Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 General nature of training

In New Generation Telecommunication Company

/ Xpress, the training included two parts theoretical

and practical parts. Mainly the training was in three

departments, field, implementation and operation.

The theoretical part is lectures about different

topics of company telecommunication system like

iDEN overview, Radio Frequency Planning and

Optimization, Cellular Network Traffic Planning and

Radio Frequency Design, Principles of GSM (Global

System for Mobile communication), Principles of GPS

(Global Positioning System), Site Survey and layout

of BTS (Base Transceiver Station).

The practical part is going out field with technicians

from Field Implementation and Operation

Department to solve problems of sites due to alarms

received by the OMC (Operation and Monitoring

Center).

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1.2 Outline of the report

In this report, a brief description of the training will

be presented including the company profile, training

details, and finally conclusions and

recommendations.

Chapter 2

New Generation Telecommunication

Company / Xpress Profile

2.1 Introduction

XPress Telecommunications, a private

shareholding company, launched its services in June

2004 in the Jordanian telecommunications market as

the latest wireless and mobile operator, offering a

new form of telecommunications solutions based on

the Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN)

technology. XPress is the first Arab company in the

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Middle East to introduce the technology, which

combines the abilities of ordinary mobile phones with

the instantaneous Direct Connect (walkie-talkie)

service.

XPress was granted the exclusivity of deploying iDEN

by telecom giant Motorola, who developed the

technology back in 1994 to offer contemporary

solutions for the growing business sector needs, as

well as other sectors requiring instantaneous, real

time communication, and the benefits of time and

cost saving, efficiency and productivity.

Furthermore, and in an act considered

unprecedented by a US government bank, XPress

received a $54 million loan guarantee from Export-

Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank),

marking Ex-Im Bank's largest financing of a

telecommunications project in the Middle East, and

its first limited-recourse project financing in the

country. The deal signified a real landmark for XPress

that reinforced its viability and value for the local

telecommunications market.

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XPress offers subscribers its primary Direct Connect

service, which enables one-to-one and one-to-many

immediate, real time communication with a push of

the Direct Connect button, similar to "Walkie-Talkie"

systems. In addition, subscribers have complete

access to regular mobile phone services including

SMS and packet data applications such as wap and

complete data transfer solutions.

XPress currently retains over 200 employees, 98% of

which are Jordanian. The company's own nationwide

network covers 95% of populated areas across the

country, and is continuously undergoing

optimization.

Early indications have signaled an overwhelming

demand and acceptance for the new technology

despite the fact that it is not familiar. The company's

steadfast work since its launch has enabled it to

accomplish many milestones and positioned it as a

solid player in the local telecommunications industry.

Since its launch, XPress has introduced a number of

unique value added services, specifically pioneering

the Per Second Billing System. Starting January 1st

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2005, XPress introduced the PBS System in order to

provide subscribers with a fair method of calculating

the cost of mobile calls made, depending on the

precise calling time in seconds whereby users are

charged for actual talking time without incurring

extra costs for unused time. The rating of each

second is charged at 1/60 of the whole minute. PSB

is applicable to all mobile calls from XPress to XPress

and from XPress to other mobile and landline

networks at any time of the day.

In 2005, XPress also launched the Push-To-View

feature available through the new i860 XPress

phone. With the i860 subscribers can send pictures

to other XPress users at the push of a button. The

i860 enables users to also edit and store images and

features a camera with a 10 second Video Recorder.

The company is also regularly introducing the latest

in iDEN handsets that cater to the various needs and

tastes of the diverse customer base.

In order to extend wider accessibility of its services

to different parts of the country, XPress inaugurated

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showrooms around Jordan in Zarqa, Irbid, and Aqaba,

as well as in the Wehdat area.

2.2 Services

XPress is Jordan's latest telecommunications

company offering fully integrated wireless

communications services. XPress services are based

on the Integrated Digital Enhanced Network

Technology (iDEN), making Jordan the first Arab

country with this technology in operation.

