The Worldwide Approval Status for 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz Spread

Spectrum Radio Products Kursat Eroglu

Intermec Technologies Corporation

ABSTRACT

The use of Spread Spectrum radios utilizing the ISM bands (902-928 MHz, 2.400-2.4835 GHz and 5725-5850 GHz) is increasing dramatically. All sorts of ITE equipment and now even telecom equipment are using these reliable, high throughput radios. The rules governing these devices have been developing quite rapidly too. Most countries in Europe are going towards a single certification process in addition to the CE certification. The rules are being relaxed in the US as well, but there are always exemptions. This paper gives an overview of the regulations and technical requirements in different countries.

INTRODUCTION

Recent years have seen an explosion in the use of all kinds of electronic equipment using radios of various types. From radio controlled security systems to wireless networks low power RF devices are entering all markets en mass. Like in many other areas the regulations for these products have followed the explosion in use and increased in number and content dramatically over the last years. It has not necessarily gone in the worse direction however. After the initial trial phases we are seeing more and more harmonization and relaxation of the rules. Low power RF devices cover a wide range of frequencies and equipment categories. In this paper we will concentrate on a particular category that is of more interest to ITE manufacturers. Spread spectrum transceivers utilizing ISM bands are replacing wired connections in all product categories. Low cost, high efficiency and generic product approvals make these attractive solution for many manufacturers. Three frequency bands are allowed worldwide for these devices with exceptions. 902 - 928 MHz (433 MHz in Europe), 2.4 - 2.5 GHz (worldwide with certain country limitations) and 5.8 GHz bands are the main ones at this time. 5.8 GHz band is not much used currently due to technological restrictions, but the 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz bands are widely utilized. We will concentrate on the regulations of these 2 bands by region. One general rule is, these devices are approved in most countries on a non-interference basis. This means if the transceiver interferes with another RF device, the spread spectrum device is the one to be turned off.

900 MHz DEVICES

900 MHz ISM band is not allowed in Europe, but the early availability of the technology and the larger coverage range made this technology widely used in North America and Pacific Rim countries. Besides industrial applications such as warehouse data collection networks, 900 MHz modems are becoming increasingly popular and replacing telephone line connections for computer networks. Many cities in the US have Internet service providers with 900 MHz networks established.

USA

These devices are regulated by the FCC in the US under Part 15 rules (paragraph 247). These rules allow up to 4 W (EIRP) transmit power giving the products a fairly large range. A summary of the details of these rules is given in table 2. FCC rules, especially the ones pertaining to the certification of these products have been relaxed over the last 3 years. To certify a product a report demonstrating compliance with 15.247 by a certified lab must be submitted to the FCC Authorization and Evaluation Lab. After a nominally 2 month review period, the product is certified and does not require site approval. FCC allows modular approval of certain types of transceivers; however, there are special requirements for those forcing most transceivers to be approved as individual transceiver-host combinations. FCC has recently enacted new RF exposure rules as a result of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which are intended to protect consumers from potential health hazards caused by RF radiation. Although spread spectrum transceivers are categorically excluded from being subjected to SAR or MPE tests, there are restrictions on output power depending on the application. For example, although Part 15.247 allows up to 4 W transmit power, a handheld product where the antenna would be within 10 inches of the body, would not be allowed to transmit the full 4 W. Since the restrictions are very much application dependent, the decision is currently being made by the Authorization and Evaluation Lab on a case by case basis.

Canada

In Canada the standard for 900 MHz products is RSS 210 published and enforced by Industry Canada. Canadian

0-7803-5015-4/98/$10.00 0 1998 IEEE 1131

requirements for these products are almost .identical to the US requirements. In fact as a result of the harmonization efforts, Industry Canada accepts FCC style test reports without any additional test data. The certification process in Canada lasts usually less than FCC's (4 - 6 weeks). One major difference of the Canadian approval is the more relaxed approach to modular certification allowing the transceiver modules to be approved as opposed to individual host-transceiver combinations making the lives of manufacturers easier. Canada also has RF exposure requirements, but we have not seen enforcement of those yet.

