EN IEC 62037-6:2022

Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 6: Measurement of passive intermodulation in antennas

This part of IEC 62037 defines the test fixtures and procedures recommended for measuring levels of passive intermodulation generated by antennas, typically used in wireless communication systems. The purpose is to define qualification and acceptance test methods for antennas for use in low intermodulation (low IM) applications.

Passive HF- und Mikrowellenbauteile, Messung des Intermodulationspegels - Teil 6: Messung der passiven Intermodulation in Antennen

Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau d'intermodulation - Partie 6: Mesure de l'intermodulation passive dans les antennes

IEC 62037-6:2021 est disponible sous forme de IEC 62037-6:2021 RLV qui contient la Norme internationale et sa version Redline, illustrant les modifications du contenu technique depuis l'édition précédente.L'IEC 62037-6:2021 définit les dispositifs et les procédures d’essai recommandés pour mesurer les niveaux d’intermodulation passive générés par des antennes, généralement utilisées dans des systèmes de communication sans fil. L’objectif est de définir des méthodes d’essai de qualification et d’acceptation pour des antennes destinées à être utilisées dans des applications de faible intermodulation (faible IM). Cette seconde édition annule et remplace la première édition parue en 2013. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente: a. mise à jour des exigences relatives aux essais dynamiques afin de définir l’énergie des chocs et la position où ils sont appliqués sur les dispositifs soumis à essai.

Pasivne radiofrekvenčne (RF) in mikrovalovne naprave, meritve intermodulacijskega nivoja - 6. del: Meritve pasivne intermodulacije v antenah (IEC 62037-6:2021)

Ta del standarda IEC 62037 določa preskusne vpenjalne naprave in postopke, ki so priporočljivi za merjenje ravni pasivne intermodulacije, ki jo proizvedejo antene, običajno uporabljene v brezžičnih komunikacijskih sistemih. Namen je določiti kvalifikacijske in sprejemljivostne preskusne metode za antene za uporabo pri nizki intermodulaciji (nizka IM).

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 13-Jan-2022
• ICS: 33.040.20 - Transmission systems
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 46X - Communication cables
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 46 - IEC_TC_46
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 14-Jan-2022
• Completion Date: 14-Jan-2022
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 62037-6:2022 - Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 6: Measurement of passive intermodulation in antennas (IEC 62037-6:2021)

Relations

• Replaces: EN 62037-6:2013 - Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 6: Measurement of passive intermodulation in antennas
• Effective Date: 18-Jan-2022
• Amended By: EN IEC 62037-6:2022/A1:2026 - Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 6: Measurement of passive intermodulation in antennas
• Effective Date: 16-Jan-2024

Overview

EN IEC 62037-6:2022 (equivalent to IEC 62037-6:2021) specifies recommended test fixtures and procedures for measuring passive intermodulation (PIM) in antennas. Intended for antennas used in wireless communication systems, the standard defines qualification and acceptance test methods for low intermodulation (low IM) applications. It is a part of the IEC 62037 series covering PIM measurement of passive RF and microwave devices and has been adopted by CENELEC/CLC as a European standard.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and definitions: Clarifies what constitutes an antenna, antenna under test (AUT), and antenna PIM; distinguishes passive PIM from active intermodulation (AIM).
• Test fixtures and set-ups: Recommends reverse and forward PIM test configurations, test site baseline verification, and the definition of a low-PIM reference load.
• Measurement considerations: Addresses measurement accuracy, test environment, test system cables and RF connectors, and safety practices.
• Antenna design and installation effects: Identifies how mounting hardware, radomes, fasteners, grounding, and neighbouring objects influence PIM performance.
• Dynamic and environmental testing: Includes combined environmental/PIM testing guidance and updated dynamic testing requirements - specifying impact energy and locations for mechanical shock/impact tests on the AUT.
• PIM test chamber design: Guidance on RF absorber materials, shielding, supporting structures and maintaining a controlled RF environment.
• Quality assurance and handling: Procedures for handling, verification, and maintaining low-PIM test baselines.

Practical applications

EN IEC 62037-6:2022 is used to:

• Qualify and accept antennas for cellular base stations, DAS, small cells, and other wireless infrastructure where passive intermodulation can degrade receiver sensitivity.
• Establish lab test procedures and procurement specifications that require PIM measurement in antennas.
• Support product design decisions (material selection, connector interfaces, mounting hardware) to minimize PIM in deployed systems.
• Define test chamber and measurement-system requirements for reliable, repeatable PIM testing.

