Shenzhen Bluetooth module CE Testing Lab, WIFI module RED Testing lab, LTE Module RF Testing Lab, China RED Testing lab

Shenzhen Bluetooth module CE Testing Lab, WIFI module RED Testing lab, LTE Module RF Testing Lab, China RED Testing lab

4.1. Radio Module Introduction

A radio module meeting the definition of radio equipment (as per Article 2 of the RED) to be placed on the market in the EU; is within scope of the RED and must be assessed to the RED, regardless of whether the radio module is available openly on the public market, or supplied exclusively through a business-to-business contract. A radio module must be assessed for its intended use. It is essential for the radio module manufacturer to clearly document in the installation instructions, how the module has been assessed and the conditions for compliant use.

4.2. Radio Module Assessment

In all cases, an assessment of the radio module must be made to the requirements of Article 3 of the RED. Despite the possibility that the radio module’s operation may be re-assessed later as part of a final radio product; a full assessment of safety, EMC and radio performance is necessary for the radio module to demonstrate compliance with the RED. The radio module may require external accessories, such as input supply voltage, communication or input signal, software and/or connection to an antenna, to operate as radio equipment. It may be necessary to test the module at the end of a cable, or on a test-jig, or some other host device. It is the responsibility of the module manufacturer to consider any influences of a test-jig or support equipment when assessing the performance of the radio module. If the intended host (or range of intended hosts) are known, it may be possible for the module manufacturer to assess the radio module within the intended host(s), for that environment. If the module manufacturer does not know all possible future installation environments that their module could be used in, the radio module manufacturer must define at least one operating environment (or selection of environments) for their assessment; and this must be clearly detailed in the technical documentation of the radio module. This also represents an important part of the radio module installation instructions, so that an installer knows the environment for which the radio module has been assessed and is compliant. For radio modules which are to be installed by end users and not for professional installation by another equipment manufacturer, it may be necessary for the radio module manufacturer to assess the radio module in a range of possible environments; or limit the types of installation permitted, perhaps through some form of two-way authentication protocol.

The radio module manufacturer must consider the range of possible conditions such as; input voltage, temperature and other environmental conditions which may apply in the final environment of use. This will include the internal operating temperatures and voltage variations of possible host devices. Other aspects should be considered by the radio module manufacturer, such as: • Antenna type and gain • Antenna assembly, path or configuration • Software versions or modifications • Installation • Type of operation and use • Shielding or reflective effects of the host product (if known) • All safety aspects Any items which could affect RED compliance, such as critical accessories, antennas, antenna assembly or path, software versions, etc., shall be documented in the radio module’s installation instructions and on the radio module’s EU declaration of conformity.