GPRS (E1964A) Revision Information

Call Processing

This release provides you with the GSM450, GSM480, GSM750 and RGSM frequency bands.

The BA Table can now accept multiple entries, whereas previously they could only accept one entry. For more information refer to CALL:BA .

Measurements

• A Spectrum Monitor measurement feature has been added. This allows you to find, identify and measure transmitted signals from your mobile phone. It can also be used for spur measurements in the transmit band. For more details refer to Spectrum Monitor Description .
• The Output RF Spectrum measurement has been enhanced, allowing you to measure multislot configurations with two adjacent uplink timeslots:
  • The ORFS due to modulation measurement is performed for only one burst at a time in the multislot configuration, which you specify using the command RFANalyzer:MANual:MEASurement:BURST.
  • The ORFS due to switching measurement is performed over both adjacent bursts in the multislot configuration.

  For more information refer to GPRS and EGPRS Output RF Spectrum Measurement .

Other

None

Call Processing

• Power in Unused Bursts on Downlink PDTCH ARFCN
  Two new commands are now provided which relate to the power levels in unused bursts on the downlink PDTCH ARFCN. These commands are:
  • Unused Downlink Burst Power Reduction Selection (see CALL:(PDTCH|PDTChannel):PREDuction:UBURst )
    This command is used to set or query the power reduction level that is applied to all unused bursts on the downlink PDTCH ARFCN.
  • Unused Downlink Burst Current Absolute Power Level (see CALL:(PDTCH|PDTChannel):POWer[:AMPLitude]:UBURst? )
    This query returns the current absolute power level of the unused bursts on the downlink PDTCH ARFCN.
• Additional Data Connection Commands
  Two commands allow you to set the payload pattern for downlink data. These commands are:
  • CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:PAYLoad:PATTern:BLERPayload Pattern (BLER) (see CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:PAYLoad:PATTern:BLER ).
    This command sets/queries the type of downlink payload pattern to be sent to the mobile when the data connection type is set to BLER in Active Cell operating mode, and the LLC Frame Check Sequence connection parameter is set to Corrupt.
  • CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:PAYLoad:PATTern:ETSIB

    CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:PAYLoad:PATTern:ETSIB

    Payload Pattern (OTHER) (see CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:PAYLoad:PATTern[:OTHer] ).
    This command sets/queries the type of downlink payload pattern to be used when the test set's operating mode is set to either EGPRS BCH+PDTCH Test Mode or Active Cell with serving cell being EGPRS and the data connection type set to ETSI Type B (Unack or Ack) or SRB Loopback.

Measurements

• Block Error Rate measurement (using either ETSI Test Mode B, BCH+PDTCH Test Mode, or the Agilent proprietary BLER mode).
  This measurement is based on GPRS receiver tests defined in 3GPP 51.010 section 14.16. For more information refer to Block Error Measurement .

• The Power versus Time measurement has been enhanced to provide an optional relaxed mask specification for the PCS band, as defined in 3GPP 51.010-1 section 13.3.5(c). For more information refer to SETup:PVTime:LIMit:ETSI:PCS .
• The Output RF Spectrum measurement has been enhanced allowing you to test using either the ETSI defined, or your own specified limits. The commands used to set up your own limits are:
  • SETup:ORFSpectrum:LIMit:SOURce
  • SETup:ORFSpectrum:SWITching:LIMit:MANual[:SELected]
  • SETup:ORFSpectrum:MODulation:LIMit:MANual<[1]|2>[:SELected]
• The Bit Error Rate measurement has been enhanced, allowing you to specify how the measurement interprets blocks with errors that are received from the mobile. For more information refer to SETup:GBERror:ZBBLocks .

Other

• RF Out Only front panel connector
  This release enables control of the type-N RF Out Only connector on the test set's front panel. This connector provides an optional path for the test set's RF output. For more information refer to RF OUT ONLY and RFGenerator:OUTPut .

Call Processing

• This release provides you with GPRS operation in the GSM850 frequency band.

• Additional data connection commands
  Three new commands have been added that may enable the test set to establish a data connection with mobiles which cannot connect using the test application default settings. These commands are:

  • Data Connection Frame Number Type (see CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:FRAMe:STARt )
    This command relates to the GPRS Attach procedure allowing you to change the TBF (Temporary Block Flow) frame starting position type.
  • Data Connection LLC Frame Check Sequence (see CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:BLER:LLC:FCSequence )
  • BLER Block Polling Interval (see CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:BLER:POLLing:INTerval )

  CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:FRAMe:STARt is applicable to all data connection types. CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:BLER:LLC:FCSequence and CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:BLER:POLLing:INTerval are only applicable when you want to establish a BLER mode data connection.