Through nationwide coverage and iDEN technology,

XPress offers cellular-plus services for the first time

in Jordan:

-Push To- Services

     Cellular Phone

     GPS / XGPS (Global Positioning System)

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    Data Services

    International Roaming

2.2.1 Push-To- Services

Push to talk (PTT)

Direct Connect: Only XPress delivers the walkie-

talkie service that lets you get right through to any

XPress user anywhere in Jordan.

Group Connect: If you're part of a team that

depends on timely, consistent communication, one-

to-many has a lot to offer you.

International Push To Talk (IPTT)

International Push-To-Talk or iPTT is the service

which enables XPress subscribers to talk

internationally by the push of a button.

Push To View (PTV)

The "Push-To-View" (PTV) feature allows a user to

capture and share a photo during a dispatch private

call conversation with another user with a PTV-

capable iDEN handset. After the picture exchange

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both users are able to view the image while they

resume their dispatch call.

You can send pictures of all the available sizes and

resolutions by adjusting those fields on your handset

prior capturing the picture.

Push To Order (PTO)

PTO service is especially launched to cater your

needs and facilitate your life with its variable

services at your door step: Food delivery, grocery,

water distribution, in addition to flowers shop, event

arrangements, car rental, taxi, gas station, fuel

distribution, courier and hospitals and much more to

come to be at your service!

2.2.2 Cellular Phone

With the ever-growing life requirements on the

personal and professional level, XPress is always

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striving to deliver unique services to cater to its

customers' needs and expectations.

2.2.3 GPS / XGPS

Commerce relies on fleets of vehicles to deliver

goods and services either across a crowded city of

through nationwide corridors. So, effective fleet

management has direct bottom-line implications,

such as telling a customer when a package will

arrive, spacing buses for the best scheduled service,

directing the nearest ambulance to an accident, or

helping tankers avoid hazards.

The Global Positioning System (GPS), a satellite-

based navigation system is built in every XPress

handset, which provides the backbone for systems

tailored to applications in agriculture, mass transit,

urban delivery, public safety, and vessel and vehicle

tracking that industrialists, construction workers,

dispatchers, farmers, soldiers, pilots, surveyors,

hikers, delivery drivers, fire-fighters, and people from

many other walks of life can use in ways that make

their work more productive, safer, and even easier.

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2.2.4 Data Services

XPlore is a new data service that allows users to

instantly access information via XPress wireless

devices. It provides the users with instant, easy, and

user-interactive access for all types of information

that they need.

2.2.5 International Roaming Service

XPress has been able to successfully launch

roaming with a number of operators in countries

worldwide. XPress today supports roaming to our

valued subscribers while traveling abroad and to

visitors to Jordan traveling from foreign countries.

2.3 Advantages And Disadvantages of

iDEN

The iDEN’s Advantage are as follows:

• Flexible, multi-national, network scaling

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• Efficient RF Channel usage in several spectrum

bandwidths

• Circuit-switched (dial-up) and Packet-data (IP)

digital data networking

• Dispatch capability for Private, Local and Wide

Area Group calling

• Clear GSM cellular subscriber services

• Alphanumeric Messaging (Short Messaging

Service)

• Reliable digital communication technology

• Fully Featured, compact portable devices (Mobile

Stations)

The iDEN’s disadvantage are as follows:

Limited Geographical availability: iDEN is only

available in north and south America and some

portions of Asia. This means that the service

cannot offer the same coverage and roaming

capabilities as GSM.

Single Vendor Standard: As iDEN is only offered

by Xpress ( and the only handset supplier is

Motorola ), consumers do not have significant

choices for service plans and handset.

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Furthermore, the smaller market size has

limited competition and is not attractive to

other suppliers.

Chapter 3

Training Description

The training in Radio Frequency Planning and

Optimization department mainly consists of two

parts, the planning part that describes the design of

network and the principles of selecting sites, where

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the optimization part is responsible for keeping a

healthy network with good performance taking into

account these three basic concepts of network:

Coverage: getting a usable radio signal to all

areas in the network.

