LTE random access channel (RACH) back off

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting a random access channel (RACH) preamble at a maximum transmit power during each frame of a plurality of consecutive frames of a first time period; and

adjusting, when a RACH response has not been received during the first time period, a transmit power of RACH preamble transmissions for a plurality of consecutive frames of a second time period to alternate between the maximum transmit power and a zero transmit power.

2. The method of claim 1 , in which the adjusting further comprises adjusting the maximum transmit power when the RACH response has not been received for a predetermined number of system frames.

3. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for transmitting a random access channel (RACH) preamble at a maximum transmit power during each frame of a plurality of consecutive frames of a first time period; and

means for adjusting, when a RACH response has not been received during the first time period, a transmit power of RACH preamble transmissions for a plurality of consecutive frames of a second time period to alternate between the maximum transmit power and a zero transmit power.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , in which the means for adjusting comprises adjusting the maximum transmit power when no RACH response has been received for a predetermined number of system frames.

5. A computer program product for wireless communication in a wireless network, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising:

program code to transmit a random access channel (RACH) preamble at a maximum transmit power during each frame of a plurality of consecutive frames of a first time period; and

program code to adjust, when a RACH response has not been received during the first time period, a transmit power of RACH preamble transmissions for a plurality of consecutive frames of a second time period to alternate between the maximum transmit power and a zero transmit power.

6. The computer program product of claim 5 , in which the program code to adjust is further configured to adjust the maximum transmit power when no RACH response has been received for a predetermined number of system frames.

7. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured:

to transmit a random access channel (RACH) preamble at a maximum transmit power during each frame of a plurality of consecutive frames of a first time period; and

to adjust, when a RACH response has not been received during the first time period, a transmit power of RACH preamble transmissions for a plurality of consecutive frames of a second time period to alternate between the maximum transmit power and a zero transmit power.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , in which the at least one processor is further configured to adjust by adjusting the maximum transmit power when no RACH response has been received for a predetermined number of system frames.

9. The method of claim 1 , in which the first time period is less than the second time period.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting, when the RACH response has not been received during the second time period, the transmit power of RACH preamble transmissions for a plurality of consecutive frames of a third time period to alternate between the maximum transmit power for one frame and the zero transmit power for two frames.

11. The method of claim 10 , in which the second time period is less than the third time period.

12. The apparatus of claim 3 , in which the first time period is less than the second time period.

13. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising means for adjusting, when the RACH response has not been received during the second time period, the transmit power of RACH preamble transmissions for a plurality of consecutive frames of a third time period to alternate between the maximum transmit power for one frame and the zero transmit power for two frames.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , in which the second time period is less than the third time period.

15. The computer program product of claim 5 , in which the first time period is less than the second time period.

16. The computer program product of claim 5 , in which the program code further comprises program code to adjust, when the RACH response has not been received during the second time period, the transmit power of RACH preamble transmissions for a plurality of consecutive frames of a third time period to alternate between the maximum transmit power for one frame and the zero transmit power for two frames.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , in which the second time period is less than the third time period.

18. The apparatus of claim 7 , in which the first time period is less than the second time period.

19. The apparatus of claim 7 , in which the at least one processor is further configured to adjust, when the RACH response has not been received during the second time period, the transmit power of RACH preamble transmissions for a plurality of consecutive frames of a third time period to alternate between the maximum transmit power for one frame and the zero transmit power for two frames.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , in which the second time period is less than the third time period.