Radio

Aeronautical telecommunication services must ensure that the operating and technical standards of the radio equipment including antenna, indicators, controls, interconnecting cabling, and the wiring into the aircraft electrical system are in compliance with the Civil Aviation Rules and the stipulations set by the ICAO.

RF test scope
CTC advanced offers on-site tests in the aircraft or at the aeuronautical ground station as well as in our accredited laboratory according to the following requirements:

• Reg TP 321 ZV 034 (VHF communication transceiver for mobile aeronautical radio (aircraft based station))
• Reg TP 321 ZV 039 (VHF communication transceiver for mobile aeronautical radio (land based station))
• BAPT 211 TV 025/152 (Emergency locator transmitter ELT)
• ETS/EN 300 676 (Radio transmitter and receivers at aeronautical stations of the aeronautical mobile service operating in the VHF band (118 MHz – 137 MHz) using amplitude modulation and 8,33 kHz channel spacing)

Apart from the above-mentioned standards, CTC advanced is accredited for further national and international standards such as EN 300152, EN 300066, EN 300373 (EPIRB / Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons).

Car integrated communication applications are increasingly important. Modern cars are equipped with applications which are based on various communication technologies such as RFID, GSM, Bluetooth or WLAN. All these applications – be a navigation system, a GSM telephone, an immobilizer or a simple keyless entry system – must ensure an interference functioning in the car, outside the car, and among each other.

Frequency test spectrum

• Blind Spot Detection / Lane Assist
  24 GHz (EN 302 288 / EN 302 858 / CFR 47 FCC Part 15.249/ RSS-310)
  77 GHz (EN 301 091 / CFR 47 FCC Part 15.253 / RSS-251)
  79 GHz (EN 302 264)
• Keyless Entry System
  433 / 868 MHz (315 MHz) (EN 300 220-2 / CFR 47 FCC Part 15.231 / RSS-210)
• Immobilizer
  125 kHz (EN 300 330-2 / CFR 47 FCC Part 15.209 / RSS-210)
• RFID applications
  13.56 MHz (EN 300 330-2 / EN 302 291-2 / CFR 47 FCC Part 15.225 / RSS-210)
• Bluetooth® applications
  2.4 GHz (EN 300 328 / CFR 47 FCC Part 15.247 / RSS-210)
• WLAN applications
  2.4 GHz (EN 300 328 / CFR 47 FCC Part 15.247 / RSS-247)
  5 GHz (EN 301 893 / CFR 47 FCC Part 15.247 / RSS-247)
• GSM applications
  900/1800 MHz (EN 301511)
  850/1900 MHz (CFR 47 FCC Part 22/24)
• W-CDMA  FDDI
  EN 301 908 -1/-2
• W-CDMA FDD II/IV/V
  FCC: CFR 47 FCC Part 22/24/27

A device incorporating Bluetooth® wireless technology must undergo testing according to the Bluetooth® SIG Qualification Program in order to classify as a licensed product with the Bluetooth trademark. CTC advanced is accredited Bluetooth Qualification Test Facility (BQTF) with recognized Bluetooth Qualification Experts (BQE), offering a comprehensive range of testing services.

Bluetooth® Regulatory testing
Before launching a Bluetooth® classified product it must be ensured that the product is in compliance with the international standards set by the regulatory authorities of the various regions. CTC advanced offers high-performance testing for the EU, USA, Canada, Japan and Australia according the standards for

• Radio
• EMC
• Electrical Safety (incl. CB-Scheme)
• Health

Bluetooth® Qualification Program
The requirements of the Bluetooth® SIG Qualification Program are stated in the ‘PRD’ (Program Reference Document), giving an overview of the necessary testing, documentation, assessment, declaration, listing, marking and compliance to auditing and enforcement.

Companies are able to qualify and list their products on their own. However, for companies who are not or scarcely familiar with the process, the Bluetooth SIG recommends that a BQE (Bluetooth® Qualification Expert) be involved with the product listing. Doing so eliminates errors in qualification and waives a random audit performed on listed products by the Bluetooth SIG.

In addition, the Bluetooth® Qualification testing for products which are classified as a CAT A product including RF, BB (baseband) and LM (Link Manager) layers, can only be performed by a BQTF (Bluetooth Qualification Test Facility).

