Passive Intermodulation (PIM)

Passive Intermodulation Fundamentals

John Miller
Applications Engineer

Kaelus
(office) +44 (0)1383 437920
(mobile) +44 (0)7800 542843
AMERICAS:

EMEA:

APAC:
Global Technical Service & Support
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.



The result
MANY unwanted frequencies are generated.
f
1
f
2
f
1
+f
2
f
2
-f
1
2f
1
-f
2
2f
1
2f
2
2f
2
-f
1
3f
2
-2f
1
4f
2
-3f
1
3f
1
-2f
2
4f
1
-3f
2
Interference
Interference
Desired
PIM order
Frequency
A
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e

f
1
f
2
f
1
+f
2
f
2
-f
1
2f
1
-1f
2

2f
1
2f
2
2f
2
-1f
1

3f
2
-2f
1
4f
2
-3f
1
3f
1
-2f
2
4f
1
-3f
2
3
rd
Order
5
th
Order
7
th
Order
The order of an intermodulation product m*f1 n*f2 = m+n.
2*f1-1*f2 = 3rd order product
4*f2-3*f1 = 7th order product.
The lower the order the higher the level (typically)
Odd products are most likely to fall in the Rx band.
PIM is getting more complex with
Networks evolution towards:
Indoor or outdoor complex DAS
systems (shared by several
operators)

Site sharing with multiple transmit
carriers (same RF infrastructure for
multiple operators)

Multi-technology sites (GSM 900
MHz, GSM 1800 MHz, UMTS 2100
and 900 MHz, CDMA 450, ...LTE)
Combining Unit
GSM 900 GSM 1800 WCDMA
O
P
1
B
T
S
O
P
2
B
T
S
O
P
3
B
T
S
O
P
1
B
T
S
O
P
2
B
T
S
O
P
3
B
T
S
O
P
1
N
o
d
e
B
O
P
2
N
o
d
e
B
O
P
3
N
o
d
e
B
L
o
a
d
1
8
0
0
/W
C
D
M
A
9
0
0
/
1
8
0
0
Triplexer
RF Output ports
PS PS
PS PS
PS PS
PS PS
Outdoor
area
Ant Ant
Ant Ant
Ant Ant
PS PS
Ant Ant
Ant Ant
Ant
PS PS
PS PS
Ant Ant
PS PS
Ant Ant
Ant Ant
Ant Ant
PS PS
Ant Ant
PS PS
Ant Ant
PS PS
Ant Ant
PS PS
Ant Ant
Indoor
Area 1
Indoor
Area 2
Indoor
Area 3
Indoor
Area 4
Indoor
Area 5
What are the main PIM Sources
Non-linear metal-to-metal contacts:

Loose RF connectors.
Poorly prepared RF cable terminations
Improperly mated / misaligned parts
Cracked / cold solder joints
Loose mechanical fasteners (screws,
rivets)
Incident signals
Reflected signals
Ideal Infrastructure
Transmitted signals
Minimum loss
Minimum
Reflections measured by sweep test
Measures the quality of impedance
matching in the system.
Linear Infrastructure
(No new frequencies)

Incident signals
Reflected + interference signals
Transmitted signals
Non-ideal Infrastructure
Reflections still measured by sweep test
Interference measured by PIM tester
Non-Linear Infrastructure
(Creates new frequencies)
PIM Severity
Repairing IM3 reduces ALL IM products.
Metal flake
11
th
Order
-93 dBm
9
th
Order
7
th
Order
5
th
Order
3rd Order
-60 dBm

Outside PCS
Rx band for
F1 & F2
selected
Spectrum Analyzer Mode
Possible to have Same Band intermodulation
issues
3
rd
order
5
th
order
7
th
order
GSM900
935 MHz 960 MHz 890 MHz 915 MHz
900 GSM Rx band 900 GSM Tx Band

935 MHz 960 MHz 890 MHz 915 MHz
900 GSM Rx band 900 GSM Tx Band
GSM1800
1805MHz 1880MHz 1710MHz 1785MHz
1800GSM Rx band 1800GSM Tx Band

1805MHz 1880MHz 1710MHz 1785MHz
1800GSM Rx band 1800GSM Tx Band
UMTS2100
2110MHz 2170MHz 1920MHz 1980MHz
2100 UMTS Rx band 2100 UMTS Tx Band

