Passive Intermodulation (PIM) concerns in

In-Building Wireless (IBW) networks

Tom Bell
Sr. Product Manager

Agenda

1. Passive Intermodulation (PIM) review

2. In-building Wireless (IBW) architectures
3. PIM concerns in each IBW architecture
4. Methods to mitigate external PIM
5. Conclusions

11410-00885

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What is Passive Intermodulation (PIM)

TX signals at site
Passive Intermodulation (PIM)

Passive Intermodulation (PIM)

Downlink

Uplink

PIM = interference
PIM = new frequencies generated by Tx signals when they encounter
non-linear junctions or materials in the RF path
PIM falling in an uplink band, can elevate the noise floor:
Dropped calls

Access failures

Slower data rates

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What is a non-linear junction?

Current

Linear junctions

Current increases linearly with applied voltage

High pressure, metal-to-metal contacts

Welded or soldered connections.

Current does not increase linearly with voltage

Low pressure, metal-to-metal contacts

Oxide layers on metal surfaces

Arcing across small air gaps or cracks

Voltage

Current

Non-Linear junctions

Voltage
Slide 4

What is non-linear in IBW networks?

Poor cable termination
Damaged / poorly made components
High power RF terminations
Loose RF connections
Type-N connectors
Metal flakes inside connectors
Loose metal objects near antennas

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Where do PIM frequencies occur?

835
MHz

845
MHz

855
MHz

865
MHz

875
MHz

885
MHz

F1

F2

2*F11*F2

895
MHz

905
MHz

915
MHz

2*F21*F1

3*F12*F2

3*F22*F1
4*F23*F1

4*F13*F2

5*F24*F1

5*F14*F2

IM 9
850
Uplink

925
MHz

IM 7

IM 5

IM 3

IM 3
850
Downlink

IM 5

IM 7

900 Uplink

Mathematical combinations of the Tx frequencies at a site

Odd products fall closer to the Tx frequencies and are more
likely to fall in an operators uplink band

IM 9

IM2 and IM4 can also cause problems

950
MHz

F1

1890
MHz

960
MHz

F2

1915
MHz

1930
MHz

1880
MHz

1940
MHz
1*F2+1*F1
3*F21*F1

3*F11*F2
4*F12*F2

IM 3
900
Downlink

IM 5

IM 6

4*F22*F1

IM 4

IM 2

IM 4

IM 6
2100 Uplink

PIM magnitude

20 dB
15 dB
15 dB

Downlink

Uplink

Low order IM products are higher magnitude than high order products
Higher magnitude = more likely to cause interference

Slide 8

Europe: < 1 GHz

Single Band PIM:
IM5

IM5
IM5

IM5
IM3

700
uplink

IM5
IM3

IM3

700
downlink

800
downlink

900 + 1800 IM2 800

Multi Band PIM:

IM5

900 + 1800 IM2 900

1800 + 2600 IM2 900

700 + 800 IM3 700
700 + 900 IM3 700
800 + 900 IM3 700
700 + 1800 IM3 700
800 + 1800 IM3 700
800 + 2100 IM3 700
800 + 2600 IM3 700

700 + 800 IM3 800
800 + 900 IM3 800
900 + 1800 IM3 800
800 + 2600 IM3 800
900 + 2600 IM3 800

800
uplink
700 + 800 IM3 900
700 + 900 IM3 900
800 + 900 IM3 900
800 + 1800 IM3 900
900 + 1800 IM3 900
900 + 2100 IM3 900
800 + 2600 IM3 900
900 + 2600 IM3 900

1800 + 2100 IM4 700
800 + 1800 IM4 900
900 + 1800 IM4 900
1800 + 2600 IM4 900
2100 + 2600 IM4 900

700 + 800 IM5 700

700 + 900 IM5 700

Slide 9

900
uplink

900
downlink

700 + 800 IM5 800

700 + 900 IM5 800
800 + 900 IM5 800
900 + 1800 IM5 800
900 + 2100 IM5 800
900 + 2600 IM5 800
1800 + 2600 IM5 800

700 + 800 IM5 900
700 + 900 IM5 900
700 + 1800 IM5 900
700 + 2100 IM5 900
800 + 900 IM5 900
800 + 1800 IM5 900
900 + 2600 IM5 900
1800 + 2600 IM5 900

Europe: >1 GHz

Single Band PIM:
IM5
IM3

1800
uplink

1800
downlink
700 + 900 IM2 1800

Multi Band PIM:

