Dokument - Document Blad -Sheet

LGP Telecom
Technical Note 1(5 )
Uppgjord – Prepared Kontr. - Checked (Sign ) Datum - Date Rev Dokumentnr - Document no
Patrik Lindholm (PLI) PLI 2002-01-15 B TN-10012 -B
Godkänd – Approved Datum/Sign - Date/Sign Tillhör referens - File / reference
PLI TN -10012-B.doc

TECHNICAL NOTE
Test of TMAs and Bias-tee at installation

1 ABSTRACT ..............................................................................................................2
2 TOOLS AND INSTRUMENT .................................................................................2
3 BIAS-TEE (CIN).......................................................................................................2
3.1 DC-measurements .......................................................................................2
3.2 Return loss measurement...........................................................................3
3.3 A Bias -tee is considered faulty if: ..............................................................3
4 TMA ...........................................................................................................................3
4.1 Current consumption ...................................................................................3
4.2 Return loss measurement...........................................................................4
4.3 A TMA is considered faulty if:.....................................................................4
5 RF MEASUREMENTS ...........................................................................................5
5.1 Accuracy........................................................................................................5
5.2 Calibration .....................................................................................................5
5.3 Measurement set up, Return loss .............................................................5
 Dokument - Document Blad -Sheet
LGP Telecom
Technical Note 2(5 )
Uppgjord – Prepared Datum - Date Rev Dokumentnr - Document no
Patrik Lindholm (PLI) 2002-01-15 B TN-10012 -B

1 ABSTRACT
This document can be seen as a recommendation and a guideline for how to check a
TMA and a Bias-tee before they are installed. These tests are held simple not to give
too much work at the time of installation. As the units are tested at the factory, a
thorough test might be considered only if the package is damaged during freight.

2 TOOLS AND INSTRUMENT

Torque wrench should be used to tighten all DIN 7/16 connectors to the correct
torque.
Multi Meter is needed to measure the voltage and resistance.
Anritsu Sitemaster or equivalent. These instructions are written for this instrument.
The following options or variants are recommended but not mandatory:
-Bias-Tee. With this option the instrument can feed the TMA with DC-power
during measurements. NOTE! Some Sitemaster can have problems feeding
the current needed. Please check that the current is correct.
- Two -Port Model. With this model it’s possible to measure the gain and
insertion loss of the TMA or the bias -tee.
Gain Control Unit If a GCU is available (only for TMA-systems with variable gain) it
can be used to measure the current consumption of the TMA.
Power supply and external Bias-tee If the Sitemaster lacks the Bias -tee option.
The bias-tee can be a standard LGP bias -tee, or anything similar. The power supply
can be anything giving 10 – 30 V DC, max. 500 mA. A PDU from LGP Telecom AB
is of course a good alternative.

3 BIAS-TEE (CIN)
The Bias-tee have two main functions. To inject DC-power in the feeder going to the
TMA and to let the RF-signals pass to and from the BTS. The bias-tee will also act as
a lightning protection, but no special test of that is needed.
3.1 DC-measurements
Measure the resistance according to the table below. NOTE! A test cable with SMB
connector should be used, in order not to damage the Bias-Tee power connector.

FROM TO RESISTANCE
DC pos. input Ground. (Housing) OL (> 1000 ohm)
DC pos. input BTS side, center pin OL (> 1000 ohm)
DC pos. input TMA side, center pin < 10 ohm
 Dokument - Document Blad -Sheet
LGP Telecom
Technical Note 3(5 )
Uppgjord – Prepared Datum - Date Rev Dokumentnr - Document no
Patrik Lindholm (PLI) 2002-01-15 B TN-10012 -B

3.2 Return loss measurement

50 ς t ermination
Connect the test-lead from the Sitemaster(“REFL
PORT” if Two-Port Sitemaster) to the BTS-port of the
Bias-Tee. Bias -tee

A 50-ohm termination has to be applied to the other

port.
Make sure NO DC-power is connected to the Bias-
Tee. Refl.
Trans.

On the instrument read the max values inside both TX

and RX-bands. The requirement for this measurement
differs between the various Bias-Tees versions. Please
check with the specification.

3.3 A Bias-tee is considered faulty if:

Testing return loss of the Bias -Tee.

