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LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

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

approvals necessary 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. 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. Excer pts

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 should be addressed to:

Federal Communications Commission

Equipment Authorization Division

Customer Service Branch, MS 1300F2

7435 Oakland Mills Road

Columbia, MD 21046

Tel: (301) 725-1585 / Fax: (301) 344-2050 E-Mail: labinfo@fcc.gov

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 many factors such as the choice of antennas,

correct use of the frequency selected, and physical packaging. While some extra

cost and design effor t are required to address these issues, the additional

usefulness and profitability added to a product by RF makes the effort more than

worthwhile.

require external components to function. The modules are intended to

allow for full Part 15 compliance; however, they are not approved by the

FCC or any other agency worldwide. The purchaser understands that

approvals may be required prior to the sale or operation of the device, and

agrees to utilize the component in keeping with all laws governing its

operation in the country of operation.