Passive Intermodulation Fundamentals

Jay R. Maple Applications Engineer 303.378.3475

Smiths Group PLC

Global Technology Company Listed on the London Stock Exchange 22,000 employees, Active in 50 countries 2010 sales = $5.4 Billion USD

New company name

Kaelus is global company that designs and manufactures complex and technically sophisticated RF products for use in the rapidly growing wireless communications market. We are not a new company but the consolidation of some leading industry brands within Wireless Telecoms: Triasx, Summitek, Allrizon and the commercial division of TRAK Microwave Ltd.

Test Instrument Heritage

Summitek Instruments: Denver, CO
Founded in 1996, Acquired by Smiths in 2001 Summiteks primary business is manufacturing Passive Intermodulation (PIM) test equipment >800 Bench-top PIM systems worldwide

Triasx: Brisbane, Australia

Founded in 1995, Acquired by Smiths in 2008
Recognized leader in the design and manufacture of innovative RF filter based products Pioneered development of Portable PIM systems with Telstra in Australia in 2004 Partnership with Summitek in 2007 >1000 Portable PIM systems worldwide

#1 PIM Test Equipment manufacturer worldwide.

What is Passive InterModulation (PIM)

PIM = Interference

PIM = Noise generated by Tx signals interacting with materials in the RF path PIM = Reduced BTS Coverage and Capacity

What causes PIM?

Anything introducing distortion within the RF path;
Loose / inconsistent metal to metal contacts Not enough contact pressure. Cracked solder joints Cold solder joints Scratches or dents at mating interfaces Burrs Metal flakes, chips, dust Improperly formed / sized parts Misaligned parts Rough mating surfaces (saw cut) Loose bolts Ferromagnetic materials (steel, nickel, etc.) Contamination Trapped between mating surfaces Trapped between plating layers Surface Oxides.

The result
MANY unwanted frequencies are generated.
Desired Interference
f 1 2f -f 3f -2f 1 2 4f -3f 1 2 1 2 f 2 2f -f 2 1

Interference

f -f 2 1

3f -2f 2 1 4f -3f 2 1

2f

f +f 1 2 1

2f

3rd Order 5th Order 7th Order

Ideal Infrastructure
Minimum loss

Incident signals

Linear Infrastructure
(No new frequencies)

Transmitted signals

Minimum

Reflected signals

Reflections measured by sweep test Measures the quality of impedance matching in the system.

Return Loss:

Return Loss -3 dB -6 dB -9 dB -12 dB -15 dB -18 dB -21 dB

Pr 50% 25% 12.5% 6.3% 3.1% 1.6% 0.8%

PT 50% 75% 87.5% 93.7% 96.9% 98.4% 99.2%

Return Loss is a ratio of Power Reflected to Power Transmitted Has become the standard quality metric to measure installation quality

Non-ideal Infrastructure

Incident signals

Transmitted signals
Non-Linear Infrastructure
(Creates new frequencies)

Reflections still measured by sweep test Reflected + interference signals Interference measured by PIM tester

Smiths Group PLC

Sweep test measures efficiency of signal propagation

PIM test measures ability to propagate signals without generating interference

Both tests are important and necessary to insure quality site construction.

PIM testing is not new!

Summitek Instruments has been producing bench top PIM test systems for more than a decade Summitek has delivered more than 800 BPIM systems worldwide These systems have been used by RF equipment manufacturers to reduce PIM in their component designs

What is new is the availability of rugged, portable versions.

Portable PIM test sets were developed in Australia at the request of Telstra by Summiteks sister division, Triasx Summitek / Triasx have delivered more than 1000 PPIM systems worldwide These systems are being used by network operators worldwide to reduce PIM in their RF infrastructure

How does a PIM tester work?

PIM Test Equipment

Low PIM Load

PIM Source

Transmit tones in Guard Band frequencies

BTS Receive BTS Transmit

IM3

F1

F2

Test Tone (5 KHz) Guard Band

1945 MHz

PIM level is expressed in either dBm or dBc

dBm
2 x 20 Watts
+43 dBm 0dBm
CARRIER

dBc
0dBc

-100 dBm

PIM

CARRIER

-143 dBc

Absolute power relative to1mW

Power relative to the carrier level

PIM

PIM level is meaningless without also stating the carrier power level.
20 Watts
PIM level is VERY dependent on test power level

2 Watts
+43 dBm

3dB change in PIM level for every 1dB change in test power CARRIER 2W not enough power to certify a site IEC 62037 recommends 2x 20W (+43dBm) test carriers

+33 dBm
0dB m

-100 dBm

CARRIER

-130 dBm

PIM

Noise Floor PIM

However 4W test sets are useful.

