Regulatory Requirements
6-2
STK511 User Guide
4842B–AVR–10/09
6.3
Operating Frequency
The Federal Communications Committee (FCC) governs the use of RF spectrum in the United States.
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) covers this in Europe. The FCC allows
the type of RF transmissions generated by this kit at 315, 434, and 915 MHz but not at 868 MHz. ETSI
limits the use of this kit to both 434 and 868 MHz.
6.4
Operating Duty Cycle
In addition to the RF spectral energy constraints described above, the FCC imposes additional restric-
tions on A) the type of data that can be sent and B) the transmission duty cycle. Only control signals
such as those used with alarm systems, door openers, remote switches, etc. are allowed. Radio control
of toys, continuous transmissions such as voice or video, and data transmissions are not permitted. The
following conditions apply to RF transmission duty cycles:
RF must end < 5 seconds after release of manual transmission
RF must end < 5 seconds after start of an automatic transmission
Periodic transmissions aren’t allowed unless they are used to determine security or safety system
integrity and the RF transmission does not exceed one transmission, of not more than one second per
hour, per transmitter.
In Europe, the average duty cycle must be limited to < 10% at 434 MHz and < 1% at 868 MHz for the
power levels typical of the transmitter in this kit. Average duty cycle is defined as the ratio, expressed in
%, of the maximum transmitter RF on time relative to a 1-hour period.
6.5
Additional information
Information with regard to United States RF regulations can be found in:
FCC Rules and Regulations, Chapter 47, Part 15
Information with regard to European RF regulations can be found in:
EN 300 220-1 Electromagnetic Compatibility and Radio Spectrum Matters
ERC Recommendation 70-03 E Relating to the use of Short Range Devices
