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LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
NOTE: HP-3 Series modules are intended to allow for full Part-15 compliance;
however, they are not approved by the FCC or any other agency worldwide. This
is because the module's performance and legality may be affected by external
factors specific to a user's application. The purchaser understands that testing
and approvals of a finished product may be required prior to the sale or operation
of the device, and agrees to utilize the component in keeping with all laws
governing their use in the country of operation.
When working with RF, a clear distinction must be made between what is technically
possible and what is legally acceptable in the country where operation is intended.
Many manufacturers have avoided incorporating RF into their products as a result of
uncertainty and even fear of the approval and certification process. Here at Linx our
desire is not only to expedite the design process, but also to assist you in achieving
a clear idea of what is involved in obtaining the necessary approvals to legally market
your completed product.
In the United States the approval process is actually quite straightforward. The
regulations governing RF devices and the enforcement of them are the responsibility
of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The regulations are contained in
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 47. Title 47 is made up of numerous
volumes; however, all regulations applicable to this module are contained in volume
0-19. It is strongly recommended that a copy be obtained from the Government
Printing Office in Washington, or from your local government book store. Excerpts of
applicable sections are included with Linx evaluation kits or may be obtained from the
Linx Technologies web site (www.linxtechnologies.com). In brief, these rules require
that any device which intentionally radiates RF energy be approved, that is, tested,
for compliance and issued a unique identification number. This is a relatively painless
process. Linx offers full EMC pre-compliance testing in our HP/Emco-equipped test
center. Final compliance testing is then performed by one of the many independent
testing laboratories across the country. Many labs can also provide other certifications
the product may require at the same time, such as UL, CLASS A/B, etc. Once your
completed product has passed, you will be issued an ID number which is then clearly
placed on each product manufactured.
Questions regarding interpretations of the Part 2 and Part-15 rules or measurement
procedures used to test intentional radiators, such as the HP-3 modules, for
compliance with the Part-15 technical standards, should be addressed to:
International approvals are slightly more complex, although many modules are
designed to allow all international standards to be met. If you are considering the
export of your product abroad, you should contact Linx Technologies to determine the
specific suitability of the module to your application.
All Linx modules are designed with the approval process in mind and thus much of
the frustration that is typically experienced with a discrete design is eliminated.
Approval is still dependent on factors such as the choice of antennas, correct use of
the frequency selected, and physical layout. While some extra cost and design effort
are required to address these issues, the additional usefulness and profitability added
to a product by RF makes the effort more than worthwhile.
Page 20
Federal Communications Commission
Equipment Authorization Division
Customer Service Branch, MS 1300F2
Tel: (301) 725-1585 / Fax: (301) 344-2050 E-Mail: labinfo@fcc.gov
7435 Oakland Mills Road
Columbia, MD 21046
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