TRM MINI-LINK TN Presentation By Khalil Al-Alami

Transmission &
Minilink TN
System
BY: Khalil Al-alami

Khalil Al-Alami | 8-May-2017| Page 2
Transmission (TRM)
› Transmission is A process where the traffic (voice, Data,
video, etc.) transmitted over a medium between source and
destination.
› Transmission medias:
– Wired:
› Copper cable.
› Optical fiber .
– Wireless:
› Microwave Radio.
› VSAT.
› Transmission in telecom is to transmit the traffic from a site
to the Network.

Transmission in mobile sys.
› Why Transmission?
› To make a call you need a network coverage which secure
access for the mobile (A) to network to find the destination mobile
(B) and establish the BSC connection and make the belling and
etc. For the GSM site to be connected with the BSC it needs E1
channel which is achieved by the Transmission like Microwave
link for example.
RBS B
TN B
RBS A
TN A BSC
A
E1
MW link
MW link
B

Transmission in mobile sys.
2G (GSM) Abis interface.
3G (WCDMA) Iub interface.
4G (LTE) S1 interface.
NodeB
eNodeB
RBS
DUG
DUW
DUL
Radio Station Transmission Core Network
BSC
RNC
MME
E1
(TDM)
Eth
(IP)
Eth
(IP)
Traffic
type
protocol

› PDH protocol: (plesiochronous digital hierarchy) is a
technology used in telecom to transport large quantities of
data over digital transport equipment via fiber optics or
Microwave Radio.
› PDH standards:
– E1 (Europe).
– T1 (America).
– J1 (Japan).
› E1 is the PHD form or standard which is used in Europe. Its
used in our country as well. E1 based on that the transmitted
frame consisted of 32 time slots. So the E1 capacity is
2.048mbps, so if you have been gotten an E1 cable that’s
means you can transmit or receive 2 millions bit during each
second.
› PDH traffic could be either TDM or packet over PDH.
PDH

› SDH protocol: (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) is a
technology used in telecom to synchronously transport very
large quantities of data over digital transport equipment via
fiber optics or Microwave Radio, based on STM1 standard.
› STM1 capacity = 155.52 Mbit/s = 63 E1. so we can
transport a traffic of 63 E1 via one STM1 cannel.
SDH frame
SDH

Microwave (MW) radio system
› What is MW Communications? Is a wireless TRM system that
use very short wave length Radio signals. wave length is (0.1-
30cm) so it using very high frequency (300MHz to 300GHz), its
similar to radio communications, but MW like visible light, unlike
Radio communications its blocked by obstacles, they need a clear path
to reach their destination. Mounting Antennas up on a high level like
tower offers a clear line-of-sight (LOS) to opposite site, its commonly
used for point to point communication.
› In other words A microwave link is a communications system that uses
a beam of Radio waves in the microwave frequency range to transmit
information between two fixed locations on the earth.

Microwave (MW) communications
› A point to point Microwave link: is a link between two sites (say A
& B), one site we call it Terminal the direct link between A and B
we call it a “hop”, each site consisted of two parts:
– Outdoor Part (OD): which is the Radio Unit (RU).
– Indoor Part (ID): which is Modem Unit (MU).
– parabolic Antenna which is the air interface or passive part.
– Radio or IF cable or feeder. Which connects the ID with OD.
› In some MW systems like Backbone equipment's the RU is
located near the ID unit and connected with the Antenna by long
wave guide.
› In order the radio signal to be transmitted between the two sites:
– we need to have a clear path (obstacle free) between these two sites which
we call it line-of-sight (LOS) condition which is checked during survey stage.
– nearby enough distance to the opposite site as according to the link design.

One Radio Terminal
Outdoor part
Radio cable
Indoor part
One Terminal
Radio Terminal

One Radio hop
Far End Terminal
Near End Terminal

Refraction, multiple paths
Losses due to obstruction
Losses due to rainfall
Losses in Fresnel
area
Multiple paths
Losses due to Terrain
Propagation Problems

› Adaptive Modulation: The use of adaptive modulation
allows MW system to choose the highest order modulation
depending on the current conditions.
 Increasing modulation makes the radio more sensitive to
rain and multi-path fading but gives higher capacity.
› ATPC Mode: ATPC is used to automatically adjust the
transmit power in order to maintain the received input level
at the far-end terminal at a target value. ATPC compensates
for the fading condition. the transmit power can be increased
rapidly during fading conditions and allows the transmitter to
operate at less than the maximum power during normal path
conditions. The low transmit power allows more efficient use
of the available spectrum.

