Wire-Lists#19: ETSI standards, 75 and 50 kHz Deviation for Transmitters, and You

Along with the re-allocation of TV Frequencies in the US that were finalized in 2018 (and going into effect through July, 2020), regulations also have changed regarding the deviation of all new wireless microphone transmitters to a maximum of ±50kHz. For any questions about the spectrum re-allocations, repacks and new services in the 600 MHz band, see our page FCC & Spectrum Updates.

Since these changes were announced, many of you have called and written us, with understandable confusion: “Do I have to buy all new equipment?” “Is there any way that I can modify what I have?” This week’s post explains how this situation came about and what we and the industry have done/will do to make it easier for you.

* We are discussing transmitters and not receivers because only transmitters have a legal cutoff.

What Is Frequency Deviation?

For starters, frequency deviation is used when discussing audio, to describe the maximum FM modulation of the nominal carrier frequency. The transmitter pulls the frequency away - both above and below - to signal an instantaneous analog value proportional to the difference from the presumed carrier frequency. The amount of differential is called the frequency deviation, and the larger the differential at the beginning and end, the larger the presumed baseband (audio) signal is. In practice, the deviation is limited to a specific amount (according to FCC regulations) to preserve the bandwidth and bleed over into adjacent FM channels. The modulator is limited to a maximum permitted deviation.

Why And How Did All This Come About?

ETSI is the global standardization organization for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) standards, and it affects how we design and manufacture our products. One of the specifications standardized by this organization is known as the “ETSI Mask,” referring to the occupied bandwidth of any radio transmitter, and the shape that that signal is allowed to have.

Starting on October 1, 2018, American manufacturers and dealers of wireless microphone systems were mandated to market devices operating with a maximum of ±50 kHz deviation, and conform to the ETSI Mask. This was to align the US with EU standards that have long been in place.

The FCC did not set the new final specs until July 2017 - the original specs (announced in 2015) were impossible to meet for a battery powered design. The four major manufacturers (Sennheiser, Shure, Audio Technica and Lectrosonics) who were actively engaged with the FCC appealed various aspects of those frankly unattainable specs (including power, deviation, spurious emissions, etc.) in December 2015 and did not get a final answer until the following July. We were already doing R&D for the wideband tuning units in 2015. By the time the final regulations were agreed upon, our wideband units were already being lab-certified.

As a result, any transmitters manufactured or sold after October 18, 2018 have conform with the new regulations and also must, regardless of previous testing/certifications or modulation/deviation of pre-existing models, be retested and re-certified under the new rules (the ETSI mask). We re-tested and re-certified 13 unit models (SM Series, LT, LMb, SMWB Series, SSM, HMa, HHa, and IFB T4) and the FCC issued new acceptance numbers for them.

How Does This Affect Me?

The difference between the ±50Khz deviation and ±75 Khz is not as critical as you may be concerned about. In a quiet/sound neutral environment, when you are challenging your gain, you might hear a difference. In the vast majority of circumstances, you won't hear anything - or it won’t matter. For example, the 941 band units are already at ±50Khz since their inception in 2018.
Here is a case-by-case evaluation, depending on what units you have:

• Units that can be re-blocked will be done so under the new deviation standards and will have new FCC Id’s. Older legacy units that were not re-certified by Lectrosonics certifications are ineligible for reblocking. We can, however, continue to repair and service the units unless the RF circuit board is unsalvageable.
• We cannot reblock the following: All UM and UH Series transmitters, all MM400s, SM, SMa, SMDA, IFB-T1, IFB-T2, LMA, HH, HM, IM and all UTs.
• New or reblocked transmitters will be fully compatible with most of your current receivers (UCR411a, wideband Venue, Venue 2, SRB, SRC, IFBR1a, LR). It's all a matter of the mode selected; you don't have to replace your entire inventory. There is already firmware available to add the Nu Hybr mode to most of the older receivers (excepting the original 2 block Venue).
• New firmware includes a compatibility mode, “NU Hybr,” (Max ±50 kHz deviation) which replaces the former “NA HYB” (Max ±75 kHz) mode. For the best operational results in your matching receiver, set the compatibility mode of the receiver to either NU HYB or EU HYB (they are equivalent). Many of the receivers already have the EU mode. If your receiver cannot be changed to this mode, have your serial number and receiver model available and contact the Service Department to determine your best option.
• Users keep using the ±75Khz (“NA Hybrid”) units , as they are regulatorily grandfathered. We just can't make or sell new ones.
• Current devices using ±75 kHz deviation will still be allowed, but will only work with legacy ±75 kHz devices.
• If you have a ±50Khz transmitter and ±75Khz receiver, you can still use those. However, you will have better results (lower noise, better range) by changing the receiver over to either the EU Hybrid or NU Hybrid mode. We’ll explain modes in a minute. Crystal-controlled units and those in the 200 series, which many of you still have and use, will not work with the new modes.
• Can you still get your 600MHz units reblocked if you’re late to the party? Yes - if they are on the listed of continued models. They will then conform with the new regulations and you’ll just set your receiver to match accordingly. Eligible units include SMV, SMQV, IFB-T4, HHa, HMA, LT, LMB, SMWB, SMDWB, HHA, SSM, and WM. Call our Service Department regarding any other models.
• The new 941 band units are already designed and certified under the new regulations and sound great. No action is required for them.
• The D4T is Part 15 in a different spectrum class (902-928 MHz) - no action is required on your part.
• Venue 2 has no issues – it has always had both NA and EU Hybrid modes. Recent firmware updates include the NU Hybrid mode, which again, is equivalent to EU Hybrid.
• The SMWBs and SMQV/SMV family units were formerly ±75kHz (blue ID badge) in the US and have been changed to ±50kHz (black ID badge) for compliance. Firmware will be available to limit the deviation, if desired.
• We are happy to offer re-blocking service for any eligible affected units, at approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of new. Please consult the re-blocking price list for further details. For any questions about re-blocking or to schedule your products for this service, please contact us at 800-821-1121 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  
  