Light weight (11 lbs) Battery operated Highly portable Able to identify loose connections Able to find very bad components

PIM Sources at the cell site:

Site Guy Wires Steel Tower Other Sites IMD RF In-Line Surge Arrestors Low Grade Antennas Roof Flashing/Vent Hoods Installation Poorly torqued connectors Scratches Stress Fractures Contamination On conduction materials Dielectric material Materials Rust Ferromagnetic materials Poor Quality Plating Test Equipment Poor Quality Loads Low quality or damaged jumpers, adapters and connectors Misc. Cracked / Cold Solder joints Contact Pressure

Relatively new Portable PIM test equipment.

Portable PIM test equipment enables system level testing to be conducted at the cell site.

On site PIM testing reveals: Installation workmanship issues

Components damaged during installation

Components damaged in transit

Historically, Sweep testing has been the only method available to measure installation quality.
A low power signal is transmitted into the system and the magnitude of the reflected signal is measured The Tx frequency is stepped across the operating range of the site and the ratio of Reflected Power vs. Transmitted Power is displayed at each frequency Sweep testing will identify many defects: Kinked jumpers, crushed coax Poorly matched components (Antennas, Filters) Sweep testing can not identify PIM problems at a site One frequency transmitted at a time At very low power

Both Sweep testing and PIM testing are needed to ensure optimum cell site performance.
This is illustrated by test data collected at cell sites exhibiting poor KPIs
80.0%

Survey Results
73.4%

>100 feed lines surveyed

19 operators, 11 countries

70.0% 60.0% 50.0%

Many PIM problems recorded Few VSWR problems found The sites were originally commissioned with Sweep test equipment so it is no surprise that the VSWR results are good

40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% PIM problems VSWR problems 5.5%

PIM defects found:

The PIM defects found were primarily due to workmanship issues at the RF connections Many lines had multiple defects
50%

Survey Results
70% 62.50% 60%

Other Passive Devices with PIM problems included:

41.25% 40%

30%

Diplexing filters Surge Protectors Bias-Ts

20%

17%

16.25%

10%

KPI improvements reported on the majority of sites repaired

0%

Feed Cables

Jumper Cables

Antennas

Other Passive Devices

How to recognize PIM problems in your network:

High Dropped Call Rate
PIM induced noise shrinks the effective cell size. Gaps in coverage result in higher dropped call rate.

Significant increase in call drops after a new carrier was added to a DAS system with PIM problems.

How to recognize PIM problems in your network:

GSM: Elevated Interference on Idle (IOI) channels
High interference levels before fixing PIM problems. PIM problems corrected

Increased successful traffic channel (TCH) allocations

Decreased interference after fixing PIM problems.

How to recognize PIM problems in your network:

CDMA: High Access Channel Utilization
BTS is blind to new mobiles trying to access the cell Not impacting Dropped Call Rate because the call never initiated on the sector PIM problems corrected Significant improvement after fixing PIM.

How to recognize PIM problems in your network:

High Average Receive Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) differential between Main and Diversity paths. PIM problems corrected
BTS PIM causing elevated
average noise on the Main branch
Rx levels tracking together Main

Diversity path not impacted Key indicator of an internal

interference problem

External interference would

impact both paths equally
Diversity

Severity of PIM in your system:

f1 IM3 IM5 IM9 IM7 f2 IM3 IM5 IM7 IM9

RX Band

TX Band

Higher Tx power = higher PIM levels IM3 increases 3dB for every 1 dB increase in Tx power

Lower order non-linearity = higher PIM level Frequency combinations:

More operating bands sharing a feeder = higher probability of PIM in a Rx band (e.g.,DAS) Wider bandwidth signals = higher probability of PIM in the Rx band (LTE) Low order PIM in a Rx band = high noise rise

PIM Severity:
5th Order 11th Order -93 dBm 9th Order 7th Order 3rd Order -60 dBm

Outside PCS Rx band for F1 & F2 selected

Metal flake

Spectrum Analyzer Mode

Higher order products can be quite severe! Repairing IM3 reduces ALL IM products.

Resistive loads generate PIM

90 connectors typically not as good as straight connectors.

