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EasyDock 7-16 Now PIM-Enabled

The SPINNER EasyDock, a self-centering adaptor for measurement interfaces, is ideally suited for automated testing environments. Available for all common connector types such as 7-16, 4.3-10, 4.1-9.5 and N, it is seeing use in more and more in test bays. PIM (Passive Intermodulation) measurements are a key benchmark for qualifying products in mobile radio testing environments. Due to the contact pressure of 80 N, so far 4.3-10 EasyDocks have been the only suitable devices to carry out PIM measurement.

EasyDock 7-16 Now PIM-EnabledNow the new Easy Dock 7-16 is geared up and ready to measure PIM. It can be used for a much wider range of applications in test environments to help drive customers' costs down another notch. EasyDocks are spring-loaded to automatically center the adaptor on the tested port and to provide unvarying 80 N of pressure, which provides excellent spring tension for taking measurements. The contact pressure is high enough to get reliable and reproducible readings, but still low enough so that the unit undergoing testing may be addressed with several EasyDocks.

Typical applications include antennas and base stations. The 7-16 connector system is actually suitable for PIM, but it requires 30 Nm torque (in accordance with IEC 61169-4) to achieve good, reliable results. However, 80 N contact pressure is a far cry from 30 Nm torque, which would take several 100 N of pressure to match.

An example helps to illustrate the problem

Several thousand newtons contact pressure would be needed to measure an antenna with eight terminals. This has two downsides: It would require an expensive testing rig and the pressure would push most devices to or beyond their limits. Such concerns have been relegated to history since SPINNER modified the 7-16 EasyDock adaptor to take reliable PIM measurements up to -162 dBc at 80 N contact pressure.

This marks another major advance in the effort to streamline test setups, especially for tests involving several measurements of parameters such as VSWR and PIM. In the past, this involved a lot of manual docking and undocking using either several adaptors or patch cables, both of which are costly.

With SPINNER EasyDocks, adaptors no longer have to be swapped to take different measurements. This saves considerable time, and cuts additional costs by as much as 80 percent. And with that, SPINNER has yet again impressively demonstrated its ability to turn up advanced RF products and significantly improve customers' cost position.