FCC 15.31 Revised as of October 1, 2006
Goto Year:2005 |
2007
Sec. 15.31 Measurement standards.
(a) The following measurement procedures are used by the Commission to
determine compliance with the technical requirements in this part. Except
where noted, copies of these procedures are available from the Commission's
current duplicating contractor whose name and address are available from the
Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 1–888–CALL-FCC
(1–888–225–5322).
(1) FCC/OET MP–2: Measurement of UHF Noise Figures of TV Receivers.
(2) Unlicensed Personal Communication Service (UPCS) devices are to be
measured for compliance using ANSI C63.17–1998: “Methods of Measurement of
the Electromagnetic and Operational Compatibility of Unlicensed Personal
Communications Services (UPCS) Devices”, (incorporated by reference, see
Sec. 15.38). This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(3) Other intentional and unintentional radiators are to be measured for
compliance using the following procedure excluding sections 4.1.5.2, 5.7, 9
and 14: ANSI C63.4–2003: “Methods of Measurement of Radio-Noise Emissions
from Low-Voltage Electrical and Electronic Equipment in the Range of 9 kHz
to 40 GHz” (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38). This incorporation by
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
Note to paragraph (a)(3): Digital devices tested to show compliance with the
provisions of Sec. Sec. 15.107(e) and 15.109(g) must be tested following the ANSI
C63.4 procedure described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
(b) All parties making compliance measurements on equipment subject to the
requirements of this part are urged to use these measurement procedures. Any
party using other procedures should ensure that such other procedures can be
relied on to produce measurement results compatible with the FCC measurement
procedures. The description of the measurement procedure used in testing the
equipment for compliance and a list of the test equipment actually employed
shall be made part of an application for certification or included with the
data required to be retained by the party responsible for devices authorized
pursuant to a Declaration of Conformity or devices subject to verification.
(c) For swept frequency equipment, measurements shall be made with the
frequency sweep stopped at those frequencies chosen for the measurements to
be reported.
(d) Field strength measurements shall be made, to the extent possible, on an
open field site. Test sites other than open field sites may be employed if
they are properly calibrated so that the measurement results correspond to
what would be obtained from an open field site. In the case of equipment for
which measurements can be performed only at the installation site, such as
perimeter protection systems, carrier current systems, and systems employing
a “leaky” coaxial cable as an antenna, measurements for verification or for
obtaining a grant of equipment authorization shall be performed at a minimum
of three installations that can be demonstrated to be representative of
typical installation sites.
(e) For intentional radiators, measurements of the variation of the input
power or the radiated signal level of the fundamental frequency component of
the emission, as appropriate, shall be performed with the supply voltage
varied between 85% and 115% of the nominal rated supply voltage. For battery
operated equipment, the equipment tests shall be performed using a new
battery.
(f) To the extent practicable, the device under test shall be measured at
the distance specified in the appropriate rule section. The distance
specified corresponds to the horizontal distance between the measurement
antenna and the closest point of the equipment under test, support equipment
or interconnecting cables as determined by the boundary defined by an
imaginary straight line periphery describing a simple geometric
configuration enclosing the system containing the equipment under test. The
equipment under test, support equipment and any interconnecting cables shall
be included within this boundary.
(1) At frequencies at or above 30 MHz, measurements may be performed at a
distance other than what is specified provided: measurements are not made in
the near field except where it can be shown that near field measurements are
appropriate due to the characteristics of the device; and it can be
demonstrated that the signal levels needed to be measured at the distance
employed can be detected by the measurement equipment. Measurements shall
not be performed at a distance greater than 30 meters unless it can be
further demonstrated that measurements at a distance of 30 meters or less
are impractical. When performing measurements at a distance other than that
specified, the results shall be extrapolated to the specified distance using
an extrapolation factor of 20 dB/decade (inverse linear-distance for field
strength measurements; inverse-linear-distance-squared for power density
measurements).
(2) At frequencies below 30 MHz, measurements may be performed at a distance
closer than that specified in the regulations; however, an attempt should be
made to avoid making measurements in the near field. Pending the development
of an appropriate measurement procedure for measurements performed below 30
MHz, when performing measurements at a closer distance than specified, the
results shall be extrapolated to the specified distance by either making
measurements at a minimum of two distances on at least one radial to
determine the proper extrapolation factor or by using the square of an
inverse linear distance extrapolation factor (40 dB/decade).
(3) The applicant for a grant of certification shall specify the
extrapolation method used in the application filed with the Commission. For
equipment subject to Declaration of Conformity or verification, this
information shall be retained with the measurement data.
(4) When measurement distances of 30 meters or less are specified in the
regulations, the Commission will test the equipment at the distance
specified unless measurement at that distance results in measurements being
performed in the near field. When measurement distances of greater than 30
meters are specified in the regulations, the Commission will test the
equipment at a closer distance, usually 30 meters, extrapolating the
measured field strength to the specified distance using the methods shown in
this section.
(5) Measurements shall be performed at a sufficient number of radials around
the equipment under test to determine the radial at which the field strength
values of the radiated emissions are maximized. The maximum field strength
at the frequency being measured shall be reported in the equipment
authorization report. This paragraph shall not apply to Access BPL equipment
on overhead medium voltage lines. In lieu thereof, the measurement
guidelines established by the Commission for Access BPL shall be followed.
(g) Equipment under test shall be adjusted, using those controls that are
readily accessible to or are intended to be accessible to the consumer, in
such a manner as to maximize the level of the emissions. For those devices
to which wire leads may be attached by the consumer, tests shall be
performed with wire leads attached. The wire leads shall be of the length to
be used with the equipment if that length is known. Otherwise, wire leads
one meter in length shall be attached to the equipment. Longer wire leads
may be employed if necessary to interconnect to associated peripherals.
