Designing WiMAX Networks ^TM

Course Description:

This course is targeted at students who are planning a WiMAX network, and need the skills to design a network, balancing the requirements of service quality (including coverage and throughput) with minimum capital and operations cost.

Course length:

2 days

Course Outline:

Module 1: The Many Faces of WiMAX
At the end of this module you should be able to:
  Ø       Diagram the architecture of a WiMAX network
  Ø       List ten variables that distinguish one WiMAX operator
            network from another
  Ø       Describe the likely future evolution of WiMAX services
  Ø       Compare and contrast product options for base
            stations, subscriber stations, and antennas

Module 2: Network Architecture and Modeling 
At the end of this module you should be able to:
  Ø       Explain and follow each step of DoceoTech’s WiMAX
            Planning checklist
  Ø       Relate the set of services targeted by your WiMAX
            network operator, to the network’s architectural design
  Ø       Identify the type, grade and quality of service
            expected by the target customers
  Ø       Diagram the selected frequency-reuse and
            sectorization plans
  Ø       Plan for network backhaul requirements

Module 3: Service Planning
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
  Ø       Compare and contrast the design implications of
            point-to-point and point-to-multipoint service
  Ø       Compare and contrast the design implications of
            business and residential non-line-of-sight services
  Ø       Understand the design impacts of a planned
            migration to mobile WiMAX service

Module 4: Performance planning
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
  Ø       Relate channel options, modulation options, and noise levels to throughput
  Ø       Determine service level for business subscribers
  Ø       Anticipate throughput for residential subscribers
  Ø       Allocate bandwidth for Quality of Service requirements
  Ø       Incorporate Voice over WiMAX traffic into a performance plan
  Ø       Model the impact of noise and interference on performance

Module 5: Coverage Planning
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
  Ø       Describe the impact of regulations on network design
  Ø       Prepare an RF plan for your network
  Ø       Explain the impact of elevation changes on coverage
  Ø       Explain the impact of foliage, buildings, and obstructions on coverage
  Ø       Model the cell density for a desired level of service, performance, and coverage.
  Ø       Plan to validate the model with field tests

Module 6:  Capacity Planning
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
  Ø       Estimate the number of base stations required to meet service, performance and regulatory
            requirements
  Ø       Use a capacity planning tool to estimate equipment requirements
  Ø       Engineer backhaul options for each base station
  Ø       Itemize an equipment list for each base station, based on expected subscriber traffic

Module 7: Network Deployment
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
  Ø       Explain and follow each step of the DoceoTech deployment
            checklist
  Ø       Plan for network installation and testing
  Ø       Describe the steps for cell-site construction
  Ø       Perform a drive test
  Ø       Optimize the network based on test data
  Ø       Describe the steps for subscriber station deployment
  Ø       Design the IP network settings for all routing components of the
            network
  Ø       Design the bandwidth management allocation for all sites

Module 8:  Network Design Case Study