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Study on the evaluation of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU (EMCD)

The Final Report on the Study on the evaluation of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU (EMCD) has now been published. The report in English running to 358 pages makes interesting reading. It is publicly available, free of charge, from the Publications Office of the European Union here.

IARU and individual radio amateurs provided input through interviews and written submissions. 

The study’s main objective was to support an evaluation of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (Directive 2014/30/EU) (“the EMCD”) by the European Commission’s DG GROW. The study has assessed five key evaluation criteria, namely the Directive’s effectiveness, efficiency, relevance (including fitness for purpose), coherence and EU added value. The EMCD has not previously been evaluated, and after almost 30 years without major modifications, it was therefore timely to consider the extent to which the Directive overall – and the essential requirements in particular – have achieved their objectives, and done so efficiently and effectively. Beyond the five key evaluation criteria mentioned above, an overarching issue – linked to relevance – was to consider if the EMCD has remained fit for purpose.

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Ecodesign – European Commission to examine need for new rules on environmental impact of photovoltaics

IARU R1 PRC responded recently to a European Commission Roadmap on the environmental impact of photovoltaics. The radio spectrum is an important finite natural resource which must be protected. While PV technology of itself is to be welcomed, the IARU submission pointed out the inherent problems of non-compliant installations, particularly the installation or retro-fitting of optimisers which can produce significant spectrum pollution for very limited efficiency increase.

The Roadmap and responses may be viewed on the Commission website here or on this website on the PRC Responses to Public and Other Consultations page.

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23cm band and Sat-Nav Coexistence: Preliminary Studies continuing in ITU‑R Study Groups and WP4C

During the period 20 – 26 October 2021, the IARU continued to engage in the preparatory work for WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b in ITU‑R Working Party 4C (WP4C).

The working party is considering simulations provided by two administrations to estimate the interfered area that might exist around a 23cm band amateur service transmitter. A number of amateur station configurations are under consideration identified as “Home Station 1”, “Home Station 2” and “Permanent Station” (e.g. Repeater station) based on characteristics developed and contributed by the IARU. Both narrowband and wideband emissions are considered. Two further scenarios are included in which “Home Station 1” operates with antenna uptilt as an amateur satellite uplink station and in which “Home Station 2” operates with antenna uptilt as an E‑M-E station.

A typical output plot from the simulations looks like this:

The colours represent the varying RNSS received level from high (red) to low (blue) around the transmitter in the centre. The red outline represents a RNSS receiver protection threshold (in this case ‑134.5 dBm)

The IARU representatives contributed to an off-line email discussion to ensure the amateur station parameters used are more representative than those that had been proposed in the original contribution papers. The studies were revised based on these negotiations during the meeting and are reflected in the draft working document. The interim results show interference distances of up to several km depending on the antenna and power level assumed. Work on these studies will continue into the next meeting.

Other measurements campaigns are investigating the effect of offsetting the transmission frequency of various amateur signals with respect to the centre frequency of the RNSS signal and the impact of the RNSS receiver bandwidth.

The IARU is working to ensure the amateur services are realistically represented in the studies as they move forward and remain consistent with the information developed in WP5A. It remains vital that national amateur communities present their views on the importance of this band to their national regulators in a consolidated and consistent manner.

The work on this topic will continue throughout the year both in ITU‑R and in the regional telecommunications organisations and the IARU is committed to ensure every group hears the amateur position on this important microwave band.

The summary report from the WP4C meeting can be found here .

The parallel work in CEPT SE40 is tracking the activity in the ITU‑R and is at a similar stage of development. This is also within the purview of the R1 SRLC.

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