Field Measurements

Disclaimer Equipment Calibration Accuracy Common Problems Charts Antennas, narrow band sweep Antennas, broad band sweep Mismatch load, broad band sweep Conclusion

Return Loss Measurements of Kathrein Antennas

HP Network Analyzer
(our reference, since commonly used at Kathrein-Werke KG)

versus

Kathrein-Werke KG
Rosenheim PO Box 10 04 44 Phone:+ 49 (0)8031 184 - 0 Fax: +49 (0)8031 184 991
antennas.mobilcom@kathrein.de www.kathrein.de

Portable Equipment
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Disclaimer
Different measurement equipment is available at the worldwide market. Purchasing decisions are made based on technical requirements and other needs.
Disclaimer Equipment Calibration Accuracy Common Problems Charts Antennas, narrow band sweep Antennas, broad band sweep Mismatch load, broad band sweep Conclusion

Kathrein-Werke KG does not recommend any particular instruments or tries to qualify different instrument performances. HP, as commonly used at Kathrein-Werke KG is our reference for this presentation. The intent of this presentation is to refer to common measurement problems and to offer possible solutions.
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Return Loss Measurements

Site Installations

Field Installation is demanding on staff and equipment

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Return Loss Measurements What needs to be done: Mast needs to be installed Cabling needs to be mounted Antennas will be installed at the mast

Site Installations

Final Acceptance Test needs to be performed Qualify successful installation of all components Measure electrical parameters of individual parts

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Site Installations

The Measurement Equipment

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Return Loss Measurements

Equipment

Different measurement instruments are available at the market to meet most customer requirements.

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Equipment

What need to be considered?

Measurement equipment is exposed to a changing environment once used in the field. High as well as low ambient temperatures combined with high or low humidity, dust, dirt, and improper handling are typical with many installations.

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Return Loss Measurements

Equipment

Portable Equipment is a very popular measurement tool

Convenient, and easy handling Robust design Intermediate up to high accuracy

Sometimes sensitive against high electromagnetic fields

e. g.

HP 8753(XX) made by Hewlett Packard is also a very popular

measurement tool commonly used for R&D purposes and acceptance tests on sites
Reliable instrument High accuracy Difficult to handle on sites due to the high weight and large overall dimensions
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Return Loss Measurements HP Calibration

Calibration

A variety of different calibration options is available Re-calibration recommended whenever a new site will be measured A jumper cable, if required, placed between DUT (Device Under Test, e.g. antenna) and Network Analyzer needs to be included in the calibration process An accidentally disconnected jumper cable will destroy calibration immediately

Portable Equipment
Sometimes limited calibration options Re-calibration recommended whenever a new site will be measured A jumper cable, if required, placed between DUT and Network Analyzer needs to be included to the calibration process
Home

Calibration sometimes relatively insensitive against accidentally disconnected jumper cables

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Return Loss Measurements Portable Equipment/HP Accuracy

Accuracy

In general both, scalar and vector measurement systems suffer with accuracy caused by hardware components used inside the instruments. Quality of the hardware components combined with internal corrective operation procedures will determine final accuracy of the displayed measurements.

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Return Loss Measurements Portable Equipment/HP Accuracy

Accuracy

The calibration process finally determines the overall performance of the system used for a certain qualification process (e.g. antenna measurements). Calibration needs to be performed carefully paying attention to proper calibration standards (short, open, 50 Ohm load). Moreover, its mandatory to enable the correct connector types to match RF connections of DUT.
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Return Loss Measurements Portable Equipment/HP Quite often we experienced that installation teams do not use appropriated calibration standards, or do not pay attention to calibration requirements

Common Problems

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Return Loss Measurements

Calibration Standard

HP Calibration / Portable Equipment Calibration Instrument calibration is the most important step to probably setup your equipment. We strongly recommend to regularly measure and qualify calibration components such as short, open, and 50 Ohm termination. Always use all three calibration components throughout the entire calibration process. Always handle calibration sets carefully.
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Return Loss Measurements Portable Equipment /HP We also experienced that jumper cables quite often suffer with adequate RF performance. Kathrein-Werke KG uses special measurement cables with advanced return loss and appropriated phase stability.

Common Problems

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Return Loss Measurements

Common Problems

Summary of common measurement problems

Additional adapters: Adding adapters to match different RF connections will impact measurement results Additional cabling: Adding any further jumper cables will destroy accuracy of measurement results due to phase errors and matching errors Strong RF fields of other base stations: High electromagnetic fields from other sites may impact sensitivity of measurement equipment
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Return Loss Measurements

Accuracy

Portable Equipment: Possible measurement errors

as stated in Reflectometer Measurements - Revisited, Application Note from a popular measurement equipment manufacturer

DUT with VSWR of 1.222 (20 dB return loss)

S11 maximum: (20 + 0.9151) dB = 20.915 dB S11 minimum: (20 - 0.8279) dB = 19.172 dB
(VSWR of 1.198) (VSWR of 1.247)

HP Network Analyzer: Possible measurement errors

as calculated with Agilents Uncertainty Calculator Program; referred to HP8753E; Full Two Port Calibration; calibrated with 85032B calibration set

DUT with VSWR of 1.222 (20 dB return loss)

S11 minimum: (20 + 0.52 ) dB = 20.52 dB S11 maximum: (20 - 0.49) dB = 19.51 dB
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(VSWR of 1.208) (VSWR of 1.237)

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Portable Equipment versus HP

Comparison Measurements of Antennas

Examples

Narrow Band Sweep

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Return Loss Measurements

HP8753E

Charts
Portable Equipment

HP Results Marker 1: Home -15.653 dB

Portable Results -15.19 dB

Delta Deviation dB = 0.463

Note: Different HP Network Analyzer or portable equipment might deliver test results that vary from the one displayed above.
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Portable Equipment versus HP

Comparison Measurements of Antennas

Examples

Broad Band Sweep

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HP8753E

Charts
Portable Equipment

Marker 1: Marker 2: Home

HP Results -20.013 dB -15.732 dB

Portable Results -20.26 dB -15.24 dB

Delta Deviation dB = 0.247 dB = 0.492

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Note: Different HP Network Analyzer or portable equipment might deliver test results that vary from the one displayed above.

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Return Loss Measurements

Portable Equipment versus HP

Comparison Measurements of a Mismatched Load

Examples

Broad Band Sweep

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Return Loss Measurements

Charts
Return Loss
0,0 -2,5 -5,0 -7,5 -10,0 dB -12,5 -15,0 -17,5 -20,0 -22,5
M1 M2

M1: -15,29 dB @ 995,30 MHz

M2: -2,21 dB @ 2004,70 MHz

-25,0 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 Frequency (800,0 - 2200,0 MHz) CAL: ON(COAX) Time: Serial #: 00000000

HP Results Marker 1: Marker 2: Home

Portable Results Delta Deviation -15.29 dB -2.21 dB dB = 0.314 dB = 0.022

-15.604 dB -2.232 dB

Resolution: 130 Date: Model:

Note: Different HP Network Analyzer or portable equipment might deliver test results that vary from the one displayed above.
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Conclusion
In essence not only the measurement equipment, but basically the calibration process with adequate standards, and jumper cables is finally responsible for the overall measurement accuracy. Installation crews need to be aware about the sensitivity, and about proper procedures to achieve best measurement results to avoid unnecessary confusion about system performance.
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Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002