The Trace menu is available only in Distance-to-PIM (DTP) measurement mode. The PIM Master MW82119A can display two different Distance‑to‑PIM traces simultaneously in the sweep window. The active trace is the current measurement. The overlay trace is the trace of a previous measurement that has been stored into memory. This capability is particularly useful for identifying the location of an unknown PIM source relative to a known PIM marker placed in the system.
The PIM Standard (which is used for calibration and is provided with the accessory kit) can be inserted inside a feed system to provide a PIM marker at the point of insertion. A bag of steel wool can be attached to the front of the antenna to provide a PIM marker at the antenna radiating surface. Comparing the PIM marker DTP trace to a DTP trace with the PIM marker removed provides an accurate measurement of the relative distance between the PIM marker and the actual PIM sources at the site.