A short-range device (SRD), described by ECC Recommendation 70-03, is a radio-frequency transmitter device used in telecommunication that has little capability of causing harmful interference to other radio equipment.

Short-range devices are low-power transmitters, typically limited to 25–100mW effective radiated power (ERP) or less, depending on the frequency band, which limits their useful range to a few hundred meters, which do not require licenses to use.

Short-range wireless technologies include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NearLink, near-field communication (NFC), LPWAN, ultra-wideband (UWB) and IEEE 802.15.4. They are implemented by chips fabricated as RF CMOS integrated circuit (RF circuit). As of 2009[update], short-range wireless chips ship approximately 1.7billion units annually, with Bluetooth accounting for over 55% of shipments and Wi-Fi around 35% of shipments.

Applications for short-range wireless devices include power meters and other remote instrumentation, RFID applications, radio-controlled models, fire, security and social alarms, vehicle radars, wireless microphones and earphones, traffic signs and signals (including control signals), remote garage door openers and car keys, barcode readers, motion detectors, and many others.

The European Commission mandates through CEPT and ETSI the allocation of several device bands for these purposes, restricts the parameters of their use, and provides guidelines for avoiding radio interference.

Frequency bands

According to ECC Rec. 70-03, there are several annexes which encapsulate specific usage patterns, maximum emission power and duty cycle requirements.

Frequency allocation in Rec. 70-03
FrequencyBandNotes
Annex 1. Non-specific short-range devices
6765–6795kHzISM
13.553–13.567MHzISMRFID
26.957–27.283MHzISMCitizens' Band
40.660–40.700MHzISM
138.20–138.45MHz
433.050–434.790MHzISMLPD433 (70-centimeter band); also an Amateur Radio band
863–870MHzISMSRD860
915–928MHzISMSRD860
2400.0–2483.5MHzISM13-centimeter band Heavily used by Wi-Fi; also an Amateur Radio band (Up to 2450 MHz)
5725–5875MHzISM5-centimeter band; also an Amateur Radio band (Up to 5850 MHz)
24.00–24.25GHzISM1.2-centimeter band; also an Amateur Radio band
61.0–61.5GHzISM
122–123GHzISM2.5-millimeter band; also an Amateur Radio band
244–246GHzISM1-millimeter band; also an Amateur Radio band
3.1–4.8THz
6–9THz
Annex 2. Tracking, tracing and data acquisition
456.9–457.1kHzDetection of avalanche victims
169.4–169.475MHzRemote meter reading
169.4–169.475MHzAsset tracking and tracing
Annex 3. Wideband data transmission systems
2400.0–2483.5MHzISMWi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.
57–66GHzVWiGig, WirelessHD, etc.
Annex 4. Railway applications
2446–2454MHzAutomatic vehicle identification systems for railways
27.090–27.100MHzBalise tele-powering and down-link (train to ground) systems
984–7484kHzBalise up-link (ground to train) systems
7.3–23.0MHzLoop up-link (ground to train) systems
Annex 5. Road transport and traffic telematics (RTTT)
5795–5805MHz 5805-5815MHzC
63–64GHzVVehicle to vehicle and road to vehicle systems
76–77GHzWVehicle radar and infrastructure radar systems
21.65–26.65GHzKAutomotive short range radars (SRR) (marketed until July 2013)
77–81GHzWAutomotive short range radars (SRR)
24.050–24.075GHz 24.075–24.150GHz 24.150–24.250GHzISMVehicle radars
Annex 6. Radiodetermination applications
2400.0–2483.5ISM
9200–9500MHz 9500–9975MHz
10.5–10.6GHz
13.4–14.0GHz
24.05–24.25GHzISM
4.5–7.0GHzTank level probing radar (TLPR)
8.5–10.6GHzTank level probing radar (TLPR)
24.05–27.00GHzTank level probing radar (TLPR)
57–64GHzTank level probing radar (TLPR)
75–85GHzTank level probing radar (TLPR)
17.1–17.3GHzGround-based synthetic aperture radar
Annex 7. Alarms
868.6–868.7MHz
869.250–869.300MHz
869.650–869.700MHz
869.200–869.250MHz
869.300–869.400MHz
169.4750–169.4875MHzSocial alarms (exclusive use)
169.5875–169.6000MHzSocial alarms (exclusive use)
Annex 8. Model control
26.995, 27.045, 27.095, 27.145, 27.195MHz
34.995–35.225MHzOnly for flying models
40.665, 40.675, 40.685, 40.695MHz
Annex 9. Inductive applications
Annex 10. Radio microphone applications including aids for the hearing impaired
29.7–47.0MHzexcept 30.3–30.5MHz, 32.15–32.45MHz and 41.015–47.00MHz (harmonised military bands)
173.965–174.015Aids for the hearing impaired
863–865MHzIndividual licence required
470–786MHzIndividual licence required
786–789MHzIndividual licence required
823–826MHz 826–832MHzIndividual licence required
1785–1795MHz 1795–1800MHzIndividual licence required
169.4000–169.4750MHzAids for the hearing impaired. Individual licence may be required
169.4875–169.5875MHzAids for the hearing impaired. Individual licence may be required
Annex 11. Radio frequency identification applications
2446–2454MHz 2446–2454MHz
865.0–865.6MHz 865.6–867.6MHz 867.6–868.0MHz
Annex 12. Active medical implants and their associated peripherals
Annex 13. Wireless audio applications
863–865MHz 864.8–865.0SRD860
1795–1800MHz
87.5–108.0MHzFM

