Abstract: According to methods of performing measurements to determine a distance to a passive-intermodulation (“PIM”) source, a first RF signal comprising a first frequency and a second RF signal comprising a second frequency may be applied to a device under test. A reference signal comprising a higher-order intermodulation-product of the first frequency and the second frequency may also be generated. An output signal from the device under test and the reference signal may be digitized and a calibration measurement may be applied. A phase difference between the device under test output and the reference signal may be determined. A plurality of phase differences may be determined for multiple first frequencies, and from the plurality of phase differences, a delay may be calculated, which may be multiplied by the velocity of propagation on the medium connecting the device under test to the test equipment to determine a distance to the PIM source.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure may improve the accuracy of the known azimuth determination techniques by employing more than two GNSS antennas positioned on a base station antenna. Techniques may use one or more combinations of the GNSS antennas to determine an azimuth of the base station antenna, which serve to improve accuracy of an azimuth determination.

Abstract: According to methods of performing measurements to determine a distance to a passive-intermodulation (“PIM”) source, a first RF signal comprising a first frequency and a second RF signal comprising a second frequency may be applied to a device under test. A reference signal comprising a higher-order intermodulation-product of the first frequency and the second frequency may also be generated. An output signal from the device under test and the reference signal may be digitized and a calibration measurement may be applied. A phase difference between the device under test output and the reference signal may be determined. A plurality of phase differences may be determined for multiple first frequencies, and from the plurality of phase differences, a delay may be calculated, which may be multiplied by the velocity of propagation on the medium connecting the device under test to the test equipment to determine a distance to the PIM source.

Abstract: According to methods of performing measurements to determine a distance to a passive-intermodulation (“PIM”) source, a first RF signal comprising a first frequency and a second RF signal comprising a second frequency may be applied to a device under test. A reference signal comprising a higher-order intermodulation-product of the first frequency and the second frequency may also be generated. An output signal from the device under test and the reference signal may be digitized and a calibration measurement may be applied. A phase difference between the device under test output and the reference signal may be determined. A plurality of phase differences may be determined for multiple first frequencies, and from the plurality of phase differences, a delay may be calculated, which may be multiplied by the velocity of propagation on the medium connecting the device under test to the test equipment to determine a distance to the PIM source.

Abstract: Methods are provided for calibrating a millimeter wave active antenna array using over-the-air measurements and an optimization algorithm. The transmit and receive paths may be optimized separately, and the optimization may be performed on the magnitude and phase separately or together. The parameter optimized may include the received power of the main lobe or the received power at the location of a null in some embodiments.

Abstract: Methods are provided for calibrating a millimeter wave active antenna array using over-the-air measurements and an optimization algorithm. The transmit and receive paths may be optimized separately, and the optimization may be performed on the magnitude and phase separately or together. The parameter optimized may include the received power of the main lobe or the received power at the location of a null in some embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller coupled to at least two antennas and one or more sensors. An initial azimuth value for the apparatus is determined based on output of the one or more sensors. Respective phase differences between satellite signals received from respective satellites at the at least two antennas are detected, and respective phase difference values for the respective satellites are calculated based on the initial azimuth value, a distance between the at least two antennas in the apparatus, and positions of the respective satellites. An actual azimuth angle of the apparatus is identified based on the initial azimuth value from the output of the one or more sensors and variations between the respective detected phase differences and the respective calculated phase difference values for the respective satellites.

Abstract: According to methods of performing measurements to determine a distance to a passive-intermodulation (“PIM”) source, a first RF signal comprising a first frequency and a second RF signal comprising a second frequency may be applied to a device under test. A reference signal comprising a higher-order intermodulation-product of the first frequency and the second frequency may also be generated. An output signal from the device under test and the reference signal may be digitized and a calibration measurement may be applied. A phase difference between the device under test output and the reference signal may be determined. A plurality of phase differences may be determined for multiple first frequencies, and from the plurality of phase differences, a delay may be calculated, which may be multiplied by the velocity of propagation on the medium connecting the device under test to the test equipment to determine a distance to the PIM source.

Abstract: According to methods of performing measurements to determine a distance to a passive-intermodulation (“PIM”) source, a first RF signal comprising a first frequency and a second RF signal comprising a second frequency may be applied to a device under test. A reference signal comprising a higher-order intermodulation-product of the first frequency and the second frequency may also be generated. An output signal from the device under test and the reference signal may be digitized and a calibration measurement may be applied. A phase difference between the device under test output and the reference signal may be determined. A plurality of phase differences may be determined for multiple first frequencies, and from the plurality of phase differences, a delay may be calculated, which may be multiplied by the velocity of propagation on the medium connecting the device under test to the test equipment to determine a distance to the PIM source.

