CC3120 & CC3220 Radio Certifications

RED Update: See here for updates on the Radio Equipment Directive (RED)

Note: Consult with your Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) regarding any regulatory certifications. The TCB's recommendations take precedence. TI provides this information only as recommended guidelines for your certification process.

Introduction

This page provides information relating to all radio certifications obtained by the CC3100 and CC3200 modules, and how those certifications may be used in end products.

Using TI's Certifications

Texas Instruments has obtained FCC, IC, CE, and TELEC modular transmitter certifications for the CC3100MOD and CC3200MOD devices. These certifications can be used to the advantage of any manufacturer developing a product using these devices. In order to take full advantage of the certifications, developers must follow the antenna design/layout guidelines exactly as shown in the datasheet. For FCC compliance, products will still need to go through verification testing or have a declaration of conformance according to 47 CFR Chapter 1, part 15, subpart B. The testing required for both verification and declaration of conformance is specified in sections 15.107 and 15.109. The official documents can be obtained from the U.S Government Printing Office online. U.S. Government Printing Office CFR 47. There are some changes allowed to the reference design which do not require any testing beyond the verification or declaration of conformance.

If it is desired to add a Murata connector or U.FL connector in the RF path, or change the antenna to one of the same type (chip) with equal or less gain, they can do so without refiling. Other changes such as a different antenna, or adding an antenna diversity switch will require filing for a class 2 permissive change. This costs about half as much as the full certification. In order to enable those who wish to get a class 2 permissive change for the SimpleLink WiFi modules to do so, TI can provide a letter authorizing an FCC Transfer of ID, and IC Multiple Listing. This will enable class 2 permissive changes to be performed on new identification numbers owned by the customer for the Simplelink Wifi modules. TI reserves the right to refuse authorization due to legal concerns and risk analysis. The form can be accessed here: FCC Transfer of ID/IC Multiple Listing Authorization Request form

Note: Consult with your Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) regarding any regulatory certifications. TI provides this information only as recommended guidelines to ease your certification process, while leveraging TI's certified devices.

Certifications & Compliance

• Wi-Fi operates in the unlicensed 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Licenses are not required to communicate between two devices
• Wi-Fi is an intentional transmitter. Requires certification of the device with industry regulation
• When getting certifications from a test house, usually a questionnaire must be filled out with information about the product being certified. Here is some useful information for filling out forms such as these: Information for test house questionnaires

Federal Communications Commission	independent agency of the U.S. governmnet in charge of regulating interstate and international communications Certified for United States Tests reports recognized by other countries for filing Costs ~$25k for compliance testing/certification
Industry Canada	Canadian agency regulating the electronics industry Certified for Canada Accepts FCC test reports for filing certifications Test reports recognized by other countries for filing Costs ~$25k for compliance testing/certification
European Telecommunications Standards Institute Conformité Européenne (European Conformity)	The CE marking is a mandatory conformance mark on many products in the European Economic Area ETSI produces globally applicable standards for information and communications CE Radio Approval ETSI testing is recognized by 40+ countries for filing Costs ~$25k for compliance testing
Telecom Engineering Center	Runs the the Japanese equipment authorization program Certified for Japan TELEC Test reports are available Costs ~$25k for compliance testing/certification
SRRC	Certified for People's Republic of China

TELEC Certification

Website: Telecom Engineering Center (TELEC)

Ministry of Internal Affairs and communications

Test and Certification Services for Wireless Devices under Japanese Radio Law

The TI SimpleLink™ CC31xx & CC32xx modules is certified for TELEC to be used in Japan.

• TELEC Certification number for the TI CC3100 Module is available upon request.
• TI passed the certification with max power value for several antennas: TaiyoYuden and Walsim.
• Customer does not need to take additional test for Japan radio law for CC3100MOD, when they use the recommended antenna with CC3100MOD

Modules

CC3120MOD JAPAN Radio Test Report: JR731627, Date: Jun 10, 2017

CC3220SFMOD JAPAN Radio Test Report: JR731625, Date: Jun 10, 2017

FAQ

Q: What does 'similar' antenna mean?