Capacity: handling the call traffic generated by

the subscribers.

Quality: low interference and few calls dropped.

3.1 RF Planning

Radio Frequency Design is a major step in

network deployment. It ensures that the network is

effectively up and running, and that the basic

services as well as call stability can be provided.

Through wise coordination of planning and

optimization activities, this service will help an

operator achieve the best capacity and performance

from its network.

Xpress network characteristics:

- 160 EBTS (Enhanced Base Transmitter Site).

- Frequency uplink (809-814) MHz.

- Frequency downlink (854-859) MHz.

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- RF single carrier 25 MHz.

- Channel bandwidth 5 KHz.

- 200 channel.

- Dispatch calls follow the half-duplex model of

communication. So, dispatch calling splits a

single 25 MHz carrier into 6 channels and

during a dispatch talk, one channel on the

carrier is used with 25 Kbps max. data rate.

- Interconnect calls follow the full-duplex model

of communication. So, interconnect calling

splits a single 25 MHz into 6 channels, where 2

channels are needed to improve interconnect

call with 9.9 Kbps data rate.

iDEN Network Element:

1. MS : it is the user end interface, can be iDEN

mobile phone, PDA or any compatible device.

2. EBTS : it is the sub-system responsible for

connection between the MS and the land fixed

network , it is also responsible for timing control

of subsystem , recognition and separation of

traffic [ interconnect dispatch , circuit data ,

packet data ] , interface conversion radio -link to

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DS0 T1/E1, switching function between base

Radio , and finally maintenance of radio link

which include establish, handover, and trolling .

a. iSC: it is the ACG [access control gateway],

which is responsible for timing,

synchronization between the EBTS

elements, and it can be considered the

brain of the EBTS as it does most of the

EBTS functions.

b. iMU: design to be the right hand of the iSC

for monitoring the EBTS and environment of

the shelter, the iMU generates alarms and

send it to the iSC when detected.

c. BR: the base radio it the element

responsible for interface conversion as it

convert the traffic from the iSC to RF signal

with it transceiver and vise versa.

d. RFDS: the RFDS is consisting of below

element that works together to combining

several BRs to a share the same antenna

system.

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i. Coupler: it split the TX and RX signals

so that each goes to it correct path.

ii. Duplexer: it makes an image for the

RX signal to all BR.

iii. Combiner: it combine the TX signal for

two or more BR, it’s a method used to

have more than one BR for each

coupler/antenna.

3. DACCS : the Digital Access Cross Connect Switch

is attachment point between the EBTS and iDEN

land network. The connection is as below :

a. Dispatch and Packet data to the MPS.

b. Interconnect and control signaling to BSC.

c. OMC information signal to the OMC.

d. External facilities can be connecting to iDEN

using DACCS.

4. MPS : the Metro Packet Switch it is the element

that connect the EBTS with the dispatch

subsystem, it’s the attachment point of frame

relay line.

5. DAP : the Dispatch Application Processor can be

consider as the brain of the dispatch subsystem

as it control the dispatch and packet data ,

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maintenance and tracking of MS mobility, first

time registration, and alarm and performance

static for OMC .

6. APD : the Advance Packet Duplicator duty is to

duplicate the dispatch packet for multicast

operation.

7. MDG : the Mobile Data Gateway is the terminal

point to the internet for iDEN system, it route the

IP packet from the EBTS through the DACCS and

MPS to the internet.

8. BSC : the Base Site Controller responsible for the

interconnect calls monitoring, handover with its

EBTS, and management of the EBTS with iDEN

other component. It consist of :

a. CP: the control processor contain the

memory and process ability to monitor and

route the interconnect traffic.

b. XCDR: the transcoder convert between the

PCM code of the PSTN and the VSELP

[vector sum excited leaner prediction] used

for voice codec in iDEN system. and also

Mobis to SS7

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9. MSC : the Mobile Switch Center it the center

node for all interconnect calls it manage the

traffic between the BSC, do the billing record,

handover between other MSC, control and

interface with the PSTN, and signaling control for

the over all network.