So why has it taken years to get to this point? First, we were told to stop building to the old specifications as of October 2018. We could not build the ETSI mask into the transmitter before that because, as explained above, the new specs were not finalized until last July – we had to redevelop what we were working on (more than once…) to meet the specs as they changed. The test labs responsible for certifying these units also had to learn the new specs and develop verification testing procedures. Additionally, the FCC won't allow a new spec transmitter to have both types of modulation available or selectable. We intentionally waited to make any announcements about our products until we were confident of the new rules and had solutions for our customers lined up and available.

How Can I Tell Which Units I Have?

If the unit has a stick-on metallic label as opposed to the designations being engraved on the housing, you can tell the older units from newer ones by examining the FCC ID on the label. The old (±75kHz) units have a blue label and the new (±50kHz) units that have been re-designed and re-certified have black labels and a slightly different layout:

The newer units have an FCC ID that contains an "A" after the band designation.  Let’s use the LMb as an example:

• FCC ID "LMBA1" is LMb in A1 band with ±75kHz deviation
• FCC ID "LMBA1A" is LMb in A1 band with ETSI mask compliance and ±50kHz deviation.

In SMWBs, the single and double-battery models are electrically identical and share the same FCC ID. The older models use the single battery model number as the FCC ID, but the newer models use the double battery model number. The above logic still applies:

• FCC ID "SMWBA1" is SMWB (and SMDWB) in A1 with ±75kHz deviation.
• FCC ID "SMDWBA1A" is SMDWB (and SMWB) in A1 with ETSI mask compliance and ±50kHz deviation.

For block-wide units, the naming system has also been revised. The older units shared a common FCC ID for several blocks. A band designator of E, L, M, or H corresponded to bands A1, B1, C1, and D1 respectively. Now, each block gets its own FCC ID:

• FCC ID "DBZWML" is a WM in block 21, 22, or 23 with ±75kHz deviation.
• FCCID "DBZWM21A" is a WM in block 21 with ETSI mask compliance and ±50kHz deviation.

Considerations For Export Dealers

If you are an export dealer (depending on your country’s regulations), it is still possible to order former US spec models (with ±75 kHz deviation), in Bands A1, B1 and C1, in all frequency blocks, with the following understanding:

• The units are ONLY sold outside the US;
• The units have new model numbers to distinguish them from US versions. As of this writing, there is an “X” added to the model for “Export,” such as SMQV/X-22 or SSM/X-B1;
• A minimum production run for us is five (5) pieces per model on any specific block or band. This doesn’t mean that you have to order 5 at a time, but it does mean that orders for fewer than 5 will need to wait until the in-house orders for that block/band total at least 5 before they can be produced. Lead time varies; feel free to ask if timing is a concern;
• These products will have different firmware than the US units and no FCC markings. The technical data sheets and manuals address ALL models, though the firmware for the models will be different. Please pay attention to the documentation, especially where firmware is concerned. As mentioned in a previous Wire List, incorrect firmware being installed is the root cause of a fair amount of what we see in Service;
• When market demand slows or parts become unavailable for any older model, we will cease manufacturing on a case-by-case basis. You will receive advance notice of this situation as we forecast production demand.
• Models for E01 (Europe), E02 (Japan), E06 (Australia) and E07 (Canada) will continue to be available in all blocks and bands with no changes. If you have a customer who needs one or a few transmitters and doesn’t need high RF power (E01’s max RF power is 50 mW), then the E01 version will be the easiest to get/most available. Double check the regulations in the country of use before you order.

All of this is brand new territory for anyone involved in the audio industry, so you are by no means alone if you’re overwhelmed or confused. We’re happy to answer any further questions you have regarding the standards, the deviations or how they relate to your equipment. Give us a call or send an email – we’ll be happy to discuss it with you.