Passive Intermodulation (PIM) testing

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 1

What is Passive Intermodulation (PIM)

TX signals at site

Passive Intermodulation (PIM) Passive Intermodulation (PIM)

F1 F2

IM 3 IM 3
IM 5 IM 5
IM 7 IM 7
IM 9 IM 9

• PIM = interference
• PIM = new frequencies generated by Tx signals at a cell site whe n
they encounter “non-linear” junctions in the RF path
• PIM falling in an operator ’s uplink can elevate the noise floor:
▪ Dropped calls ▪ Access failures ▪ Slower data rates

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 2

 What is a non -linear junction?

Linear junctions

• Current increases linearly with applied voltage.

• High pressure, metal-to-metal contacts
Current

• Welded or soldered connections.

Voltage

Non-
Non-Linear junctions
• Current does not increase linearly with voltage.
• Low pressure, metal-to-metal contacts
• Oxide layers on metal surfaces
Current

• Arcing across small air gaps or cracks

Voltage

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 3

What is non -linear at a cell site?

 Loose metal-to-metal contacts

 Poorly terminated RF connectors

 Metal flakes inside connectors

 Loose RF connectors

 Metal flashing on rooftops

 Loose rivets, screws, etc.

 Rusty / corroded surfaces

 Non-linear materials

 Nickel / Steel

 Ferrite

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 4

 What does PIM look like at the site?

 Broad band interference  Narrow band spikes

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 5

What does PIM look like to the operator?

PIM Repair

High average
noise level
QUIET
BUSY
QUIET
BUSY

Lower average
noise level

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 6

 Where does PIM occur?

F1 F2

2*F1–1*F2 2*F2–1*F1
3*F1–2*F2 3*F2–2*F1
4*F1–3*F2 4*F2–3*F1
5*F1–4*F2 5*F2–4*F1

IM 9 IM 7 IM 5 IM 3 IM 3 IM 5 IM 7 IM 9

• PIM occurs at mathematical combinations of the Tx frequencies

• F1 = 1930 MHz F2 = 1945 MHz
• IM3 = (2*1930) – (1*1945) = 1915 MHz
• IM5 = (3*1930) – (2*1945) = 1900 MHz
• IM7 = (4*1930) – (3*1945) = 1885 MHz
• IM9 = (5*1930) – (4*1945) = 1870 MHz
IM3 = (2*1945) – (1*1930) = 1960 MHz
IM5 = (3*1945) – (2*1930) = 1975 MHz
IM7 = (4*1945) – (3*1930) = 1990 MHz
IM9 = (5*1945) – (4*1930) = 2005 MHz

Oct-13 Company Confidential

What is the bandwidth of PIM signals?

F1 F2
200 KHz 200 KHz

600 KHz 600 KHz

1 MHz 1 MHz
1.4 MHz 1.4 MHz

1.8 MHz 1.8 MHz

IM 9 IM 7 IM 5 IM 3 IM 3 IM 5 IM 7 IM 9

• PIM bandwidth increases as carrier bandwidth increases

• PIM bandwidth increase with PIM order
• F1 = 200 KHz F2 = 200 KHz
• IM3 bandwidth = 3* 200 KHz = 600 KHz
• IM5 bandwidth = 5* 200 KHz = 1000 KHz = 1 MHz
• IM7 bandwidth = 7 * 200 KHz = 1400 KHz = 1.4 MHz
• IM9 bandwidth = 9 * 200 KHz = 1800 KHz = 1.8 MHz
Oct-13 Company Confidential
 Can one wide band carrier generate PIM?

5 MHz

5 MHz 5 MHz
5 MHz 5 MHz
5 MHz
5 MHz 5 MHz
5 MHz
IM 3
IM 5
IM 7
IM 9

• YES !
• The wideband signal is composed of individual sub -carriers
• Carrier bandwidth = 5 MHz
• IM3 bandwidth = 3* 5 MHz = 15 MHz
• IM5 bandwidth = 5* 5 MHz = 25 MHz
• IM7 bandwidth = 7 * 5 MHz = 35 MHz
• IM9 bandwidth = 9 * 5 MHz = 45 MHz

Oct-13 Company Confidential

Why are we just now seeing this problem?

