Wireless
Wireless Testing Regulatory Changes Discussed at TCB Council Workshop
At last week’s TCB Council Workshop in Baltimore, TCBs – including MET Labs – were given an update on upcoming wireless regulatory and compliance changes. Here are the most notable. Japan SAR Body SAR will be required for Japan starting April 1, 2014. The limit is 2 W/kg for body and 4 W/kg for arms... Read More
Wireless Equipment Subject to EN 300 328 V1.7.1 Needs Retesting
Late last year, Version 1.8.1 of EN 300 328 was adopted and published in the EU’s Official Journal (OJ). This standard is the applicable standard for WiFi, Bluetooth, and other wideband transmitters operating in the 2.4GHz band. Version 1.8.1 has an effective date of December 31, 2014, so declarations of conformity with the Radio and... Read More
RF Survey Assures Wireless Connectivity
MET Labs recently completed a novel RF survey for a large federal government agency laboratory, to determine whether refrigerators and freezers on multiple floors in multiple buildings are receiving a sufficient-strength wireless signal with minimal noise. Here are some of the project details, as well as surveyed information: Operating frequencies: 2.4 GHz ISM Band; 5... Read More
FDA Issues Guidance for Integration of RF Wireless Technology in Medical Devices
Due to rapid growth in medical devices that incorporate RF wireless technology, on August 14 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released final guidance for integrating radio frequency (RF) wireless technology in medical devices. The guidance is recommended, but not mandatory. FDA said its recommendations cover devices that are implanted or worn on the body, and... Read More
SAR Testing Exclusion a Function of Proximity to Body, Max Output Power
To determine whether your product needs Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing, there are a few items to consider. First, is the device operated within 20cm (7.87”) of the head or body? If no, then SAR does not apply. If yes, then SAR does apply, but testing may be excluded based on the device’s output power.... Read More
Module Approvals for US, Canada, Europe & Japan Discussed at TCB Council Workshop
At the recent TCB Council Workshop in Baltimore, TCBs – including MET Labs – were given a refresher on the fundamentals of modular approvals. Here is a summary. In the U.S., wireless module approvals fall into one of three categories: Full modular approval – A radio module to be approved for use in any host... Read More
FCC Proposes Big Changes to Part 15 & 68 Electrical Equipment Approval Process
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed important changes to its equipment testing and authorization program under Part 15 and Part 68 of its rules. The FCC says the changes will streamline the approval process and expedite the introduction of new devices to the market. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued last month,... Read More
FCC Outlines Testing of Consumer Wireless Charging Devices at TCB Council Workshop
At the recent Telecommunication Certification Body Council Workshop in Baltimore, Kwok Chan and Mark Neumann of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Office of Engineering and Technology outlined testing and certification requirements for Consumer Wireless Charging Devices. Wireless charging devices are generally used to charge batteries in portable electronic devices via magnetic induction. Chargers can deliver... Read More
FCC Issues Draft Revisions for RF Exposure & SAR Compliance
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued draft revisions to six Knowledge Database (KDB) publications for RF exposure and SAR compliance. They are: KDB Publication 447498 – General RF Exposure Policies for Equipment Authorization Draft revision Existing publication KDB Publication 941225 – SAR Evaluation Considerations for LTE Devices Draft revision Existing publication KDB Publication... Read More
Testing Prepares Vehicle Awareness Devices for DOT Qualification in Spring
This week, MET Labs, Federal Signal Technologies, Concurrent Technology Corporation, and OmniAir Consortium, Inc. are performing a 4th round of regression testing on Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Vehicle Awareness Devices. The testing is being performed at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. The Vehicle Awareness Device specification produced by the U.S. DOT has undergone... Read More
