Australia: Short-Range Devices Standard Amended

Andrew Cutler

Recent amendments to the standards for short-range devices have greatly simplified the approval process for low-power transmitting devices in Australia. Late last year, Amendment 1 to AS/NZS 4268:2003 was released. It amended the approval requirements for spread-

spectrum devices by moving frequency-hopping spread-spectrum devices into this specification.

Previously, spread-spectrum devices were covered by the Spread Spectrum Class License, which called up AS/NZS 4771.

From a practical point of view, this specification has never been an easy specification to read and apply. Under the Australian regulatory system, the specification itself, the amendment to the specification, and the class license all needed to be read and applied to the device all at the same time. Therefore, industry was slow to adopt this standard.

In addition to the problem with readability was the requirement to meet the Level 2 radio requirements to C-tick such products. When AS/NZS 4268 was originally published, the requirements for digital transmitters were included. The digital transmitters category covers a larger number of devices. Typically, direct-sequence spread-spectrum transmitters are covered by this definition.

Amendment 1 now allows for all low-power spread-spectrum transmitters to be covered by AS/NZS 4268. In addition, these devices have the added benefit of only having to meet the Level 1 radio requirements.

Level 1 requires only the compilation of a compliance file containing a declaration of conformity and a product description. However, it is strongly advised that a test report showing that the device complies with the requirements of AS/NZS 4268 is obtained and retained. Such a declaration is the only way that compliance can be demonstrated if a legal challenge occurs.

Amendment 1 has also introduced the concepts of dynamic frequency selection (DFS) and transmit power control (TPC) to radio local-area network (RLAN) transmitters operating in the 5.25–5.35 GHz or the 5.47–5.725 GHz bands.

Operation of RLAN transmitters in the 5.25–5.35 GHz band and the 5.47– 5.725 GHz band is on a shared basis; the primary use is allocated to radar units.

Both the United States and Europe require RLAN devices to include technology that will automatically shift the operating frequency or reduce the operating power if an interfering radar unit is detected.

Appendix B of Amendment 1 defines a number of test methods that should be employed to show compliance. The suggested standards are EN 301 893 and also FCC Part 15.

Amendment 1 also introduces a number of other changes that are worthy of note:

• All transmitters can now use the complete 2400–2483.5 MHz band, provided their output power does not exceed 10 mW.

• The power level for wireless audio transmitters operating in the band of 520–820 MHz has been increased from 3 to 100 mW.

• Data communication transmitters can now operate in the 59.4–62.9 GHz band with an EIRP power of 150 W (although transmitter output power is limited to 10 mW).

All of these requirements have been mirrored in the 2005 consolidated version of the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class License 2000, so the specification and the class license are harmonized.

The introduction of Amendment 1 and its prompt implementation into legislation is a result of the changes made in 2004 to the Radiocommunications (Short Range Devices) Standard 2004.

The use of Amendment 1 by manufacturers and importers will not become compulsory until November 17, 2006, when the one-year transition period expires.

Andrew Cutler is general manager of EMC Technologies NZ Ltd. (Auckland, New Zealand), one of a group of EMC Technologies companies that provide accredited testing of radio products. He can be contacted via e-mail at aucklab@ihug.co.nz.