Antenna PIM measurements and associated test facilities

The passive intermodulation (PIM) phenomenon has been observed over the last four decades in various types of multi-frequency radio communication systems: shipboard antennas, ground stations and space borne antennas for satellite communications and, in wireless telecommunication systems. In many cases, PIM has been a very challenging and costly problem where the antennas have been particularly critical. For example, numerous high power communications satellite programs have been adversely affected by PIM. State-of-the-art test facilities are required to perform PIM testing on antennas.