Before:
-50 dB -50 dB
Simple antennas

Single bands per feeder

Narrow carrier bandwidths

Tx and Rx on separate feeders

>50 dB Tx/Rx isolation! PIM

Rx Tx Rx

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 10

 Why are we just now seeing this problem?

Today:

Complex antennas

More RF connections

Multiple bands per feeder

Wider bandwidth carriers

Tx and Rx combined on each feeder

▪ More potential PIM sources

▪ Increased probability of low order products PIM

▪ No Tx/Rx isolation

Tx/Rx Tx/Rx
850/1900 850/1900
Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 11

What is the solution?

Eliminate non-linearity so that multiple

frequencies can peacefully co -exist!
LTE
 Choose site locations wisely
S

GS
UMT

 Choose RF components wisely

M

CDMA  Install carefully

 Verify linearity using a PIM test

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 12

 How does PIM test equipment work?

Tx combiner
Must be
F1 Duplexer low PIM !
DUT
TX
F2
PIM Load

IM RX
Receiver

Transmits two test frequencies

High power (2x 20W typical)

Measures signal level at the IM frequency

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 13

Why do we measure IM3 ?

F1 F2

IM 3 IM 3

A A Noise
Floor

IM 11 IM 9 IM 7 IM 5 IM 5 IM 7

BTS Uplink (Rx) BTS Downlink (Tx)

 IM3 is the highest magnitude / most accurate to measure

 IM3 “characterizes” the linearity of the system

 Reducing IM3 reduces all PIM products

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 14
 What test frequencies should I use?

 Exact frequencies used not critical

 F1 & F2 spaced far apart to put IM3 in Rx band

 Guard band frequencies recommended for fixed tone tests

 F1, F2 & IM3 must all be able to pass through the system

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 15

What might block PIM test frequencies?

Antennas

 698-896 MHz

 1710-2170 MHz

Tower Mounted Amplifiers (TMA)

Filters

Lightning surge protectors

Sweep test to verify

Use correct PIM test set

By-pass frequency limiting devices

1900 850

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 16

 What is the preferred test process?

START

Sweep
Site Master DTF Repair
test

PIM Master
Noise
Floor

Static Dynamic Save

END
PIM vs. TIME PIM vs. TIME Results

Repair DTP Repair

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 17

Anritsu PIM test solutions

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 18

 First Generation PIM Master

 Introduced PIM Master ™ Dec. 2010

 Distance-to-PIM™ technology

 43 to 46 dBm output power

(20 to 40 W)

 Controlled using:

 BTS Master
 Cell Master
 Site Master
Three models:
 Spectrum Master
850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1900/2100 MHz

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 19

New Second Generation PIM Master

 World’s first:

 battery operated

 high power PIM analyzer

 Lightweight / small size

 one-half the weight

 one-forth the size

 25 to 46 dBm (0.3 to 40 W)

 Distance-to-PIM™
Nine models:
700 MHz (U/L), 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 900 MHz
 No external controller required
1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 1900/2100 MHz
2100 MHz, 2600 MHz

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 20

 MW82119A – PIM testing at top of the tower

Remote Radio Head (RRH) sites

Fiber & DC power to RF unit

RF path is jumper cable + antenna

PIM sources reduced, but not eliminated

Traditional test equipment not useful:

 Heavy

 No AC power

MW82119A is the solution:

 Light weight

 Battery operation

 Remote control option

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 21

MW82119A – Higher capacity DAS installations

Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS):

Many PIM sources

 Metal near antennas

 Many RF connections

Operators co-located on DAS

 More frequencies mixing together

 Increased probability of IM in RX band

MW82119A is the solution:

 Battery operation for remote testing

 Low power capability

 Distance-to-PIM technology

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 22

 MW82119A – Simplifies site testing

Rooftop sites:

Access challenges:

 Ladders

 No elevator

Many external PIM sources:

 Metal on building

 Rusty equipment

MW82119A is the solution:

 Light weight / small size

 Distance-to-PIM technology

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 23

MW82119A - Key features

Full-featured PIM test set!

