Networking & Cellular
E15 3G, 4G & 5G — Study Guide
This guide covers 3G, 4G & 5G as part of Networking & Cellular. Start with the vocabulary, then try to answer each question before revealing the answer. Connect these facts to a real network or cellular connection and practice the subject in the arcade when you are ready.
Acronyms first
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 3GPP | Third Generation Partnership Project |
| UMTS | Universal Mobile Telecommunications System |
| UTRAN | Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network |
| OVSF | Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor |
| GPRS | General Packet Radio Service |
| CPE | Customer Premise Equipment |
Key facts
Which body designated 3G?
ITU
3G works over which air interfaces?
GSM, TDMA, and CDMA
3G data transfer rate is more than…
0.2 Mbps
IPTV is…
TV through the internet
Which is NOT a 3GPP radio access spec listed?
WiMAX
UMTS is the 3G successor to…
the GSM family (incl. GPRS, EDGE)
UMTS radio interface is based on which spread spectrum?
DSSS (as CDMA)
UMTS channel width?
5 MHz
UMTS max data rate low range / urban?
2048 kbps / 384 kbps
UMTS duplex schemes?
FDD and TDD
In UMTS, which element controls the Node Bs connected to it?
RNC (Radio Network Controller)
In UMTS, the base transceiver station is called…
Node B
EDGE provides nearly ___ times faster speeds than GPRS.
3
EDGE is typically limited to…
135 kbps
If UE doesn't support EDGE, the phone reverts to…
GPRS
EDGE is sometimes classified as…
2.75G
W-CDMA FDD separates users by…
codes and frequencies (separate up/downlink)
W-CDMA TDD separates users by…
codes, frequencies, and time (same frequency up/down)
W-CDMA local area / wide area rates?
2 Mbps / 384 Kbps
W-CDMA carrier is 5 MHz vs ___ for narrowband CDMA.
200 kHz
W-CDMA downlink symbol rate?
3.84 Mbps
WCDMA downlink uses which modulation (2 bits/symbol)?
QPSK
WCDMA max downlink data rate (twice symbol rate)?
7.68 Mbps
The two operations of spreading in UTRAN?
Channelization and Scrambling
3G uses ____ codes as the channelization code.
OVSF
Which mode inserts an artificial transmission gap so the mobile can measure another frequency?
Compressed mode
GPRS max data rate?
160 kbps
GPRS supports coding schemes…
CS-1 to CS-4
The physical channel used by GPRS is the…
PDCH (Packet Data Channel)
Which GPRS node handles all packet-switched data and does for data what the MSC does for voice?
SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node)
SGSN converts IP from the backbone to…
SNDCP
Which GPRS node interworks with external packet networks (Internet, X.25) — gateway, router, firewall?
GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node)
The three elements of the 3G UMTS network?
UE, RNS (UTRAN), Core Network
The UMTS RNS (UTRAN) is the equivalent of GSM's…
BSS
The UMTS Core Network is the equivalent of GSM's…
NSS
3G WCDMA signal frequency range?
824–2100 MHz
3G WCDMA signal bandwidth?
4.2 MHz
HSPA combines which two protocols?
HSDPA and HSUPA
HSPA max throughput per cell?
14.4 Mbps
HSPA+ (Evolved HSPA) supports…
168 Mbps down / 22 Mbps up
Using a visited network outside your home network's coverage is…
Roaming
Inner loop power control: UE adjusts power per ___ commands in the downlink.
TPC (Transmit Power Control)
Inner loop: if SIRest > SIRtarget, TPC = ?
0 (decrease power)
Inner loop power control occurs every slot, which is…
667 microseconds
Outer loop power control is between…
NodeB and RNC
Outer loop power control ensures…
QoS for a particular user
4G adheres to which ITU specifications?
IMT-Advanced
ITU 4G requirement for MOBILE use?
100 Mbps
ITU 4G requirement for stationary/hotspots?
1 Gbps
4G makes 1 Gbps downlink possible over less than ___ of bandwidth.
67 MHz
Heterogeneous networks connect devices with different…
operating systems and/or protocols
The two main 4G categories?
LTE and WiMAX
LTE peak download / upload?
100 Mbps / 50 Mbps
LTE Advanced peak download / upload?
1000 Mbps / 500 Mbps
WiMAX peak data rates over 20 MHz channels?
128 Mbps down / 56 Mbps up
LTE upper layers are based on…
IPv6 TCP/IP (all-IP)
LTE uses OFDM and MIMO, similar to which IEEE standard?
802.11n
LTE usage in the U.S.?
90%
Globally, GSM is used by about what percent of cellular users?
80%
4G LTE data is synonymous with…
E-UTRA
4G LTE signal frequency range?
700 MHz – 2.2 GHz
4G LTE channel bandwidth?
1.4–20 MHz
WiMAX implements which IEEE standard?
802.16
WiMAX's two parts?
WiMAX tower (base station) and WiMAX receiver (CPE)
WiMAX data rates?
30–40 Mbps mobile / 1 Gbps fixed
Transferring data across an ISP (WiMAX) is called…
Backhaul
A WiMAX con?
Further from the source, slower the connection
LTE Band 2 (PCS) common frequency and duplex?
1900 MHz FDD
LTE Band 4 is called…
AWS-1 (1700 MHz)
LTE Band 5 is…
850 MHz Cellular, FDD
LTE Band 12, 13, 14, 17 are around which frequency?
700 MHz
LTE Band 48 is…
CBRS (US), 3550–3700 MHz, TDD
LTE Band 41 is…
BRS 2500 MHz, TDD
SDL in the LTE band table means…
Supplemental Downlink (downlink only)
Which multiple access places each sub-carrier at the null of others' side-lobes to reduce interference?
OFDMA
3GPP defines any system using what software as '5G'?
5G NR (New Radio)
5G signals are transmitted via many small cells on light poles/roofs because of…
millimeter wave spectrum
Millimeter wave spectrum range?
30–300 GHz
Which is a 5G CON?
Many old devices are not compatible
The two types of 5G services being developed?
Fixed wireless broadband and Cellular service
US lower (sub-6) 5G bands?
3100–3550 MHz and 3700–4200 MHz
Korea sub-6 5G band?
3400–3700 MHz
Europe sub-6 5G trial band?
3400–3800 MHz
US higher-than-6 GHz 5G bands?
27.5–28.35 GHz and 37–40 GHz
Korea mmWave 5G band?
26.5–29.5 GHz
EU mmWave 5G band?
24.25–27.5 GHz
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