CTC advanced is Bluetooth® Qualification Test Facility and offers the following qualification services:

• RF / RF-PHY Conformance Testing for BT Core 2.0-4.2
• Protocol/Profile Conformance Testing using the BITE® Protocol/Profile Tester
  BB, LM, L2CAP, SDP, RFCOMM
  GAP, SPP
• Profile Interoperability Testing using
  The Bluetoothi® SIG’s PTS (Profile Tuning Suite) Test System
  CTC advanced’s Bluetooth® product library for Extended Interoperability Testing

A Bluetooth® Qualification Expert is a person recognized by the Bluetooth® SIG to support with testing and qualification related services. The Bluetooth® laboratories of CTC advanced work together with several competent BQE’s to complete Bluetooth® Qualification.

Mobility is the feature which distinguishes DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) cordless phones from normal fixed line phones.
CTC advanced offers test procedures according to the current European and US standards. We offer all functional and regulatory testing like radio interface, the GAP protocol, acoustics, network access and specific absorption rate. Moreover we can perform the testing of quality parameters.

• Test spectrum following DECT requirements:
  EN 301 406, DECT Radio Interface (full-slot, double-slot, long slot)
  DECT 6.0 for USA (ANSI C63.17, (FCC:CFR 47 FCC Part 15D))
  DECT 6.0 for Canada (RSS 213)
  TBR 10, DECT Telephony
  TBR 22, DECT-GAP
  CAT-iq Certification
  DECT Security (GAP)

CAT-iq Certification Programm CAT-iq is a synonym for excellent features with respect to audio quality, interoperability and wideband transmission abilities.
The CAT-iq mark is available through the testing and certification services at CTC advanced, who can provide all respective services which are required to launch a CAT-iq product on the various world markets. Besides excellent quality the CAT-iq Certification will give you the additional benefit of ensuring the interoperability with many devices of different manufacturers for a wide range of functions.

CTC advanced’s CAT-iq test and certification services comprise:

• CAT-iq 2.0 testscope
• CAT-iq 2.1 testscope
• Certification body for CAT-iq 2.0 and 2.1

LPWAN stands for Low-Power Wide-Area Network and represents a Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT). It offers network solutions for the connection of low power devices – such as battery powered sensors – in a quite large distance range. LPWAN networks operate at transmission frequencies with a lower free field attenuation than WLANs (operating at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).

SIGFOX 

CTC advanced is an accredited partner for regulatory testing and certification of SIGFOX devices:

The Sigfox network – basis for LPWAN Applications

 Providing the respective network, SIGFOX offers connectivity and interoperability to modern LPWAN applications.

CTC advanced – as SIGFOX partner for testing and certification – has assembled a service package, which offers the full range of qualifications, which are necessary when entering the market with a new product:

• Regulatory Testing:
  Europe (RED; Notified Body Service), USA (FCC; TCB Service); Canada (ISED; FCB Service); Japan (RCB Service) and International Type Approval
• Certification:
  CTC advanced leads you through the certification process with SIGFOX READY^TM testing and certification consulting

LoRa stands for long range, low power wireless platforms. It provides a proprietary technology for LPWAN applications and indicates the prevailing technology for IoT networks worldwide. LoRa technology is being used in everyday items: from the car or the power meter to home appliances or wearable devices – and almost everything in between. LoRa Technology offers reliable communication, high accuracy localization, an improved interoperability and hereby opens up completely new opportunities for IoT.

CTC advanced offers LPWAN, LoRa and SIGFOX regulatory testing for radio and EMC, and supports you in any question regarding the approval of your LPWAN, LoRA or SIGFOX solutions worldwide.

Microwave radio relay is a technology for transmitting digital and analog signals, such as long-distance telephone calls and the relay of television programs to transmitters. In microwave radio relay, radio waves are transmitted between the two locations with directional antennas, forming a fixed radio connection between the two points. Long daisy-chained series of such links form transcontinental telephone and/or television communication systems.

Our tests are according to the following guidelines and standards:

• EN 302 217:
  “Fixed Radio Systems; characteristics and requirements for point-to-point equipment and antennas”
• EN 301 753:
  “Fixed Radio Systems; Point-to-Multipoint equipment and antennas; Generic harmonized standard for Point-to-Multipoint digital fixed radio systems and antennas.”
• Reg TP SSB FE/OE xxx ?
  “Interface descriptions for digital radio relay systems in the 4 GHz to 58 GHz range”
• SR 784.103.12/1.17
  “Technical requirements for radio relay systems in the 23 GHz to 38 GHz range” of BAKOM
• MPT 14 XX 
  17 XX ?”Performance Specification for Digital Radio Relay Systems”

For the market access in North America CTC advanced offers tests following:

• FCC: CFR 47 FCC Part 101 (USA)
• ISED: RSS 191 (Canada)

An antenna’s RF performance plays a major role in the quality of a device.  Factors such as a human head or hand can greatly influence the transmitter’s performance while poor receiver performance can result in bad voice quality or dropped calls.  Certain requirements are in place to ensure proper transmitter and receiver performance.

