Distance-to-PIM tech based test-gear from Anritsu for BTS testing

Anritsu Company boasts its newly released Distance-to-PIM (DTP) technology takes analyzing BTS sites to a new level by enabling construction crews, technicians and performance engineers to measure the integrity of both the transmission system and the surrounding environment for the first time. Developed as part of Anritsu's recently introduced MW8219A PIM Master, DTP addresses the growing need to measure Passive Inter-modulation (PIM) due to the rollout of high-capacity platforms, such as HSPA+ and LTE.

DTP is said to be superior analysis tool compared to conventional PIM testers. It encompasses conventional PIM testing theory but offers users the convenience of distance information to assist in locating PIM problems. This is a major leap forward over conventional PIM measurements, and offers information and clarity never before available. A two-tone test is utilized and the test signals are stepped to obtain phase information, which is then processed to display the distance and level information.

A key advantage of DTP according to Anritsu is that it allows measurements to be performed through the antenna system into the surrounding environment resulting in less crew movement.

With the DTP installed, the MW8219A PIM Master provides field personnel with a test system that can help ensure optimum network performance and also locate PIM faults before inter-modulation distortion adversely affects signal transmission, says Anritsu.

Field personnel can use the PIM Master to generate two high-power tones in the transmit band of a base station, and use any of the handheld analyzers to measure the 3rd, 5th, or 7th order inter-modulation products in the receive band that travel down the same cable.

The MW8219A can conduct 40 W testing, compared to many alternative methods that only measure at 20 W, claims Anritsu. Using double the power allows the PIM Master to locate intermittent failures due to light corrosion, high-traffic loading, or changing weather conditions. It also permits users to find faults in a multi-carrier antenna system or discover microscopic arcing in connectors.

DTP MW8219A has a Delivery of 10-12 weeks ARO.