Radio Access Networks: Exploring 5G and 4G Technologies
This Learning Path provides a detailed introduction to the radio access technologies of 4G and 5G. Starting with 4G LTE, you'll learn about OFDMA, MIMO, and key radio interface protocols. The journey continues with 5G NR, covering concepts like millimeter wave, beamforming, and more. Hands-on labs guide you through configuring and analyzing 4G and 5G radio interfaces, enabling a clear comparison of their architectures and capabilities. This path equips you with the knowledge to understand the evolution of wireless communication.
About The Learning path
Audiences
Learning Path Flow:
Lab Architecture:
The beginner's 4G Radio Lab provides a rich learning environment tailored for exploring and experimenting with various aspects of 4G radio technologies. It includes simulations of RF environments, which allow users to evaluate signal strength and performance under different conditions. Additionally, the lab features tools for analyzing network protocols, offering insights into the inner workings of Uu Radio interfaces. These resources collectively empower learners to gain practical insights into 4G networks, from understanding theoretical speed calculations to estimating network coverage and performance metrics.
Lab Objectives:
- Understand the basics of LTE and its advancements over 3G and 2G, including new technologies like SC-FDMA and OFDMA.
- Learn about the transition from LTE to 5G and review different LTE releases and their improvements.
- Examine the capabilities of User Equipment (UE) and eNodeB (eNB), and understand the interworking between GSM/UMTS and LTE services.
- Compare Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) and Time Division Duplexing (TDD).
- Study modulation and coding techniques, LTE Downlink and Uplink physical channels, MIMO operation modes, and Carrier Aggregation.
- Evaluate the various steps of the initial procedure of an LTE UE, before authentication and attachment.
- Understand the functions of RRC, PDCP, RLC, and MAC layers in the LTE protocol stack.
- Understand radio propagation, planning configuration, and antenna considerations including cable losses, sectorization, height, and down tilt.
- Simulate an AWGN channel and analyze how reduced SNR affects signal quality.
- Learn about the LTE link budget using a calculator to assess receiver sensitivity, link budget, and link margin in both Line of Sight (LOS) and Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) conditions.
- Analyze the signal path in radio planning using the CloudRF tool for a real-world scenario.
Lab Architecture:
The 5G Radio beginner setup includes core network components like AMF and UPF, along with the radio access network, user equipment, and visualization tools such as Wireshark. Wireshark helps analyze packet exchanges in the 5G NR portion, providing insights into radio network behavior. Additionally, the architecture features a throughput measurement tool for testing and validating 5G radio concepts, crucial for optimizing performance and ensuring network reliability.
Lab Objectives:
- Identify public, private, and hybrid 5G network deployments, explaining their respective architectures, use cases, and impact on radio access.
- Identifying and examining the unique challenges in radio deployment specific to 5G networks, such as fading, multipath fading, interference, and spectrum utilization efficiency.
- Explain 5G New Radio (NR) technical aspects: TDD/FDD frames, SUL/SDL, and their implications for network performance.
- Discuss Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) in 5G outlining its benefits, challenges, and spectrum optimization.
- Perform NR throughput measurements with its parameters (Subcarrier spacing, numerology, modulation scheme... ) and explore carrier aggregation for data rates and spectral efficiency.
- Analyze numerology and bandwidth synergy in 5G NR including different numerology configurations and their applications.
- Visualize MIMO and Beamforming to understand their contributions to coverage improvements and spectral efficiency.
- Study 5G NR initial procedures: cell search, random access, RRC setup, and analyze SCTP and NGAP packets using Wireshark.
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