Application Note: Measuring The Passive Intermodulation Performance Of RF Cable Assemblies

As an increasing volume of voice and data information must pass through a fixed bandwidth in wireless communication systems, passive intermodulation distortion has become one factor which limits system capacity. Just as in active devices, passive intermodulation (IM) occurs when signals at two or more frequencies mix together in a non-linear fashion to produce spurious signals. When these spurious IM signals fall within the receive (uplink) band of a base station, receiver desensitization can occur. This can degrades call quality, or degrade the system C/I thus reducing the capacity of the communications system.

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