SIST EN IEC 62037-3:2025

Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 3: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial connectors (IEC 62037-3:2025)

IEC 62037-3:2025 defines the impact test on coaxial connectors to evaluate their robustness against weak connections and particles inside the connector, as independently as possible from the effects of cable passive intermodulation (PIM). For other connectors (e.g. panel mounted connectors), the cable can be replaced by an adequate transmission line (e.g. airline, stripline). In order to evaluate the effects of mechanical stresses on the connectors, a series of impacts is applied to the connectors while measuring the PIM.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2021. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) impact test requirements for multi-channel connectors added;
b) method for calculating impact energy added for connector shapes other than round;
c) revised test considerations for achieving maximum PIM in reverse (reflected) PIM measurements;
d) added clarification that PIM tests reports shall include the maximum PIM value measured.

Passive HF- und Mikrowellenbauteile, Messung des Intermodulationspegels - Teil 3: Messung der passiven Intermodulation in koaxialen Steckverbindern (IEC 62037-3:2025)

Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau d'intermodulation - Partie 3: Mesure de l'intermodulation passive dans les connecteurs coaxiaux (IEC 62037-3:2025)

L’IEC 62037-3:2025 définit l’essai de choc réalisé sur des connecteurs coaxiaux pour évaluer leur robustesse dans le cas de connexions faibles et de particules à l’intérieur des connecteurs, aussi indépendamment que possible des effets de l’intermodulation passive (PIM) des câbles. Pour les autres connecteurs (par exemple les connecteurs montés sur panneaux), le câble peut être remplacé par une ligne de transmission adéquate (par exemple une ligne à air, une ligne à rubans). Afin d’évaluer les effets des contraintes mécaniques sur les connecteurs, une série de chocs est appliquée aux connecteurs, tout en mesurant l’intermodulation passive.
Cette troisième édition annule et remplace la deuxième édition parue en 2021. Cette édition constitue une révision technique.
Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l’édition précédente:
a) ajout d'exigences d'essai de tenue aux chocs pour les connecteurs multicanaux;
b) ajout d'une méthode pour le calcul de l'énergie de choc pour les connecteurs qui ne sont pas ronds;
c) révision des conditions d'essai pour obtenir la valeur d'intermodulation passive maximale pour les mesurages PIM en mode inverse (réfléchi);
d) ajout d'une clarification indiquant que les rapports d'essai de PIM doivent inclure la valeur de PIM maximale mesurée.

Pasivne radiofrekvenčne (RF) in mikrovalovne naprave, meritve intermodulacijskega nivoja - 3. del: Meritve pasivne intermodulacije v koaksialnih konektorjih (IEC 62037-3:2025)

Standard IEC 62037-3:2025 določa udarni preskus koaksialnih konektorjev za ugotavljanje njihove odpornosti proti šibkim povezavam in prisotnosti delcev v konektorju, pri čemer se čim bolj izključi vpliv pasivne intermodulacije (PIM) kablov. Pri drugih konektorjih (npr. konektorji za panelno vgradnjo) je kabel mogoče nadomestiti z ustreznim prenosnim vodom (npr. zračni vod, ploščati valovod). Za ocenjevanje učinkov mehanskih vplivov na konektorje se med merjenjem pasivne intermodulacije nanje izvede serija udarcev.  Tretja izdaja razveljavlja in nadomešča drugo izdajo, objavljeno leta 2021. Ta del standarda IEC 62037 določa udarni preskus koaksialnih konektorjev za ugotavljanje njihove odpornosti proti šibkim povezavam in prisotnosti delcev v konektorju, pri čemer se čim bolj izključi vpliv pasivne intermodulacije kablov.
Pri drugih konektorjih (npr. konektorji za panelno vgradnjo) je kabel mogoče nadomestiti z ustreznim prenosnim vodom (npr. zračni vod, ploščati valovod). Za ocenjevanje učinkov mehanskih vplivov na konektorje se med merjenjem pasivne intermodulacije nanje izvede serija udarcev.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 30-May-2024
• Publication Date: 13-May-2025
• ICS: 33.040.20 - Transmission systems
• ICS: 33.120.30 - RF connectors
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 07-May-2025
• Due Date: 12-Jul-2025
• Completion Date: 14-May-2025
• Ref Project: EN IEC 62037-3:2025 - Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 3: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial connectors

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN IEC 62037-3:2022 - Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 3: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial connectors (IEC 62037-3:2021)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2025

