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Acterna TestPad Getting Started Manual

Base station & air interface test module
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Acterna TestPad
Base Station & Air Interface Test Module (BAT)
Getting Started Guide

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  • Page 1 Acterna TestPad Base Station & Air Interface Test Module (BAT) Getting Started Guide...
  • Page 2 The information in this document has been carefully checked and is believed to be entirely reliable. Acterna makes no warranty of any kind with regard to the material in this document, and assumes no responsibility for any errors which may appear in this document.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Connecting Acterna TestPad 2000 with the BAT Module . 9 Elements of Acterna TestPad 2000 and BAT ..10 Power LEDs ........11 Handle with pocket for stylus .
  • Page 4 Up- and Downloading Configuration Data and Reports 27 Service and Calibration ......27 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Notice . . 28 Industry Canada Notice .

  • Page 5: Introduction

    Introduction Dear User of the Acterna TestPad Base Station & Air Interface Test Module (BAT), We hope that you will enjoy using the BAT as much as we enjoyed designing it for you. Your feedback on this test instrument is always welcome. It enables us to improve the BAT through updates and upgrades.

  • Page 6: The Base Station & Air Interface Test Module (Bat)

    The Base Station & Air Interface Test Module (BAT) The BAT Module is a handheld RF spectrum meter based on the Acterna TestPad 2000 platform. Base stations can be tested while in operation, without any shut down. You can test a base station either at its RF output connector or over the air interface.

  • Page 7: Unpacking The Bat

    Unpacking the BAT Keep the cardboard box for shipping the BAT back to Acterna for recalibration and inspection (recommended once a year). Standard equipment delivery a 1 Base Station & Air Interface Test Module (BAT) b 2 RF cables, N-type on N-type connectors, 2 m (ca. 6 ft.)

  • Page 8: Acterna Testpad 2000 Tm (V3) Delivery

    TestPad 2000 , the latter is delivered in the same main box. The TestPad comes with a Getting Started Guide of its own; please refer to this when unpacking and installing the TestPad. The complete tester consists of the BAT Module and the Acterna TestPad 2000 .

  • Page 9: Connecting Acterna Testpad 2000 Tm With The Bat Module

    • The Acterna TestPad 2000 may contain another applica- tion module. If so, remove that other module. • Slide the BAT Module into the Acterna TestPad 2000 • Tighten the screw with a coin. • Power on the TestPad. •...

  • Page 10: Elements Of Acterna Testpad 2000 Tm And Bat

    Elements of Acterna TestPad 2000 Apart from the large touchscreen right in the middle, the Acterna TestPad 2000 with the BAT Module consists of the following user elements: a Power LEDs b Connectors c Table for absolute power and reflection...

  • Page 11: Power Leds

    Power LEDs POWER LED lights up when the Acterna TestPad 2000 is switched on. CHARGE Illumination indicates that the battery is be- ing charged. LOW BATTERY LED lights up when battery charge is low. Handle with pocket for stylus Handle for carrying the TestPad.
  • Page 12 Table for absolute power and reflection For your convenience, a conversion table for power and reflec- tion measurements is printed on the right-hand side of the front panel of the module. If you want to convert between different dimensions, please use the equations below: Power [dBm] = 30 + 10 log...

  • Page 13: Connectors

    Connectors Antenna Connector for the BAT stick antenna Trigger Connector for triggering time measurements Reflection Connector for the reflected coupler power Main Connector for the attenuated radio output or the coupled forward power Note: The short antenna is for PCS (high-band) measurements and the long antenna with two colored rings is for cellular (low- band) measurements.

  • Page 14: Slot For Pcmcia Cards

    Slot for PCMCIA cards A PCMCIA memory card can extend the storage capacity of your BAT. It will also speed up the BAT application after module swap (the memory card needs to be ATA-compatible). An external PCMCIA storage device is highly recommended if you want to store many screenshots.

