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 authorizaton 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]