Anritsu introduces the MW8208A PIM Master, a test solution that brings Anritsu’s patented Distance-to-PIM technology to 850 MHz cellular band applications. Distance-to-PIM helps make the MW8208A a trouble-finding tool allowing field technicians and engineers responsible for deploying, installing, and maintaining wireless networks to accurately and quickly locate the source of passive intermodulation (PIM), whether it is in the base station antenna system or in the surrounding environment.

With the MW8208A PIM Master, users can uncover the distance and relative magnitude of all static PIM faults simultaneously, including those resulting from dirty connectors, corroded connectors, over-torqued connectors, and microscopic arcing connectors. PIM Master can locate PIM outside the antenna system – the only test solution that can do so. Similar to Anritsu’s market-changing Distance-to-Fault technology designed into its Site Master cable and antenna analyzers, Distance-to-PIM helps eliminate one of the biggest problems facing wireless network deployment and operation.

The MW8208A generates two high-power tones in the transmit band of a base station and can measure the 3rd, 5th, and 7th order intermodulation products in the receive band coming down the same cable. Utilizing the GPS feature on the Anritsu handheld analyzers, users can record the location of the measurement.

Another advantage of the MW8208A is its 40 W testing, compared to alternative methods that only measure at 20 W. Utilizing 40 Watts simulates real-world power that activates the PIM that might not otherwise be activated by 20 Watt systems. In addition using double the power allows PIM Master to locate intermittent failures due to light corrosion, high-traffic loading, or changing weather conditions.

The MW8208A is designed to integrate with Anritsu’s S332E/S362E Site Mastercable and antenna analyzers, MS2712E/MS2713E and MS272xC Spectrum Master handheld spectrum analyzers, MT8212E/MT8213E Cell Master handheld analyzers, and the MT8221B/MT8222B BTS Master handheld analyzers.
The MW8208A is the newest member to the ever-growing PIM Master family. It also includes the MW8209A for the E-GSM band and the MW8219A for the PCS/AWS bands.