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Bug #3042

closed

in the presence of two BTS, a subscribed phone seems compelled to repeatedly Location Update every ~15 seconds

Added by neels about 6 years ago. Updated about 6 years ago.

Status:
Rejected
Priority:
Normal
Assignee:
-
Target version:
-
Start date:
03/08/2018
Due date:
% Done:

0%

Spec Reference:

Description

In attached pcap, I start one BTS and attach my phone to it. All seems normal: one LU.
After a while, I start a second BTS on a different ARFCN. The phone goes into a cycle of repeated LU every more or less 15 seconds.
If I switch off the second BTS again, the LU cycle stops.

(Filter the attached pcap by 'bssap || gsm_abis_oml' to see just the LU cycling and where the second BTS started and stopped. Notice the time that passes before the second BTS starts and after it stops without another LU occuring, while during its operation they repeat often.)


Files

lu_cycle.pcapng lu_cycle.pcapng 3.09 MB neels, 03/08/2018 03:19 AM

Related issues

Related to OsmoBTS - Feature #3075: do not transmit SI13 when the PCU is not connectedResolvedlaforge03/19/2018

Actions
Actions #1

Updated by neels about 6 years ago

This is with the following software versions:

===== osmo-bsc =====
6b3ae4d4120f283776d27d808b247ced45510220
--> current master (f93970b167aba2805cc67e1326591f31fbe93ada) with a few patches on top, notably a hack to disable the conn_loss_counter in a_reset.c

===== libosmocore =====
ed3afa77701591f4f74a39dc8633e4eec25f804a

===== libosmo-sccp =====
3137be99ef2e75bd5bdd616a6c435513a64125ec

===== libosmo-abis =====
61460fd6431d6ea62752d74ad05425f132d7abbe

===== osmo-msc =====
48d4ec06e180cfb60556ce6c565620078bbea8db

===== libosmo-netif =====
525256a15a581daec7afd9edd65f10b827ff2f51

===== osmo-bts-sysmo =====
0.7.0.38-ef8c (first BTS) and
0.7.0.32-3c96d (second BTS)

Actions #2

Updated by neels about 6 years ago

The Location Updating alternates between the two cells, as wireshark filter 'gsm_abis_rsl && (gsm_a.dtap.msg_mm_type == 0x08)' shows

Actions #3

Updated by laforge about 6 years ago

Hi Neels,

On Thu, Mar 08, 2018 at 03:24:48AM +0000, neels [REDMINE] wrote:

In attached pcap, I start one BTS and attach my phone to it. All seems normal: one LU.
After a while, I start a second BTS on a different ARFCN. The phone goes into a cycle of repeated LU every more or less 15 seconds.

Could it be that the two BTSs
  • are about the same receive signal level?
  • are in different location areas?
  • your cel reselection hystheresis is low or even 0?

Then the behaviour you describe is exactly what is to be expected.

Actions #4

Updated by neels about 6 years ago

  • Status changed from New to Rejected

laforge wrote:

Could it be that the two BTSs
  • are about the same receive signal level?
  • are in different location areas?

yes and yes.

  • your cel reselection hystheresis is low or even 0?

"cell reselection hysteresis 4"

Does that count as low?
Setting to the maximum of 14 in both BTS, I still see the behavior of repeated "LU hopping".

And found the reason why the phone is doing that: it is looking for usable data service!
The networks are configured for GPRS, but I often just don't run the PCU.
As soon as one of the cells has a PCU running and GPRS service is established, the phone stays in one cell.

Interesting fact learnt: when you see a lot of LU, the GPRS might be down.
And if one cell's data service still works, all subscribers may tend to stick to that cell.

Which is not a problem as long as load balancing handover is working fine ; )

Actions #5

Updated by laforge about 6 years ago

On Fri, Mar 16, 2018 at 12:55:04PM +0000, neels [REDMINE] wrote:

And found the reason why the phone is doing that: it is looking for usable data service!
The networks are configured for GPRS, but I often just don't run the PCU.

I think we might consider disabling SI13 broadcast (and SI13 presence in SI3/4) if no PCU
is connected. Let's create a separate ticket for that.

Actions #6

Updated by neels about 6 years ago

  • Related to Feature #3075: do not transmit SI13 when the PCU is not connected added
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