News Breaks * TIMCO designated a NB for the R&TTE Directive * SAR: OET announces a transition period for the phantom requirements of OET 65 Supplement C * Amendment of Part 15 of the Commission's Rules Regarding Spread Spectrum Devices * Conducted Emissions Limits Below 30 MHz for Equipment Regulated under Parts 15 and 18 of the Commission's Rules Features * Brazilian and Mexican approval of wireless devices subject to certification * CE - Harmonized standards update * TCB exclusions and procedures list to be published ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ' NEWS BREAKS * NOTIFIED BODY DESIGNATION FOR THE R&TTE DIRECTIVE (1999/5/EC): We are pleased to announce that we were designated as a Notified Body (NB) under the R&TTE directive Annex III and IV on May 6, 2002. Our NB number is 1177. (Note that we are soon to be listed on designated web sites as they are only updated every couple of weeks). The following is an overview of our NB's responsibilities in accordance with Annex III and IV: "Annex III (Internal production control plus specific apparatus tests) requires that a NB be consulted when the radio test suites considered to be essential are different from those defined in the harmonized standards. The sole function of the NB is to review, evaluate and advise the manufacturer of the proper tests that should be performed in order to meet the essential requirements of the Directive. This will require evaluating such items as details of the product for its usage and general parameters and determining any specific requirements of the territory of intended usage, e.g., spectrum allocation, frequency band requirements." (NIST) "Annex IV (Technical Construction File) requires that a NB be able to evaluate technical documentation and issue an opinion as to whether or not it forms a technical construction file (TCF). The NB must also review the tests performed and issue an opinion as to whether or not the correct testing was performed. (See Annex III above)." (NIST) TIMCO ENGINEERING INC. 849 NW State Road 45 Newberry, Florida 32669 http://www.timcoengr.com 888.472.2424 F 352.472.2030 email: sid@timcoengr.com * SAR: DA 02-1438: OET announces a transition period for the phantom requirements of OET 65 Supplement C: The FCC has postponed the date for requiring that new IEEE SCC 34 head phantom (a.k.a. SAM) be used for all SAR testing in any FCC application for certification submitted on or after September 15, 2002. * SPREAD SPECTRUM DEVICES AND NEW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES: FCC 02-151 SECOND REPORT AND ORDER, Released: May 30, 2002 Part 15 was amended with the introduction of new digital technologies. These new devices are classified under Digital Transmissions Systems (DTS) when filing an application for certification. Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and DTS can now operate under the same rules in the 915MHz, 2.4GHz, and 5.7 GHz bands. Additionally, DSSS are no longer required to comply with the processing gain requirement of part 15.247 and the requirements for Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum in the 2.4 GHz band have been modified as well. Specifically, the following sections have changed: - Part 15.247 (a) (1) (iii): Frequency hopping systems in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band shall use at least 15 non-overlapping channels. The average time of occupancy on any channel shall not be greater than 0.4 seconds within a period of 0.4 seconds multiplied by the number of hopping channels employed. Frequency hopping systems which use fewer than 75 hopping frequencies may employ intelligent hopping techniques to avoid interference to other transmissions. Frequency hopping systems may avoid or suppress transmissions on a particular hopping frequency provided that a minimum of 15 non-overlapping channels are used. - Part 15.247 (2): Systems using digital modulation techniques may operate in the 902 - 928 MHz, 2400 - 2483.5 MHz, and 5725 - 5850 MHz bands. The minimum 6 dB bandwidth shall be at least 500 kHz. - Part 15.247 (b)(1): For frequency hopping systems operating in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band employing at least 75 hopping channels, and all frequency hopping systems in the 5725-5850 MHz band: 1 watt. For all other frequency hopping systems in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band: 0.125 watts. - Part 15.247(b)(3): For systems using digital modulation in the 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, and 5725-5850 MHz bands: 1 Watt. * AC POWER LINES CONDUCTED EMISSIONS LIMITS BELOW 30MHZ: FCC 02-157 Report and Order , Released: May 30, 2002: Part 15 and Part 18 have been amended to allow compliance with the limits and the international standard requirements developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR). TIMCO ENGINEERING INC. 849 NW State Road 45 Newberry, Florida 32669 http://www.timcoengr.com 888.472.2424 F 352.472.2030 email: sid@timcoengr.com Part 15.37 Transition provisions for compliance with the rules. "All radio frequency devices that are authorized under the certification, verification or declaration of conformity procedures on or after May 30, 2004 shall comply with the conducted limits specified in § 15.107 or § 15.207 of this Part, as appropriate. All radio frequency devices that are manufactured or imported on or after May 30, 2005 shall comply with the conducted limits specified in § 15.107 or § 15.207 of this Part, as appropriate. Equipment authorized, imported or manufactured prior to these dates shall comply with the conducted limits specified in § 15.107 or § 15.207 of this Part, as appropriate, or with the conducted limits that were in effect immediately prior to July 30, 2002." (FCC CFR 47) FEATURES * BRAZILIAN AND MEXICAN APPROVAL OF WIRELESS DEVICES SUBJECT TO CERTIFICATION: TIMCO is in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with national third party accreditation bodies to allow our clients a quick access to the Brazilian and Mexican markets. This MOU will allow Brazilian and Mexican regulatory authorities to accept our test report for filing an application for certification without any local retest. For some products, the acceptance of test data may not be subject to harmonization of the country's specific requirements with the FCC rules and/or ETSI test methods and limits. In this case, additional testing may be required. * TCB: The new TCB exclusion and procedure lists are expected at the end of this month, as announced by the FCC. The FCC is planning to allow TCBs the certification of certain portable devices subject to SAR evaluation. Particularly, devices categorically excluded from routine environmental evaluation for RF exposure per Part 2.1093 may be certified by TCBs upon defined thresholds. These thresholds, function of frequency and output power, will determine if devices are exempted from SAR evaluation and if they are subject to TCB approval. For example, we anticipate that some part 90 P-T-T radios with output power up to 5 Watts may be allowed for TCB approval. TIMCO ENGINEERING INC. 849 NW State Road 45 Newberry, Florida 32669 http://www.timcoengr.com 888.472.2424 F 352.472.2030 email: sid@timcoengr.com * CE: Harmonized standards The following a non-exhaustive list of newly or soon to be superceded standards. The superceded standards should no longer be used for conformance with the essential requirements of the applicable Directive: Standard Name Superceded Standard DOW (1) EN 61000-6-2:1999 [PARA]Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) -- Part 6-2: Generic standards - Immunity for industrial environments [NL]EN 50082-2:1995[NL]Note 2.1 [NL]04/01/2002 EN 301 489-05 (07-2000)[PARA]Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standard for radio equipment and services; Part 5: Specific conditions for Private land Mobile Radio (PMR) and ancillary equipment (speech and non-speech) EN 300 279:1999[PARA] 04/30/2002 EN 301 489-17 V1.1.1 (09-2000)[PARA]Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standard for radio equipment and services; Part 17: Specific conditions for Wideband data and HIPERLAN equipment ETS 300 826[PARA] 05/31/2002 EN 301 489-09 V1.1.1 (09-2000)[PARA]Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM); ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) standard for radio equipment and services; Part 9: Specific conditions for wireless microphones and similar Radio Frequency (RF) audio link equipment ETS 300 445/A1:1997[PARA] 03/31/2002 (1) The date of cessation of presumption of conformity will be generally the date of withdrawal (DOW) TIMCO ENGINEERING INC. 849 NW State Road 45 Newberry, Florida 32669 http://www.timcoengr.com 888.472.2424 F 352.472.2030 email: sid@timcoengr.com * TIMCO ENGINEERING NEW STAFF: We are very pleased to announce that on May 15, Bruno Clavier joined our team, as a Chief engineer. Bruno's background includes senior engineer and management positions in the EMC field. Bruno has over 8 years of EMC experience in testing and retrofitting products, and filing application with worldwide regulatory agencies. Bruno has a Master's Degree in EMC from the University of Dijon, Burgundy - France. Bruno is a NARTE certified EMC engineer. He can be reached at bruno@timcoengr.com, telephone # 888-472-2424 or 352-472-5500. We will publish and send out newsletters to keep you informed of changes and updates with our procedures and with different Rules and Regulations. If you DO NOT WISH to receive this newsletter, please hit REPLY and ask to be removed.