On February 15, 2023, the Department of Innovations, Science and Economic Development (ISED) in Canada opened a public consultation on the Radio Standards Specification RSS-247, Issue 3 “Digital Transmission System (DTSs), Frequency Hopping Systems (FHSs), and Licence-Exempt Local Area Network (LE-LAN) Devices”. This RSS-247 will establish the requirements necessary to certify radio equipment operating in the 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, and 5725-5850 MHz bands that used frequency hopping, digital modulation ,and/or a combination or both. This proposed standard will also help establish the certification requirements for LE-LAN devices operating in the 5150-5250 MHz, 5250-5350 MHz, 5470-5725 MHz, 5725-5850 MHz, and 5850-5895 MHz frequency bands.
This will be the simple overview of the suggested changes for the new standard. First and foremost frequency bands 5725-5850 MHz and 5850-5895 MHz has been added as specified in SP-5150 MHz and in SMSE-0012-22 Decision on the Technical and Policy Framework for Radio Local Area Network Devices in the 5850-5895 MHz Band and for the Intelligent Transportation Systems in the 5895-5925 MHz Band. Client mode is a new definition for an operating mode in which the transmissions of the LE-LAN device are under the control of the master. The power and e.i.r.p. of the equipment unwanted emission will be measured at peak value unless another measurement method is specified in the respective section for the frequency range of operation of the device. As for power limits for OEM devices installed in vehicles, the maximum e.i.r.p. shall not exceed 30 mW or 10 log10B, dBM, whichever is less, where B is the 99% emission bandwidth is megahertz.
For frequency band 5850-5895 MHz outdoor operation, including channels that span across 5850 MHz, need to be limited to fixed access points and fixed client devices. A fixed outdoor access point is a transceiver intended to provide connectivity to fixed outdoor client devices and fixed outdoor access points while being permanently attached to a structure. It will operate as a bridge in a peer-to-peer connection, a connector between the wired and wireless segments of the network, or as a relay between wireless network segments. It will not be capable of initiating a network.
Indoor operations in the 5850-5895 MHz Band, including channels that span across 5850MHz, will be limited to access points, clients and subordinate devices. Access points and subordinate devices must be labelled or include in the user manual the following text “for indoor use only”. Indoor client devices will have their transmissions under the control of an indoor access point or an indoor subordinate device and will not be capable of initiating a network. Indoor access points shall only operate in locations completely enclosed by walls and a ceiling and have the following characteristics. It has to be powered by a wire connection, a permanent antenna, and may have direct connections to the Internet. It cannot be battery powered or have a weatherized enclosure. Indoor Subordinate devices follow the same characteristics with the addition of being only able to connect to indoor access points, other indoor subordinate devices, or client devices within a single building or structure.
Power limits on all devices must have 6 dB bandwidth of at least 500 kHz. For fixed outdoor access points, the maximum e.i.r.p. can’t exceed 4 W (36 dBM). The maximum e.i.r.p. spectral density must not exceed 23 dBm/MHz. The maximum e.i.r.p. measured at any evaluation angle greater than 30 degrees above the horizon and must not exceed 125 mW (21 dBm) over the 5850-5895 MHz frequency band. Fixed outdoor client devices have a maximum e.i.r.p shall not exceed 1 W (30 dBm). The maximum e.i.r.p. spectral density shall not exceed 17 dBm/MHz. Indoor access points have a maximum e.i.r.p. must not exceed 4 W (36 dBm). The maximum e.i.r.p. spectral density shall not exceed 20 dBm/MHz. All indoor subordinate devices must not exceed the maximum e.i.r.p of 4 W or the maximum e.i.r.p. spectral density of 20 dBm/MHz. Indoor client devices must not exceed the maximum e.i.r.p of 1 W (30 dBm) or maximum e.i.r.p. spectral density of 14 dBm/MHz.
Unwanted emission limits have been defined for the frequency ranges between 5725 -5895 MHz. All devices in this frequency range must measure using peak detection and will comply with the following e.i.r.p. spectral density limits. At spectral density limit 27 dBm/MHz for frequencies from the 5725 MHz Band edge decreasing linearly to 15.6 dBm/MHz at 5 MHz below the 5725 MHz Band edge. For 15.6 dBm/MHz at 5 MHz below the 5725 MHz Band edge decreasing linearly to 10 dBm/MHz at 25 MHz below the 5725 MHz band edge. For 10 dBm/MHz at 25 MHz below the 5725 MHz band edge decreasing linearly to -27 dBm/MHz at 75 MHz below the 5725 MHz band edge. And at -27 dBm/MHz at frequencies of more than 75 MHz below the 5725 MHz Band edge.
For the 5895 MHz band edge and above, all devices must be measure using an average detection and comply with the following e.i.r.p. spectral density limits. Fixed outdoor access points and fixed outdoor client devices must not exceed -27 dBm/MHz e.i.r.p. spectral density at or above 5895 MHz band edge. Indoor access points or indoor subordinate devices shall not exceed 15 dBm/MHz e.i.r.p. spectral density at the 5895 MHz Band edge and will decrease linearly to no exceed -7 dBm/MHz e.i.r.p spectral density at or above 5925 MHz. Lastly, Client devices must not exceed -5 dBm/MHz e.i.r.p spectral density at the 5895 MHz band edge and must decrease linearly to not exceed -27 dBm/MHz e.i.r.p. spectral density at or above 5925 MHz.
Once the consultation has closed and the new standard has been published on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) website there will be a six month transition period from the publication date. During that time, all applications for certification under RSS-247 issue 2 or issue 3 will be accepted. After the six months have passed, all applications for the certification of equipment will be accepted under RSS-247 issue 3 only. Equipment manufactured, imported, distributed, leased, offered for sale, or sold in Canada shall comply with the current issue of the standard.
The consultation can be accessed at this link and will be open for comments until May 3, 2023.