TRP & TIS Measurements

• Total Radiated Power (TRP) Measurements in free space, SAM phantom head, and artificial hand (left & right)
• Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) Measurements in free space, SAM phantom head, and artificial hand (left & right)
• Spherical antenna patterns within the frequencies of 400 MHz – 6 GHz
• 2D and 3D graphic of measurements
• GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, A-GPS, WLAN
• Full report with plots

Unlike conventional radio systems which use a dedicated channel (frequency) for each individual user group, trunking’ radio systems based on a pool of channels which are available for many different user groups.
CTC advanced offers tests and inspections of low power radio systems of private mobile radio and trunked radio systems. These tests serve to demonstrate the effective use of the frequency spectrum, compliance, transmission quality and interoperability.
Depending on the requirements, we test according to harmonized standards, interface descriptions, approval specifications of non-EC member or customers’ specifications.
To complete our service, we offer tests within the framework of production surveillance; implementation support including assistance in modification; development and verification of test procedures followed by the validation of test systems and the development of automatic test systems.

Last but not least, we issue technical expert opinions and declarations of conformity.

• Analogue PMR/PAMR standards
• Proprietary digital transmission standards like TETRAPOL
• TETRA
• PMR 446

RFID is the technology which is widely used to identify objects by the use of radio signals. CTC advanced is dealing with the various kinds of RFID systems since many years. Although RFID has been promoted as the innovation for business processes in logistics and the supply chain one must carefully differentiate between the various technologies which are in use.
Basically, the regulatory requirements for RFID systems as they are to be proven for CE marking, can be seen independently of such applications.

For regulatory qualification the following testing services apply:

• RF (e.g. EN 300 330, EN 302 208, EN 300 440)
• EMC (e.g. EN 301 489)
• Electrical Safety (e.g. EN 60 950)
• Health (e.g. SAR testing when exceeding certain RF levels)

What is of most interest in conjunction with the RFID systems is finally the application which is established by using such technologies. Consult the Smart Card section for more information on the specific RFID applications (proximity and vicinity solutions, UHF tags and readers) CTC advanced can support you with, such as:

• ePassport
• EMVCo  Contactless
• Near-Field-Communications (NCF)

CTC advanced provides tests and inspections of satellite communication systems and earth stations. These tests serve to demonstrate the effective use of the frequency spectrum, compliance, transmission quality and interoperability.

Our testing scope comprise:

• Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT)
• Satellite News Gathering, truck-mounted/ Fly-away Transportable Earth Stations (SNG-TES)
• Land Mobile Earth Stations (LMES)
• Maritime Mobile Earth Stations (MMES)
• Mobile Earth Stations (S-PCN MES)
• General Purpose Earth Stations (GPES)
• Fixed-site SES with large antenna apertures
• Satellite Interactive / User terminals (SIT / SUT)
• Receive Only Mobile Earth stations (ROMES), TV Receive Only (TVRO)
• Mobile Earth Stations (MES) using Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEO)
• AES (Aircraft Earth Stations)
• SatLabs recommended DVB-RCS terminals

For the market access in North America CTC advanced offers tests following:

• FCC: CFR 47 FCC Part 25 (USA)
• ISED: RSS 170 (Canada)

Short range devices (SRD) is a general term applied to various radio devices designed to operate over a short range and at low power levels (LPD Low Power Devices).

This includes:

• Radio modules for data transmission
• Wireless microphones, loudspeakers and other broadband audio and video applications
• Radio LAN’s and Bluetooth® applications, W-LAN, HiperLAN, Home-RF, Wi-Fi®
• Transponder systems and RFIDs
• Telecommand devices
• Remote-controllable toys and air models
• Monitoring systems, alarm and emergency systems
• Traffic telematics applications, e.g. anti-collision radar
• Radar level gauges

WiFi is almost everywhere, easy to use, affordable, and a great way to connect to the internet through WLAN access points or to other devices that have WiFi functionality. WiFi is a wireless networking technology, based on the IEEE 802.11 standard. Hundreds of millions of people are using devices with WiFi technology. Beyond computers, WiFi connects printers, cameras, games, MP3 players, TV’s: a rapidly growing trend.

CTC advanced conducts regulatory testing for IEEE 802.11 a, b, g, h, d, n products:

• EN 300328, EN 301 893
• CFR 47 FCC Part 15
• RSS 247
• IEEE 802.11 a, b, d, g, h, d
• IEEE 802.11 n
• IEEE 802.11 ac