Navigating National Radio Research Agency Technical Standards for Wireless Equipment
RRA compliance demands exact technical track matching, accredited RF and EMC testing, local representative holdings, and correct KC mark layout.
RF Conducted Sample
Meaning
Wireless certification requires a modified hardware unit where the integrated antenna is bypassed to allow direct coaxial cable connection to the radio frequency transmitter. This specialized test unit, known as an rf conducted sample, permits direct measurement of the output power and unwanted emissions without the influence of the physical antenna. Regulatory bodies demand these samples to verify that the radio chip itself complies with the technical limits of the standard.
Design teams must prepare these modified boards during the early integration phase to prevent certification delays.
Test Setup
Creating this sample involves soldering a tiny coaxial pigtail directly to the antenna output pad on the printed circuit board. This modification bypasses any matching networks or internal antennas, allowing a fifty-ohm connection directly to the spectrum analyzer. Testing can then proceed in any environment without the need for an expensive anechoic chamber.
Measurement Parameter
Instruments connected to the output measure total output power and spectral density. Bandwidth and spurious emissions can be quantified with higher accuracy because the antenna gains and path losses are eliminated from the measurement loop. Manufacturers use these figures to confirm that the output conforms to the values declared in the user manual.
Production Transition
Once the conducted measurements are complete, the design configuration is frozen. The production units are then manufactured with the actual antenna reconnected for final radiated tests.