Microwave links protection
Types of MW links:
–Non protected link (1+0): is the normal hardware setting
which is one RAU, one Antenna, one MMU each terminal.
MMU
RAU
MMU
RAU
Protected Link (1+1):
There is many modes for this type of protection:

Microwave (MW) communications
A- Hot standby 1+1 (one active, one standby) its for
(Hardware protection) one transmitter is working while the
other one is in standby, that is not transmitting but ready to
transmit if the active transmitter malfunctions. Both RAUs are
receiving signals and the best signal is used.
1+1 two RAUs and one ant. Using “integrated power splitter” (PS)

Hot standby 1+1 two RAU two Ant.
› Here no need for the integrated power slitter.
MMU
MMU
RAU
RAU
MMU
MMU
RAU
RAU

B- Working standby (frequency diversity) to protect the signal
propagation from fading, mainly to overcome frequency interference
both radio paths are active in parallel using different frequencies.
MMU2 K
MMU2 K
RAU
RAU
MMU2 K
MMU2 K
RAU
RAU
f2
f1
f2
f1

3- Space Diversity: to overcome the MW reflection, so
protect the link against the propagation fading which caused
from wave refraction. The signal is received over two different
propagation paths by using multiple receiving antennas. Actually its just
like a 1+1 hot standby but with antennas spacing.
MMU2 K
RAU
MMU2 K
MMU2 K
RAU
RAU
spacing
Receive
only
Main Ant.
Diversity Ant.
RAU
MMU2 K

4- Dual Polarization (2+0 XPIC): Multiple versions of a signal
are transmitted and received via antennas with different
polarization. Other common using for this combination to
duplicate the link capacity. Two RAUs are integrated with the
Dual Band Ant. (HPX/SHPX) by the mechanical part which
called “Integration Kit”.
MMU2 K
MMU2 K
RAU
RAU
MMU2 K
MMU2 K
RAU
RAU
f
f
f
V
f
H
V
H
XPIC
Dual Pol.
XPIC

Traffic protection:
› 1- (1+1 E1 SNCP): is a protection mechanism used for
traffic protection on E1 level It is based on the simple
principle that one E1 traffic is transmitted on two separate
E1 connections. The two E1’s are from the same link or
from two links at the same direction like Dual polarization
or the comely using is from two different links routed
through one ring.
› LAG (Ethernet protection): used to backup Ethernet traffic
which is coming from two different physical ports at the TN
or from two different links usually a part of one ring.
› MSP (1+1 STM1 for SDH): is a protection mechanism used
for traffic protection on STM1, between two nodes of SDH
traffic.
› MSP Example: if we have two copy of one STM1 in Node
site and need to implement MSP protection.

Some MW TRM protection Techniques:
› In this example I will assume that one STM1 coming from
backbone MW Ring and the other coming from the optical
Ring and both carrying the same traffic, in case one of
them goes down the other still carrying the traffic.
Node Site
ADM
LTU 155e/o
LTU 155e/o
Patch cord fibers
MSP protection
MSP Example:

Traffic protection in MW Ring topology:
B
D
C
A
BSC
E1 B
E1 D
SNCP protection
DUG
E1
MW Ring
SNCP Example:

Traffic protection in MW Ring Topology:
B
D
C
A
RNC
WAN B
LAG protection
WAN D
DUW
Ethernet
MW Ring
LAG Example:

MW Antenna Facts
› MW Antenna types:
– Single polarization antenna.
– Dual polarization antenna.
› MW Antenna common sizes: is presented by reflector diameter it
start from 0.2m : 0.2, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.7. . .
› MW Antenna gain determined by the Antenna size, the higher the
antenna size the higher gain.
› MW antenna Band is determined by the internal feeder.
› As much as the link path is long the frequency is low, so we need
bigger antenna to get more gain.

MW Antenna
› 0.9m Dual Pol. MW Antenna parts
Feeder
Reflector
Sun cover
Integration kit
Mounting set

Radio unit (Rau)
› The integrated MINI-LINK TN radio terminals provides
microwave Radio transmission operating within the 7 to 38
GHz frequency bands, utilizing C-QPSK and 16QAM,
128QAM modulation schemes.

