Compliance & Regulatory Info Sheet Nr.

2 | Wireless Medical Devices & Connected Healthcare Applications | July 2014

From its beginning Wireless local area networks have been built utilizing the 2.4 GHz frequency
band, being the oldest and most commonly used unlicensed frequency band. As the number of
wireless networks and network users have considerably increased, the limits of the 2.4 GHz band
are starting to show up. In densely populated areas with more and more wireless networks, conflicts and interference can develop from the high amount of traffic, access points, and network
cards. 2.4 GHz wireless networks can also be used by many cordless phones and microwaves
which can cause interference.In addition Smartphones can now access WiFi 2.4 GHz networks
for Internet browsing. As the number
Wi-Fi congestion
of WiFi enabled phones grows steaCordless phone
Microwave
dily, stress on 2.4 GHz networks will
grow as well. All of this traffic and interfering signals reduce the speed of a
wireless network. The interference can
negatively impact users, routers and
access points.
Image source: LSR
The very crowded 2.4 GHz Channel

ETSI was the first to open the 5 GHz band, followed by the States, FCC. In the States, the FCC has
allocated the band between 5.2 and 5.8 GHz (UNII band) with some very liberal rules (no spread
Spectrum mandated, no channels allocated). To limit systems, they have introduced complicated
power rules, making the use of around 20 MHz bandwidth optimal and divided the band in 3
chunks, for low power systems (5.2 GHz), medium power (5.4 GHz) and high power (5.6 GHz).
5GHz frequency wireless networks can offer an alternative to the saturated 2.4GHz. It has a clear

signal and more non overlapping channels that can be combined for higher speeds. 5GHz can
handle more traffic more efficiently and do not suffer the overcrowding that 2.4MHz networks do.
5GHz operates on a larger spectrum with more non overlapping channels. Each channel has 20MHz
of bandwidth which allows for much better speeds compared to 2.4 GHz band (the entire 2.4GHz
band is only 80MHz wide):
Less interference from neighbouring frequencies
More Non Overlapping Channels
Can offer higher speeds
On the other hand, it must considered that the higher the frequency of a wireless signal, the
shorter its range. This means that 2.4 GHz networks cover a substantially larger range than
5 GHz wireless networks. For example, 5 GHz networks do not penetrate solid objects such as walls
nearly as well as do 2.4 GHz signals. This can reduce the reach of access points inside buildings
where many walls may come between a wireless antenna and the user.
Another consideration is that 5 GHz equipment is not readily compatible with 2.4 GHz equipment
already installed. In this case it should be ensured that components of the network are equipped
with dual band technology.
A great advantage of a higher frequency is speed. However, 5 GHz networks are not necessarily faster than 2.4 GHz. There are 2.4 GHz products using 802.11g that can match or can be
faster that 5GHz 802.11a by using paired radios inside access points instead of one which can
increase capacity up to 108 Mbps.
Per April 2014 the FCC has freed up 100 megahertz of spectrum in the 5 gigahertz band for Wi-Fi
use. After a transition period of 12 months, ending March 31st - 2015, 5 GHz devices must meet the
new and modified rules as set in FCC R&O FCC 14-30. Click here for more information.
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2.412 2.417 2.422 2.427 2.432 2.437 2.442 2.447 2.452 2.457 2.462 2.467 2.472

22 MHz

36

40 44

48

52 56

60 64

14 Channel
2.484 Center Frequency
(GHz)

2.4 GHz ISM Band: only 3 non-overlapping channels

100 104 108 112 116 120 124

128

132 136 140 149 153 157 161 165

5 GHz ISM Band: worldwide at least 24 non-overlapping channels

New ETSI Standards for wireless

devices using the 2.4 GHz band.
EN 300 328 is one of the most common standards to demonstrate compliance with Article
3.2 of the R&TTE Directive. Products typically
covered by this standard include WiFi, Bluetooth
and Zigbee devices operating in the 2.4 GHz or
5 GHz ISM Band. To improve the coexistence
of different wireless systems in the 2,4 GHz
frequency band, ETSI performed a review of
standard EN 300 328 V1.7.1 leading to version
1.8.1. The transition period ends in December
2014. From this day onwards, all new devices
falling under the scope of standard EN 300 328
must comply with the requirements as defined
in version 1.8.1.
As a member of ETSI, CETECOM has been
involved in the development of the new
standard from its very beginning. Today,
CETECOM is one of the first laboratories
that can offer standard compliant measurements for the new version of EN 300 328. The
recent audit by the German Accreditation Service (DAkkS) proved CETECOMs capability to
test according to EN 300 328 V1.8.1 with high
accuracy. The specially designed test system
with various antennas for testing the output
power of a multi-channel wireless system
according to EN 300 328 V1.8.1 convinced the
auditors in particular.
The main features of the new standard are
briefly highlighted as follows:
RF output power
Although the limits are unchanged the test plan
requires a new procedure including equipment
Power Spectral Density
Although the limits are unchanged the test plan
requires a new procedure including equipment
Transmitter Spurious Emissions
This requirement has been broken up into two
separate tests; Transmitter unwanted emissions
in the out-of-band domain (OOB) and Transmitter unwanted emissions in the spurious domain.
Frequency Range
The test procedure has changed to use a 99%
bandwidth measurement, and to be performed
only at nominal conditions.
Medium Access
Adaptive and non-adaptive devices operating
at more than 10dBm eirp, are now subject to
new timing restrictions. In addition, adaptive
equipment will need to be able detect noise and
cease transmission.
Click the following links for more information:
=> Final draft ETSI EN 300 328 V1.8.1
=> CETECOM Workshop EN 300 328 V1.8.1

CETECOM Group 2014 | Contact: info@cetecom.com | www.cetecom.com