Transmission Systems Fault Testing

What is a Transmission System?

Every wireless radio system needs a way to get their signal from the radio out to the airwaves. The transmission system is the cable, connectors, lightning protection, jumpers, and antennas.

Why do you need to test them?

80% of radio system failures occur in the transmission systems, partially due to the fact that they are the part exposed to weathering elements.

What causes these failures?

Majority of these failures are due to impedance mismatch due to;

• Poorly installed or loose connectors.
• Crushed or deformed cable.
• Bad jumpers
• Antenna problems.
• Water ingress/lightning damage/weathering effects.

TESSCO'S YOUR TOTAL SOURCE OFFERING

Test Equipment to Identify Faults in Transmission Systems

PRODUCT SOLUTIONS FOR $250 - $1,000

Wattmeter with Elements

Power Meters & Wattmeters

Digital Wattmeters

What does it test?

Forward and reflected power at a particular frequency.

This identifies that impedance matching problems exist by the presence of high-reflected power, but not where it occurs or what is causing it.

PRODUCT SOLUTIONS FOR $5,300 - $7,500

Anritsu Site Master or Bird Site Analyzer

Anritsu Sitemaster or Bird Site Analyzer or Frequency Domain Reflectometer (FDR’s)

What does it test?

These FDR’s test return loss measurement across the frequency of operation (user selectable), converts that measurement to DTF (*distance to fault) in order to identify actual response of each component of your transmission system.

What does it tell you?

The FDR’s can identify multiple failures and exactly where they occur with accuracy. They also can detect (via trace overlay) potential problems before they become a failure, which makes it an excellent preventative maintenance tool. These units can store traces and setups and have reporting capability.

PRODUCT SOLUTIONS FOR $10,000 - $12,000

Anritsu Dual Port Site Master

Anritsu Dual Port Sitemaster

What does it test?

Same as the single port FDR’s but additionally these units can measure gain or isolation.

What does it tell you?

Some systems require TMA’s (Tower Mounted Amplifiers, cellular/PCS only) and the dual port units can measure the gain of the amplifier and verify that they impedance matches the systems. An option called the bias tee is needed to energize the amplifier. The isolation measurement verifies that the transmit and receive systems do not interfere with each another.

PRODUCT SOLUTIONS FOR $11,000 - $15,000

Anritsu S114C/S332D and Rohde & Schwarz FSH 3/FSH6

S114C and S332D Sitemasters

What does it test?

Same as the single port FDR’s but with additional spectrum analysis capability.

What does it tell you?

Same as the single port FDR’s but additional spectrum analysis can tell you frequency usage, interference, noise identification etc.

PRODUCT SOLUTIONS FOR $13,000 - $21,000

Anritsu S810D/S820D

Anritsu S810D/S820D Sitemasters

What does it test?

Test the return loss up to 20 GHz (user selectable), and calculates the distance to fault (DTF) in order to identify the actual response of each component within your transmission system.

What does it tell you?

The FDR's can identify multiple failures and exactly where they occur with accuracy. They also can detect (via trace overlay) potential problems before they become a failure, which makes it an excellent preventative maintenance tool. These units can store traces and setups and have reporting capability.

For more information contact TESSCO
at 800-472-7373 or e-mail us today.

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