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ATT-002-290-459
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ATT-002-290-459
External Alarms Standards - UMTS and GSM
Abstract:
This document was converted "as-is" from Mobility Network Services SharePoint to APEx in 06/2010.Original
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Issue 2, 07/15/10

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Author(s):
Bob DOrazio ATTUID

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Table Of Contents
INTRODUCTION
Reason For Current Issue
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Alarm Connections
Alarm Voltage
Alarm Wiring
Alarm Labeling
Grouped Alarms
Generator & Fuel Cell Alarms
Standard Network Operations Center (NOC) Alarms
External Alarm Input Variables - Configuration Dependentcies
External Alarm Assignments And Standard Alarm Layouts
Alcatel-Lucent UMTS Node B External Alarm Information & Reference
Documentation
11. Ericsson UMTS Node B External Alarm Information And Reference
Documentation
12. Ericsson 2G RBS External Alarm Information And Reference
Documentation
13. Measures
14. Contact Information
15. Related or Dependent Documents
A.1. Document Specific Acronyms
A.2. Acronyms Dictionary
Revision Log
ACRONYMS

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ATT-002-290-459
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Reason For Current Issue

Issue Number

Date

Description

Published By

07/15/10

Document cleanup.

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INTRODUCTION
Configuration guidelines to help ensure that the external alarm wiring connections are consistent across the network for
RBS equipment.
Subject: This document provides configuration guidelines to help ensure that the external alarm wiring connections are
consistent across the network for UMTS Node B's and Ericsson 2g RBS within the AT&T Mobility Network.
Executive Summary: This Policy introduces a National Standard for UMTS External Alarms. It is intended to support the
objective of establishing a provisioning standard to ensure consistent reporting of all equipment alarm conditions that
have the potential to affect network quality or network reliability. These alarms assist in identifying and diagnosing equipment failures and other service affecting conditions at the Node B or RBS location.
Background
During the deployments of TDMA and GSM technologies, the manner in which external alarms were connected to the
host Cell Equipment was designated as a Regional function. As Regional NOCs were brought on-line and centralized
fault management was implemented, the need to have the alarms, connections and text standardized grew in importance.
As UMTS Node-B equipment is deployed in the Network, there exists an opportunity to have the external alarms provisioned in a standard manner as the equipment is installed and to reconfigure legacy installations of external alarms on
2g Ericsson RBS.
Objectives
The standards presented in this document are intended to support the objective of establishing a National Standard for
how external alarms are physically connected and defined in the host Node-B. The intent is to assure consistent reporting
of all equipment alarm conditions that have the potential to affect network quality or network reliability.
The standardization of these alarms across the network is intended to provide an aid for effectively and uniformly installing
and troubleshooting equipment failure events. Additionally, to provide a standardized alarm output message that is easily
recognizable and appropriately prioritized by our fault management systems (RNOC). The standards set forth in this
document are intended for new UMTS sites built after the version publication date. These standards shall not apply to
existing sites, except to sites that are being upgraded or rebuilt, or where external alarms have not previously been
configured.
Actions Required

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1. Alarm Connections
All external alarms are to be implemented via dry contact normally closed logic (except in instances where NC logic is not
supported by the equipment (some generators). In these instances, Normally Open (NO) logic is acceptable) All indoor sites require
a minimum of two 66 blocks dedicated to external alarm connections. Additional 66 blocks may be added for increased
alarm connectivity or to provide a connection method for (series wired) grouped alarms.

For indoor base stations, the shelter manufacturer normally provides alarm devices such as smoke detector, intrusion
(door open contact), hydrogen detector, temperature monitor, mobile generator alarm/control connector, etc. and dual
pre-wired alarm terminal 66 blocks. For outdoor base stations, the alarm equipment will be located in the appropriate
outdoor enclosure.

2. Alarm Voltage
The BTS equipment determines the nominal alarm voltage. It shall be either +24 VDC or -48 VDC. (Equipment alarm
inputs are via dry contacts.)

3. Alarm Wiring

A.

Alarm wiring shall be 22-24 AWG, solid copper with nonflammable insulation. (Telephone company industry standard
color-code wiring is to be used for all alarm connections.)

B.

Series wiring for closed contact normal alarm groups (multiple equipment alarms grouped into a single external
alarm input) must be connected using spare terminals on either the two external alarm connection 66 blocks (if
sufficient spare terminals are available) or using separate 66 blocks dedicated to alarm grouping connections. All
wiring must be labeled per the following section.

C.

Series wiring for alarm groups located within the same cabinet or same equipment enclosure can be done within
the cabinet (or enclosure) using properly sized and installed compression/crimp splices to allow using a single group
alarm connection pair from the individual cabinet (or enclosure) to the alarm input 66 blocks.