Who should use this standard

• Antenna manufacturers and OEMs (design and QA teams)
• Independent RF test laboratories and certification bodies
• Mobile network operators, system integrators, and infrastructure installers
• Procurement and specification engineers requiring antenna PIM acceptance criteria

Related standards

• IEC 62037-1 and IEC 62037-3 (other parts of the PIM measurement series)
• IEC 60068-2-75 (environmental testing references)
• ISO 2039-2 (material testing references)

Keywords: EN IEC 62037-6:2022, PIM measurement in antennas, passive intermodulation, antenna intermodulation testing, low IM antennas, antenna qualification, RF test procedures.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2022
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 62037-6:2014
Pasivne radiofrekvenčne (RF) in mikrovalovne naprave, meritve
intermodulacijskega nivoja - 6. del: Meritve pasivne intermodulacije v antenah (IEC
62037-6:2021)
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 6:
Measurement of passive intermodulation in antennas (IEC 62037-6:2021)
Passive HF- und Mikrowellenbauteile, Messung des Intermodulationspegels - Teil 6:
Messung der passiven Intermodulation in Antennen (IEC 62037-6:2021)
Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau d’intermodulation - Partie 6:
Mesure de l’intermodulation passive dans les antennes (IEC 62037-6:2021)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 62037-6:2022
ICS:
33.120.30 Radiofrekvenčni konektorji RF connectors
(RF)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 62037-6

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM January 2022
ICS 33.040.20 Supersedes EN 62037-6:2013 and all of its amendments
and corrigenda (if any)
English Version
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level
measurement - Part 6: Measurement of passive intermodulation
in antennas
(IEC 62037-6:2021)
Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau Passive HF- und Mikrowellenbauteile, Messung des
d'intermodulation - Partie 6: Mesure de l'intermodulation Intermodulationspegels - Teil 6: Messung der passiven
passive dans les antennes Intermodulation in Antennen
(IEC 62037-6:2021) (IEC 62037-6:2021)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2021-12-28. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 62037-6:2022 E

European foreword
The text of document 46/838/FDIS, future edition 2 of IEC 62037-6, prepared by IEC/TC 46 “Cables,
wires, waveguides, RF connectors, RF and microwave passive components and accessories” was
submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as EN IEC 62037-6:2022.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2022–09–28
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2024–12–28
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 62037-6:2013 and all of its amendments and corrigenda (if any).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 62037-6:2021 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards
indicated:
IEC 60068-2-75 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60068-2-75
IEC 62037-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 62037-1
IEC 62037-3 NOTE Harmonized as EN 62037-3
ISO 2039-2 NOTE Harmonized as EN ISO 2039-2

IEC 62037-6 ®
Edition 2.0 2021-11
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement –

Part 6: Measurement of passive intermodulation in antennas

Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau d’intermodulation –

Partie 6: Mesure de l’intermodulation passive dans les antennes

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.040.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-1049-3

– 2 – IEC 62037-6:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 5
3.1 Terms and definitions . 5
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 5
4 Definitions of antenna as it pertains to PIM . 5
4.1 Antenna . 5
4.2 Antenna under test . 6
4.3 Active antenna . 6
4.4 Antenna PIM . 6
5 Antenna design and field installation considerations . 6
5.1 Environmental effects on PIM performance . 6
5.2 Antenna interface connection. 6
5.3 Mounting considerations to avoid PIM generation . 7
5.4 Neighbouring sources of interference . 7
5.5 Standard practices and guidelines for material selection . 7
6 PIM measurement considerations . 7
6.1 Quality assurance process and handling procedures . 7
6.2 Measurement accuracy . 7
6.3 Test environment . 8
6.4 Safety . 8
6.5 Test set-up. 8
6.5.1 Coaxial test cable assemblies . 8
6.5.2 Defining a good low PIM reference load . 8
6.5.3 Test set-up and test site baseline PIM verification . 8
6.6 PIM test configurations . 9
6.7 Combined environmental and PIM testing . 10
6.7.1 General . 10
6.7.2 Mechanical considerations . 10
6.7.3 Test system cables and connectors . 10
6.8 PIM test chamber design . 11
6.8.1 General . 11
6.8.2 RF absorber materials . 11
6.8.3 Supporting structures and walls . 11
6.8.4 RF shielding . 12
7 Dynamic PIM measurement considerations . 12
7.1 General . 12
7.2 Dynamic testing methodology . 13
7.3 Shocks test . 13
Bibliography . 14

