on-grid or off-grid

To confirm the exactness of the site coordinates, take,

at least, two coordinate samples of each site.


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COVERAGE/CAPACITY

Assess the surroundings of the site and determine the

degree of importance concerning coverage and capacity ofeach sector. The degree of importance is rated from 1 to 5,where 1 is least important and 5 most important

RADIO FREQUENCY INVESTIGATION (RFI)

The surveyor should also consider existing radiotransmitters that may cause interference to the system. Ifinterference is expected, RFI measurements should beperformed to confirm if it is safe to put up a site in the

proposed location. An example of a possible interferermay be a nearby AMPS site, located along the direction ofthe antenna.


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ANTENNA PROPOSALS

Antenna HeightThe antenna height must be distinguished from theheight described earlier, in that, the antenna heightmay vary, depending on where on the building or

tower it will be installed, whereas height simplyrefers to the building and/or tower height


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Antenna Direction

Are there immediate or upcoming obstacles along thenominal antenna directions, such as buildings or hills?

Need the antennas be redirected to cover roads ormore populated areas, instead of open areas or water?

Is an omni or a two-sectored site sufficient to providecoverage and traffic?

Is it more reasonable to use broader beamwidthantennas than narrow beamwidth antennas?


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Antenna Type (beamwidth, gain, diversityNormally, antenna types are already laid down in the plan.

However, it may be necessary to change antenna type tofulfill the site objectives.

The surveyor must determine the said characteristics to

meet the requirements of the site and its intendedcoverage. For example, urban areas may use the typical 65antennas, whereas long roads may employ 30high-gainantennas to provide long range coverage. In areas wherethe grid is not uniform, a wider beamwidth antenna shouldbe considered (that is, 105-120antenna).


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Antenna Direction

Are there immediate or upcoming obstacles along thenominal antenna directions, such as buildings or hills?

Need the antennas be redirected to cover roads ormore populated areas, instead of open areas or water?

Is an omni or a two-sectored site sufficient to providecoverage and traffic?

Is it more reasonable to use broader beamwidthantennas than narrow beamwidth antennas?


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Antenna Tilt

If a network is in its initial stage, antenna tilt is,usually, not recommended. The intention of thenetwork is to provide coverage, initially

FEEDER

Information on the feeder length is needed to be ableto make accurate predictions. It is to be noted that theEIRP of a site, located on top of a building or on theground will differ significantly.


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PHOTOS

As mentioned earlier, make sure to take photos of the following:

Building and building entrance (from the street)

360-degree panoramic view

RBS location

Antenna locations

Antenna directions (usually included in the panoramic view) Tower (if existing)

Site ID, date and time, written on a sheet of paper

Complete the form accordingly, as each item is concluded during

the process.


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OBSTACLES

Look out for nearby obstacles in the surroundings,which may, possibly, affect the propagation of thesignal from the antenna.

Take approximate measurements of distance and

height applying methods, previously described. Thebearing or direction can be taken using the compass.

Complete the survey form with impending obstacles

a proper site survey

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