2110MHz 2170MHz 1920MHz 1980MHz
2100 UMTS Rx band 2100 UMTS Tx Band
Also, Cross Band intermodulation issues
involving UMTS
DCS1800 into UMTS2100
1805MHz 1880MHz 1920MHz 1980MHz
1800GSM Tx band UMTS2100 Rx Band
3
rd
order
5
th
order
And with LTE there are multiple combinations nowadays
Where to look for PIM on statistics?
Main search focus on:
General CDR, CSR, CSSR
GSM
GSM Mean interference on Idle (IOI)
TCH Completion Rate and Drop %
TRAFFIC RATE Erlangs
TCH Assignment Rate
SDCCH Assignment rate and drops
HO Success Rate
UL Quality
Erlang Minutes Per Drop
DROP_AFTER_TCH_ASSIGN
SDCCH_RADIO_FAIL
CDR data and voice
RRC Success rate%
RAB Establishment Success %
Voice Traffic Erl
PS Traffic (Mb)
Average Throughput
RTWP
RSSI
UMTS
PIM Source

PI
M
PI
M
TX 1
TX 2
TX 1 TX 1
TX 2 TX 2
PIM Test Equipment

PI
M
Low PIM Load
How does a portable PIM tester work?
-100 dBm
0dBm
0dBc
-143 dBc
=
dBm dBc
Power relative to the carrier level Absolute power relative to1mW
PIM level is expressed in either dBm or dBc
C
A
R
R
I
E
R

P
I
M

2 x 20 Watts
C
A
R
R
I
E
R

+43 dBm
P
I
M

PIM level is meaningless without also stating
the carrier power level.

PIM level is VERY dependent on test
power level.

~3dB change in PIM level for every 1dB
change in test power.

2W not enough power to certify a site.

IEC 62037 recommends 2x 20W
(+43dBm) test carriers.
-100 dBm
C
A
R
R
I
E
R

P
I
M

+43 dBm
20 Watts
0dBm
C
A
R
R
I
E
R

P
I
M

2 Watts
-130 dBm
+33 dBm
Noise Floor
PIM test process at 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
PIM Sources at the cell site:
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


Dynamic versus Static testing:
Fault locations are found by gently tapping on connections or components
Tapping on a bad junction causes PIM to spike
Dynamic PIM testing is very important!
Finds the location of static PIM failures
Stresses all connections to make sure that the feed system is robust and will
not fail prematurely due to environmental exposure (Hot, Cold, wind loading,
vibration, etc.)
PIM
Incident signals
Transmitted signals
Reflected + interference signals
Linear Infrastructure
PIM sources can be external to the system!
External PIM Sources
Typical 65 Beamwidth Antenna Patterns
4 ft. (1.2m) 800MHz
8 ft. (2.4m) 800MHz
End View
(Azimuth Pattern)
Side View
(Elevation Pattern)
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
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
beamwidths 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
PIM
SKY
SKY
Testing Antennas
Empty
cardboard
boxes
(NO STAPLES)
Large PVC
pipe
PIM Tests
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.
KAELUS field trial evaluation
KAELUS trials:

>319 feeder lines surveyed.

26 Operators and OEMs, 17
countries

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
PIM Survey in EMEA by KAELUS
70.37%
3.09%
29.63%
Sites or sectors with PIM
problems
Sites or sectors with
VSWR problems
Sites or sectors without
PIM Problems
Total
52
47
37
27
25
5 5
3
2
G
S
M
9
0
0
/
G
S
M
1
8
0
0
/
U
M
T
S
2
1
0
0
G
S
M
9
0
0
G
S
M
1
8
0
0
G
S
M
9
0
0
/
U
M
T
S
2
1
0
0
U
M
T
S
2
1
0
0
G
S
M
9
0
0
/
G
S
M
1
8
0
0
G
S
M
1
8
0
0
/
U
M
T
S
2
1
0
0
C
D
M
A
4
5
0
(
b
l
a
n
k
)
On sites with PIM
problems, different site
technology feeder lines
were tested.

PIM Survey in EMEA by KAELUS
The PIM defects found were
primarily due to workmanship
issues at the RF connections.


Many lines had multiple
defects


KPI improvements reported
on the majority of sites that
PIM was detected and
repaired at site
PIM Survey in EMEA by KAELUS
65.35%
28.95%
13.60% 14.04%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
Connectors Jumper Cables Other Passive
Devices
Antennas
GSM 900 Greenfield Site
GSM 900
This site has suffered repeated intermittent ULQUAL issues and been visited many
times.
On the 22/10 with the riggers changed the antenna because of bad PIM measurements.
PIM detection and Correction


GSM 900 Greenfield Site
GSM 900 + WCDMA 850 Indoor DAS System
GSM 900 + WCDMA 850 Indoor DAS
A carrier operating a WCDMA850 network overlaid on a GSM900
network had an in-building distributed antenna system suffering from
high Dropped Call Rates (DCR).
The DCR was logged over a period of time and plotted in. There was a
significant increase when the CDMA equipment at the site was
switched on.
After all PIM generating connections were reworked the receiver noise floor was
reduced to -112dBm.
Rx Noise
floor before
PIM testing
Rx Noise floor
after
reconstruction
using PIM
tester
Here -
a 5dB gain
at the noise floor
GSM 900 + WCDMA 850 Indoor DAS
UMTS2100 Rooftop Site
3G Rooftop
Urban dense site
Surge Arrestors were the source of PIM
After their replacement
Drops in Voice and Packet improved
After PIM changes
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 Kit:
Transit case
Jumper cables
Adapters
Wrench
Torque Wrench
Low PIM load
PIM source
Cleaning kit
iQA Series
Precautions
iQA Physical Characteristics
3 Stage folding tow handle
Wheels
Fold away bench
mounting legs
Shock mounted
electronics
360 air inlet filter
surrounding electronics
Rugged protective case with
three external lifting handles
Cooling Fans
One each side
4 internal
iQA
Software
Test Point Label

Numeric Level
indication: Displays
RF OFF - Rx Noise
Floor
RF ON - PIM

Function Buttons

Level 2 access
indicator/lock

HPA temperature
indication

F1 & F2 test
carrier power levels

Alarm Status

IM3,5,7 or 9 frequency,
by selection

F1 & F2 test
Frequencies

RF test power ON/OFF
button
PIM level Bar indicator
Active with RF on
Adjustable Pass / Fail
threshold indicator
OPERATOR TEST SCREEN
ALARM SCREEN
Touching here toggles between the
operator and alarm screen
Touching any Red indicator will
provide a short description of
the fault and any action that
should be attempted by the
operator in this space
These green
icons will turn
red to indicated
a fault
Test Set Operator Security Levels
.Level 1 Set State User
Level 1 limits the operator to operating
with preset test states (preset frequency,
test power, test time, pass/fail threshold
and test point labels).
Level 2 Open User
Level 2 allows the operator access to all
configuration and test facilities supported
by the instrument.
Access to the test set alarm status and the report screen is available to both levels.
Level 1 touch controls
toggle between dBm and dBc
switch to Report screen
record test result while test
power is on
select report label for the next
test sequence
turns audible PIM level buzzer
on and off.
used to load test states from
USB drive.
Provides Level 2 access
Initiate soft shutdown of the test
set.
switches to the Alarm status
screen
switches Test Power (RF) On and
Off
Accessing Level 2
Step 1. Touch this button to
bring up Password keyboard..
Note: Factory default password is left blank touch enter only before
user password has been set.
Level 2 Menu
Level 2 access indicator/lock shows as unlocked.
A touch on this open icon will relock the access to this level

Resets all variable to those set during manufacture

Closes the iQA application and returns user to the MS
Windows Desktop

Returns to the test function buttons leaving all level 2 touch
controls available to the operator
Allows setting of Test period via the pop up key pad shown

Allows setting of Test period via the pop up key pad shown

Level 2 Test Point Labels
Allows configuration of test point labels via the secondary
screen shown below
Allows setting up and editing of test point labels.
Refer to the User Manual for additional information as
necessary
Returns to test screen
Level 2 Test states
Returns to test screen
Allows access to, saving and renaming test states.


Level 2 Password
Allows setting and changing of Level 2 access password.



Level 2 touchcontrols
locks out level 2 access
Set pass/fail test threshold
Set F1 test power
set F1 set F2 Selects IM3, IM5, IM7,
IM9 or IM11
Set F2 test power
Note: Level 2 users have access to all Level 1 controls
Testing examples
and Q&A
Our PIM testing heritage :
Developed factory PIM test systems for RF
Equipment manufacturers in 1996.
>800 Factory PIM test systems in service

Developed Portable PIM systems for
wireless operators in 2004.
>1800 Portable PIM test systems in service

2011 Kaelus Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.kaelus.com
Contact Us:

John Miller
Applications Engineer
john.miller@kaelus.com
Mob:+447800542843

2011 Kaelus Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.kaelus.com
Thank you