• Additional PDTCH protocol control commands
  Two new commands are now provided in case your mobile does not fully support the Packet Timeslot Reconfigure (PTR) message.
  The PTR message is a superset message which is used to change most of the connection related parameters (for example, MS TX Level, timeslot configuration, and power control). This message is described in 3GPP TS 04.60 section 11.2.31. The Packet Power Timing Advance (PPTA) message can be used as an alternative to the PTR message, but only for changes to the MS TX Level or timing advance. This message is described in 3GPP TS 04.60 section 11.2.13.

  The two new commands are:

  • Packet Timeslot Reconfigure State (see CALL:(PDTCH|PDTChannel):PMESsage:PTReconfig )
  • Packet Power Timing Advance State (see CALL:(PDTCH|PDTChannel):PMESsage:PPTadvance )

  The recommended method for modifying PDTCH parameters during an active data connection is to use the CALL:HANDover|HANDoff[:IMMediate] to apply deferred settings. If you currently use this method, note that you will need to amend your code to specifically set CALL:(PDTCH|PDTChannel):PMESsage:PTReconfig to On.

• RLC/MAC Header State
  This command allows you to define whether or not a valid RLC/MAC (Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control) header is present on the downlink PDTCH bursts when using the BCH+PDTCH Test Mode. The RLC/MAC Header contains a PR field which is used to indicate a power reduction level to the mobile. When the RLC/MAC Header State command is set to Off, the PR field of the RLC/MAC Header is filled with random data. For further information on this command see CALL:PBPTest:RLCMac[:HEADer]:STATe .
  

• First Downlink Burst to Loop
  This command allows you to select which downlink burst of the multislot configuration you want to be looped back in the first uplink burst. Subsequent downlink bursts are looped back onto subsequent uplink bursts. This command is important for the Bit Error Rate (BER) measurement and BLock Error Rate (BLER) reports. For more details on this command, see CALL:(PDTCH|PDTChannel):MSLot[:FIRSt]:DOWNlink:LOOPback[:BURSt] .

• Network Initiated Detach
  This new command allows you to perform a GPRS Detach procedure from the test set rather than from the mobile. For details on this command refer to CALL:FUNCtion:DATA:DETach .

• Manual setting of the BA table entry
  Previously, you could only set the BA table entry using the command CALL[:CELL]:BA:TABLe[:SELected] . You can now set this entry using the test set's front panel. To do this, press the CALL SETUP key, press Cell Info ( F6 ), press BA Table ( F3 ) then press the knob and make a selection.

• Extended Range for Downlink Power Reduction Levels
  The downlink PDTCH power reduction level range has been extended. You can now specify a range from 0 to 25 dB (previously 0 to 12 dB). For details on this command refer to CALL:(PDTCH|PDTChannel):PREDuction:LEVel<1|2> .

Measurements

No new measurements in this release.

Other

• Internal graphical measurements for; Power versus Time, Output RF Spectrum and Phase and Frequency Error.
  For more details on these graphical measurements refer to one of the following step-by-step measurement procedures:
  • How Do I Make a Power Versus Time Measurement?
  • How Do I Make a Phase and Frequency Error Measurement?
  • How Do I Make an Output RF Spectrum Measurement?

• This release gives you the first revision of GPRS which can be used for the E1985A GSM_AMPS/136 fast switching test application. This release when used with the E1985A GSM_AMPS/136_GPRS fast switching test application allows you to switch quickly between GSM, AMPS/136, and GPRS formats.

  To allow the GPRS test application to operate in the fast switching environment with GSM and AMPS/136 a number of the existing GPRS commands had to be changed. The previous commands and their new replacements are shown in the table below. If you previously used any of these commands you must change them to the new commands to allow your code to run. Otherwise, you will receive an error message. Note, this error message only appears if you are using the individual E1964A GPRS Mobile Test Application. If you are using the E1985A GSM_AMPS/136_GPRS Fast Switching Test Application, you will not receive an error message as these commands are still valid for setting the inactive GSM format.