D.

Parallel wiring for alarm groups (stationary & mobile generator alarms only) can be done directly at the alarm input
pairs on the 66 block. Each paralleled alarm pair must be labeled per the following section

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4. Alarm Labeling

A.

All alarm terminations shall be clearly labeled with plastic-coated labels at the 66 blocks.

B.

Each alarm lead shall be permanently labeled or tagged, identifying its alarm circuit at each end. Labeling/tagging
each individual alarm cable is especially important when multiple common equipment alarms are grouped.

C.

A printed alarm connection sheet indicating all alarm assignments and 66 block termination locations must be posted
(near the alarm 66 blocks if possible) at each site.

D.

66 blocks require identification labeling corresponding to printed alarm sheet identification nomenclature. Additional
66 blocks installed for alarm group wiring must be clearly labeled as 'Group Alarm Block Wiring'.

5. Grouped Alarms
Optimal alarm reporting would provide exact identification of specific site ancillary equipment as well as identify a specific
problem with the equipment. The quantity of external alarm inputs provided by various configurations of UMTS cabinets
combined with the quantity of individual alarms that must be monitored at our sites affects (and usually limits) the level of
detailed alarm reporting available. The situation requires logical groupings of similar alarm types into a single 'grouped'
alarm input that provides an identification of the type problem but does not identify a specific individual equipment unit or
component. Grouped alarms are included in the standards recommended by this document.
In any case where there are additional unassigned external alarm inputs available in excess of those required for the
recommended standards established within this document, Network Operations groups may optionally implement
additional external alarms for better problem identification details.
For closed contact (NC) normal alarm grouping, series wiring of the alarms will be required. The following figure represents
an example of series alarm group wiring:

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For open contact (NO) normal alarm grouping, parallel wiring of the alarms will be required. The following figure represents
an example of parallel alarm group wiring:

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6. Generator & Fuel Cell Alarms

Generator and fuel cell alarms require a minimum of 5 external alarm inputs, therefore occupying a significant quantity of
available alarm inputs. Sites without stationary generators will have mobile generator alarms connected and wired to a
site connector for rapid alarm connections during emergency generator deployments with an end result that all sites
(possibly with microcells being the exception) will require the 5 alarm inputs even if they are not equipped with a stationary
generator.
To minimize the impact, all generator alarms will use normally open contacts except for the mobile generator theft alarm
which will use a normally closed contact. Simple parallel grouping of the alarms at the 66 block can be done for stationary
generators, portable generators and fuel cells using the same 5 alarm inputs. The site mobile generator alarm connector
will require a mating connector with a shorting jumper on the generator theft alarm pair to be connected when a mobile
generator is not being used. (The jumper will provide a normal alarm condition when the mobile generator is not connected.) When a mobile generator is connected, cutting the alarm cable or unplugging the mobile generator's alarm cable
will cause a generator theft alarm.

NOTE:
Be aware that fuel cell deployments provide DC voltage only, not AC voltage. Site AC powered equipment necessary to keep equipment operational must be powered by an inverter, UPS or provided via small capacity AC
voltage generator in addition to the fuel cell.

Site Generator Control & Alarms Receptacle Matrix:

ND-00248e.xls
You may download this file from the online version of this document.
Note: You must have the proper application in order to open the file.

7. Standard Network Operations Center (NOC) Alarms

Based upon available documentation listing established NOC alarms, it was determined that additional new alarms must
be established (Nationally) for several site equipment types. It is recommended that the following alarms be established:
RXAIT (Major); SIAD (Major); TMA (Major); and MCPA Minor (Minor).

In addition, it is recommended that three generic cell site alarm conditions be established: Cell Site Critical (Critical); Cell
Site Major (Major) & Cell Site Minor (Minor). This type alarm reporting allows for general grouping of alarms based upon
site impacts and is especially important for ancillary equipment that may be associated with Microcell applications or other
site configurations with limited external alarm inputs.

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8. External Alarm Input Variables - Configuration Dependentcies

External alarm inputs provided with Node B UMTS equipment configurations from Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson offer a
maximum of 32 alarm inputs and several configurations provide significantly fewer alarm inputs. Maximum quantities of
available alarm inputs for all UMTS Node B configurations are listed in following sections. External alarm inputs are
included with Alcatel-Lucent Node B UMTS standard configurations. All Ericsson Node B UMTS standard configurations
(currently) do not include alarm capability and require optional equipment for external alarms (including microcells). Recent
negotiations by AT&T Mobility HQ has resulted in a process to obtain the optional external alarm input hardware required
for Ericsson Node B UMTS configurations (ordered to date) at no cost to AT&T Mobility via a purchase credit process.
(Details of the process have not been released to markets at this time.) The negotiations with Ericsson have also resulted
in external alarm optional hardware (at significantly reduced pricing) to be included for all new Ericsson Node B UMTS
standard configurations ordered by AT&T Mobility.
Alcatel-Lucent Node B UMTS configurations (except microcells) reserve 8 alarm inputs for power related equipment and
some configurations using integrated Alcatel-Lucent power equipment or external Lucent power cabinets can require a
total of 16 reserved alarm inputs (reducing customer definable inputs to 16). The Alcatel-Lucent documentation indicates
that for configurations without integrated power equipment or external Lucent power cabinets, all alarm inputs are
customer definable.
Ericsson Node B UMTS configurations reserve two alarm inputs for an optional cabinet smoke detector (the detector not
included with standard AT&T Mobility configurations).

