Short Range Devices

Short Range Devices (SRD) are radio devices that offer a low risk of interference with other radio services, usually because their transmitted power, and hence their range, is low. The definition 'Short Range Device' may be applied to many different types of wireless equipment, including various forms of:

• Access control (including door and gate openers)
• Alarms and movement detectors
• Closed-circuit television (CCTV)
• Cordless audio devices, including wireless microphones
• Industrial control
• Local Area Networks
• Medical implants
• UWB Sensors & Radars (such as ground probing radar)
• Remote control
• Radio frequency identification (RFID)
• Road Transport Telematics
• Telemetry.

Short range devices often benefit from a relaxed regulatory regime compared with other radio communications equipment.  As general principle, a user is licence free to operate such equipment, some specific cases may require an individual licence.

However, like all radio equipment, short-range devices have to meet the Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive to be placed on the market within the European Community. The operation of the equipment is subject to the frequency management regulations of the relevant member state.

As the definition 'Short Range Device' can be so widely applied, ETSI has produced a series of standards for generic short range devices. Each standard covers short range devices operating within a defined frequency range.

These standards are each in two parts (as are the majority of ETSI Harmonized Standards). Part 1 covers technical requirements, including those for specific applications. Part 2 is the Harmonized Standard, which identifies the necessary parameters to comply with article 3.2 of the R&TTE Directive.

• EN 300 220 covers equipment operating in the frequency range 25 MHz to 1000 MHz
• EN 300 330 covers radio equipment operating in the frequency range 9 kHz to 25 MHz (and inductive loop systems operating up to 30 MHz)
• EN 300 440 covers radio equipment operating in the frequency range 1 GHz to 40 GHz.

In addition, ETSI produces standards that specify essential requirements related to Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). For short range devices, the relevant ETSI EMC standards are EN 301 489-1 (Common technical requirements for radio equipment) and EN 301 489-3 (Specific conditions for SRDs).

Specific ETSI standards

ETSI publishes standards for specific applications in the short range device area. These include among others:

• Avalanche Beacons
• Cordless audio devices, including radio microphones
• Intelligent Transport Systems
• Ultra Wide Band (UWB).

Regulations on short-range devices

The European national Administrations, who are members of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), collaborate within the CEPT Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) to harmonize their national regulations. The ECC Short Range Devices Maintenance Group maintains Recommendation 70-03, which CEPT Administrations are encouraged to implement in order to maximize freedom of movement for radiocommunications equipment.

ETSI has a Memorandum of Understanding with ECC, in which the two organizations work together to encourage the maximum freedom of movement for equipment meeting essential technical requirements laid down in Harmonized Standards. ETSI is also an active observer within the Radio Spectrum Committee of the European Commission, which is developing a Commission Decision to give legal certainty to frequency allocations for short range devices in EU Member States (see also our Radio Spectrum pages).

CEPT Recommendations and Decisions can be downloaded from the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO).