Anritsu has expanded its field test portfolio with the introduction of passive intermodulation (PIM) Hunter, a test probe that helps field technicians more quickly discover the precise location of external PIM sources at cell sites. The solution is designed to be used with Anritsu’s PIM Master, Spectrum Master and BTS Master handheld analysers, and enables field professionals to use traditional interference hunting techniques to accurately locate external PIM sources for optimum wireless network performance.
The PIM Hunter has been custom designed to support external PIM identification over the 600 MHz-2700 MHz frequency range. Technicians can track and locate the IM3 signal sources that cause PIM with the Hunter test probe connected to a spectrum analyser in a burst detect mode along with an appropriate band-pass filter. When the tip of the probe comes in close proximity to a source, the PIM value increases by as much as 30 dB, indicating the precise location of the interferer.
Unlike traditional near-field probes, the PIM Hunter returns a consistent signal level regardless of probe orientation with respect to the PIM source. Accuracy is further assured because the probe is manufactured using low PIM construction techniques, so the probe does not act as a PIM source.
The PIM Hunter complements Anritsu’s patented distance-to-PIM technology that determines the distance between the antenna and the external PIM. Integrating PIM Hunter with any of the compatible Anritsu handheld analysers with burst detect sweep mode creates the tool set required to precisely identify external PIM sources for faster site repair. It is especially useful for detecting PIM on rooftops, the most common location for network densification in urban environments.