'

3 4

US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Domin. Rep., Equador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam Austria, Belgium, Czech Rep., Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, S. Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK France SDain

!.400 - 2.4835

L446 - 2.4835 !.445 - 2.475

with high gain FCC 15.247 antennas) RSS 210

100 mW maximum output power (EIRP) ETS 300 328

ETS 300 328 ETS 300 328

~ ~~~ ~

5

fi

10 I Saudi Arabia

Israel

Mexico

Pacific Rim Countries

Most pacific rim countries have either their own regulations identical to FCC's rules or they accept FCC certification on the face value. One of the major pacific rim markets Australia currently requires manufacturers to maintain a documentation folder containing FCC Part 15.247 based report by a recognized lab. They do not require certification. The Australian authority ACA (formerly SMA) is, however, revising the rules. Some- countries such as Japan do not allow 900 MHz transceivers. RF exposure rules have so far not been an issue in pacific rim countries. This too could change without much notice.

''418 - 2*457 !.450 - 2.4835 !.400 - 2.4835 !.471 - 2.497

Allowed Band (GHA Remarks Standard

stricter emission limits below 1 GHz environment

special restrictions special restrictions

ETS 300 328

NOM 121 restrictions

11 w maximum ouput I

7 8

I power !a4'' 2.4835 I ( ~ w maximum EIRP

Korea JaDan

9 Australia ! . m - 2.4835 1 W allowed only between 2.400 - 2.445 GHz; above 2.445 GHz only 200

Table 1. Known frequency allocations for 2.4 GHz spread spectrum products

!.413 - 2.439

2.4 GHz DEVICES including Europe. Another factor is wider bandwidth

mW allowed FCC 15.247 ETS 300 328

allowing-higher data throughput. With the recent adaptation of IEEE standard 802.1 1 , interoperability between products of different manufacturers is becoming another factor in the increase of use. Coverage of 2.4 GHz

With the advance Of 2'4 GHz devices are becoming even more popular than 900 MHz ones. One factor for this is the availability of the band worldwide another factor in the increase of use. Coverage of 2.4 GHz

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transceivers is less compared to 900 MHz, but the other factors usually weigh more for most applications. The most widely allocated band for this category is 2.400 - 2.4835 GHz as in US, Canada, most of Europe, South America and Pacific Rim countries. There are however smaller bands allowed within this band in some countries. The output power and some other characteristics of the transceivers are also subject to varying requirements in different countries. Table I gives a summary of the known allowed bands and some of the restrictions.

USA

In the US 2.4 GHz devices are also regulated by Part 15.247. The requirements (shown on table 2) are similar to 900 MHz devices. The RF exposure rules are also the same with a little more relaxation due to higher frequency. .

Canada

RSS 210 is also the standard in Canada for the 2.4 GHz band. Although receiver out-of-band emissions are part of the technical requirements, Industry Canada accepts FCC style reports with just transmitter out-of-band emissions. The approval process is the same for 2.4 GHz products as for 900 MHz products.

Europe

In Europe European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) is tasked with generating european standards for telecommunications equipment such as the products mentioned here. These standards become harmonized after the approval of all member countries and local ones are withdrawn. Following EMC Directive

FHSS DSSS Characteristic 900 MHz 2.4 GHz 900 MHz 2.4 GHz Maximum Transmit Band Minimum Number of Channels Maximum Channel Bandwidth (20dB)

Dwell Time Minimum Channel Bandwidth (6dB) Maximum Output Power Maximum Spectral Power Density Processing Gain

Channel Separation Conducted Out-of- Band Emissions

Radiated Out-of- Band Emissions Antenna Requirement

Transmitter: 1

Powerline: 250 pV Antenna Port: 20 dB below the carrier

1) 20 dB below the fundamental for modulation products 2) FCC Part 15 Class B for transmitter related peaks 3) FCC Part 15 Class A non-transmitter related spurious emissions If the antenna is removable, the connector between the antenna and the unit must lbe a unique one and not available off-the-shelf to the customers.