* - Weight varies by frequency option

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 24
 MW82119A – Available models

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 25

MW82119A – User interface

RF output RF indicator

Emergency
stop button

Menu key

On / Off key

Touch screen Arrow keys

display
Keypad

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 26

 MW82119A – User interface

External power input

Ethernet
 AC adapter
 Remote control
 Automotive adapter

Two USB ports

Mini USB port  Power sensor
 PC connectivity  Flash drive

SMA (f) (w/Option 31)

 GPS antenna

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 27

MW82119A – Remote control

 Control PIM test from remote

location

 Firmware v1.04 (or greater)

 ZyXEL MWR102 router (or equiv.)

 Download application from Anritsu

website and install on any Windows
OS device with WiFi

 Range: >100m (328FT) line -of-site

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 28

 MW82119A – PIM vs. Time measurement

 F1 and F2 fixed
Tapping on RF
connections Limit Line
 PIM magnitude vs. time

 Visual indication of PIM stability

 Peak PIM held for Pass/Fail

 Used for dynamic PIM testing

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 29

MW82119A – Noise Floor measurement

 Measures IM frequency with

External transmitters turned OFF
interference

 Verify no external interference

at test frequency

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 30

 MW82119A – Swept PIM measurement

 F1 fixed, F2 swept
Multiple PIM signals on
combining in and out of phase

 F2 fixed, F1 swept

45 dB  PIM magnitude vs. frequency

 Shows worst case PIM level

 45 dB variation due to phasing!

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 31

MW82119A – Distance-
Distance-to-
to-PIM™
PIM™ (DTP) measurement

 F1 fixed, F2 swept
Antenna
PIM source 28 m
(59 FT) beyond  PIM magnitude vs. distance
antenna

 The fastest way to locate PIM

 See PIM beyond the antenna

 6 markers + marker table

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 32

 MW82119A – Enhanced Resolution DTP
Standard resolution reports Enhanced resolution reports two
one PIM source at 16.7m PIM sources, 15.7m and 17.4m

 Improves ability to see closely

spaced PIM sources

 Predictions clearly marked by

red bars

 Location for each prediction

automatically displayed

 Speeds DTP trace interpretation

16m 2m

loa
d
2x PIM sources 16m 18m
0m

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 33

MW82119A – Distance-
Distance-to-
to-PIM™
PIM™ (DTP) overlay

 Compare two DTP measurements

Overlay trace
Active trace
 Automatically displays distance
Relative
between peaks
distance
 Useful for:

 Showing “before” & “after”

results

 Showing distance to object in

front of antenna

 Saving the measurement keeps

both traces for reports

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 34

 MW82119A – Display options

 Default Colors

 Black and White

 Night Vision

 High Contrast

 Invert Black and White

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 35

MW82119A – Report Management

 Manage PIM data using Line

Sweep Tools (LST)

 Familiar user interface

 Add markers / adjust scale

 Single site report combining

VSWR & PIM results

 Tabular PIM report option

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 36

 MW82119A – Designed for outdoor use

 2 to 3 hour Battery Life

 Replaceable

 Same as other Anritsu HHs

 Production tested for reliability

 50 hour burn-in

 2 hour thermally cycled

 Designed tested for reliability

 HALT Test

 Vibration Test

 Shock Test
Designed and tested like all  Drop Test
Anritsu Handhelds

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 37

MW82119A – Standard Accessories

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 38

 Optional Accessories

2000-1745-R - Backpack Accessory Kit

760-259-R – Transit case

(Holds MW82119A only)
760-265-R – Transit case
(Holds MW82119A plus accessories)
(accessories not included)

2000-1746-R - Hard Case Accessory Kit

Slide 39

Oct-13 Company Confidential

PIM Master MW82119A

Light weight
Battery operated
Full featured PIM Analyzer

Oct-13 Company Confidential Slide 40