5G NR RF Planning & Network Design: Complete 2026 Course

Explore free-space path loss calculations across 700 mhz, 3.5 ghz, and 28 ghz, and master propagation mechanisms, shadow fading, small-scale fading models, and millimeter-wave beamforming challenges for 5g planning.

Quantify millimeter wave impairments from rain, foliage, body, building entry, and vehicle losses for 5g nr fr2 link budgets. Apply itu p.838 rain attenuation and itur p.833 foliage model.

Learn when classic propagation models like Okumura-Hata, COST-231, and Wallfish Ikegami apply to 5G NR planning, their validity boundaries, and when to transition to 3GPP 38.901.

Explore antenna parameters—gain, beam width, tilt, front-to-back ratio, XPD, and radiation patterns—and how 2T2R and 4T4R passive antennas shape 5G site design, with sector width tradeoffs and capacity considerations.

Learn how to optimize antenna tilt and import pattern files to predict RF coverage, comparing mechanical and electrical tilt, validating pattern files, and applying environment-specific down tilt rules.

Explore massive MIMO fundamentals from 32T32R to 128T128R, comparing array, beamforming, and multi-user MIMO gains, and how EIRP and SSB versus traffic beam gains shape 5G mid-band deployments.

Compare analog, digital, and hybrid beamforming architectures and their RF chain requirements. Explain SSB beam sweeping, and how SSB coverage and CSI-RS capacity beams guide 5G NR planning.

Design millimeter wave antenna systems and master beam management for 28 and 39 GHz, covering 8x8 and 16x16 patches, P1-P3 alignment, and multi-panel IAB strategies against body blockage.

Compare vendor antenna portfolios from Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, and Huawei using a weighted scorecard of wind load, weight, and three-year TCO, design multiband LTE and NR for massive MIMO deployments.

Learn how EIATIA-222 compliant tower loading, wind and ice loads, and sectorization decisions—three versus six sectors and 64T64R massive MIMO—shape height, cost, and deployment feasibility.

derive separate uplink and downlink budgets in tdd mid-band to reveal ul constraints and eirp gaps. use sul and 2txue to close the gap, and verify with drive tests.

Master the 5g nr link budget by sizing G-node B transmit power, UE power class, beamforming gains, and body and cable losses, distinguishing SSB from traffic gain.

Explore margins and losses in 5g nr link budgets, including shadow fade, BPL, interference, foliage, and vehicle penetration, to design reliable indoor and outdoor coverage.

Explore why eMBB and vonr share the same 5g antenna yet yield different footprints, and apply eps fallback, suel, and 700 megahertz uplink strategies to close the link budgets gap.

Analyze FWA, URLLC, and MMTC link budgets to reveal how antenna gains, margins, and bandwidth shape coverage and SINR.

Learn a six-step coverage planning methodology for 5g nr, from operator requirements and ul mapl through propagation, site counts, and monte carlo validation using rsrp, rsrq, and sinr maps.

Define 5G coverage with SSR, SRP, SSS-INR, CSIR-SRP; compare idle vs connected modes; use layered macro, small cell, indoor design to 98% coverage and mitigate pilot pollution using SINR planning.

This module analyzes C-band 3.5 GHz FR1 mid-band coverage challenges and uplink enhancement through 64T64R massive MIMO, SUL, and 2TXUE to close uplink-downlink gaps.

Plan millimeter wave FR2 coverage by constructing beam corridors along streets, analyzing LOS and blockage, and selecting 64–128 beam SSB configurations to balance range and latency.

Engineer FR2 site selection and LOS analysis with LYDAR and 3D data to generate viewshed maps, following a four-step workflow and a backfill strategy across FR2, FR1, and LTE.

Explore coverage for highway, stadium, tunnel, rural range, and maritime scenarios. Assess doppler shift and handover; deploy das, small cells, distributed massive mimo, leaky coax, repeaters, and nrntn satellite.

Apply Shannon capacity to 5G NR scenarios and quantify practical throughput with the four-factor formula, accounting for TDD, MIMO, and overhead, and distinguish peak versus average SE.

Forecast traffic demand by linking subscriber growth and data usage to 5-year capacity plan using GIS-based demand maps. Model busy hours by morphology and verticals like factories, hospitals, and stadiums.

Learn to calculate per-cell throughput and capacity using SE, bandwidth, MIMO, and TDD; determine site counts; identify the binding constraint between coverage and capacity; apply CA and multi-user MIMO gains.

Evaluate candidate 5g site options using a six-criteria weighted scorecard and gis-based analysis to guide site selection criteria, balancing rf coverage, capacity, cost, timeline, backhaul, and power.

Identify and validate 5G RF site viability through a six-section RF site survey, including GPS coordinates, LOS verification, power and backhaul assessment, panoramic photography with compass bearings, and standardized reports.

Plan and execute drone-based site surveys using aerial photography, LiDAR, and photogrammetry to create 3D site models, perform EMF compliance calculations, and conduct structural analysis for 5G readiness.

Engineer optimal sector layouts, antenna height, and tilt to boost 5G NR performance across three, six, and asymmetric designs; optimize azimuth and cosite mounting with a six-step workflow.

Plan PCI in 5G NR with mod 3 and mod 4 rules to prevent handover failure. Learn the PCI structure, cluster-based allocation, collision and confusion concepts, and practical detection methods.

Analyze co-channel, adjacent channel, and cross-link TDD interference in 5G NR, assess C over I, ACLR/ACS, guard bands, and intersystem interference from LTE, radar, and satellites.

Master GPS timing for TDD synchronization to plus or minus 1.5 microseconds, verify with GPS lock and timing offsets, and apply PIM testing and remote interference management for atmospheric ducting.

Explore how 3 to 10 meter antenna heights alter propagation, apply small-cell models, and compare dedicated, shared, and carrier aggregation spectrum strategies for HetNet deployments.

Plan outdoor small cell deployment by selecting mounting options, prioritize backhaul first with fiber, millimeter wave, sub-6, or IAB, and ensure power, site density, and single-truck deployment.

Navigate permitting timelines, concealment requirements, and power budgeting for small-cell deployments, using FCC shot clock rules, 130–280 watt site power, and pre-approved concealment templates to accelerate approvals.

Analyze indoor propagation and wall and floor loss for 5G NR design, applying ITURP.1238, COST231, 3GPP indoor hotspot office, and 3GPP indoor hotspot mall with project-specific measurements.

Learn a data-driven O2i assessment to decide when dedicated IBS is needed versus macro coverage, using the five-step indoor signal prediction, walk tests, heat maps, and cost-benefit analysis.

Design passive, active, and hybrid DAS architectures for indoor coverage, calculate precise link budgets, apply aging margin and PIM prevention, and optimize cost, scalability, and multi-operator support.

Leverage indoor rf planning tools to optimize antenna placement and validate results with walk tests and heat maps, importing CAD or BIM floor plans for accurate modeling.