Radio unit (Rau)
› RAU operating spectrum allocation. Will take an example
case of RAU operating on 15GHz band with channel
spacing of 28MHz:

Radio unit (Rau) Sub band concept
› RAU operating spectrum allocation diagram.
› Each Band have many sub-bands and on each sub-bands
there is high and low RAUs
15GHz Band
ch1 ch2
Tx freq.
ch1' ch2 '
28MHz
14417 1490714445 14935
Duplex space
H range (A15)
A11/A15 Sub Band
28MHz

Radio unit (Rau) Sub band concept

Antenna Alignment
› To have a functioning MW link for the first time you need:
› first to have the minimum required ID and OD hardware fully
installed and commissioned and configured at both ends and
powered up.
› Clear hop path (there is LOS).
› Alignment: it’s the process of positioning the two facing each other
antennas in the point to point MW links to tune the azimuths and
tilts until get as best as receive signals at both terminals MMU’s.
› Be sure to turn off the ATPC function during the alignment, and the
transmitter is on.
› If Far-End terminal is off or not transmitting and you receive some
RSL that’s means you are facing an signal interference.
› If the polarization in the near-end and far-end are not the same
then its impossible to achieve the full RSL. (RSL around -65dBm)
› If there are some obstacle in hop path this will reduce the max
achieved RSL. (Need to check LOS)

Antenna Alignment
Alignment Port (AGC)
AGC Formula:
AGC (v) = (RSL-120)/40
RSL(dBm)= (AGC*40)-120
Where: AGC : Automatic GAIN
control and RSL: Receive signal level
(RX level)
Antenna Radiation Patterns

Alignment
Side to main lobe
Small RSL ≈ -70dBm
AGC ≈ 1.2
Side to side lobe
No any RSL< -96dBm
AGC<0.6V
Main to main lobe
Alignment done properly
If RSL = -40dBm (as ex.)
AGC=2V

Radio Terminal troubleshooting loops :
› IF Loop: In the MMU the traffic signal to be transmitted
› is, after being modulated, mixed with the frequency of a
local oscillator and looped back for demodulation in the
same MMU and this will test MMU functionality.
› RF Loop: In the RAU for the transmitted RF signal is looped
back to the receiving part of the same RAU. This will test the
RAU functionality.
› RX loop which mentioned before, the E1s in the traffic
connection is looped back to the Radio path. This to verify
the communication over the radio path.

Traffic Routing and Aggregation
› A MW hub site’s main function is to collect traffic carried
over MW links from many sites and to aggregate it into a
higher capacity transmission link to the core network.
› In Past the Mini-link E was do the aggregation and traffic
routing by external cross-connection equipment and using
DDF.
› Now MINI-LINK TN provides a very easy traffic routing by
doing the cross-connections in the backplane.
› Each plug-in unit connects nxE1 to the backplane, where
the traffic is cross connected to another plug-in unit.

Traffic Routing and Aggregation
Hub site
SDH
ADM
STM1
Fibers
Ethernet

MINI-LINK TN Microwave
› OD is presented by the RAU (Radio access unit) and the
Antenna.
› ID is presented by MMU (Modem Module Unit) which is plugged
in AMM (Access Module Magazine).
› RAU is remotely connected with the MMU by coaxial copper
cable which is called (Radio or IF cable).

Mini-link TN system
› The Access Module Magazine: Houses the plugin
units and provides backplane interconnection of
traffic, power and control signals.
› One plug-in unit occupies one slot in the AMM.
› The AMM fits into standard 19" or metric racks and
cabinets.
The Common Plugins:
› Node Processor Unit (NPU): Handles the system's
main traffic and control functions. Also provide
traffic and management interfaces.
› Line Termination Unit (LTU): A plug-in unit that
provides PDH or SDH traffic interfaces.

Mini-link TN system
› Modem Unit (MMU): The indoor part of a Radio
Terminal, This plug-in unit determines the traffic
capacity and modulation scheme of the Radio
Terminal.
› Power Filter Unit (PFU): Filters the external power
and distributes the internal power to the plug-in
units via the backplane.
› Fan Unit (FAU): Provides cooling for the indoor
part.
 NPU and PFU is a mandatory module for the
AMM to run, and for the ventilation we need the
FAU.

NPU node processor unit

Plugins units

› Plug-in units can be inserted while the NE is in operation.
This enables adding new Radio Terminals or other plug-in units
without disturbing existing traffic.
› Plug-in units can be removed from the NE while it is in
operation, each plug-in unit has a Board Removal button
(BR), pressing this button causes a request for removal to be
sent to the control system.
› When changing a plug-in unit, the new plug-in unit
automatically gets the same configuration as the previous.
› The configuration is stored in a non-volatile ROM on the NPU.
› ML-TN offers a removable memory module (RMM) which
copy all configuration, in case the NPU damages you will put
this RMM inside the new NPU and restore the configuration.
ML-TN some Facts

› Also the configuration can be backedup and restored
using a local or remote FTP server.
› When an RAU or MMU is replaced, no new setup has to be
done.
› Various restarts can be ordered from the management: A
cold restart can be initiated for a TN or single plug-in unit.
This type of restart is traffic disturbing. A warm restart is only
available for the whole TN. This will restart the control
system and will not affect the traffic. This is possible due to
the separated control and traffic system in the ML TN.
› All plug-in units are equipped with temperature sensors.
When a plug-in exceed limit Temp thresholds, it will be put in
reduced service or out of service by the control system. This
is to avoid hardware failures in case of a fan failure.
› The plug-in unit is automatically taken into normal operation
when temperature is back below the high threshold.

