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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. 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 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 effort 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.