Cell station testing now simplified with portable universal RF test tool
9 October 2002
Test & Measurement
A cell site technician's job, which is to troubleshoot cellular provider base stations and monitor network performance, is now said to have been made easier with a fully portable, lightweight, universal RF testing tool from Grintek Telecom.
Grintek Telecom, the South African supplier of Acterna's global communications test and management solutions, has introduced the latest in Acterna's TestPad 2000 range: the base station and air interface test module (BAT-2700 Testpad).
"Acterna's BAT-2700 Testpad features an easy, user-friendly interface designed for RF cell site maintenance jobs," says Terry Sanderson, business unit manager: measurement solutions at Grintek Telecom. "As these are usually done by field technicians, rather than performance engineers, practical diagnostic equipment is important."
According to Sanderson, the new Testpad allows for hassle-free troubleshooting of cell sites in operation, to analyse and determine their performance levels and effectiveness, without the need to freeze transmission - or GSM network operators' cash flows - during testing.
"The BAT-2700 has the capability of detecting interfering signals even beside strong carriers, such as opposing GSM network providers or even those caused by radio 'ham' operators, or cordless telephones," he explains.
Sanderson highlights a number of relevant features of the BAT-2700 Testpad: a cell site configuration database reduces the equipment setup to a simple click on the base station name; automated pass/fail test checks a cell site carrier in less than a minute; an ergonomic power meter allows alignment even from a far distance; the fast spectrum analyser provides the speed and sensitivity of a mobile phone but still maintains the strong signal robustness needed in a base station environment; a selective VSWR meter provides antenna reflection for each carrier, which allows for the successful detection of specific mismatch problems.
For more information contact Linda Weaver, Grintek Telecom, 012 672 8000, [email protected]
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