10. HLR : the Home Location Register is the

master database that contains definition of

services allowed for each subscriber it’s also the

interface to Billing and Provisioning system.

11. VLR : the Visited Location Register contains

active subscribers and most recent location

information and Adds/deletes subscribers

roaming into or out coverage areas.

12. OMC : the Operation and Monitoring Center

is it eye of the system where you monitor the

whole network, get static analysis, and remote

configure of the EBTS. It a key element for

insuring the network is in it full optimizes

performance.

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Figure 3.1: iDEN System Architecture

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MS

HLR

PSTN

MPS

MSC & VLR

BSC-CP

EBTS EBTSEBTS

EBTS EBTS

DAP

OMC

BSC-CP

XCDR

DACS

VM

RF

MDGSMS

IP NETWORK

IPRouter

IP Router

Interconnect Path Dispatch Path

3.2 RF Optimization

No matter how thorough the design of a network

is, it is the responsibility of the system performance

engineer to ensure that equipment operates and

performs at optimum engineering levels, which

means that RF optimization keeps the network

healthy.

Optimization is

• A Continuous process.

• Improving (fine tuning) the network Coverage

and Quality to meet design criteria.

• Eliminating/ Reducing drop calls and improving

audio quality.

• Focus the coverage to the areas where needed.

• Meet the demand of increasing traffic.

Optimization Purpose

• Improve RF Coverage.

• Improve RF Quality.

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• Improve Audio Quality.

• Reduce Cost/ Spending.

• Increase Network Utilization.

• Maintain Proper Capacity.

Xpress Optimization Objective

• T_DCR (Total – Drop Call Rate) < 2%

• LOT (Loss Of Transmission) <1.5%

• I_BCR (Interconnect - Blocked Call Rate)

<2%

• Dispatch Queuing <5%

• DCCH blocking <0.2%

• PCCH Utilization 13% for inbound utilization

and 70% for outbound utilization

• Sector Utilization 60-80%

• Success Connection Rate >98%

• Handover Dropped Call Rate <0.5%

Optimization Procedure

• Site Post Construction Verification

• Site Noise and Interference Testing

• Site Drive Testing

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• OMC Statistics Collection

• Data Analysis

• Site Configuration and System Parameter

Modifications

Optimization process

Now that the site is on the air, it needs to be

integrated with the rest of the system and

optimized.

– Drive testing is performed to ensure that

the site covers the area it was expected to

cover. The drive data is also used to update

the propagation model used to predict

coverage.

– The RF Engineer ensures that the site is

operating with the correct frequencies and

power levels, is able to initiate and receive

interconnect and dispatch calls, does not

have or cause excessive interference, is

handing over to neighbor sites and is being

handed over to from neighbor sites.

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– If necessary, the site and/or surrounding

sites are adjusted to compensate for the

new site. New sites affect the D/R

(Diameter / Radius) relationship and can

allow us to improve our reuse efficiency by

shrinking the coverage areas (R) of the

surrounding sites.

– The Engineer can perform a much more

detailed analysis of the operating

characteristics of the site through the use of

field test software. Each handover can be

analyzed; if any dropped calls occurred

during the drive test, they can also be

analyzed, along with any other potential

problems. Solutions can be implemented by

changing software parameters in the site’s

load.

• Statistics monitoring.

– Operating statistics are pulled from the

switch and analyzed daily. Commonly

monitored stats:

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• Dropped calls - during a call, the site is

in constant contact with the mobile. If

the mobile and site lose contact for any

reason other than the person hanging

up the phone (normal termination), it is

recorded as a dropped call. Dropped

calls and red “No Service” lights are

generally caused by low SQE, either

through poor coverage or excessive

interference.

• Handover failures - generally

transparent to the user. When a

handover is requested, either by the

mobile or by the site, the site it is trying

to hand over to have to pass certain

criteria. If it does not pass, the

handover is recorded as a failure.