9. External Alarm Assignments And Standard Alarm Layouts

The alarm input variables associated with vendor Node B configurations combined with the significant variations in ancillary site equipment greatly complicate defining standard alarm assignments that can be used at all sites. Therefore, the
recommended approach within this document is to define and assign only alarms inputs associated with specific vendor
configuration dependencies or those specifically required by AT&T Mobility for all sites. In keeping with the overall objective to 'assure reporting all equipment alarm conditions potentially affecting network quality or network reliability', market
Network personnel are to assign (and label per previous sections) the available unassigned alarm inputs in the best
manner to meet the objective.
Some specific alarms are reserved and their location assigned for all sites (except micro-cells) within AT&T Mobility. The following
15 alarm assignments represent the alarms and assignments that will be common to all AT&T Mobility sites even if their function is
not required or used at the site:

Power Plant Major

Power Plant Minor

Fuse or Breaker Alarm

Batteries on Discharge

DC Voltage Out-of-range

Smoke Detect

Intrusion Alarm

Generator Run

Generator Fail (Shutdown)

Generator Alarm (Non-shutdown)

Generator Low Fuel

Mobile Generator Theft

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Commercial AC Mains Power Fail

Air Conditioning Fail

(High/Low Temperature)

NOTE: DC Power alarms above may not be required or used for outdoor cabinet configurations, but the alarms are
reserved for standardized layout purposes.
The remainder of available alarm inputs are to be assigned (and grouped if necessary) to effectively report all other site equipment
problems potentially affecting network quality or reliability. The following list represents (but is not limited to) types of site equipment
that must be alarmed at all AT&T Mobility sites as applicable:

Gas Detect (Hydrogen)

Tower Beacons and Lights

MCPA (or External RF Power Amplifiers)

External Tower Mounted Amplifiers

SIAD Equipment

RXAIT Equipment

Dehydrator

External Breaker or Fuse Panels

MUX Equipment

Microwave Systems

RET Controllers

Distributed Antenna Systems

Fire Suppression Systems

Surge Arrestors

Alarm layout sheets are provided for each UMTS Node B configuration. The sheets can be used as a template for posting
specific alarm assignments at each site. (see attachments)

10. Alcatel-Lucent UMTS Node B External Alarm Information &

Reference Documentation
Alcatel-Lucent offers several UMTS Node B configurations with differing alarm input capacities and wiring methods as
described within the following specified documents:

FlexentUMTS Macrocell Indoor (32 external alarm inputs - some inputs reserved/used depending on configuration)
External alarm information:
401-382-462R03.01: Flexent UMTS Macrocell Indoor Operation, Administration and Maintenance for +24V
(Section 11: 11-43-46)
401-382-414R0301: Flexent UMTS Macrocell Indoor Site reparation Guidelines for +24 V (Section 7: 10-12;
Appendix C: 6 & 13-15)
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FlexentUMTS Modular Cell Outdoor (32 external alarm inputs - some inputs reserved/used depending on configuration)
External alarm information:
401-382-760R03.01: Flexent UMTS Modular Cell Operation, Administration and Maintenance for +24V (Section
11: 11-43-46)
401-382-415R0301: Flexent UMTS Modular Cell Outdoor Site Preparation Guidelines for +24V (Section 8: 8-10;
Appendix C: 5 & 13-18)

FlexentUMTS Macrocell Compact Outdoor & Indoor (22 external alarm inputs - some inputs reserved/used
depending on configuration)
External alarm information:
401-382-961R03.01: Flexent UMTS Macrocell Compact Operation, Administration and Maintenance for +24V
(Section 11: 43-46)
401-382-915R0301: Flexent UMTS Macrocell Compact Outdoor Site Preparation Guidelines for +24V (Section 8:
8-10; Appendix C: 5 & 14-15)
401-382-914 R0301: Flexent UMTS Macrocell Compact Indoor Site Preparation Guidelines (Section 8: 10-12;
Appendix C: 6 & 13-14)

