Many may not be aware of significant changes included in the most recently updated (4 September 2015) Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) (LIPD) Class License 2015 (the LIPD).

In particular the LIPD now refers to ETSI EN 300 328 with no version number – i.e. the current version, as published from time to time in the European Journal, is now acceptable.  Compliance with the LIPD can now be established via a compliant test report to the current version of the ETSI standard.  Whilst ETSI EN 300 328 V1.8.1 or V1.9.1 is not currently referenced by AS/NZS 4268 it will be soon (all going to plan this should occur in early 2016) – as a result, the ACMA has decided to allow suppliers to show compliance to the current version of ETSI EN 300 328.

Similar issues occur regularly as AS/NZS 4268 cannot be amended until after the LIPD is amended and, unfortunately, suppliers are left in “limbo” until AS/NZS 4268 “catches up” (usually this takes at least 6 months).  The ACMA is aware of this and through the Standards Australia committee RC-006, is aiming to make AS/NZS 4268 “future proof” so that any changes to the LIPD are automatically picked up by AS/NZS 4268 – unfortunately this will not occur in the next version of AS/NZS 4268 but, hopefully, it will occur in the subsequent version.

The dropping of the reference to a specific version of ETSI EN 300 328 is a significant change, compared to the previous LIPD, specifically to “Item” 55 which applies to 2.4GHz transmitters including Bluetooth transmitters.  By no longer referring to a particular version of the ETSI standard this effectively removes the requirement for these transmitters to use 15 hopping frequencies.  This change was made to authorise the use of “Bluetooth low energy” or “Bluetooth Smart” devices – see here.

Item 55 of the LIPD continues to apply to older versions of Bluetooth – sometimes referred to as “Classic” Bluetooth.

Please also refer to the explanatory statement that accompanies the LIPD which includes details related to all of the changes compared to the previous version.

 

  Column 1

Class of transmitter

 Column 2

Permitted operating frequency band (MHz) (lower limit exclusive, upper limit inclusive)

 Column 3

Maximum EIRP

 Column 4

Limitations
55 Frequency hopping transmitters 2400–2483.5 500 mW Either:

(a)    the transmitter must meet the requirements of ETSI EN 300 328; or

(b)   a minimum of 15 hopping frequencies must be used.

 

For testing to AS/NZS 4268 or EN 300 328 or even reviews of existing EN 300 328 reports, contact Austest.