(h) For a composite system that incorporates devices contained either in a
single enclosure or in separate enclosures connected by wire or cable,
testing for compliance with the standards in this part shall be performed
with all of the devices in the system functioning. If an intentional
radiator incorporates more than one antenna or other radiating source and
these radiating sources are designed to emit at the same time, measurements
of conducted and radiated emissions shall be performed with all radiating
sources that are to be employed emitting. A device which incorporates a
carrier current system shall be tested as if the carrier current system were
incorporated in a separate device; that is, the device shall be tested for
compliance with whatever rules would apply to the device were the carrier
current system not incorporated, and the carrier current system shall be
tested for compliance with the rules applicable to carrier current systems.
(i) If the device under test provides for the connection of external
accessories, including external electrical input signals, the device shall
be tested with the accessories attached. The device under test shall be
fully exercised with these external accessories. The emission tests shall be
performed with the device and accessories configured in a manner that tends
to produce maximized emissions within the range of variations that can be
expected under normal operating conditions. In the case of multiple
accessory external ports, an external accessory shall be connected to one of
each type of port. Only one test using peripherals or external accessories
that are representative of the devices that will be employed with the
equipment under test is required. All possible equipment combinations do not
need to be tested. The accessories or peripherals connected to the device
being tested shall be unmodified, commercially available equipment.
(j) If the equipment under test consists of a central control unit and an
external or internal accessory(ies) (peripheral) and the party verifying the
equipment or applying for a grant of equipment authorization manufactures or
assembles the central control unit and at least one of the accessory devices
that can be used with that control unit, testing of the control unit and/or
the accessory(ies) must be performed using the devices manufactured or
assembled by that party, in addition to any other needed devices which the
party does not manufacture or assemble. If the party verifying the equipment
or applying for a grant of equipment authorization does not manufacture or
assemble the central control unit and at least one of the accessory devices
that can be used with that control unit or the party can demonstrate that
the central control unit or accessory(ies) normally would be marketed or
used with equipment from a different entity, testing of the central control
unit and/or the accessory(ies) must be performed using the specific
combination of equipment which is intended to be marketed or used together.
Only one test using peripherals or accessories that are representatve of the
devices that will be employed with the equipment under test is required. All
possible equipment combinations are not required to be tested. The
accessories or peripherals connected to the device being tested shall be
unmodified, commercially available equipment.
(k) A composite system is a system that incorporates different devices
contained either in a single enclosure or in separate enclosures connected
by wire or cable. If the individual devices in a composite system are
subject to different technical standards, each such device must comply with
its specific standards. In no event may the measured emissions of the
composite system exceed the highest level permitted for an individual
component. For digital devices which consist of a combination of Class A and
Class B devices, the total combination of which results in a Class A digital
device, it is only necessary to demonstrate that the equipment combination
complies with the limits for a Class A device. This equipment combination
may not be employed for obtaining a grant of equipment authorization or
verifying a Class B digital device. However, if the digital device
combination consists of a Class B central control unit, e.g., a personal
computer, and a Class A internal peripheral(s), it must be demonstrated that
the Class B central control unit continues to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device with the Class A internal peripheral(s) installed but
not active.
(l) Measurements of radio frequency emissions conducted to the public
utility power lines shall be performed using a 50 ohm/50 uH line-impedance
stabilization network (LISN).
Note: Receivers tested under the transition provisions contained in Sec. 15.37
may be tested with a 50 ohm/5 μH LISN.
(m) Measurements on intentional radiators or receivers, other than TV
broadcast receivers, shall be performed and, if required, reported for each
band in which the device can be operated with the device operating at the
number of frequencies in each band specified in the following table:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frequency range over which device Number of Location in the range
operates frequencies of operation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 MHz or less...................... 1 Middle.
1 to 10 MHz........................ 2 1 near top and 1 near
bottom.
More than 10 MHz................... 3 1 near top, 1 near
middle and 1 near
bottom.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(n) Measurements on TV broadcast receivers shall be performed with the
receiver tuned to each VHF frequency and also shall include the following
oscillator frequencies: 520, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 850, 900 and 931
MHz. If measurements cannot be made on one or more of the latter UHF
frequencies because of the presence of signals from licensed radio stations
or for other reasons to be detailed in the measurement report, measurements
shall be made with the receiver oscillator at a nearby frequency. If the
receiver is not capable of receiving channels above 806 MHz, the
measurements employing the oscillator frequencies 900 and 931 MHz may be
omitted.
(o) The amplitude of spurious emissions from intentional radiators and
emissions from unintentional radiators which are attenuated more than 20 dB
below the permissible value need not be reported unless specifically
required elsewhere in this part.
(p) In those cases where the provisions in this section conflict with the
measurement procedures in paragraph (a) of this section and the procedures
were implemented after June 23, 1989, the provisions contained in the
measurement procedures shall take precedence.
[ 54 FR 17714 , Apr. 25, 1989, as amended at 56 FR 13083 , Mar. 29, 1991; 57 FR 24990 , June 12, 1992; 57 FR 33448 , July 29, 1992; 58 FR 37430 , July 12,
1993; 58 FR 51249 , Oct. 1, 1993; 61 FR 14502 , Apr. 2, 1996; 62 FR 41881 ,
Aug. 4, 1997; 62 FR 45333 , Aug. 27, 1997; 63 FR 36602 , July 7, 1998; 63 FR 42278 , Aug. 7, 1998; 65 FR 58466 , Sept. 29, 2000; 68 FR 68545 , Dec. 9, 2003;
69 FR 54034 , Sept. 7, 2004; 70 FR 1373 , Jan. 7, 2005]
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