A: A 'similar' antenna is of the same or less directional gain, and of same type(chip, printed, etc)

Q: If we add an antenna switch to the design for diversity, can any of the certification data still be used?

A: It would be a Class 2 permissive change which requires radiated tests if using the TI module. This costs about half as much as full certification.

Q: How can customers reuse the test data? – Do they ‘reference’ TI’s testing somehow?

A: The testing results cannot be reused directly.

Q: What is the likely cost ‘range’ for certification? (for direct PCB/design copy through to modified antenna design?)

A: When certifying as an end product, about $30K for FCC, CE, ETSI

Q: The delta between the CE and FCC re-approval process would be great to know – we know there are differences with FCC being more modular.

A: Testing is the same. It is much more cost effective to do FCC and CE simultaneously.

Q: How much of the firmware can be changed before re-approval of the HW is needed. ? Since we are dealing with programmable PHY devices these days …

A: Any increases in power levels, frequency channels, etc would require recertification.

Q: Some customers will operate at a lower TX power output – can they be tested specifically at this power level or would they need to be at max power? How then is the delta approval worked with TI cert since we test at max?

A:They can operate at a lower power and still use our modular certification.

Q: Can a customer get a time advantage if they use the same lab as TI (i.e. Nemko) for certification?

A: Using our module will save time as opposed to doing a new certification. You would have to contact Nemko for this.

Q: What antenna choices have been used for module certification?

A: See the module datasheet

Q: What are the antenna design recommendations that somebody needs to follow if they want to leverage the modular certification?

A: See the module datasheet

Q: What happens if a customer is not able to follow the above mentioned recommendations? Can they still value from TI’s certification?

A: Yes they can get a class 2 permissive change. This costs about half as much as full certification.

Q: When using the TI’s QFN device, what certification pieces can be leveraged by the customer?

A: If using the QFN and not the module, certification pieces cannot be reused.

Q: Outline the process, approximate cost, testing required for changing the antenna from the Taiyo Yuden one that we certify with for the module

• To different gain in same type (e.g. another chip antenna that’s higher gain)
• To a different antenna type, moving to a PCB or dipole antenna

A: Both of these will fall under class 2 permissive change. The change must be done under TI’s name, so the customer must work with TI. Since it is under TI’s name, the permissive change should become part of the certification record.

Q: Confirm what exactly must be copied and pasted to leverage modular certification. I heard that new rules state that you must also copy and paste the trace length, width, etc. If a customer wants to use the same antenna as us but change the trace length/width what is required to get certification?

A: The layout must be identical and the antenna type must be the same, otherwise it’s a class 2 permissive change. Changing antenna to similar antenna (equal or less gain) is a class 1 change. Adding a Murata connector in path should be a Class 1 change.

Q: Is using same antenna type (that we certified with) with equal to or lesser gain a permissive change by FCC?

A: Yes, this is a Class I permissive change.

Q: Can Nemko tell us what makes it a Class 1 vs. Class 2 change, and what the ramifications of either are?

A: Class 1 changes are those which will not cause degradations in RF performance characteristics. Class 1 changes do not require a filing with the FCC. Class 2 changes require the grantee to supply the commission with test results proving the characteristics are still within the acceptable ranges.

Q: For the CE/ETSI approval – this is the excerpt from the RTTT&E spec – “Manufacturers who place on the market products without an antenna or with an antenna that is intended to allow replacement have a responsibility to provide information on the general types and/or characteristics of antennas that may be used with their equipment in order that the overall radio equipment remains compliant. The guidance of the transmitter manufacturer has to be followed when they are installed.” In this case if TI is the manufacturer … then TI has the responsibility to provide a certain level of detail about different antenna configurations. True or False?

A: True. The antenna design guidelines are provided in the datasheet.

Q: For CE/ETSI approval: Can the customer change the Antenna Gain?

A: Customers can modify the antenna design as long as the EIRP Power is kept equal or lower.

Q: For CE/ETSI approval: Does ETSI compliance require RSE and SAR testing?

A: RSE (radiated spurious emissions) and SAR are required for re-certification. if a conducted spurious emissions (CSE) certification is already in place than a radiated cabinet test will suffice to complete certification.