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Get helpful advice from experts in the complex field of RF design.
These tools and tutorials (see links at right) can help you select
equipment and tune your system for the most robust wireless communication
possible.
To ensure that you are starting on the right foot, AeroComm would
like to point out two important factors to keep in mind while
shopping for and comparing RF solutions: Testing and Certification.
Both areas are vital to the product choice, since poor testing
procedures and compliance failures can hinder expected performance
as well as time to market.
Testing Transceivers
When testing transceivers, AeroComm ensures that each RF model
reaches its specified performance at all frequencies and temperatures.
However, not all radio manufacturers are held to the same testing
standards. Other transceivers on the market have been shown to
experience as much as 6dB variance from typical output power,
from the lower end of the frequency band to the higher end. This
means that the modules' performance is significantly degraded
as the radio "hops" frequencies across the band.
Additionally, many radio vendors specify high receiver sensitivity,
which may expand communication range. Yet these measurements are
reached only at room-temperature, an unlikely environment for
industrial radios. Receiver-sensitivity typically degrades significantly
as temperatures rise. AeroComm tests all ConnexRF products to
meet specified output power at every frequency in the band, and
to achieve receiver-sensitivity at all specified temperatures.
Regulatory Approvals
FCC regulations regarding modular radios have changed in the
past few years. Because AeroComm's radios were certified before
the rule changes, all transceivers have modular approval for handheld/portable,
mobile and fixed/basestation applications. This means that OEMs
can integrate AeroComm radios without worrying about additional
FCC testing related to the integration.
The new rules prohibit the integration of recently-certified radio
modules into portable/handheld applications without additional
testing by the OEM. Many younger manufacturers do not often reveal
this information in their documentation, even though disclosure
is required by the FCC. It would be advisable for OEMs to verify
modules' authorized uses by looking at the FCC Authorization Certificate,
which can be found on the FCC
web site.
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