Detailed Report: 160 Hops Short Range Microwave Links Project

This report details a student's experience as a transmission network project team member at Telesom Company in Somalia, focusing on the '160 Hops Short Range Microwave Links – Aviat Eclipse INU Access Links' project. The project involved replacing existing access layer transmission links across 160 stations in Hargesia, Berbera, and Burao, to upgrade capacity and support new Huawei BTS3900 eNodeB LTE. The student's responsibilities included installing microwave antennas, commissioning, IP planning, NMS network integration, and configurations. The report highlights the technical challenges faced, such as issues with Aviat ODU600 installation, and the solutions implemented, like the use of plug-in cards. The project aimed to upgrade the network to 600 Mbps links, replacing older 100 Mbps Ceragon links, and incorporating LTE services alongside existing 2G, 3G, ISP, and data services. The report also covers the student's engineering skills, the theoretical knowledge applied, and the collaborative approach taken with the project team, including daily progress reports to the project leader. The report concludes with an overview of the project's contributions and achievements, emphasizing the successful upgrade of the access layer capacity.

CE 1.1 Information of Project
Name of the Project: 160 Hops Short Range Microwave links -- Aviat Eclipse INU
Access Links
Location of the project: Hargesia, Somalia
Project Duration: 3 months (June of 2016 to September of 2016)
Organization: Telesom Company, Hargesia, Somalia
Role and Designation during the time: Transmission Network Project Team
Member
CE 1.2 Background of the Organization
Telesom Company is the leading and the largest private telecom and services of
information and communications technology organization. The major services of this
particular organization involve services for data and voice, cloud services, mobile money,
GSM, ISP, LTE and 3G connection.
CE 1.3 Background of this Project work
CE 1.3.1 Basic Characteristics of the Project
Microwave links are the communication systems, which majorly utilizes several
beams of radio waves within the frequency range of microwave for the core purpose of
transmitting confidential or sensitive information within two fixed and different locations.
The short range microwave links are responsible for sending information in short distances in
a cost effective manner. While working in Telesom Company as a network transmission

engineer, I got the opportunity to execute a project namely, 160 Hops Short Range
Microwave Links – Aviat Eclipse INU Access Links.
Aviat access links are radio transmission systems that can support short and long
range radio transmissions. The basic link consists of one or more powerful Eclipse ODU 600,
an Indoor Unit namely INU or INUe that can support multiple radio links and several plug-in
service cards. It provides wide choices of user interfaces and radio link operation. The plug-in
cards include NCC (Node Control Card), DAC (Digital Access Card), AUX, NPC (Node
Protection Card), PCC (Power Converter Card).
I was assigned as the transmission network project team member. This particular
project was deployed by the transmission network team of Telesom for replacing every
existing access layer transmission link of over 160 stations within the cities of Burao, Berbera
and Hargesia. The major reason for this type of replacement was up gradation of the total
capacities of several access links. It was because the new Huawei BTS3900 eNodeB LTE in
every station was being supported. All the access links comprised of capacities of 600 Mbps
to replace the older Ceragon links of 100 Mbps that transported data services, 2G, 3G and
ISP. Therefore, I have successfully executed the project of replacing every existing access
layer transmission link of 160 stations in three major cities in Somalia.
CE 1.3.2 Developed Objectives for the project work
While completing this project of 160 Hops Short Range Microwave Links – Aviat
Eclipse INU Access Links with every relevant hardware and software, I upgraded the overall
capacity of the respective access layer of transport network for 160 stations, in which the new
services of LTE was needed to be implemented. Therefore, for the purpose of
accomplishment of the project work with major efficacy, I have developed the following
project objectives:

 To replace every existing access layer transmission link, present in 160 stations within
the cities of Hargesia, Berbera and Burao cities of Somalia.
 To update the distinctive capacities of access links for supporting the new Huawei
BTS3900 e NodeB LTE, present in every station.
 To ensure that every new link has the capacity of 600 Mbps so that it could replace
the older Ceragon links with capacity of 100 Mbps.
 To include LTE services by upgrading the systems in addition to 2G, 3G, ISP and
data services.
 To check whether the project result is matching with the expected results or not.
CE 1.3.3 My working area in this project
I was employed as the transmission network project team member in this project. I
comprised of major ground experience of these types of networking projects and thus the
supervisor of this project took the decision to provide me with major responsibilities to install
Aviat Eclipse INU access links. I was being continuously directed by my team leader, hence I
did not face any issue while completion of the work. With my basic knowledge of
transmission networking, I ensured that every project responsibility is being executed
properly. Moreover, I tried to help out my friends and provide them guidance, whenever they
needed it.

