John, one of the issues is when does something stop being a component/module that is not required to be tested and becomes a product that must be tested? The module/device does not have a complete enclosure, nor did it include power supplies, but it did include an antenna. The device with the antenna is something that they will be selling to others, not just us, which is why I called it off the shelf.
The vendor sold us a "Development Kit" to use in the process of integrating it into our printers. For us to buy such an item is no big issue as we do have an engineering department and do have RF test capability up into the 10's of Ghz (including a 3 meter site). As they had a development kit, I was asked if we could do the same. We have already told the vendor they must certify the device, so we can base our certifications off of theirs. Thanks, for the article reference. We did have one of the TCB's request an audit of one of our wireless products earlier this year and have been audited by foreign governments in the past. Jim From: John Shinn [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 5:35 PM To: 'Jacob Schanker'; 'Jim Bacher'; 'Emc-Pstc (E-mail)' Subject: RE: RFID Demo Equipment and the FCC / Industry Canada I'm not sure what you mean by a develpment kit. Does that mean a prototype unit with the intent to replace it later some time in the future? Also, you used the phrase "off the shell" - did you mean "off the shelf" and if so, why is an "of the shelf" device not complete with the appropriate certifications? As Jacob said, the FCC Rules are clear and trying to get around them by trying to change the wording is not a safe way to go. Be realistic. How do you know the unit will comply in the forseeable future. You may end up with products out there that cannot ever work at a reasonable cost. Then you would have to buy the products back from your customers, and maybe any equipment that is no longer usable due to not having your printer and associated device legal. See Conformity, November 2003, Volume 8, No. 10, Page10, right column, and then do it right. Regards, John Shinn, P.E. Manager, Lab Operations San Jose, CA This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: [email protected] Dave Heald: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected] Jim Bacher: [email protected] Archive is being moved, we will announce when it is back on-line. All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc
