Very little testing and
evaluation was performed in the past. However, the
expectation of a stable, predictable, and dependable
component was not warranted. Components, while reliably
designed and manufactured, were damaged when installed or
shipped or improperly installed. The simple testing performed
on site was inadequate to properly evaluate the effectiveness of
the hardware. Recently, with the evolution of new test
equipment, the ability to test the RF network components and
antennas to a degree that resembles the manufacturer’s testing
has led to new procedures and expectations. Field personnel
now expect to be able to reproduce the same data that the
manufacturers declare on the components. While this
expectation is achievable, discipline is required.