IM7

IM3

800 + 900 IM2 1800

900 + 2600 IM2 1800

1800 + 2100 IM3 1800
1800 + 2600 IM3 1800
2100 + 2600 IM3 1800
1800 + 2100 IM3 2100
1800 + 2600 IM3 2100

700 + 800 IM4 1800
800 + 900 IM4 1800
700 + 900 IM4 1800
800 + 1800 IM4 1800

2100
uplink
900 + 1800 IM4 1800
800 + 2600 IM4 1800
900 + 2600 IM4 1800

900 IM4 2100
700 + 900 IM4 2100
800 + 900 IM4 2100
800 + 1800 IM4 2100
900 + 1800 IM4 2100
900 + 2100 IM4 2100
800 + 2600 IM4 2100
900 + 2600 IM4 2100

Slide 10

2100
downlink
700 + 1800 IM5 1800
800 + 1800 IM5 1800
900 + 1800 IM5 1800
1800 + 2100 IM5 1800
2100 + 2600 IM5 1800

800 + 1800 IM5 2100
900 + 1800 IM5 2100
1800 + 2100 IM5 2100
1800 + 2600 IM5 2100
2100 + 2600 IM5 2100

Europe: >1 GHz (cont.)

IM5

Single Band PIM:

IM5
IM3

2600
uplink

IM3

TDD 2600 uplink /

downlink

700 + 800 IM5 2600

800 + 1800 IM2 2600

Multi Band PIM:

2600
downlink

700 + 900 IM5 2600

800 + 900 IM5 2600
700 + 1800 IM5 2600
800 + 1800 IM5 2600
900 + 1800 IM5 2600
800 + 2100 IM5 2600
900 + 2600 IM5 2600
1800 + 2100 IM5 2600
1800 + 2600 IM5 2600
2100 + 2600 IM5 2600

700 + 800 IM3 2600
700 + 900 IM3 2600
1800 + 2100 IM3 2600
1800 + 2600 IM3 2600
2100 + 2600 IM3 2600

800 + 1800 IM4 2600
800 + 2100 IM4 2600

Slide 11

PIM bandwidth
X
200 KHz

X
200 KHz

3X

3X
5X
7X
9X

600 KHz

600 KHz

5X
7X

1 MHz

1 MHz

1.4 MHz

1.4 MHz

1.8 MHz

9X
1.8 MHz

IM 9

IM 7

IM 5

IM 3

F1

F2

IM 3

IM 5

PIM bandwidth increases as carrier bandwidth increases

PIM bandwidth increases with PIM order

IM 7

IM 9

PIM generated by single LTE carrier

X

X
X
X

LTE
carrier

X
X

IM 3
IM 5
IM 7
IM 9

LTE carrier is composed of individual sub-carrier frequencies

Carrier bandwidth = X
IM3 bandwidth

= 3X

IM5 bandwidth

= 5X

IM7 bandwidth

= 7X

IM9 bandwidth

= 9X

And dont forget the even products

IM 3

IM 2

IM 5

IM 4

IM 7

IM 6

900
Downlink

2100 Uplink

LTE carrier is composed of individual sub-carrier frequencies

Carrier bandwidth = X
IM2 bandwidth

= 2X

IM4 bandwidth

= 4X

IM6 bandwidth

= 6X

IM8 bandwidth

= 8X

700 MHz LTE example (North America):

25 dB

Slide 15

PIM generated by single LTE carrier

Viewed through Rx monitor port

This was a very bad PIM source!

What about TDD- LTE?

25 dB

TDD systems Tx and Rx are at dierent

times.

PIM is only produced while transmitting

PIM is only an issue for adjacent bands

Adjacent TDD bands should be

synchronized to prevent interference

Synchronized TDD:

Un-synchronized TDD:

Slide 16

How can we reduce PIM interference?

F1 F2

F1 F2

43 dBm

-100 dBc

-150 dBc
More linear

-57 dBm
-107 dBm

Improve linearity !

Tight RF connector

Connectors clean

Braided cables

Corrugated cables

Antenna near PIM source

Antenna re-located

Loose RF connector

Metal flakes in connectors

More linear

Slide 17

How do we measure linearity?

With a PIM tester!

Inject two CW test signals at a known magnitude
Measure 3rd order intermodulation product (IM3)
IM3 characterizes the linearity of the system

If IM3 is low = linearity is good

If IM3 is high = linearity is bad

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What determines PIM severity to an IBW operator?

