Antenna System Monitor (ASM)

What is the ASM?

• The Antenna System Monitor (ASM) is used to monitor and measure the RF
coverage performance determining characteristics of a communications site,
on an individual per-channel basis, and provides network owners, operators,
or end-user customers with unparalleled levels of performance monitoring and
fault reporting for their communications networks. Measurements and alarm
events can be logged for viewing, or downloaded for historical analysis.

• Monitoring the Tx Forward Power and VSWR on the antenna side of the
transmitter combiner ensures that any RF faults that would otherwise be
masked by the combiner’s isolators, and therefore not seen by the network
base stations, can be monitored, measured, and have alarm conditions
notified.
 What does it look like?

Antenna System Monitor - Front View

Antenna System Monitor - Rear View

 What can it do?

• The Antenna System Monitor (ASM) non-intrusively measures the RF

performance of a communications site on a truly ‘per-channel’ 24x7 basis,
allowing coverage performance impacting problems to be detected promptly.
The ASM provides valuable detailed information on the fault condition,
allowing appropriately prioritised maintenance activities to be decided - and
efficiently and cost-effectively actioned - depending on the nature, severity,
and impact of the fault.
 What can it do?

The ASM may be used to monitor;

– Each channel’s RF Forward Power output from the Tx combiner(s),
– The Tx antenna system’s Reflected Power (VSWR) on each channels’
operating frequency,
– The received signal level (RSSI) for each channel’s Rx frequency, and/or,
– Tx signal levels from surrounding sites to confirm network RF propagation
– An inbuilt signal generator in the ASM can perform System Tx-Rx Isolation
and Rx System Gain/Loss/Ripple tests. Tx Rejection tests can also be
performed. This suite of System Isolation tests can be used to confirm
intra-system antenna isolation, Rx sub-system performance and Rx
sub-system protection from Tx carrier blocking.
 What can it do?

The ASM may also be used to monitor;

– When used with an optional Site Alarm Module (SAM), the ASM can be
used to monitor a diverse array of temperature, analogue voltages, digital
inputs, and conditional Tx PTT/Trunking/Rx UNSQ/Voting Shelf operation
may also be monitored by the ASM to enhance its monitoring capabiities
to include non-RF equipment at a network site.
– The SAM also provides an additional ten (10) alarm relay outputs that can
be flexibly mapped to any of the ASM or SAM monitored measurement
parameters’ alarms.
– Up to ten (10) SAM modules may be daisy-chained onto an ASM for
added monitoring an alarm output capacity.
 Installation
Tx ANTENNA 1 TO ADDITIONAL COUPLERS IF REQUIRED

ASM + 1 ANTENNA LINE COUPLER

COUPLER TOP VIEW - MOUNTED ON 1RU FRONT PANEL
• The ASM conveniently connects into the
FWD Tx COMBINER (1)
site’s Transmitter and Receiver
OPTIONAL
DEDICATED Rx
MONITORING
RFL

ASM REAR VIEW

multicoupling using a low-loss PIM and
PIP rated Antenna Line Coupler fitted in
ANTENNA FROM SPARE
PORT ON
BTS Rx MUX

each Tx antenna feeder line, and by using

a spare port on the site’s receiver
ASM FRONT VIEW MONITORED
CHANNELS
BTS PTT LINE
CONDITIONING

multicoupler(s). Several Tx combiners at

a site can monitored by one ASM.
OPTIONAL CAM(s) & SAM (s)
CAM/SAM REAR VIEW

• Once installed, the ASM continuously

4 EXT ALARM INPUTS
CAM/SAM 1
10 CHANNEL

monitors the RF performance parameters

ASSIGNED AND
to DEDICATED ALARM
RELAY OUTPUTS

CAM/SAM 10
of each channel non-intrusively on a
10 EXT ALARM INPUTS
‘24x7’ basis.
 Configuration

The ASM features an integral webserver

with a user-friendly Graphical User
Interface (GUI) that allows the RF
measurements made on each channel,
and any alarm conditions, to be viewed.
Per-channel configuration, alarm
threshold levels, and other parameters
can also be easily configured.
SNMP alarm traps, and SMTP (Email)
alarms can also be provided for prompt
notification of performance impacting
changes to normal measurement values.
 Connectivity

To access and use the webserver GUI, an internet browser such as Internet
Explorer, Mozilla, or Firefox is used. Connection to the ASM may be;
– “locally” via a computer using an Ethernet cable
– “locally” via a wireless router connected to the ASM (i.e. WiFi)
– “remotely” via a customer’s intra-site Local Area Network (LAN)
– “remotely” via a site linking backbone (such as microwave links, fiber, or
other link technologies)
– “remotely” via a cellular router (if the ASM site is within coverage of a
cellular network)
– “remotely” via an IP protocol satellite link (ideal for very remote sites)
 Configuration

The ASM’s webserver GUI allows each channel’s parameters to be configured

independently. Other ASM system parameters are also user-configurable.
 Monitoring

The ASM’s RF measurements for each

frequency, and any associated alarm Example SMTP (Email) Alarm Message
conditions, are presented in the GUI. Alarms
are also available as relay outputs, SNMP
Alarm Traps, and SMTP (Email) messages.
Example SNMP Alarm Trap Message
 Monitoring

If optional SAM modules are connected to the

ASM, their measurements and alarm conditions
are also presented in the ASM GUI.
 Summary

The Antenna System Monitor (ASM)

provides comprehensive channelised
monitoring of the RF performance
characteristics of a communications
site.
Monitoring is on a non-intrusive 24x7
basis and provides confirmation of the
site’s RF performance.
Alarm notifications can also be
provided to facilitate appropriately
prioritised and cost-effective
maintenance responses to faults.
 More Information

• Antenna System Monitor (ASM)

http://www.rfiwireless.com.au/multicoupling-monitoring/monitoring.html

• ASM Product Brief and User Manuals

http://www.rfiwireless.com.au/multicoupling-monitoring/monitoring/antenna-system-monitor-asm1317.html#tab_downloads

• ASM Application Note, Service Bulletins, SNMP MIB files and downloads
http://www.rfiwireless.com.au/multicoupling-monitoring/monitoring/antenna-system-monitor-asm1317.html#tab_downloads

• Site Alarm Module (SAM)

http://www.rfiwireless.com.au/multicoupling-monitoring/monitoring/site-alarm-module.html

• SAM Product Brief and downloads

http://www.rfiwireless.com.au/multicoupling-monitoring/monitoring/site-alarm-module.html#tab_downloads