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Licence Exempt Devices

Information on licence exempt technologies or devices

24 GHz Vehicle Radar

24 GHz wideband Vehicle Radar regulations are set in accordance with the European commission Decision 2005/50/EC. These apparatus are only fitted to new vehicles. There are restrictions on the numbers of units that can come into service within the European Union. Coordination is required between vehicle manufacturers and administrations, for the use of these apparatus. No other use is permitted.

79 GHz Vehicle Radar

79 GHz Vehicle Radar regulations are set in accordance with the European commission Decision 2004/545/EC.

Alarms

General Alarm systems may only be used to generate or indicate an alarm condition, or to arm/disarm an alarm system.

Citizens Band (CB) Radio

For more information on CB use in the UK click for more information

Cordless telephony

Cordless telephones operate by the use of a low power radio link between handset and base station, which in turn is connected to the public telephone network.

Databuoy Telemetry

This apparatus may only be used for telemetry in a marine environment.

Devices for Detection of Movement or Alert

This apparatus may only be used by apparatus, designed to produce a radiated field and respond to a variation in that field as a result of intrusion or movement within that field by other devices, objects, or persons, in order to detect or monitor movement.

Devices for Inductive Applications

These apparatus, operating in the 9 kHz to 1600 kHz and 2 MHz to 30 MHz bands, are intended for use by a wide variety of applications.

Devices for the locating of victims in distress or at risk

This apparatus may only be used for the transmission of signals to aid the location of victims in distress.

Fixed Alarms

Fixed Alarm systems may only be used to generate or indicate an alarm condition, or to arm/disarm an alarm system.

General Alarms Associated With Marine Applications Including Fixed Shore Installations

Alarm systems, associated with Marine applications may only be used to generate or indicate an alarm condition, or to arm/disarm an alarm system.

High Density Fixed Satellite Applications (HDFSS)

HDFSS is a generic term for satellite technology designed to provide broadband internet and multi-media access. The exemption covers the frequency ranges 27.5 - 27.8185 GHz, 28.4545 - 28.8265 GHz and 29.4625 – 30 GHz and applies, typically, to small, ubiquitous satellite user terminals (earth stations) that transmit with a maximum radiated power of 50 dBW, in accordance with IR 2066.

Low Power FM Band Transmitters

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/mofaq/rcomms/itrip/

These devices are intended to provide a wireless link from the output of a personal stereo or mobile phone to a car radio or domestic FM radio.

Medical and Biological Applications

Medical and Biological applications may operate in the Non-Specific SRD bands and their specific allocations

Metal Detectors

This apparatus may only be used for the purpose of detecting metal and are limited to operating in the magnetic field.

PMR446 (Analogue and Digital)

PMR446 equipment is mobile, short-range, simplex, peer-to-peer voice and data communication system. It provides a basic but effective radio service for both business and non-business users, and is ideal for providing communication over short distances (e.g. within office buildings, factories and building sites). An example of a PMR446 system is a ‘walkie-talkie’ handset. For information on Analogue PMR446 visit here and for Digital PMR446 visit here.

Radar Level Gauges

These devices, which are mainly used for measuring the contents of large containers at industrial sites, operate in the microwave bands at low power. A licence is however required for equipment operating in the 10.6 to 10.7 GHz band. For more information visit here.

Radio Controlled Models

For more information on model control visit [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/rlans/technical/ofw311/]

Radio Frequency Identification

This apparatus may only be used for illuminating and interrogating tags. For more i nformation on RFID policy in the UK visit here http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/isu/licence_exempt/rfidqa/ .

Radio Hearing Aids

Radio Hearing Aids, operating in the 173.325 to 175.075 MHz, 169.4 to 169.475 MHz and 169.4875 to 169.5875 MHz bands, may only be used as hearing aids to the handicapped.

Radio Key Entry Systems

The UK Non-Specific Short Range Device authorisations are suitable for use by Radio Key Entry Systems. Typically, modern systems such as vehicle remote central locking and immobilising , take advantage of the SRD allocation in the 433.05 to 434.79 MHz frequency band.

Radio Microphones

Some radio microphones require a licence to operate. For the licensed class of apparatus the general maximum permitted radiated power is 10 mW. However, for body-worn radio microphones (devices intended to be worn next to or strapped to the user's body), the maximum permitted radiated power is restricted to 50 mW.

Railway Applications

These apparatus may only be used, for railway vehicle identification or for the provision of data links between the track and rail vehicles, in a railway environment.

RLAN

An RLAN is a radio local area network. That is, it is a high bandwidth, two way data communications network using radio as the medium of transmission rather than optical fibre or copper cable and operating over a limited geographic area. RLAN operate at 2400 – 2483.5 MHz, 5150 – 5350 MHz and 5470 – 5725MHz.

Road Transport and Traffic Telematics

This apparatus may only be used to aid in the management, control or flow of transport and traffic. This allocation is typically used in road management, such as road tolling; however the allocation equally applies to non-road traffic telematics as well.

Short Range Indoor Data Links

The 2445 to 2455 MHz, 5725 to 5875 MHz and 10.675 to 10.699 GHz bands are provided for transmitting data within a building. Music and Speech are permitted only when the using a digitised signal.

Social Alarms for the Elderly and Infirm

Social Alarm systems may only be used to generate or indicate an alarm condition, or to arm/disarm an alarm system.

Transportable and Lone Worker Safety Alarms

Mobile , Transportable and Lone Worker Alarm systems may only be used to generate or indicate an alarm condition, or to arm/disarm an alarm system.

Ultra Wideband (UWB)

UWB is a generic term for technologies typically characterised by the emission of very low power radiation spread over a very large radio bandwidth (greater than 50 MHz).

Vehicle Paging Alarms

Vehicle Paging Alarm systems may only to generate or indicate an alarm condition, or to arm/disarm an alarm system.

Video Distribution for Private Use

Video Distribution apparatus may only be used for the distribution of video and associated audio, for private use. Typical applications are for domestic low-power video senders

Wideband Data Transmission Applications (WBDTS)

These devices operate in the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical band. WBDTD is typically used in RLAN (WiFi) applications, but the use of WBDTS is not explicitly limited to this use.

Wireless Audio Applications

Wireless Audio applications may only be used for the purpose of providing a short range radio link between the audio outputs of devices. The power limitation in the 87.5 to 108 MHz band is particularly stringent, at 50 nW e.r.p. This limitation and the other restrictions on apparatus have been set so that compliant apparatus is unlikely to cause interference to FM broadcasts in this band (please see Low Power FM Band Transmitters).

Wireless Video Cameras - Non Broadcasting

Wireless Video Cameras – non broadcast may only be used to transmit Television signals. Typical applications are for general-purpose closed-circuit television applications. The 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz band, a European harmonised band, is also allowed for low-power analogue video applications. You may also use the 2.4 GHz band for airborne video applications, subject to any further regulations required by the Civil Aviation Authority, where applicable.

Business Radio Update: Digital PMR446 Information [pdf]
Cordless telephony [pdf]
Cordless telephones operate by the use of a low power radio link between handset and base station, which in turn is connected to the public telephone network.
Radio Key Entry Systems [pdf]
The UK Non-Specific Short Range Device authorisations are suitable for use by Radio Key Entry Systems. Typically, modern systems such as vehicle remote central locking and immobilising , take advantage of the SRD allocation in the 433.05 to 434.79 MHz frequency band.
SRD Information sheet

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