1. Which IM product(s) fall in the uplink band
A. Low order IM products in uplink = higher uplink noise
B. More frequency bands / operators = higher probability
of low order product in uplink band
2. Degree of non-linearity of PIM source
A. More non-linear = higher PIM magnitude
3. Level of current flowing through non-linear junction / material
A. Higher current = higher PIM magnitude
B. Higher RF power level = higher PIM magnitude
C. PIM source location / orientation
D. PIM source distance from antenna
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In-Building Wireless (IBW) system architectures

Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
Passive
Active
Hybrid
Analog / Digital

Distributed Radio System (DRS)

Distributed Small Cell (DSC)

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Passive DAS
Donor antenna

Wideband
antennas

Antenna:
Low power /
multi band
(100mW)

Floor:
Medium
power / multi
band (1W)

RF cable distribution
throughout

PIM
After combiner:
High power /
multi band

Combiner
BTS

Repeater /
BDA
RRH

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Signal source:
High power /
single band
(20W)

Less
Severe

PIM

PIM

PIM

More
Severe

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Active DAS
Less
Severe

Wideband antennas

Antenna:
Low power /
multi band
(100mW)

Radio Units

PIM

Optical fiber
distribution
network

Head End
Equipment

PIM

PIM

After POI Tray:

Simplex / low
power (1mW)

BTS

Signal source:
High power /
single band
(20W)

PIM

Severe
POI Tray

RRH

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Hybrid DAS
Less
Severe

Wideband
antennas

Antenna:
Low power /
multi band
(100mW)

Radio Units

PIM

Floor:
Medium
power / multi
band (1W)

Optical fiber
distribution
network

BTS

Head End
Equipment

PIM

After POI Tray:

Simplex / low
power (1mW)

POI Tray

Signal source:
High power /
single band
(20W)

PIM

PIM

PIM

RRH

More
Severe

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Digital Active DAS

Wideband antennas

PIM

LAN cable
distribution
network
Expansion Units

PIM

Less
Severe

Antenna:
Low power /
multi band
(100mW)

PIM

RF Signal source:
High power / single
band (20W)

PIM

Optical fiber
distribution
network

C-RAN

BTS
Head End
Equipment

PIM

BBU

POI
Tray

Digital Signal
Sources

Severe

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Distributed Radio System (DRS)

Less
Severe

Radio Units with

integrated antenna

PIM

LAN cable
distribution
network

Low power /
single band
(100mW)

PIM

Low power /
multi band
(100mW)

PIM

Expansion Unit

PIM

Optical fiber
distribution
network

Base Band Unit

(BBU)
More
Severe

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Distributed Small Cells (DSC)

Less
Severe

Small Cell with

integrated antenna

PIM

LAN cable
distribution
network
Ethernet
Switches

Low power /
single band
(100mW)

PIM

Low power /
multi band
(100mW)

PIM

Core Network

Local
controller
More
Severe

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Is external PIM really a concern below 100 mW?

Indoor antenna

External PIM measured while walking across oce environment

700, 850, 1900 & 2600 MHz PIM test signals combined

Significant PIM at low frequencies, even with 15 dBm (32 mW) Tx power!

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How can I prevent PIM problems in IBW systems?

1. Avoid frequency combinations that create low order
IM products in uplink bands
2. Use low PIM construction techniques / materials
3. Avoid non-linear objects near antennas

#1 and #3 above may be outside of your control

Multi-operator requirements

Aesthetic requirements

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Methods to mitigate external PIM:

1) Move the antenna
Diode

Indoor antenna

Far field

Near
field

Non-linear objects in antenna near field generate higher PIM

Moving antenna a short distance moves PIM source to far field

At 20 dBm (100mW) PIM reduced >60 dB when antenna moved 0.5m

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2) Move the PIM Source

Electrical conduit added after DAS was

installed and commissioned

30

Safety cables lightly touching metal

surfaces on / near antenna

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3) Add attenuation between antenna & PIM source

PIM source

PIM source covered with Aluminum duct tape

>40 dB PIM reduction

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4) Direct less power at PIM source

Diode

Rotate antenna

JMA Wireless

32

Antenna with notch in horizontal pattern

Rotate antenna to steer null at PIM source

Up to 30 dB reduction in PIM !

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Summary:
PIM severity will be different for each IBW installation

Type of construction

Frequency bands in use

Power levels in use

PIM can be a problem even at very low power levels

PIM can be mitigated by:

Eliminating bad frequency combinations

Using low PIM construction techniques / materials

Reducing RF energy arriving at the PIM source

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