Data Communication Network (DCN)
› MINI-LINK TN support DCN functions for management
and communication with each Network Element for setting of
configuration parameters and for collection of status and
performance monitoring.
› ML TN support many types of DCN traffic: over HCC, over
E1 traffic and by VLAN over IP traffic. And IP Routing
mechanisms:
– Open Short Path First (OSPF), which is normally used for routers
within the MINI-LINK TN domain.
– Static routing
– DCN-LAN (by VLAN )

Mini-link TN Implementation
› ID installation: the AMM need to be housed in a 19” rack or cabinet and
fixed by four cage nuts set.
› The AMM must be Grounded by the AMM earth Cable
provided with the AMM.
› Fit the needed plug-in units, NPU and One PFU is mandatory for the
AMM to RUN and Function then you can fit any plug-in you need
during operation of the AMM.
› install the DC power Cable and test it before you connect it to the PFU.
› Switch on the circuit breaker and wait until the AMM fully loaded (NPU
power LED is green and the other LEDs are OFF).
› Start MINI-LINK TN commissioning by perform the initial setup.

Mini-link TN initial setup
› To login into AMM you need “MINI-LINK Craft” installed
› On your laptop and an enough long “USB to Mini USB”
cable. Also to have latest SBL (customer dependent).
› Jawwal will use the SBL: “MINI-LINK TN 5.4 FP.2 R32K123”
O&M

Plugins
AMM
Radio
links

› right click on the NE
in the Management
Tree, click Initial
Setup.
› If you are still
beginner in ML TN its
recommended to use
this page for
configuration.

ML TN configurations:
› Configuration Pre-Check.
› Basic NE configuration.
› Radio link configuration.
› E1 Traffic Routing.
› Ethernet traffic Routing.
› SDH configuration.
› DCN configuration (management).
› VLAN’s configuration.
› E1/Ethernet traffic protection.
› Quality of services configuration (QoS).

Configuration Pre-Check.
› To verify the Software Baseline (SBL) level, right click on
› the NE in the Management Tree. Choose the
Tools>inventory

Software Baseline Upgrade
› You must have the required Software Baseline files stored
on your Laptop disk drive on correct path.

› If you found that the SBL is not as the required so you Need to
upgrade the Base line.
› In the MINI-LINK Craft, on the horizontal main menu, click Tools
and click on FTP Server in New Window. Click on the Start
button when the Craft FTP server screen appears.

› In the left panel, Right Click on the NE name under MINI-LINK Craft
Menu. Scroll to Tools on the list. Choose Software Upgrade and
choose Software Upgrade again.
› Be sure to deactivate any “Firewall” before use the FTP.

› Select manual confirmation as it’s the recommended option.
Then select when you need the Activation be done.

› Giving summary, be sure that you did the correct.

› Software downloading progress.

› Software downloading finished you need to click close to
go to the next step..

› Click "Activate Upgrade“ then Click "Save" on the upper
› left toolbar.
Click
1
2

› During the activation the TN will be restarted. After your laptop
reconnected to the TN right click the NE in the Management
Tree menu. Choose Tools, Software Upgrade -> Software
Upgrade. The "Confirm Software Upgrade" page appears. Click
yes if you want to permanently activate the new SBL and you
found that the every things are functioning properly and then be
sure to click save.
› If you didn’t do this step
and save it the ML-TN
system Will Automatically
revert back to the previous
SBL after 15mimutes
› Finally Verify that the
software baseline has
been upgraded by review
the Inventory as explained
at beginning.

› All the Plugins that installed in the AMM during the upgrade
session will be automatically upgraded/downgraded according to
the new SBL.
› In case you want to plug a new plugin to the AMM the if the SBL
for the board is not as the AMM SBL the board LED will slowly
blink and indicates that it need Software upgrade, by same
previous steps to upgrade but here select upgrade modules.
› Another easy way to upgrade a new plugged plugin is by
following the below steps:
› 1- before you plug the plugin unit like MMU, first make sure that
there is remotely active FTP server having the desired SBL
either this server are remotely in the MSM or locally on your
laptop.
› 2- plug the Module and wait a while. If the connection to the
server succeeded then the new SBL will be automatically
downloaded to the Plugin board ROM.

