Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Fundamentals
V.6_4.13
Course Objectives
In this course, we will cover the following items:
Introduce Passive Intermodulation (PIM)
Identify sources of PIM
Recognise the benefits from eliminating PIM problems
Demonstrate products used for PIM testing
Demonstrate through hands-on exercises:
Key Terms
DTF
DTP
RTF
DUT
IM
PIM
RL
TMA
Dynamic test
dBm
dBc
BTS
About Kaelus
Kaelus is an operating unit of Smiths Interconnect Microwave, within Smiths Group, plc.
RF Conditioning Products
Site Services
-4-
AMERICAS:
EMEA:
APAC:
- 5-
PIM
f1
f2-f1
2f1-f2
3f1-2f2
4f1-3f2
f2
2f2-f1
3f2-2f1
4f2-3f1
f1+f2
2f1
2f2
-6-
Linear
NonLinear
voltage
-7-
-8-
PIM Sources
-9-
RF Connector Selection
-10-
Sources of PIM
90 connectors:
Do not twist connector on cable
-11-
Sources of PIM
Resistive loads
generate PIM
-12-
Sources of PIM
Poor cable preparation:
Improper tool use
Dirt / Trash:
Cleaning
-13-
Sources of PIM
-14-
Sources of PIM
Poor cable preparation:
wrong tool
-15-
Sources of PIM
Cable damage:
Improper tool use
-16-
29.23%
3.52%
Sites or sectors with PIM
problems
-1717-
47
37
UMTS2100
GSM900/GSM1800
GSM1800/UMTS2100
CDMA450
25
GSM900/UMTS2100
GSM1800
GSM900
GSM900/GSM1800/UMTS2100
27
-1818-
70%
62.50%
60%
50%
41.25%
40%
30%
Surge protectors
20%
Bias-Ts
17%
16.25%
Antennas
Other
Passive
Devices
10%
0%
Feed Cables
Jumper
Cables
-19-
-2020-
10
dBc
0dBc
2 x 20 Watts
Reference
+43dBm
-100dBm
-143dBc
PIM
PIM
CARRIER
Reference
CARRIER
0dBm
-21-
+36dBm
0dBm
Reference
-100dBm
4 Watts
+43dBm
-121dBm
-21dBm
(3 X 7)
PIM
-7dBm
CARRIER
20 Watts
PIM
CARRIER
-22-
11
Note that both had the same PIM measurement value, -111dBm, if you ignored
the carrier power. However, you now know that the test power used can give
you very different results. Which is the better cable?
-23-
Why Do We Care?
PIM = Reduced coverage, reduced capacity and slower
data rates
PIM that falls in the Rx band elevates the noise floor
Reduces the ability of the system to detect real signals
The primary cause of PIM is poor construction quality
Interference
f1
f2
IM 3
IM 3
IM 5
IM 5
IM 7
IM 7
1880
1805
Tx band
1785
1710
Rx band
-24-
12
5th order
1880MHz
1805MHz
1800GSM Tx band
1920MHz
1980MHz
UMTS2100 Rx Band
-2525-
Tx/Rx 900
Tx/Rx 1800
-26-
13
Triplexer
Ant
PS
PS
PS
Ant
Ant
Indoor
Area 2
PS
Ant
Indoor
Area 3
PS
Ant
Ant
PS
PS
Ant
PS
Indoor
Area 4
Ant
Ant
PS
PS
Ant
Ant
Indoor
Area 5
Load
PS
RF Output ports
Combining Unit
OP 1
BTS
OP 2
BTS
GSM 900
OP 3
BTS
OP 1
BTS
OP 2
BTS
GSM 1800
OP 3
BTS
OP 1
Node B
WCDMA
OP 2
Node B
Outdoor
area
Ant
Ant
PS
OP 3
Node B
Ant
900/1800
Indoor
Area 1
1800/WCDMA
-2727-
Dropped calls
Call initiation failure
Reduced data rates
Blocked calls
Premature handoff
Reduced coverage
Reduced capacity
-28-
14
-29-
Main
Rx levels
tracking
together
internal interference
problem
External interference
would impact both paths
equally
Diversity
-30-
15
PIM problems
corrected
Increased successful
traffic channel (TCH)
allocations
Decreased interference
after fixing PIM
problems.