  • Page 15: Switches And Connectors

    This switch is used to turn the power on and off. Handset The BAT module does not make use of the Hand- set connector. Battery slot Note: With some versions of the TestPad 2000, the battery slot can be opened with a coin.

  • Page 16: Three Main Applications For Using The Bat

    Three Main Applications for Using the Application 1: Measurements at the base station’s attenuated output Attach one end of the blue cable to the Main connector of the BAT and the other end to the attenuated RF output of the base station radio section (max.
  • Page 17 Warning: Always use the attenuated output. Never connect the high-power output of the radio directly to the BAT. A direct connection can be hazardous and may destroy your test equipment. With this application you can measure Taking measurements at the base station’s attenuated output •...

  • Page 18: Application 2

    Many base stations already include a fixed bidirectional coupler; for testing base stations without this feature, bidirectional coup- lers are available from Acterna (Dual-Band Coupler, order code AC-016953). This device if of high accuracy and superior to many couplers built into base stations.
  • Page 19 With this application you can measure: Taking measurements using a bidirectional coupler • Output level • Output spectrum • Output power ripple • Carrier frequency error • Reflected power (antenna match) • Frequency-dependent reflected power...

  • Page 20: Application 3

    Application 3: Measurements over the air interface With measurements over the air interface you can analyze the RF environment of the base station. You can cover all the fre- quencies in which the base station transmits or receives by using the two antennas included in the standard delivery. Attach the respective antenna to the Antenna connector and start test- ing.
  • Page 21 Note: Use the long antenna (with two rings on top) for the cellu- lar (low) band. Use the short antenna for the PCS (high) band. With this application you can test: The RF environment of the base station • Emitted field strength •...

  • Page 22: Working With The User Interface

    BAT Module is designed to be intuitive and easy to use. Although it is recom- mended that you use the stylus supplied with the TestPad to activate functions on the screen, you can also lightly touch the screen with any blunt object or with your finger.

  • Page 23: Most Important Display Sections

    Most important display sections The display is divided into several sections. The most important ones, to begin with, are the System and Application button sec- tions which are described on the following pages. Application buttons Configure Using the “Configure” application, you can enter your location, verify or reconfigure the settings of a base station, add or delete a base station con- figuration, and save the configuration to a disk.
  • Page 24 Check With “Check” you can test the base station. If it fails the test, arrows will point to the specific measurements that indicate the failure. You can then enter comments on the result or save the result as a screenshot. Power Press this button to check the output power alignment, including ripple detection.

  • Page 25: System Buttons

    Print Using “Print” you can save screenshots or reports. If a printer is connected to the TestPad 2000, you can also print the reports. Select the System button to set up the printing location, e.g. when using a PCMCIA-based memory extension.

  • Page 26: Online Help Screen

    Online help screen The online help will guide you in operating the BAT. It can be called up by pressing the question mark on the screen. The help screens contain all information that you need to proceed with testing.

  • Page 27: Up- And Downloading Configuration Data And Reports

    PC. Service and Calibration The BAT can only be repaired by Acterna’s trained service engi- neers. Each repair requires a new calibration of the BAT to ensure measurement accuracy. The BAT should be recalibra- ted at least once a year.

  • Page 28: Federal Communications Commission (Fcc) Notice

    The authority to operate this equipment is conditioned by the requirements that no modifications be made to the equipment unless the changes or modifications are expressly approved by Acterna. Industry Canada Notice This Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES- 003.
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  • Page 31: Publication History

    This manual is subject to change without notice. © Copyright 2002 Acterna, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means (printing, photocopying or any other method) without the express written permission of Acterna München GmbH.
  • Page 32 Tel: +55 11 5503 3800 Fax: +55 11 5505 1598 Asia/Pacific 42 Clarendon Street PO Box 141 Acterna is present in more South Melbourne, Victoria 3205 than 80 countries. To find Australia your local sales office, go to Tel: +61 3 9690 6700 www.acterna.com...

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