Abstract: According to methods of performing measurements to determine a distance to a passive-intermodulation (“PIM”) source, a first RF signal comprising a first frequency and a second RF signal comprising a second frequency may be applied to a device under test. A reference signal comprising a higher-order intermodulation-product of the first frequency and the second frequency may also be generated. An output signal from the device under test and the reference signal may be digitized and a calibration measurement may be applied. A phase difference between the device under test output and the reference signal may be determined. A plurality of phase differences may be determined for multiple first frequencies, and from the plurality of phase differences, a delay may be calculated, which may be multiplied by the velocity of propagation on the medium connecting the device under test to the test equipment to determine a distance to the PIM source.

Abstract: An exemplary alignment module for a base station antenna has one or more accelerometers and one or more magnetometers. The one or more accelerometers are used to determine tilt and roll angles of the antenna, while the yaw angle of the antenna is determined using the one or more magnetometers and the determined tilt and roll angles. Using multiple accelerometers and/or multiple magnetometers can improve accuracy of angle determination. A service provider can determine when to re-align the antenna by monitoring the tilt, roll, and yaw angles remotely to detect changes in antenna orientation. Yaw angle determination can also take into account offset values corresponding to soft-iron effects, hard-iron effects, and factory calibration. The need to re-calibrate offset values following changes in local magnetic environment can be detected by comparing different sensor signals, such as the different magnetic fields detected by a plurality of magnetometers.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure may improve the accuracy of the known azimuth determination techniques by employing more than two GNSS antennas positioned on a base station antenna. Techniques may use one or more combinations of the GNSS antennas to determine an azimuth of the base station antenna, which serve to improve accuracy of an azimuth determination.

Abstract: According to methods of performing a passive inter-modulation distortion (“PID”) test, a first excitation signal and a second excitation signal are applied to a device under test, where at least one of the first and second excitation signals is a spread spectrum excitation signal. An output signal is received that includes a PID signal generated from mixing of the first and second excitation signals. At least a portion of the output signal is de-spread. A characteristic of the PID signal may then be measured.

Abstract: A system includes a controller that is configured to generate a control signal, an antenna, and an antenna line device coupled to the antenna that is configured to receive the control signal via a wireless interface.

Abstract: Methods of operating a cellular radio are provided in which a first power supply signal is transmitted from a power supply to a wireless power unit at least in part over a power cable. A second power supply signal is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless power unit to the cellular radio to power the cellular radio. Data is transmitted from a baseband unit that is associated with the cellular radio to a wireless transceiver at least in part over a data cable. This data is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless transceiver to the cellular radio. The data is then transmitted through an antenna that is coupled to the cellular radio.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller coupled to at least two antennas and one or more sensors. An initial azimuth value for the apparatus is determined based on output of the one or more sensors. Respective phase differences between satellite signals received from respective satellites at the at least two antennas are detected, and respective phase difference values for the respective satellites are calculated based on the initial azimuth value, a distance between the at least two antennas in the apparatus, and positions of the respective satellites. An actual azimuth angle of the apparatus is identified based on the initial azimuth value from the output of the one or more sensors and variations between the respective detected phase differences and the respective calculated phase difference values for the respective satellites.

Abstract: According to methods of performing a passive inter-modulation distortion (“PID”) test, a first excitation signal and a second excitation signal are applied to a device under test, where at least one of the first and second excitation signals is a spread spectrum excitation signal. An output signal is received that includes a PID signal generated from mixing of the first and second excitation signals. At least a portion of the output signal is de-spread. A characteristic of the PID signal may then be measured.

Abstract: Methods of operating a cellular radio are provided in which a first power supply signal is transmitted from a power supply to a wireless power unit at least in part over a power cable. A second power supply signal is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless power unit to the cellular radio to power the cellular radio. Data is transmitted from a baseband unit that is associated with the cellular radio to a wireless transceiver at least in part over a data cable. This data is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless transceiver to the cellular radio. The data is then transmitted through an antenna that is coupled to the cellular radio.

Abstract: Methods of operating a cellular radio are provided in which a first power supply signal is transmitted from a power supply to a wireless power unit at least in part over a power cable. A second power supply signal is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless power unit to the cellular radio to power the cellular radio. Data is transmitted from a baseband unit that is associated with the cellular radio to a wireless transceiver at least in part over a data cable. This data is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless transceiver to the cellular radio. The data is then transmitted through an antenna that is coupled to the cellular radio.

Abstract: An exemplary alignment module for a base station antenna has one or more accelerometers and one or more magnetometers. The one or more accelerometers are used to determine tilt and roll angles of the antenna, while the yaw angle of the antenna is determined using the one or more magnetometers and the determined tilt and roll angles. Using multiple accelerometers and/or multiple magnetometers can improve accuracy of angle determination. A service provider can determine when to re-align the antenna by monitoring the tilt, roll, and yaw angles remotely to detect changes in antenna orientation. Yaw angle determination can also take into account offset values corresponding to soft-iron effects, hard-iron effects, and factory calibration. The need to re-calibrate offset values following changes in local magnetic environment can be detected by comparing different sensor signals, such as the different magnetic fields detected by a plurality of magnetometers.