SRD860

In Europe, 863 to 870 MHz band has been allocated for license-free operation using FHSS, DSSS, or analog modulation with either a transmission duty cycle of 0.1%, 1% or 10% depending on the band, or Listen Before Talk (LBT) with Adaptive Frequency Agility (AFA). Although this band falls under the Short Range Device umbrella, it is being used in Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) wireless telecommunication networks, designed to allow long-range communications at a low bit rate among things (connected objects).

FrequencyDuty cycleChannel spacingERP
863.0–865.0MHz100% (wireless audio)10mW
863.0–865.6MHz0.1% or LBT+AFA25mW
863.0–868.0MHz *25mW wideband up to 1MHz (data only)
865.0–868.0MHz1% or LBT+AFA25mW
865.0–868.0MHz *0.1% or LBT+AFA4 frequencies2W (RFID only)
865.0–868.0MHz *10% (access points), 2.5% (other devices)4 frequencies500mW (data only, power control required)
868.0–868.6MHz1% or LBT+AFA25mW
868.6–868.7MHz1% (alarms)25kHz10mW
868.7–869.2MHz0.1% or LBT+AFA25mW
869.2–869.25MHz0.1% (social alarms)25kHz10mW
869.25–869.3MHz0.1% (alarms)25kHz10mW
869.3–869.4MHz1% (alarms)25kHz10mW
869.4–869.65MHz10% or LBT+AFA25kHz500mW
869.65–869.7MHz10% (alarms)25kHz25mW
869.7–870.0MHz100% (voice communication)5mW
1% or LBT+AFA25mW

(* = as of 1 January 2018)

As of December2011[update], unrestricted voice communications are allowed in the 869.7-870.0MHz band with channel spacing of 25kHz or less and maximum power output of 5mW ERP.

SRD860 handheld transceivers were briefly available in mid 2000s, however they did not offer dual-band compatibility with PMR446 and LPD433 bands. As of 2012[update], they have been put off-market.

From January 2018, the four RFID frequencies are also available for data networks, with a power up to 500mW and a bandwidth of 200 kHz. The center frequencies are: 865.7, 866.3, 866.9 and 867.5 MHz. Specific restrictions on usage apply, such as a low duty cycle, LBT (listen before transmit) and APC (adaptive power control).

See also

External links

  • .
  • .
  • . ETSI.org.
  • . CEPT.org.