Figure 1 – Antenna reverse PIM test set-up . 9
Figure 2 – Antenna forward PIM test set-up . 10
Figure 3 – Hammer description . 13

IEC 62037-6:2021 © IEC 2021 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PASSIVE RF AND MICROWAVE DEVICES,
INTERMODULATION LEVEL MEASUREMENT –

Part 6: Measurement of passive intermodulation in antennas

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 62037-6 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 46: Cables, wires, waveguides, RF
connectors, RF and microwave passive components and accessories. It is an International
Standard.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2013. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) dynamic testing requirements updated to define impact energy and locations to apply
impacts to devices under test;

– 4 – IEC 62037-6:2021 © IEC 2021
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
46/838/FDIS 46/859/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.
A list of all the parts in the IEC 62037 series, published under the general title Passive RF and
microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IEC 62037-6:2021 © IEC 2021 – 5 –
PASSIVE RF AND MICROWAVE DEVICES,
INTERMODULATION LEVEL MEASUREMENT –

Part 6: Measurement of passive intermodulation in antennas

1 Scope
This part of IEC 62037 defines the test fixtures and procedures recommended for measuring
levels of passive intermodulation generated by antennas, typically used in wireless
communication systems. The purpose is to define qualification and acceptance test methods for
antennas for use in low intermodulation (low IM) applications.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.2 Abbreviated terms
AIM Active intermodulation
AUT Antenna under test
ESD Electrostatic discharge
HPA High power amplifier
IM Intermodulation
LNA Low noise amplifier
PIM Passive intermodulation
RF Radio frequency
4 Definitions of antenna as it pertains to PIM
4.1 Antenna
An antenna is that part of a radio transmitting or receiving system which is designed to provide
the required coupling between a transmitter or a receiver and the medium in which the radio
wave propagates.
– 6 – IEC 62037-6:2021 © IEC 2021
The antenna consists of a number of parts or components. These components include, but are
not limited to, one or many radiating elements, one or many RF interfaces, a distribution or
combining feed network, internal support structures, devices which control or adjust the
amplitude/phase response and distribution to the radiating element(s), filters, diplexers,
orthomode transducers, polarizers, waveguides, coaxial cables or printed circuits. In addition,
peripheral components could also influence the PIM performance of the antenna. These
components can include, but are not limited to, mounting brackets, mounting hardware, radome,
radome fasteners, thermal insulation and grounding hardware.
4.2 Antenna under test
The antenna hardware can have an effect on the overall antenna PIM performance. Therefore,
it is necessary to specify the hardware which is to be part of the antenna under test (AUT).
4.3 Active antenna
An active antenna incorporates active devices such as low noise amplifiers (LNAs), high power
amplifiers (HPAs), phase shifters, etc. An active antenna has the additional concern of active
intermodulation (AIM) which is typically at a much higher level than PIM. The measurement of
PIM in the presence of AIM is not within the scope of this document. If required, the PIM
measurement of an active antenna shall be performed on the passive portion of the antenna only.
4.4 Antenna PIM
The antenna PIM is defined as the PIM that is generated by the antenna assembly itself at a
reference plane or RF interface. The PIM can be measured in a radiated or conducted
(transmissive or reflective) mode.
5 Antenna design and field installation considerations
5.1 Environmental effects on PIM performance
Any hardware located in the nearby environment can significantly influence the PIM
performance of an antenna or antenna system. The effect of ferromagnetic materials, dissimilar
metallic junctions which are part of neighbouring hardware, such as other antennas, tower
structures, aircraft fuselage components, spacecraft thermal control hardware, DC and ESD
grounding hardware, non-high pressure mechanical connections, etc., can potentially have a
detrimental effect on the PIM performance of the communication system.
5.2 Antenna interface connection
Any interface that is exposed to RF is a potential PIM source and shall be designed to be low
PIM. Care shall be taken to ensure that all the mating surfaces are clean. The connections,
whether coaxial or waveguide, should be inspected for dirt, metallic filings, sharp protruding
material, and other potential contaminates. Any coaxial connections shall be torqued to the
manufacturer’s specifications to ensure proper metal-to-metal contact pressure is achieved. If
waveguide is used, then the flange bolts shall be torqued to the recommended manufacturer’s
specifications. Careful attention shall be paid to the alignment of the mating co
...