FlexentUMTS Microcell (type M) Outdoor (8 external alarm inputs - some inputs reserved/used depending on
configuration)
External alarm information:
401-382-966R03.01: Flexent UMTS Microcell (Type M) Operation, Administration and Maintenance for +24V
(Section 11-43-46)
401-382-916R0301: Flexent UMTS Microcell (Type M) Site Preparation for +24V (Section 8: 5; Appendix C: 6 &
14-16)
Alcatel-Lucent UMTS configurations (incorporating Alcatel-Lucent supplied power options such as within outdoor
cabinet configurations) require specific alarm input assignments. The assignments and dependencies are described
in the documentation referenced above. Such reserved alarm inputs are utilized and assigned 'same function' for
all configuration variables wherever possible as part of the recommended alarm standards provided within this
document.

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11. Ericsson UMTS Node B External Alarm Information And Reference

Documentation
Ericsson offers three UMTS Node B configurations with differing alarm input capacities and wiring methods as described
within the following specified documents:

EricssonUMTS RBS3206 Indoor (32 external alarm inputs - some inputs reserved/used depending on configuration
- requires optional XALM hardware with additional option for EACU panel providing OVP modules for alarm connections)
External alarm information:
1/1551-ZHA 901 01 Uen A 2005-01-28: Technical Product Description, XALM (Entire Document)
2/1531-ZHA 901 01 Uen A 2005-12-08: Installation Instruction XALM Indoor (Entire Document)
1/1551-COH 109 2069 Uen E 2006-03-07: Technical Product Description RBS 3206 (Section 11)
1/1531-COH 109 2069 Uen C 2006-03-03: Installation Instruction RBS 3206 (Section 3.11: 40)

EricssonUMTS RBS3106 Outdoor (12 external alarm inputs- requires optional XALM hardware and OVP modules
- NOTE: work in progress to increase available alarm inputs)
External alarm information:
1/1551-ZHA 901 01 Uen A 2005-01-28: Technical Product Description, XALM (Entire Document)
1/1551-COH 109 2074 Uen E 2006-03-07: Technical Product Description RBS 3106 (Section 8.7: 36 and Section
12: 49)
1/1531-COH 109 2074 Uen F 2006-03-02: Installation Instruction RBS 3106 (Section 3.12: 68)

EricssonUMTS RBS3303 Microcell Outdoor (8 external alarm inputs - optional alarm & control box available for
routing alarm connections external to cabinet)
External alarm information:
4/1551-COH 109 548 Uen E 2006-03-13: Technical Product Description RBS 3303 (Section 12: 35)
2/1531-COH 109 548 Uen C 2005-11-08: Installation Instruction RBS 3303 (Section 3.8 & Section 3.9: 37-41)

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12. Ericsson 2G RBS External Alarm Information And Reference

Documentation
Ericsson offers 2 GSM RBS configurations with differing alarm input capacities and wiring methods as described within
the following specified documents:

EricssonGSM RBS2206 Outdoor

EN/LZT 720 0009 R4A Ericsson RBS 2206 Installation and Integration Manual.
EN/LZT 720 0225 R3A Ericsson RBS 2206 Technical Product Description

EricssonGSM RBS2106 Outdoor

29/1531-LZA 701 0001 Uen J 2008-09-22 Ericsson RBS2106 Installation Instructions
EN/LZT 720 0222 Uen R8A Ericsson RBS2016 and RBS2106i Product Description

13. Measures
These processes shall be carried our consistently upon installation of the Node B sites within AT&T Mobility's Network.
The implementation of this policy letter will be verified as part of compliance reviews and periodic testing.

14. Contact Information

For questions regarding this policy please contact:

Bob D'Orazio, Manager, Network Operations Support

E-mail address: bd1821@att.com

Russ Seibert, BTS Equipment Engineering

E-mail address ws3428@att.com
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15. Related or Dependent Documents

ND-00248a.xls
You may download this file from the online version of this document.
Note: You must have the proper application in order to open the file.

ND-00248b.xls
You may download this file from the online version of this document.
Note: You must have the proper application in order to open the file.

ND-00248c.xls
You may download this file from the online version of this document.
Note: You must have the proper application in order to open the file.

ND-00248d.xls
You may download this file from the online version of this document.
Note: You must have the proper application in order to open the file.

ND-00248f.xls
You may download this file from the online version of this document.
Note: You must have the proper application in order to open the file.

ND-00248g.xls
You may download this file from the online version of this document.
Note: You must have the proper application in order to open the file.

Revision Log
Issue Number

Date

Description

Published By

07/15/10

Document cleanup.

cj4040

Acronyms
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A.1. Document Specific Acronyms

A.2. Acronyms Dictionary

Refer to ATT-000-000-020, Acronyms Dictionary.

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