Multi-carrier Multi-unit (MCMU)

Multi-carrier Multi-unit (MCMU)

Last updated: September 14, 2009

This section is only applicable to the lab application and to a test application with the required feature license.

Multi-carrier Multi-unit Overview

When the Protocol Rel is set to B (1xEV-DO-B) and the Release B Physical Layer Subtype is set to Subtype 3 , you can perform multi-carrier test with up to 3 test sets working together to generate up to 3 carriers (also described as Multi-carrier Multi-unit (MCMU)). Of the multiple test sets, one is configured as the Main unit and the other 1 or 2 test sets are configured as the Auxiliary unit. Each test set supports one carrier (one pair Forward/Reverse traffic channel) and all the test sets should be synchronized (see Multi-unit Synchronization ), configured and connected correctly for multi-carrier test.

The basic features provided by MCMU are:

Main and Aux unit Description

  • Main unit

    On a certain test set, if the Release B Physical Layer Subtype is set to Subtype 3 and the Local Testset Configuration is set to Main, this test set is configured as the Main unit. For the Main unit:

    • Only one test set can be configured as the Main unit in a multi-unit multi-carrier connection.
    • The Main unit sends and receives the Main carrier. This is a fixed relationship and means it is always the Main unit that generates the Main carrier.
    • The Main carrier is the primary traffic carrier used to control the link between the test sets and the AT. It is used to handle all the over-the-air signaling. Signaling with AT is restricted to the Main unit, the Aux unit(s) will not transmit Control Channel messages to keep AT camping on the Main unit via the Access Channel. The Channel Drop Rank parameter on the Main unit is fixed to the highest value to keep the AT signaling only on channel of the Main unit, see `Channel Drop Rank of Main' in Fixed Settings .
    • The Local Carrier State on the Main unit is fixed to be on. See Fixed Settings .

  • Aux unit(s)

    On a certain test set, if the Release B Physical Layer Subtype is set to Subtype 3 and the Local Testset Configuration is set to Auxiliary, this test set is configured as the Auxiliary unit (X represents 1 or 2 in the following state for easy reading). For an Aux unit:

    • 1 to 2 test sets can be configured as the Aux unit in a multi-carrier multi-unit connection.
    • Each Aux unit will send and receive one Aux carrier.
    • The Aux X carrier is generated/received on the associated Aux X unit, which is indicated on the Main unit by External 8960 IP Address
    • The Aux X carrier is only generated when the Carrier State is set to on and the associated External Device Status shows "Connected" on the Main unit.
    • Some parameters of the Aux X are configured as Aux Carriers Info on the Main unit and will be updated on Aux X unit from the Main unit, however they can not be set directly on the associated Aux unit. For example, setting Channel in Aux Carrier 2 Parms to 550 on the Main unit gets the same effect as setting the Channel to 550 on Aux unit 2, but if you want to set the Channel to 550 on the Aux unit directly, it will be rejected. For the detailed parameter relationships, see Multi-carrier Parameters Setup Consideration .

  • Single unit

    On a certain test set, if the Release B Physical Layer Subtype is set to Subtype 3 and the Local Testset Configuration is set to Single, this test set is configured as a Single unit with single carrier.

   
NOTE
When the test set is configured as the Main unit with no Auxiliary unit connected, this unit will act as a Single unit and can be used for MCTAP testing (Test Application).

   

MCMU Hardware Setup

Before an MCMU setup, 2 or 3 test sets, one as the Main unit and the other one or two as the Aux unit, are required. The following diagram demonstrates an example of MCMU hardware connection for three test sets (one Aux unit is optional).

  • Connect one test set's 10 MHz REF OUT to the other two's 10 MHz REF IN connector directly.
  • Connect the Main unit's TRIG OUT to the Aux units' TRIG IN connector.
  • Connect all the test sets to the LAN using a standard LAN cable, or directly connect them using a crossover LAN cable.
  • Connect all the test sets' RF In/Out port with RF cable and connect all the test sets and the AT with one or two power splitters. Note that this step should better be done in step 4 of MCMU Test Application Typical Setup Steps to keep session from opening until MCMU Automatic Setup Steps is done. See MCMU Test Application Setup Consideration ).

Multi-carrier Connection Setup for Three Test Sets