RF Connector Selection:

Avoid using Type-N 7-16 DIN connectors are more robust and produce less PIM

Poor cable preparation

Dirt / trash

Poor cable preparation

Poor cable preparation

Cable damage

PIM testing should be dynamic

Passing a static PIM test does not necessarily insure long term performance Lightly tap RF connections Flex cables while holding connector fixed If PIM level jumps out of specification make repairs Find problems before Mother Nature does! Wind induced vibration Temperature variations

Multiple PIM Sources

1 2

Largest PIM generator may mask smaller sources.

PIM displayed

PIM Source #1
PIM Source #2

Multiple PIM Sources

1 2 Larger PIM source must be removed before lower level source can be seen.

PIM displayed

PIM Source #1
PIM Source #2

PIM sources can be external to the system!

Incident signals

Transmitted signals
Linear Infrastructure

PIM

Reflected + interference signals

External PIM Sources

Typical 65 Beamwidth Antenna Patterns

4 ft. (1.2m) 800MHz

End View (Azimuth Pattern)

Side View (Elevation Pattern)

8 ft. (2.4m) 800MHz

If external PIM is suspected, rotate antenna on mast.

PIM PIM

45 Rotation

Elevation tilting may be more effective to identify external PIM sources.

PIM

PIM

15 Rotation

External PIM Sources

Antenna Testing
Make sure there are no PIM sources within the field of view of the antenna!
Recommendations:
BE SAFE! Point antenna toward the sky No metal objects within the half-power beam widths of the antenna in both Azimuth and Elevation Antenna should be placed on non-metallic supports during test Test equipment and test operators should be located off the end of the antenna; not the side Use a known good antenna to verify the test environment before testing
PIM PIM

SKY

PIM

SKY

Antenna Testing

The Benefit Rx Noise floor before PIM testing 5dB reduction in Rx Noise floor after correcting PIM problems.

1dB improvement in receiver sensitivity can mean as much as 11% fewer radio base stations

Source Harri Holma and Antii Toskala, WCDMA & UTMS Nokia Finland 2004. publisher John Wiley and Son USA

Held calls before PIM testing

Increased held calls after reconstruction using PIM tester

Summary
PIM = reduces site performance PIM sources can be eliminated / minimized through: Careful construction techniques Use of low PIM components Careful site design PIM testing should be dynamic (not static) PIM testing AND VSWR testing are needed to verify system performance

Break

PIM test equipment: iHA Series:

Highly portable Battery operated 2x 2W test tones Fixed frequencies Useful for component testing / fault finding

PIM test equipment: iMT Series:

High Power - Economy 2x 20W test tones Fixed frequencies Rugged construction Integrated transit case Laptop interface for reporting
New iMT-850B

PIM test equipment: iQA Series:

High Power - Premium Adjustable power (2 20W) Adjustable frequencies Rugged construction Integrated transit case Panel PC with touch screen interface, on-board reporting

Accessory Kits:

iQA-130A Soft Case

iQA-110A Hard Case

Transit case Jumper cables Adapters Wrench Torque Wrench Low PIM load PIM source Cleaning kit

iQA Series

Precautions

iQA Physical Characteristics

Telescoping handle

Shock mounted electronics

360 air inlet filter surrounding electronics

Fold-out legs for bench use.

Cooling fans 2 on sides 4 internal

Storage pouch Wheels

Rugged case

iQA User Interface

6 5

iQA Software
15

USER SCREEN

16

14

17 18

13 20 19

10

11

12

iQA Software Additional User Modes

Time Trace

Frequency Sweep

Spectrum Analyzer

iQA Software - Reports

Build final site report as you go No post processing of data required Output finished report from the iQA in .PDF format Screen shot pictures available for engineering reports

iMT series

iMT Physical Characteristics

Telescoping handle

Weather resistant seal Internal Cooling fans Wheels Rugged, integrated transit case

iMT User Interface

6 5 7 8

2 1

4 3

10

iMT Software
Remote Terminal Application loaded on Laptop Computer.
Very similar to iQA software Serial connection between laptop & iMT Laptop controls iMT operation Reports stored directly to laptop computer

iHA Series

iHA Series
RF on button Battery Check Display Mode Measurement Level LEDs Alarm LEDs

RF Output Port

RF ON indicator

Verification Procedure

Contact Us: Americas +1.303.768.8080 Asia Pacific, Africa +61.(0).7.3907.1200 China +86.21.5219.2719 Europe, Middle East, India +44.(0).1383.410386

2011 Kaelus Inc. All Rights Reserved

www.kaelus.com

Thank you

2011 Kaelus Inc. All Rights Reserved

www.kaelus.com