In 1995 Anritsu launched Site Master™, the world’s first handheld cable and antenna analyzer. The Site Master™ revolutionized the ability for field technicians to install and maintain cellular, LMR, and broadcast communications networks. Recently, the Site Master™ has been upgraded with models MS2085A and MS2089A, which enable field technicians to get the job done “even faster, with greater accuracy, and enhanced features for ease of use,” says Raymond Chan, Product Manager for Anritsu.
“The new Site Master™ models are built on the legacy of past models and today we offer a tool that is truly versatile in almost any industry. It is not only a cable and antenna analyzer. It’s also a best-in-class handheld spectrum analyzer,” Chan said.
The new Site Masters™ can be used in all stages of a project, including clearing the spectrum at a transmitter site and evaluating the spectrum before maintenance. It also sweeps the transmission lines for both DAS and Macro sites.
“It features a modern, friendly user interface, and the ability to make reports and edit cables all in the unit, which enables users to get the job done quickly and correctly,” Chan said. “After the wireless installation, the New Site Master™ monitors for interference and allows the user to hunt it down.”
The MS2085A is a cable and antenna analyzer similar to the S331E and 361E models, and the MS2089A is both a cable and antenna analyzer that includes a spectrum analyzer similar to the S332E and S362E models.
“The big difference is that the form factor of the new Site Master™ matches our MS2080A and the spectrum analyzer capability is much improved over the existing S3x2E series models, again sharing the performance and features of the MS2080A,” Chan said.
The standard MS2085A Site Master™ cable and antenna analyzer is designed to perform all of the measurements required to validate that RF cables and antennas have been correctly installed. Faults in the RF feeder system are the single largest cause of degraded base station performance, due to the exposed nature of these components. It is common for their performance to degrade over time, Chan explains. The key measurements available are return loss and insertion loss.
“When a cable or antenna shows poor return loss, the distance-to-fault measurement pinpoints the position along the cable where the cause of the reflection is located, enabling a suitable repair to be made,” Chan said.
The MS2085A Enhancements
The MS2085A offers the full measurement capability of the S3x1E Site Master™ but is enhanced. Sweeps are faster, reducing test times and providing a “more responsive user experience,” says Chan. A built-in factory calibration (ReadyCal) eliminates the need for regular on-site user calibrations in many situations. Where user calibrations are required, a new InstaCal device automates the calibration process, reducing the number of calibration steps and “ensuring reliable results.” Built-in report creation capability allows contractors to complete close out reports before leaving the site, reducing truck rolls due to missed measurements or late detection of failed measurements, according to Anritsu.
“The MS2085A has several advancements over the old Site Master™ but if I have to summarize it into one word, it would be ‘fast.’ The MS2085A can sweep at 350 us/point and now has 10,049 points. Close out reports and the cable list can be modified right from the unit,” Chan said.
The MS2089A Tops the S332E and S362E Site Master™ Models
The MS2089A has all the improvements from the MS2085A but also includes faster and smarter measurements in SPA mode. “The unit not only has VSA measurements such as 5G/4G and a Real Time Spectrum Analyzer, but also IQ capture/streaming and 40 MHz analysis bandwidth, making the MS2089A the perfect unit for any situation that may be encountered,” Chan said.
Built for Speed
The MS2085A and MS2089A models are faster to set up, faster to measure, and create reports quickly, explains Chan. “Additionally, the instruments are easier to use through simplified calibration options, aided by the world’s largest library of RF cable specifications. The enhanced spectrum analyzer features enable a greater range of measurements, which is especially useful for identifying and locating sources of interference that may be degrading network performance,” he says. “Field techs can get the job done more quickly, with fewer errors and greater confidence in their close out reports.”
For more information, contact your local sales and service representative or visit the Anritsu website.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
Reader Interactions