[Elecraft] K3 CE

[Stewart Baker]

In the past the "authorities" were concerned with amateurs causing interference 
to domestic radio/television reception and all other government services. 
Now it is the amateur that has the problem.

We now have to contend with radio interference to our hobby from:-
TV's (LCD & Plasma), Cable TV, PLT, HomePlug, Switch Mode PSU's either 
freestanding (wall warts) or in-built(Computer), electronic controls in anything 
from a central heating boiler to a sewing machine . et .al.

It's a bit ironic that, as rigs such as the K3 are now being sold with a superb 
receive performance that many amateurs are unable to use due to increasing  
radio spectrum pollution.

Many items sold into the domestic market would appear to be either non - 
compliant, or have a test standard applied that is most advantageous to their 
products. A lot of items are able to cause HF interference because, the only 
radiated emissions testing required is carried out above 30MHz. Below 30MHz only 
the conducted interference on the supply lead is tested.

In the UK the enforcing agency is the Trading Standards. They are lacking in 
funding, manpower and technical knowledge to deal with anything other than life 
threatening issues (i.e. Lead paint on toys).

As far as the EMC part of CE goes, it promised a lot, but has delivered very 
little....

Stewart G3RXQ
Member RSGB EMC Committee

On Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:51:20 +0000, Julian G4ILO wrote:
> On Nov 15, 2007 8:24 AM, <d.cutter at ntlworld.com> wrote:
>> Don't forget that, aside from CE marking, you are deemed to be techniclly
>> competent as an Advanced licence holder and can therefore build your own
>> kit and operate it within the terms of your licence. You are right in
>> saying that you can import your own kit for your own use and if you sell
>> it, it is not as a business for general sale of lots of these.
>>
> Coincidentally the December RadCom EMC column, page 43, has a
> discussion that is relevant to this.
>
> It explains that the regulations apply to goods that are "placed on
> the market" or "taken into service". New goods sold commercially are
> "placed on the market" but (the article states) it is clear from
> examples like very noisy (and CE marked!) Chinese made switch mode
> wall warts sold on eBay that the local Trading Standards are doing
> nothing about enforcement (and from personal knowledge they have
> neither the manpower nor the technical competence to do so.) Second
> hand goods sold on eBay or at a flea market are not "placed on the
> market". However, the purchaser is "taking it into service" and
> therefore becomes responsible for its EMC compliance.
>
> Although, as you say, we as radio hams should be competent to decide
> whether our equipment meets the standards or not, the average person
> buying a wall wart battery charger or whatever certainly isn't.
>
> Therefore this whole CE marking busines seems to me to be a total
> waste of time, as it is either unenforced or unenforceable.