Case Study Details

Welcome to the second part of our case study on the Mt. Chalmers Mining Site. Here, we delve into GSM Connectivity Enhancement, focusing on the MC-1N device. Robust connectivity is pivotal for real-time data transmission of parameters like temperature, humidity, and wind speed.

Click here to check Part 1 of this Case Study.

Problem Statement:

Our MC-1N device (utilizing the PCB2V5 board) faced intermittent connectivity loss in remote mining zones. Surprisingly, logs often showed RSSI values within an acceptable range during these drops. This highlighted a need to monitor beyond simple signal strength and incorporate deep diagnostic parameters.

KEY DIAGNOSTIC PARAMETERS

1. RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator):

Measures the total power level of the radio signal. While -50 to -70 dBm is ideal for LTE, RSSI alone can be misleading as it includes noise and interference.

2. SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio):

Compares the strength of the desired signal to background noise. High SNR (Above 15 dB) is crucial for clear data transmission.

3. RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power):

Focuses specifically on the power of the reference signals from the cell tower, essential for network synchronization.

4. RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality):

Assess usable signal quality by considering both power and interference. Calculated as RSRQ = (N * RSRP) / RSSI.

Field Data Analysis: MC-1N Device

ParameterMeasured ValueStatus / InterpretationRSSI-60 dB to -70 dBGood: Strong general signal power detectedSNR8 dB to 15 dBFair: Moderate background noise presenceRSRP-95 dBm to -105 dBmLow: Weak direct power from the towerRSRQ-8 dB to -12 dBPoor: Unreliable quality for seamless data flow