Footprint
Changing the RF cost performance paradigm
Introduction – (Part 1 of 6)
Traditional cost performance boundaries continue to be reviewed as wireless network operators compete for loyalty from a
sophisticated and often fickle customer base. Today’s networks must carry more information at lower costs than ever
before. This series of papers focuses on the critical role of RF systems at the BTS in achieving these goals.
Expanding services and subscriber expectations in modern
wireless communication systems demand high levels of
reliability, coverage and capacity performance; with
operators having to achieve more from less. At the RF end
this means:
• Greater use of the RF spectrum.
• Improved coverage and capacity.
• Expanding services.
• Higher call-hold times.
• Increased return on investment.
• Fewer BTS sites.
• Smaller less conspicuous antenna.
• Shared RF infrastructure.
• Lower installation and maintenance budgets.
• Limited licensed spectrum, and
• A shrinking skills base in the field.
RF performance is determined by how well the selection
and integration of all components meet these demands.
As RF component manufacturers continue to develop and
introduce technologies that give them a cost performance
edge, their greatest gains continue to come from
adherence to manufacturing systems and processes that
ensure they build components right the first time - gains
that are a direct result of applied manufacturing quality
control (QC).
Figure 1
The various components selected for their performance,
reliability and cost, are an integral part of the final RF
system (RF interconnection – Figure 1). Due largely to a
limited knowledge of the dynamics effecting RF
performance at the BTS and the availability of suitable
field test equipment, installation teams tend not use a
component manufacturer’s level of QC in the field.
Today’s performance demands are now changing
this practice.
Traditionally Return Loss (RL) and Distance to Fault (DTF)
measurements (sweeps) are used to determine
infrastructure condition and performance. Although these
are an excellent measure of electrical ‘match’ in the RF
chain, network engineers can still be left with baffling
performance issues that result in:
• Dropped calls.
• Reduced coverage and capacity, and
• Short call-hold times etc.
Symptoms can include:
• Mysterious receiver desensitization.
• Abnormal noise rise.
• Intermittently high receiver noise floor, or
• Any combination of the above.
These problems are generally due to RF interference in
one form or another reaching the receiver, yet the cause
is usually obscure and difficult to isolate with traditional
methods. Often a process of elimination will find a loose or
poor connection, inferior component, faulty earthing,
water ingress and so on.
Passive Intermodulation (PIM) is often considered as a
possible cause, and then disregarded as network
engineers determine frequency products fall outside the
receiver band. In today’s dense RF environment this
practice can be misleading.
Interference may be from an external source, or any in-
band or out-of-band frequencies mixing across non-linear
RF sections (PIM sources) present due to RF infrastructure
deterioration or poor initial construction.
High quality construction significantly reduces receiver
interference and eliminates most diagnostic mysteries.
Absolute confidence in the infrastructure build quality
reduces analytical process effort, down time, and cost to
repair.
Footprint is focused on presenting ideas that fine tune
the RF cost performance paradigm at the BTS.
In this series of articles we will introduce using Passive
Intermodulation (PIM) as a primary QC metric, and
investigate some of the recent advances in technology,
relevant work practices and performance measures.
Future topics include:
• Part 2: Transparent Infrastructure – Concepts,
benefits and testing methodologies.
• Part 3: Working with PIM – The RF phenomenon,
causes and prevention.
• Part 4: Prospective receiver interference -
symptoms, possible causes and cures.
• Part 5: Case study details, and
• Part 6: Frequently asked questions and answers
Further information visit our websites
www.summitekinstruments.com
www.triasx.com
Page 1 - Footprint One