Forward Link Services

PIM problems are on the rise and are difficult to diagnose without specialized test equipment. Forward Link RF Engineers are certified with the latest test equipment specifically designed for diagnosing PIM issues. Finding the problem is just the beginning, so Forward Link will, at the customers discretion, also manage the repair. Since PIM testing is an out-of-service test, many customers also opt for cable sweeps and spectral validation while the site is down. If interference is found from spectral validation, an engineer can be dispatched to find and shut down the interferer.

New to PIM concepts and testing? View our introductory PIM testing application note: Understanding PIM 1.0. View as either a Web Page or a PDF

Every minute that a new cellular site does not function means lost revenue for your company. Our team of RF Engineers will PIM test each part before it is installed to ensure none of the equipment was damaged during shipment. That means you will earn a return on your cellular service expansion investment as soon as you start up a new site.

Interference Hunting

Interference can be one of the most frustrating problems to solve in a wireless network. Weak and intermittent signals are extremely difficult to locate, requiring a mix if art and science. When it comes to interference, there is simply no substitute for experience and state-of-the-art tools. As a result, Forward Link's RF Engineers with thousands of hours of field experience are equipped with state of the art tools. If desired, we will work to get the offending transmitter shut down.

Base Station Certification

Forward Link's base station certification service provides a complete report on the health of a base station. Our report can encompass as little, or as much, information as required, including: cable sweeps, PIM testing, Tx power validation, Tx quality measurements, antenna Azimuth, battery health measurements, or even inventory scanning.

Spectrum Validation

Validation of spectrum is often a mandatory requirement when deploying wireless services into new spectrum. Because interference is so difficult to find once a transmission begins, many service providers choose to validate spectrum even when validation is not mandatory. Forward Link can perform spectrum validation from fixed locations or on a mobile basis. Spectrum information can be provided in map form and combined with interference hunting to help shut down unauthorized transmitters.

Coverage Mapping

Verifying basic coverage is perhaps the most important measurement a service provider can make. Although call based statistics are useful, they have their limits. Todays modern spectrum analyzers are able to see beyond the network, providing information about problems related to co-channel interference, coverage gaps/overlaps, multi-path, and interference. Forward Link's coverage mapping service can help you see beyond your network, finding problems that are visible through no other means. Our mapping service can be preformed indoor or out, including maps of simple power or Tx quality measurements for cdma, UMTS, GSM, and land mobile radio.

Antenna & Feed-line Sweeping

The health of antennas and feed-lines are a critical part of any wireless network. As they degrade, signal levels drop dramatically, causing lower data throughput, reduced capacity, and, ultimately, less revenue. Our RF Engineers can provide thorough and comprehensive testing of antenna and feed-line systems, including tower mounted amplifiers.