RADIO STANDARDS: REGULATIONS, AUTHORIZED FREQUENCIES AND POWERS

Legislation has been put in place to effectively manage radio and telecommunications terminal equipment, both at European and international level. What impact do these standards have on radio products? We explain radio regulations in detail!

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The main standards applied to radio products

European radio standards: an essential regulatory framework for radio equipment

In the European Union, automatic doors and gates, like all radio equipment, must comply with a set of standards guaranteeing their safety, reliability and conformity. Among these, two major directives structure the regulatory framework: the RED Directive(2014/53/EU) and the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC).

The RED Directive (2014/53/EU)

The RED, or Radio Equipment Directive, is a fundamental text governing radio equipment marketed in the EU. It establishes essential requirements for devices using radio waves.

These regulations cover 3 main objectives:

• ‍Electrical safety: equipment must be safe for the user, even in the event of prolonged use.‍
• Electromagnetic compatibility: devices must operate without causing or suffering harmful interference with other equipment.‍
• Efficient use of the radio spectrum: each device must guarantee reliable transmission in the authorized frequency bands.

➡️ The famous CE mark on products indicates conformity with European legislation. Manufacturers must submit their products to strict evaluations to obtain it.

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The Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC)

These regulations apply to machines, including automatic doors and gates equipped with radio systems. Its aim is to ensure a high level of safety for users and technicians during installation, operation and maintenance.

For integrated radio products, this means in particular :

• ‍Strict control of automatic functions to prevent malfunctions or unexpected movements.‍
• Secure integration with other mechanical gate components.

 By complying with these two directives, the radio products offered by Prastel meet the highest European requirements, guaranteeing both performance and safety for our radio and automated installations.

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International radio standards: essential product harmonization

In addition to European legislation, radio equipment must also comply with international standards to guarantee its use in a globalized context. Two main regulatory frameworks stand out:

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

The ITU, a specialized agency of the United Nations, manages the allocation of frequency bands worldwide. Its recommendations help coordinate the use of radio spectrum between different countries, avoiding cross-border interference.

For gate automations, this means paying particular attention to harmonized frequency bands, especially those intended for industrial, scientific and medical applications (ISM bands).

FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulations

In the USA, the FCC imposes specific requirements on radio devices. These include limits on transmitting power and pre-market compliance testing.

Manufacturers who export outside Europe, like Prastel, must align their products with these rules to ensure compatibility with US markets.

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Authorized frequencies and powers: limitations to be respected

The radio products used in automatic gates operate mainly on ISM bands, such as 433 MHz or 868 MHz, which are dedicated to short-range communications.

• ‍Frequency bands: These bands are reserved to minimize the risk of interference with other radio systems. For example, 868 MHz is widely used in Europe for home automation and industrial applications.
• Transmitter power : The RED directive and other standards limit power to specific levels (e.g. 25 mW for the 868 MHz band) to ensure efficient communication while avoiding interference.

 By meeting these requirements, Prastel radio equipment ensures reliable, compliant connectivity wherever it is installed.

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Radio products at Prastel

Based in La Ciotat, in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of France, Prastel is a company renowned for its products in the fields ofautomation and access control.

Thanks to our solid expertise and many years of experience, we can offer our customers innovative, high-performance and reliable radio products.

All our radio equipment rigorously meets the requirements of European and American regulations. Thanks to in-depth tests carried out in our design office, we can guarantee the impeccable certification and reliability of every product.

Discover all our radio product ranges:

• Radio bridges
• Radio transmitters, receivers and antennas

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