Chapter 7
Supporting Function: Minimisation of Drive Tests (MDT)
7.1 Introduction
7.1.1 General
Drive tests are a commonly used method by operators evolving their networks toward new technologies. The purpose of drive tests is to monitor and assess mobile network performance. The testing methodology that is currently performed comprises a series of steps and is manually controlled. Typically, when performing drive tests, test engineers need to capture measurements and course of related events of test calls performed during the movement with specially adapted equipment for this purpose terminal. In the simplest case, the testing person needs to carry a phone which supports network monitoring applications. However, the most widely practiced method and real drive tests consist of using of a test car adequately equipped with test terminal, measuring devices and additional tools (Figure 7.1). The test terminals are developed to support multiple functions and different transmission technology to provide diversity of results. They are usually integrated with a GPS receiver to get terminal coordinates and record its position. Some terminals are mounted in the car and are connected to high sensitivity antennas on the roof with different orientations, and thus different signal perceptions. In addition, the equipment includes a set of supplementary tools used for drive test control, for example, a device for measuring the ...