Project Supervisor
Transmission Network
Project Team Member
Team Member of
the project
Team Member of
the project
CE 1.3.4 Group of people Involved in Project
Figure 1: Team Members of this Project Work
CE 1.3.5 My main responsibilities and duties throughout the work
For completing the project work of 160 Hops Short Range Microwave links - Aviat
Eclipse INU Access Links, my main responsibilities included installation of the microwave
antennas, commissioning, IP planning, NMS network integration, configurations and NMS
server setup. Since my entire team comprised of technicians and network engineers, I had to
ensure that all of them are working effectively. I installed Aviat ODU600 or outdoor units,
microwave antennas, microwave switches and Eclipse indoor units. These were the most
important parts and requirements in my project and hence I made sure that every requirement
is being fulfilled with utmost priority.
My other responsibilities involved preparation of the cable connectors, installation of
network as well as coaxial cable and even planning of the cable management in consistent
with every needed standard. I also had to install the grounding systems for all stations for the
core purpose of preventing the equipment from any type of damage from lightening as well
as power surges. I made sure that the installation of grounding terminals, grounding rods,

ground couplers, ground bars and ground enhancement materials is being done efficiently.
Moreover, I also configured the radio configuration for completing alignment works and then
planned network IP for the network components. Finally, I had to configure service on every
completed link and then assist the technicians in transferring the traffic from every old link to
new one.
CE 1.4 Distinct Activities in this Work
CE 1.4.1 Comprehending the most Basic Theories Used in this Project work
In the project work, I took up the theoretical knowledge of transmission network. I
understood that replacement of the older access links with the new access links of Aviat
Eclipse INU.
Figure 2: Aviat ODU600 for the project
I maintained the bands of 11GHz, 13GHz, 15GHz, and 18GHz and ensured that the
equipment is being tested and complied with the limits for Class A digital device. As soon as
the equipment is generated and used for radiation of the radio frequency energy, it might

cause major harmful interference to various radio communications. This was needed for
checking that the modulation switching is errorless for the priority traffic. I took the theory of
IEEE 802.3x and Ethernet. These were needed for synchronous advanced traffic shaping for
both adaptive and fixed modulation links.
CE 1.4.2 My main Engineering skills or knowledge that are applied in the work
For executing the project, I have applied my skill and knowledge of
telecommunication engineering. I have successfully applied my microwave transmission
knowledge including minimizing signal attenuation losses, antenna alignment to achieve best
RSL. I also applied my engineering skills by planning frequencies to avoid interference,
choosing the right modulation schemes and installing proper grounding system for the
equipment.
CE 1.4.3 Execution of the work and main Tasks Completed in the project
I had to replace the existing access layer transmission links of 160 stations in
Hargesia, Berbera and Burao cities, Somalia. For this purpose, I checked for the synchronous
and asynchronous auxiliary data channels with high speed. Since, the old Ceragon links were
of 100 Mbps, it was needed to speed up the present links of 600 Mbps.
First, I installed vertically polarized antennas for each station which had diameters
ranging from 0.9-0.6m. I attached two Aviat ODU600 with a coupler and connected it to the
antenna through a flexible waveguide which was 1.2m long. The next step I took was to set
up the INU/INUe. I inserted two RAC60E to the INUe to provide microwave interface
connected to the ODU by coaxial cable. I also connected a DAC16E1 card for each INU to
support E1 services. I installed DACGE3 card to each INU for the purpose of supporting
Ethernet services which has 3 electrical GE ports and two with optional SFP module.

Next I planned class C IP address for each microwave switch to connect all equipment
to the NMS server. I used Aviat Portal software tool for the radio configurations. I set up the
management tool called ProVision for monitoring equipment in the radio network. By using
the ProVision software tool I managed to configure E1 to support 2G traffic of the BTSs, and
Ethernet services for carrying 3G, LTE, and ISP services. I managed to all traffic within the
DAC GE3 card by grouping switch ports under a common VLAN ID. VLAN configuration
sets VLAN tagging and filtering, also customises cross connections between network ports.
This configuration results the separation of Ethernet ports and channels so that different
traffics are separately managed.
In conclusion, voice and data services such as 3G, 4G, ISP, and mobile money data
were served without congestion.
CE 1.4.4 Identified issue with its solution
1.4.4.1 Issue in this work
The most significant technical difficulty, which I have confronted in the project work
was while installing the outdoor units of Aviat ODU600. Since this was one of my
responsibilities, I ensured that the installation is being completed in time. However, the
reading showed erroneous results and my project was getting delayed.
1.4.4.2 Solution to the identified Issue
To resolve this technical difficulty faced within this project, I eventually gave the
ideology of inclusion of plug in cards. These cards for the INU allow an easier and quicker
customization on the configuration of Eclipse. I checked that I had missed these cards
previously as they were hot pluggable. The plug in cards used in this project were RAC,
AUX, NCC, FAN, PCC, NPC and DAC.

CE 1.4.5 Major Plan made to provide innovative as well as creative work
I made a feasible as well as proper plan to execute the mechanisms of project without
any type of complexities. I even attended several workshops for understanding transmission
of networks. To obtain accurate and proper information in this project, I had to undertake
subsequent help from my project leader and team members.
CE 1.4.6 Work Collaboration
I gave daily progress reports to the project leader while completing this project work.
These weekly reports helped in major identification of the technical difficulties that were
confronted within the work.
CE 1.5 Overall Reviewing of this Project
CE 1.5.1 Overview of this Project work
I had to replace the existing Ceragon 100 Mbps with new access links of 600 Mbps
and ensured that I am able to upgrade the total capacity of access layer in the transport
network of 160 stations, in which the new LTE services were needed to be implemented.
CE 1.5.2 My Major Contribution to this work
I had a couple of contributions in the work. I configured radio configurations for
completion of alignment work and even planned the network IP for all types of network
components. I even checked for regular progress of the work and also solved the issues.