Usually the attempt is repeated at

regular intervals until the handover is

successful or the condition which

necessitated the handover in the first

place is clear. Occasionally, repeated

handover failures may result in a

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dropped call if the serving signal

strength continues to decline while the

mobile is trying to hand over.

Handover failures typically occur on

“fringe” sites, where there are few or

no acceptable candidates to hand over

to.

• More Statistics:

• I:3 (Interconnect) Blocked Calls - This is

a “System Busy” when you try to

initiate a phone call. The site you are

serving on has no more resources left

to handle your call. The blocked call

percentage is based on the busiest hour

of the day for each site. A 2% blocked

call rate triggers the addition of a BR to

the site.

• Dispatch Blocked Calls - “System Busy”

while trying to initiate a private or

group dispatch call. Same cause as an

I:3 Blocked call.

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• DCCH Blocking - The DCCH is the

Dedicated Control Channel, which is

used to set up calls, and perform

registrations. 0.2% blocking or less is

the target.

• Percent Sectors above I:3 Blocking

Target - this stat measures the

percentage of sites or sectors in the

entire network are exceeding the 2%

blocked call percentage.

• Utilization - This is a measurement of

how efficiently the systems BRs are

being used. Low utilization is a sign

that BRs are being used where they are

not needed, wasting money. Utilization

that is too high is a sign of excessive

blocking. Utilization in the 60-70%

range is a good target.

• PCCH Utilization - The PCCH is fixed

resource control channel used for

facilitating all dispatch functions and

location area registrations. There is a

lot of debate over what is “over-

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utilized” but common values are 13%

for inbound utilization and 70% for

outbound utilization. An over-utilized

PCCH can result in collisions, different

users colliding with requests. The most

common indication of PCCH blocking is

“Target Not Available”. Sectorization is

a solution to PCCH blocking because

the number of PCCHs available for that

site is tripled.

Benefits of Optimization

• Co-channel interference problems are effectively

solved

• Coverage problems are identified and solved

• Sites BR configuration is modified to

accommodate real traffic distribution

• Network problems are isolated and solved

• System is running near its design values

– Ready for future upgrades and expansions

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3.3 Operation and Maintenance Center

(OMC)

The Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC) is

the network element management subsystems that

establishes, maintain, collects information about the

network, and presents it to the system operator. This

data is used primarily to support the daily operation

of the network radio system elements and to provide

the system operator with valid information for future

planning decisions. As the complexity and control

requirements of the iDEN system and its relationship

to other systems increases, the need for control and

monitoring equipment also increases. The OMC

exists in at least one form in every system.

OMC – Radio (OMC-R) — required for radio

system management

OMC – System (OMC-S) — for possible switching

system management

OMC – Network (OMC-N) — a possible Network

Operation Center (NOC)

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The OMC-R controls and monitors the radio network

elements, including the:

• Dispatch Application Processors (DAPs)

• Base Site Controllers (BSCs)

• Enhanced Base Transceiver Systems (EBTS)

• Mobile Date Gateways (MDGs)

• Advanced Packet Duplicators (APDs)

The scope of responsibility for the OMC-R is the fixed

Network Radio Equipment (FNE). The OMC-R does not

control:

• Mobility Management of the subscriber within

the network

• Mobile Switching Center

• Telo Transmission management

• Inter-region administration and control

Each of the radio network elements can be managed

remotely by the OMC. The OMC supports connection

to other network entities through:

• X.25 packet network (BSCs and EBTSs)

• Frame Relay Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs)

(MDG)

• Ethernet networks (DAP and APD)

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Functional characteristics

Functions the OMC provides include:

• Event/ Alarm Management

• Fault Management

• Performance Management

• Configuration Management

• Security Management

• Performance Statistics

• Event Data Repository (event archive)

• View Operations, Administrative & Maintenance

(OA&M) of the MSC/HLR

• Limited interaction with the EBTS through SNMP

(power level, frequency and software level)

In OMC I have learned to make hourly and daily

reports to show the status of sites by using CROME

program.