Overview

EN IEC 62037-3:2025 (adopted by CLC/CENELEC) is the international/European standard that defines impact tests and measurement methods for passive intermodulation (PIM) in coaxial connectors. Part 3 of the IEC 62037 series focuses on evaluating connector robustness against weak connections and foreign particles by applying mechanical impacts while measuring PIM, independently of cable effects where possible. This third edition (2025) updates and replaces the 2021 edition with several technical revisions.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test scope: Impact testing on coaxial connectors to assess PIM performance under mechanical stress; applicable to other connector forms (e.g., panel-mounted) using suitable transmission lines (airline, stripline).
• Test set-ups:
  • Set-up 1 (multi-port DUT): Short assembly with identical connectors at each end to minimize transmission-line effects.
  • Set-up 2 (one-port DUT): Single connector on a transmission line that provides at least 10 dB attenuation in one direction at the lowest receive-band frequency.
• Reverse (reflected) vs forward (transmitted) testing: Guidance on achieving maximum PIM in reverse mode, including frequency sweeping or length-variation techniques (measure three assemblies with lengths of λ/6 and λ/3 offsets to identify the assembly producing maximum in‑band PIM).
• Impact procedure: A series of controlled impacts are applied while monitoring PIM to evaluate connector sensitivity to weak connections and particles.
• Reporting: Test reports must include the maximum PIM value measured.
• Annexes:
  • Annex A - calculating equivalent impact energy.
  • Annex B - impact energy calculations for different connector shapes (including non-round shapes) and tables for common connector impact data.

Practical applications and who uses it

• Connector manufacturers: Design validation, quality control, and robustness testing for coaxial connectors and multi-channel connector designs.
• RF/microwave test laboratories: Standardized procedures for PIM measurement under mechanical stress.
• Telecom operators and infrastructure vendors: Acceptance testing of connectors used in base stations, antenna systems, and passive network elements to reduce PIM-related interference.
• Compliance and certification bodies: Consistent criteria for reporting and demonstrating connector PIM performance.
• Product engineers: Risk assessment for field reliability where weak mechanical contacts or contamination may increase PIM.

Related standards

• IEC/EN 62037-1:2021 - General requirements and measuring methods for passive intermodulation.
• IEC 62037-4 - Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial cables.

Keywords: passive RF, microwave devices, passive intermodulation, PIM measurement, coaxial connectors, IEC 62037-3, EN IEC 62037-3:2025, impact test, reverse/reflected PIM, connector robustness.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2025
Nadomešča:
SIST EN IEC 62037-3:2022
Pasivne radiofrekvenčne (RF) in mikrovalovne naprave, meritve
intermodulacijskega nivoja - 3. del: Meritve pasivne intermodulacije v koaksialnih
konektorjih (IEC 62037-3:2025)
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement - Part 3:
Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial connectors (IEC 62037-3:2025)
Passive HF- und Mikrowellenbauteile, Messung des Intermodulationspegels - Teil 3:
Messung der passiven Intermodulation in koaxialen Steckverbindern (IEC 62037-3:2025)
Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau d'intermodulation - Partie 3:
Mesure de l'intermodulation passive dans les connecteurs coaxiaux (IEC 62037-3:2025)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 62037-3:2025
ICS:
33.040.20 Prenosni sistem Transmission systems
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 62037-3

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM May 2025
ICS 33.040.20 Supersedes EN IEC 62037-3:2021
English Version
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level
measurement - Part 3: Measurement of passive intermodulation
in coaxial connectors
(IEC 62037-3:2025)
Dispositifs RF et à micro-ondes passifs, mesure du niveau Passive HF- und Mikrowellenbauteile, Messung des
d'intermodulation - Partie 3: Mesure de l'intermodulation Intermodulationspegels - Teil 3: Messung der passiven
passive dans les connecteurs coaxiaux Intermodulation in koaxialen Steckverbindern
(IEC 62037-3:2025) (IEC 62037-3:2025)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2025-04-24. 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,
Türkiye 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
© 2025 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 62037-3:2025 E

European foreword
The text of document 46/1040/FDIS, future edition 3 of IEC 62037-3, prepared by 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 62037-3:2025.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2026-05-31
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2028-05-31
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN IEC 62037-3:2021 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 62037-3:2025 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cencenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 62037-1 2021 Passive RF and microwave devices, EN IEC 62037-1 2021
intermodulation level measurement - Part
1: General requirements and measuring
methods
IEC 62037-4 - Passive RF and microwave devices, EN 62037-4 -
intermodulation level measurement - Part
4: Measurement of passive intermodulation
in coaxial cables
IEC 62037-3 ®
Edition 3.0 2025-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Passive RF and microwave devices, intermodulation level measurement –

Part 3: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial connectors

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

Partie 3: Mesure de l'intermodulation passive dans les connecteurs coaxiaux

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.040.20  ISBN 978-2-8327-0312-0

– 2 – IEC 62037-3:2025 © IEC 2025
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 Test method . 6
4.1 Samples for testing . 6
4.2 Connection of unit . 6
4.3 Set-up 1 – reverse (reflected) mode test considerations . 6
4.4 Set-up 2 – forward (transmitted) mode test considerations . 6
4.5 Impacts . 7
5 Report . 8
Annex A (normative) Calculating equivalent impact energy . 9
Annex B (normative) Calculating impact energy for different connector types . 10

Figure 1 – Impact test illustration . 7

Table 1 – Impact information for some popular connectors. 7
Table A.1 – Estimated mass of various diameter steel balls . 9
Table B.1 – Impact energy calculation for RF connector type . 10

IEC 62037-3:2025 © IEC 2025 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
PASSIVE RF AND MICROWAVE DEVICES,
INTERMODULATION LEVEL MEASUREMENT –

Part 3: Measurement of passive intermodulation in coaxial connectors

FOREWORD
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