-31-
PIM problems
corrected
Significant
improvement
after fixing PIM.
-32-
16
The Benefit
5dB reduction in
RX Noise floor
after correcting
PIM problems.
RX Noise floor
before PIM
testing
-33-
Ideal Infrastructure
Minimum loss
Input signals
Transmitted signals
Linear Infrastructure
(No new frequencies)
Minimum
Reflected signals
-34-
17
Non-Ideal Infrastructure
Input signals
Transmitted signals
Non-Linear infrastructure
(Creates new frequencies)
-35-
-36-
18
-37-
-38-
19
IM 3
PIM
Source
PIM test equipment transmits 2 test tones at high power into the system
under test in order to excite any non-linear junctions
A typical IM3 system level field specification with 2 x 20W test tones:
-140dBc (-97dBm) new construction
-130dBc (-87dBm) existing sites
-39-
-40-
20
-41-
-4242-
21
16
14
17
18
13
20
19
10
11
12
Frequency
Sweep
Spectrum
Analyzer
Time
Trace
22
-4646-
23
47
24
iPA
Configurable and Ruggedized for Field Testing
49
25
Kaelus Reports
1.
2.
3.
PIM source
-51-
Ensure that any antenna being tested is placed so that no personnel are
exposed to RF field levels in excess of the maximum allowable exposure
limits
-52-
26
YES!!
Tapping or gently flexing a faulty connection will cause the PIM to spike
If the PIM goes above the specification, the connection needs to be repaired
Dynamic testing makes sure that the feed system is robust and will not fail
prematurely due to environmental extremes (Hot, Cold, wind, vibration, etc.)
Dynamic PIM testing is required by the IEC specification as well as your
customers. (Also referred to as Percussion Test).
-54-
27
PIM Teams
PIM testing is a team activity. In order to
correctly test PIM and isolate problems there is
almost always going to be more than one person
involved, the norm is:
The person doing the dynamic testing (tap, flex of
cables, connectors, antennas, etc)
May be required to climb
-55-
-56-
28
-5757-
-5858-
29
-5959-
New construction
Specified by US operators
New construction
Specified by US Operators
-6060-
30
RTF Overview
-6161-
User Interface
RTF analysis mode - Overlay view
Displays overlay of PIM vs. distance and
RL vs. distance graphs
Markers will be available for both RL and
PIM to display the relative distance
between peaks.
Errors that impact RTF accuracy impact
both the RL measurement and the PIM
measurement equally.
The relative distance between a known
reflection (such as the end of the
transmission line) and a PIM source will be
more accurate than either individual RTF
measurement.
-6262-
31
Basic RTF
Screen
Return
Loss
DTF Graph
PIM
RTF &
Return Loss
DTF Graph
-63-
Transmitted signals
Input signals
Linear infrastructure
PIM
-64-
32
External PIM
Range to Fault PIM sweep showing PIM sources:
approximately 7 meters in front of the antenna, jumper cable
Approximately 3 meters in front of the antenna
Antenna
-65-
External PIM
Picture of the site showing a support approximately 3.5 meters infront
of the antenna a possible cause of PIM
-66-
33
External PIM
-67-
PIM
PIM
15 Rotation
-68-
34
or external source
(generate report)
-69-
-70-
35
PIM
PIM
SKY
PIM
-71-
Antenna Testing
~6m
~3m
-72-
36
Summary
PIM testing and VSWR testing are both required to verify site
performance and installation quality
-73-
Accessories
Hard case
Dual charging cradle
2 spare batteries
Low PIM load
PIM Source
Torque wrench
Adjustable wrench
3-meter test cable
Adapter Kit
Cleaning Kit
74
37
Operational Demo
Review of the operator interface
Creating report headers
Creating test point labels
Test setup verification
-75-
-76-
38
Contact Us:
Americas
+1.303.768.8080
Asia Pacific, Africa
+61.(0).7.3907.1200
China
+86.21.6084.2200
Europe, Middle East, India
+44.(0).1383. 437920
Follow @KaelusRF:
Smiths Microwave 2013. All Rights Reserved
www.kaelus.com
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39