Electromagnetic Conformance Testing

Over the last century, the use of the electromagnetic spectrum has undergone a monumental change.  What was, at the end of the 1800s, an unregulated, sparsely populated band of electromagnetic waves has today become a highly regulated, extremely saturated region.  All wireless communications today need to fit into their appropriated portion of the spectrum, whether it is for television, cell phones, military communications, or amateurs. In the United States, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) was formed in 1934 to regulate all wired and wireless communications and as a part of that regulation, they require testing on certain products.  This ensures that the products have achieved electromagnetic conformance (EMC), indicating conformance with the requirements mandated by the FCC.  If a device, whether intentionally radiating or not, is encroaching into certain bands and creating interference, there can be serious performance issues and legal consequences.  Each country has its own entity, similar in function to the FCC, that has its own unique requirements and thresholds.  It is essential to understand the concept of electromagnetic interference (EMI), know what the conformance tests for your market entail, and see if your products require them.