  Command Changes in the A.02 Release

  Previous Commands	New Commands
  CALL[:CELL]:POWer[:SAMPlitude]:GSM	CALL[:CELL]:POWer[:SAMPlitude][:SELected]
  CALL[:CELL]:POWer:AMPLitude:GSM	CALL[:CELL]:POWer:AMPLitude[:SELected]
  CALL[:CELL]:POWer:STATe:GSM	CALL[:CELL]:POWer:STATe[:SELected]
  RFANalyzer:MANual:POWer:GSM[:SELected] :BURSt[1|2]	RFANalyzer:MANual:POWer:BURSt<[1]|2|3|4|5|6|7>
  STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GSM:CONDition STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GSM:ENABle STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GSM:NTRansition STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GSM:PTRansition STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GSM[:EVENt]	STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GPRS:CONDition STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GPRS:ENABle STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GPRS:NTRansition STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GPRS:PTRansition STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GPRS[:EVENt] If you require more details on this status register, see STATus:OPERation:NMRReady:GPRS Condition Register Bit Assignment .
  STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GSM:DATA:CONDition STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GSM:DATA:ENABle STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GSM:DATA:NTRansition STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GSM:DATA:PTRansition STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GSM:DATA[:EVENt]	STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GPRS:CONDition STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GPRS:ENABle STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GPRS:NTRansition STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GPRS:PTRansition STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GPRS[:EVENt] If you require more details on this status register, see STATus:QUEStionable:CALL:GPRS Condition Register Bit Assignment .
  STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GSM:CONDition STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GSM:ENABle STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GSM:NTRansition STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GSM:PTRansition STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GSM[:EVENt]	STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GPRS:CONDition STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GPRS:ENABle STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GPRS:NTRansition STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GPRS:PTRansition STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GPRS[:EVENt] If you require more details on this status register, see STATus:QUEStionable:ERRors:GPRS Condition Register Bit Assignment .

• Screen images can be captured and saved as .GIF files. This is useful when you want to save copies of measurement results or other screen images. See Printing and Saving Screen Images for a complete explanation of this procedure.

Call Processing

• ETSI Test mode A and B
  In the initial GPRS release the only type of data connection available was the Agilent proprietary BLER method. This enhancement gives you two additional options for data connection, namely the ETSI defined Type A and Type B. For more information refer to the command CALL:FUNCtion:CONNection:TYPE .

• Additional Timeslot Configurations
  A new command is available that allows you to select from a list of multiple timeslot configurations. These configurations are:
  • one downlink and one uplink
  • two downlinks and one uplink
  • two downlinks and two uplinks
  • three downlinks and one uplink
  • three downlinks and two uplinks
  • four downlinks and one uplink

  For more information refer to the command CALL:(PDTCH|PDTChannel):MSLot:CONFig .

• Coding Scheme Options for Data
  A new command is available that allows you to set the PDTCH coding scheme in ETSI test mode to either CS1, CS2, CS3 or CS4. For more information on this command refer to CALL:(PDTCH|PDTChannel):CSCHeme:UPLink .

• Deferred Settings
  A new feature allows you to set-up all your PDTCH parameters but defers their implementation until you send one handover command. This has the advantage of increasing the speed of the PDTCH change as the signalling happens only once, at the handover command, and not at the change of each individual PDTCH parameter. For more information refer to the command CALL:HANDover|HANDoff[:IMMediate] .

• Operating Modes
  An additional two operating modes are available, namely, GPRS Test Mode BCH and GPRS Test Mode BCH + PDTCH. For more information refer to the command CALL:OPERating .

Measurements

• Output RF Spectrum due to modulation (using ETSI Test mode A or B)
  For more information on this measurement refer to Output RF Spectrum Measurement Description .

• Power versus Time multi-uplink mask
  For more information on this measurement refer to Power versus Time Measurement Description .

• Multislot BER (using ETSI Test mode B only)
  For more information on this measurement refer to GPRS Bit Error Measurement .

• Multislot tolerant Transmit Power
  For more information on this measurement refer to Transmit Power Measurement Description .

• Multislot tolerant Phase and Frequency Error
  For more information on this measurement refer to Phase and Frequency Error Measurement Description .

Other

• Manual User Interface
  The initial GPRS release only had remote user access. This release provides you with access to the measurements and configuration via the test set's front panel. For more information on using the test set manually refer to your GPRS Quick Guide which was delivered with your test set.

Note, due to the lack of commercially available GPRS mobile stations some of the features added to this release have not been fully verified.