Basic NE configuration
On the left tree, Right Click on the NE name under MINI- LINK
Craft Menu. Scroll to Configure on the list. Select Basic NE.
Site Specific Info

Radio link configuration
Configure the MW link parameters as according to the link specific
design to be ready for hop alignment. Be sure to turn off the ATPC
function during the alignment, and the transmitter is on.

During alignment monitoring.
RSL monitoring
LOOPS
Alarms list

During alignment if there is any concern, MINI-LINK TN provides a
many loop functions for troubleshooting.

Radio Link performance monitoring.

DCN configuration (OSPF)
On the left tree, Right Click on the NE name under MINI- LINK
Craft Menu. Scroll to Configure on the list and select DCN.

Traffic routing

Traffic routing
› Traffic routing is the way to interconnect the traffic modules at
The E1 level (cross-connection) in the backplane. by select the two
traffic modules then select an E1 from each module and assign
them for cross-connection.

SDH configuration
Which is done on “LTU 155e/o” and SDH MMU’s like MMU2 F &
MMU 3B.

Bit Error Testing :
› TN has a built-in Bit Error Ratio Tester (BERT) in
all plug-in units carrying traffic. The BERT is used for
measuring performance on E1 interfaces according to ITU
standard O.151. As with loop tests, bit error testing may be
used for system verification or for fault location.

Bit Error Rate (BER) Testing :

Traffic Loops:
Loops can be used to verify that the transmission system
is working properly or used for faulty unit troubleshooting or
to check an interface. The following loop types are available
on all plug-in units that carry traffic (NPU, LTU, and MMU):
› Connection Loop: This loop can be initiated for an E1 or
STM-1 (63xE1). Each E1 in the traffic connection is looped
in the TDM bus back to its origin.
› Rx Loop: The loop is done in the plug-in unit close to the
TDM bus, where a group of E1s in the traffic connection is
looped back to its origin
› Line Loop: Loops an incoming line signal back to its origin.
The loop is done in the plug-in unit, close to the line
interface.
› Local Loop: Loops a line signal received from the TDM bus
back to its origin. The loop is done in the plug-in unit.

Loops:

VLAN’s configuration
VLAN configuration steps:
› 1- Activate the Ethernet switch: when you select the switch mode
and save the switch ports will be available in the management
tree.

› 2- Configure the RL-IME: Choose Packet Link will become RL-IME
Then the WAN will automatic appear in the tree.

› 3- Go to this WAN and assign a port from the ports list, this will
connect this WAN with the Switch.

4- Configure LAN and LAN-DCN: same like WAN but here the
We must configure the port role as well because LAN port will be
connected to the NodeB.

4- Configure the LAN-DCN: same like LAN but deferent Port role
In VLAN configuration LAN-DCN need to define the untagged port

4- Configure the LAN-DCN: same like LAN but deferent Port role

6- Add the Traffic and management VLANs to the Ethernet then
Switch and map the ports.

Ethernet protection (LAG)
Open the LAG configuration page.

Ethernet protection (LAG)
› Check the switch port associated with each LAN or WAN.
› Add row then select master and membered ports

Testing the connectivity
› By using the command line window test the connectivity by ping
the default gateway IP address which is the router IP address. If its
pingable then you are done.

MINI-LINK TN CLI
› Ericsson ML-TN offers a lot of commands to show and configure
› The ML-TN remotely even if there is no DCN configured.
› Without DCN configured you can access by GUI (MINI-LINK
Craft) only the far-end terminal through HCC. But you cant access
any other site in the network. However, still you can access and
configure by CLI commands on telnet environment.
• By CLI you can show the TN (AMM)
by the below command:
>TN-180#sh subrack 1

Save report
It is very important procedure before you start work in an existing
ML-TN to save “Report”. By go to Tools then Select Report, then
wait a while, ML-TN will generate *.htm format report containing the
inventory and all the configurations and information. Below is a
report I saved it during the survey.

Backup/download configuration
› ML-TN provide this useful function which give you the ability to
backup the configuration either remotely or locally and load it back to the
TN incase the NPU damaged and save time instead you repeat the
configuration. You can save the generated file to either locally to your
Laptop or remotely to some FTP server in the Management office.
From the Same menu of Tools select “load configuration”

›XPIC Implementation.
›XPD alignment.
›Interference Test

TRM MINI-LINK TN Presentation By Khalil Al-Alami

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