Table 2. Summary of FCC Part 15.247 Requirements

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guidelines ETSI generates two sets of standards. One for the RF characteristics of the products in a certain category, the second one for the EMC characteristics of the products. The first standard for the 2.4 GHz Spread Spectrum products (wideband transmission systems) is ETS 300 328. It has been harmonized in late 1995 and revised in November 1996. This standard is similar to FCCs Part 15.247 with some differences. The main one is the maximum output power. ETSI only allows up to 100 mW EIRP. A summary of the technical requirements of ETS 300 328 is shown in table 3. The second standard, the EMC standard, is usually a parallel one to the generic standard EN 50081 / EN 50082. Until late 1997, the only EMC standard available for these products was the generic draft standard pr ETS 300 339. There were several problems associated with it. The standard was poorly written, unclear in some places and referring to older revisions of IEC standards. Because it was just a draft standard, some notified bodies did not accept it requiring the generic harmonized standards EN 50081 and EN 50082. In late 1997 a product specific draft standard pr ETS 300 826 was released. Much clearer and

synchronized with the latest CENELEC standards (EN 6 1000-4 series) this standard is accepted more widely. Depending on application the requirements are almost identical to EN 50082-1 (light industrial specification). The certification process in Europe, however, has not yet reached the goals of the harmonized standard. The goal was to certify the products through one agency for all countries. Currently, only UK and Austria accept other ETSI countries certifications (RF Type Approvals) on their face value and do not require additional certification. In addition, France, Spain and Israel impose special frequency bands more restricted than the generic ETSI band (see table 1). Some eastern european and middle eastern countries also accept ETSI reports or certifications. For EU countries (and some candidate countries) CE-Type Certification by one notified body is adequate. No recertification is required in individual countries. Most ETSI countries have also adopted individual labeling requirements making the lives of small product manufacturers more difficult. One piece of good news is the recent elimination (late 1997) additional testing requirements by Italy, France and Czech Republic.

Characteristic FHSS DSSS

Table 3. Summary of ETS 300 328 Requirements

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Pacific Rim Countries

Regulations in Pacific Rim countries follow the two major standards (FCC Part 15.247 and ETS 300 328). Some technical differences and major approval process differences exist however. Australia, as for the 900 MHz products, only requires a test report by a recognized lab ready to be audited. The major technical difference in Australias case is the limitation of output power to 200 mW in the 2.445 - 2.4835 GHz band. The rest of the requirements are identical to FCC Part 15.247, although ACA accepts ETS 300 328 reports as well. Another country with similar dual acceptance is Singapore, where the local agency TAS certifies products based on FCC or ETSI reports. Hong Kong abolished certification on 2.4 GHz spread spectrum products as long as they comply with FCC or ETSI rules. Taiwan and Thailand are examples of countries where the agencies certify the products based on FCC test reports and visual inspection. New Zealand and Philippines are examples of pacific rim countries certifying products solely based on FCC test reports. Korea and Japan have special frequency bands (see table 1) as well as other restrictions on output power and spurious emissions. Japan also requires a caller ID byte to be transmitted with every transmission. The approval process in both countries is time consuming and expensive. Although China officially does not allow 2.4 GHz products, special permissions depending on regions are granted.

South America

Most south American countries are in the process of developing their own rules for certification of 2.4 GHz products. Almost exclusively, all accept FCC based reports.

Mexico

The approval process in Mexico has gone through major changes in the last couple years. A government agency (formerly SCT) certifies products to NOM 121 based on recommendations of certified engineering companies, which review product documentation such as schematics, specifications etc. No testing is required (except for the safety testing to NOM 019, which is required for most electronic equipment). Technical requirements are similar to FCCs except for the band restriction and environmental restrictions based on power levels:

c 30 mW Local Area (within same building) < 1 W Restricted Area (within same compound) < 4 W Wide Area (point to point, > 500 m

The usual approval time in Mexico ranges between 1 year and 18 months.

distances etc.)

CONCLUSION

Spread spectrum products are gaining popularity in ITE markets. After the initial surge of new regulations for these products, the trend is towards harmonization and relaxation. There is still a long road to be covered. True harmonization of testing and documentation requirements and reduction of certification times will help manufacturers cover the consumer demand.

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