3.4 Site Equipments

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Figure 3.2: Site room

Figure 3.3: Site tour

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Figure 3.4: GPS Antenna

Every Site have two GPS antenna, they can be either

on the site room or one on the site room and the

other on the tour.

Figure 3.5: Microwave

Microwave consists of three main parts: Dish, Radio,

and Passive Repeater, microwaves are constructed

to be a line of site.

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Figure 3.6: Microwave Rack

Microwave rack consists of Fuse Panel, MMU

(Microwave Modem Unit), and DDF (Digital

Distribution Frame).

Figure 3.7: Rectifier

Rectifier converts AC power to DC in batteries, it has

two contactors, the Primary contactor disconnect the

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site at 44 V, and Secondary contactor disconnect the

microwave at 24 V.

Figure 3.8: Batteries

Batteries are used to store DC power for the case

when electricity is disconnected

Figure 3.9: Air Conditioner

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Every room site has two ACs turned on and off in

shifts by timer

Figure 3.10: Fire System

Figure 3.11: Surge Unit

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Surge units are designed to protect the site from

excessive voltage occurs due to power spikes.

Figure 3.11: GPS ICs

Every site has two GPS ICs one is active and the

other is standby.

Figure 3.12: Sectors

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Every sector consist basically of BRs (Base Radio

either Quad or Legacy), Duplexers, and MultiCoupler.

Figure 3.13: Generator

Generators are used in sites that are not connected

to Electrical transmission lines.

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3.5 Fields

Through my training I went several times to

different locations to

Xpress stores in Yadodeh

Where I get a general idea about site

equipments, there types, models Etc.

AMM-054 in Amman- Jawa

The site was on air with alarm BR11 OOS (out of

service).

AMM-040 in Amman- Adasseyeh

The site was on air with alarms AC Power Failure,

Surge, and minor rectifier. Where we found that

the generator is out of work and needed to be

changed.

MAD-001 in Madaba- Almukhayam

The site was on air with alarm High Temperature

Alarm

AMM-001 in Amman- Beirut Hotel

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The site was on air with alarms BR is bouncing

and high temperature. So, we went in a drive

test in Alabdaly town.

Also we have changed the 3 Damaged BR’s

(Base Radio – Part of EBTS) by new ones.

ZAR-005 in Zarqa – Al Hawouz

The site was on air with alarm High Temperature

Alarm.

AMM-059 in Amman – Al Hommar beside the

Royal Palaces.

The site was on air with alarm High Temperature

Alarm.

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Chapter 5

Conclusions

4.1 Conclusions

In the practical training for a period of 70 days, I

have learned a lot about the present scenario in

the field of communication. I have gained

knowledge about the two technologies used by the

company -- Integrated Digital Enhanced Network

Technology (iDEN), and Global Positioning System

(GPS).

 

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At our college we learn most of the things

theoretically, which does not provides sufficient

information about the subject, and students

remain unaware of the problems and errors when

they go to the field. This practical training has

provided us the knowledge about various

technologies in the communication field.

 

I am highly grateful to the XPress family for the

support and guidance given to us for the

successful completion of our practical training.

Table Of Contents:

Chapter 1: Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………...….1 1.1 General nature of training 1.2 Outline of the report

Chapter 2: New Generation Telecommunication -

Company / Xpress

41

Profile………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………….…..2

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Services

2.2.1 Push-To- Services

2.2.2 Cellular Phone

2.2.3 GPS / XGPS

2.2.4 Data Services

2.2.5 International Roaming Service

2.3 Advantages & disadvantages of iDEN

Chapter 3: Training

Description…………………………………………………………………

...………………..7

3.1 RF Planning

3.2 RF Optimization

3.3 Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC)

3.4 Site Equipments

3.5 Fields

Chapter5: Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………………..............…….……….24

الرحيم الرحمن الله بسم

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Mutah University (2009-2010)

Practical Training at:

XPress Telecommunications, a private shareholding company, Amman

Done By :Bader M.S Al Nammur

120030415055Electrical Engineering / Communications

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