§ Resistance between the power connector and the

centre-conductor on the TMA side is > 10 ohm.
§ Resistance between the centre-conductor on the BTS side and any other
connector is < 1000 ohm.
§ Any RF parameter is out of limit.

4 TMA
The TMA is internally supervised, and alarms are signaled by raising the current
consumption of the TMA. Hence the most important test is the current consumption,
but a return loss measurement is included as well.

4.1 Current consumption

If the Sitemaster is equipped with the Bias-tee option, it can feed the TMA with the
DC power needed. Just connect a coaxial cable from the Sitemaster “TRANS PORT”
to the TMA BTS port. The actual current is shown in the display of the Sitemaster. In
this case no external Bias-tee(CIN) is needed.
The GCU can be used for this test, connect the GCU DC-output to the bias -tee.
GCUs(Gain Control Unit) are only used together with TMA DD-900, variable gain.
If an external Bias -tee is needed, connect it to the TMA “BTS port”. Connect DC-
power to the Bias-tee to power up the TMA. (+10 - +30V DC). To check the current
consumption, an amperemeter must be connected in series with the DC-power.
Read the current consumption on the Sitemaster, the GCU or on the ampere meter.
If the current is out of specification constantly or repeatedly, it might indicate a TMA
internal alarm state.
 Dokument - Document Blad -Sheet
LGP Telecom
Technical Note 4(5 )
Uppgjord – Prepared Datum - Date Rev Dokumentnr - Document no
Patrik Lindholm (PLI) 2002-01-15 B TN-10012 -B

Requirement
All TMAs except for S-450 MHz: 40 mA – 140 mA. Typical: 100 +/- 15 mA.
TMA S-450 and Bias-tee 450: 330 mA – 390 mA.
TMA S-450 alone: 230 mA – 300 mA
4.2 Return loss measurement
For instrument setup please refer to paragraph 5.3

Connect the test- lead from the Sitemaster(“REFL

PORT” if Two-Port Sitemaster) to the BTS-port of the
Bias-Tee.
Calibrate the instrument with the Bias -Tee connected
to the test-lead. This is needed to take the return loss
of the Bias -Tee out of the measurement.
Antenna B T S

Connect the Bias-Tee TMA port to the TMA BTS

Max +31VDC

port. 50 ς t ermination

A 50-ohm termination has to be applied to the TMA

antenna port. 12 V DC Bias-tee

Make sure DC-power is connected to the Bias-Tee,

check the current consumption.
On the instrument read the max values inside both
TX and RX-bands. The requirement for this Trans. Refl.

measurement differs between the various TMA

versions. Please check with the specification.
NOTE! For some combinations of Bias-Tee and
TMA, the return loss can be poor due to that
reflections from the different units is added up in
phase. If this is suspected please use a short cable Test of return loss.
between Bias-Tee and TMA.

4.3 A TMA is considered faulty if:

§ The current consumption is out of limits. Constant or pulsating.
§ Any RF parameter is out of limit.
 Dokument - Document Blad -Sheet
LGP Telecom
Technical Note 5(5 )
Uppgjord – Prepared Datum - Date Rev Dokumentnr - Document no
Patrik Lindholm (PLI) 2002-01-15 B TN-10012 -B

5 RF MEASUREMENTS
5.1 Accuracy
A lot can be said about the accuracy of RF-measurements, but one can say that the
better and more expensive instrument, the better the result. A problem with modern
instruments is that one tends to trust the digits shown, and pays little attention to the
possible errors of the measurement. With a proper calibration the most errors are
taken out, but still the precision in the measurement must be considered.
5.2 Calibration
Make sure the Sitemaster is calibrated when any measurem ent is done. Use only
high quality calibration kits, and include the test cable and all adapters in the
calibration. The Sitemaster will indicate when a new calibration is needed.
5.3 Measurement set up, Return loss
On the Sitemaster choose to measure RL.
Set the scales to: TOP=0dB , BOTTOM= -25 dB
Set the start and stop frequencies to cover both the TX and RX-bands and
approximately 10 MHz on both sides.
Place the 4 markers on the screen to show both the TX and the RX bands. One
marker on the low edge of RX-band, the next on the high edge, and so on.
Set the limit line on the instrument to reflect the required value.
Set the sweep to continues. (No single sweep.)4.2