PIM Test & Test Equipment / Testers

- An overview of passive intermodulation, PIM test techniques, testing equipment, testers or analyzers
Passive intermodulation, PIM tutorial includes: Passive intermodulation basics PIM testing & test equipment As passive intermodulation is a parameter that is key to the operation of many systems including cellular base stations, satellite systems and many other radio systems were duplex operation is required, passive intermodulation, PIM testing is required. PIM testing is a relatively specialized form of testing and therefore special PIM testers are often used. This PIM test equipment will be able to provide a variety of results including the level of any passive intermodulation products and sometimes the distance of the PIM generation from the PIM tester. This is very useful in locating the position of faults in a feeder system where there may be a number of candidate areas that could cause the generation of the unwanted products.

PIM testing
There are a number of areas where PIM testing may be required. One of the most common PIM testing applications is for antennas and antenna feeder arrangements for cellular base stations. Here some of the major issues with PIM occur as a result of connectors, connections, and even the feeder for antennas themselves. While the system may operate satisfactorily when installed, degradation, especially due to the weather will occur with time. Accordingly it is necessary to undertake PIM testing to ensure the performance of the system is satisfactory, and if there are any issues, to help locate the source of the passive intermodulation signals. With PIM performance and hence PIM testing growing in importance the International Electro-technical Commission, IEC, Technical Committee 46, Working Group 6 is undertaking work to prepare test methods and to investigate relevant limits, for Passive Intermodulation in the RF and microwave frequency range for passive components (i.e. connectors, cables, cable assemblies, waveguide assemblies and components).

Line sweeping vs. PIM testing

When looking at the performance of RF areas such as feeders and antennas, for systems such as cellular base stations, there are two types of testing that are often undertaken. These are both different types of test and reveal different aspects of the system under test.

PIM testing: PIM testing specifically looks for the presence of passive intermodulation products within the item under test. It cannot detect losses or reflections. Line sweeping: This test measures the signal losses and reflections within a transmission system over the band of interest. It is not able to look at passive intermodulation products, although it may detect that there is a poor connection which in turn may introduce PIMs, although it cannot detect whether any passive intermodulation is present.

It can be seen that the two types of test are very different, although they test similar areas of a radio transmission system.

PIM testers
PIM testers or analyzers are sophisticated forms of test equipment. While a PIM test system can be assembled from signal generators and a spectrum analyzer together with a few other components, specialized PIM testers are often needed because testing is undertaken in situations such as cellular base station sites, etc. A basic block diagram of a PIM tester is shown below.

Basic block diagram of a PIM tester

The block diagram shows a typical passive intermodulation test system. In the PIM tester two signals at the relevant frequencies are generated and then amplified to ensure that they are of a sufficiently high level for the test. The signals are combined - in many testers an RF isolator may be used to prevent reverse RF power from the combiner entering the signal generator and causing spurious intermodulation products in the signal generator output that would alter the readings. The two signals from the signal generators simulating the transmitted signals are then applied to a diplexer within the PIM tester. This only allows signals through from the transmitter in the transmit band to the unit or component under test, e.g. a feeder, feeder assembly, etc. The item under test is terminated in a matched load - typically 50 to ensure a lifelike simulation. Any PIM spurious signals generated within the receive band will be able to return through the diplexer and be routed through to the receiver / detector where they can be detected and their levels and frequencies noted. [The frequencies of the PIM signals will be known because they are related to the two original frequencies of the signal generator frequencies, f1 and f2 as nf1 mf2]. By Ian Poole