6(b) - RF Troubleshooting InstructionsNokia Customer Care
General Information on RF Troubleshooting
Notes:
Several bills of material (BOM): There are two different kinds of VCOs, VCTXOs, RF-PAs, SAWfilters and Antenna Switches (ASM) assembled. They may only be replaced with the same type
as the original component (from the same manufacturer).
Phoenix version: In this document there are example measurements being depicted with pictures of AMS-Phoenix, version A 2004.06.1.69. In later versions pictures of menus and windows
may look differently.
The layouts shown in this document are valid for following products:
*RH-37
*RH-49
*RM-17
For these products all components are plotted on the drawings regardless if they are assembled
or not. In the respective parts lists, it is shown if the parts are assembled or not. Since the layout
may change please make sure to use the corresponding and latest assembly and test point
drawings from the service manual updates or service bulletins.
The screen shots of Phoenix windows displayed in this document showing RH-37, are also valid
for RH-49 and RM-17.
■ Test environment
It is assumed, that the phones are disassembled and tested with a repair jig MJ-22R.
The following measurements have to be done for repairing the phone boards:
•RF measurements shall be done using a spectrum analyzer together with a highfrequency probe. Note that the signal will be significantly attenuated. Correct attenuation can be checked using a “good” phone board for example.
•LF (low frequency) and DC measurements shall be carried out with an oscillo-
scope together with a 10:1 probe.
•For receiver measurements, a signal generator specified for frequencies up to
2000 MHz is required. The signal generator is connected to the antenna port of the
repair jig.
Most of the radio communication testers, like CMU200, can be used as a signal generator, but make sure to have a continuous (CW) signal without modulation for alignment purposes.
•Transmitter output level measurements shall be done with a power meter
which is connected to the antenna port of the repair jig.
Always make sure that the measurement set-up is calibrated when measuring RF parameters
at the antenna port. Remember to put the correct losses of the module repair jig and the connecting cable in Phoenix or in the set-up programs of the RF generators when realigning the
phone.
Apart from key-components described in this document, there are a lot of discrete components
(resistors, inductors and capacitors) for which troubleshooting has to be done by checking its
proper soldering and complete assembly on the PWB. Capacitors and resistors can be
Nokia Customer Care6(b) - RF Troubleshooting Instructions
checked by means of an ohm-meter, but be aware in-circuit measurements should be evaluated carefully.
■ Test conditions
Rx tuning of the 26 MHz reference oscillator (VCTCXO)is temperature sensitive because
of the estimations of <AFC_value> and <AFC_slope>. According to the Production Test Specification DCS02294-EN-0.5, the ambient temperature has to be within a temperature range of
22°C to 28°C.
Most RF semiconductors are static discharge sensitive. ESD protection must be taken into
account during repair (ground straps and ESD soldering irons).
The RF ASIC Helgo is moisture sensitive. Therefore, the ASIC must be pre-baked prior to
soldering.
6(b) - RF Troubleshooting InstructionsNokia Customer Care
SelectBandGSM 900 or GSM1800 or GSM1900
Active unitRX
Operation modeBurst
RX/TX Channel37 or 700 or 661
SelectTestingT
SNR MeasurementM
Select Measuring modeFast SNR (Radio Button)
Press Start
The window <Signal Measurement> pops up informing on frequency and power level of the
signal generator to be set. Follow the command <Turn ON the RF generator>.
Press <ok> and the window will close.
Read the SNR result from the window SNR Measurement. The value shall exceed:
•GSM 900: > 20 dB
•GSM 1800: > 18 dB
•GSM 1900: > 18 dB
The set up should now look like this:
(The example below shows a screen shot in GSM900!)
Note: The screen shot for RM-17 is identical to RH-37.
Nokia Customer Care6(b) - RF Troubleshooting Instructions
Choose the remaining GSM bands and measure accordingly the procedure described above.
Measuring front-end power levels using spectrum analyzer
Spectrum analyzer (SA) level values depend on the probe type and shall be verified by a properly working phone sample. The levels that are given in this document are measured with a resistive probe (50 Ohm semi-rigid cable).
Start Phoenix Service Software and open FBUS connection.
SelectScan ProductCtrl-R
Wait until the phone information is shown in the lower right corner of the screen.
Set <operating mode> to <local mode>.
SelectTestingT
RF ControlsF
SelectBandGSM 900 or GSM1800 or GSM1900
Active unitRX
Operation modeContinuous
RX/TX Channel37 or 700 or 661
Please refer to the fault finding chart and Appendix for proper levels at different test points.
Measuring analogue RX I/Q signals using oscilloscope
Measuring with an oscilloscope RX I and RX Q signals on the test points <RXI> respectively
<RXQ> is recommended only if the RSSI reading does not provide enough information. Input
level = -60dBm.
Start Phoenix Service Software and open FBUS connection.
SelectScan ProductCtrl-R
Wait until phone information is shown in the lower right corner of the screen.
6(b) - RF Troubleshooting InstructionsNokia Customer Care
AGC10
The following picture should be displayed on an oscilloscope's screen if the receiver is working
properly:
Signal amplitude 1.40Vpp
DC offset ª 1.28V as the offset is floating, switch to the operating mode
<Burst> in Phoenix and read the DC offset
Frequency67kHz
■ Fault finding chart of the receiver
During fault finding, the calibration procedure is used to find out, whether all bands are affected
(error in common part of the Rx chain) or only one band (error in a Rx part of the failed band).
Take care not to save calibration values to the phone memory, which are out of limits.
Find the error first and repair it.
When a defective phone has been calibrated, a possible error in RX front-end might be
masked. In that case, one can get a reasonable RSSI reading, although the front-end shows
excessive losses. If it is not sure that incorrect re-calibration has been made, following steps
shall be carried out:
•Check if AGC calibration is within limits.
•Check if SNR reading is o.k.
Use an oscilloscope to check levels of “RXI” and “RXQ”.
Nokia Customer Care6(b) - RF Troubleshooting Instructions
The RF ASIC generates only single ended I and Q signals (RXI, RXQ). As the A/D converter
in UEM requires two differential signals, an artificial mid voltage is generated from VrefRF02.
The phone layout has dedicated test points for the analogue RX I and Q signals (J512, J513).
The BB part is used to measure those signals by means of RSSI reading. This works only if
correct calibration has been carried out in production.
RSSIreading [dBm] = 20log(U
BB/ULSB
) - AGC
calibrated
In order to check the levels and frequencies of RF signals, the following probe can be used
(note that only the core lead contacts the test point, the shielding of the coaxial cable does not
contact GND during the measurement):
Connect this probe via a coaxial cable and a DC block to a spectrum analyzer. The DC block is important to protect the spectrum analyzer from DC levels, which superpose the RF signal
at several test points.
If both RX and TX path seem to be faulty, it has to be checked if the synthesizer is working.