Ofcom today announced that "micro power" FM transmitters such a the Griffin Technologies iTrip or Belkin TuneCast can legally be used from 8 December.
Ofcom changed the regulations in line with the European Commission Decision (2006/771/EC) establishing a framework for the harmonisation of radio spectrum for use by short-range devices in the community, which means micropower FM transmitters should be legal in every EU member state.
Any transmitter will have to comply with the relevant standard, but this has been available for a while and any device with a CE mark will be compliant.
However, buyers should beware of buying US or Far East equipment as that may not have gone through the approvals process and is therefore still illegal to use.
Though low power transmitters may not seem very significant, to legalise them has meant a change to the Wireless Telegraphy Act (WTA), the law concerning radio reception and transmission. Though the changes have been authorised and signed, they don't come into force until 8 December.
It's been an odd situation as transmitters have been around for quite a while. Ofcom used to have the power to prosecute people selling such equipment as they could not be used legally in Europe, but since they incorporated the standards into the CE mark approvals, Ofcom has had to allow their sale, just not their use in the UK. Now everything is hunky dory and anyone using this type of transmitter stops being a pirate radio station (though with a very limited audience).
Other changes
CB (citizen's band) users will no longer need to obtain a licence in order to use CB equipment - there are currently around 20,000 licensed users in the UK.
It will no longer be necessary to obtain a license to use:
- Inmarsat BGAN and High Density Fixed Satellite Service (HDFSS) satellite terminals.
- Narrow band use of 24GHz for short range radar (including automotive applications).
- Radar level gauges.
- Digital PMR 446 ("walkie talkies").
Most of the above has little interest for the general public as the radar applications are really relevent to industrial areas such as car manufacturers who can now incorporate radar into car designs, used for features such as collision avoidance systems.
Walkie talkies have been available for some time, most being analogue systems. Digital walkie talkies using 446MHz have also been around, but they used to include a a piece of paper in the box, which was the relevent license and the manufacturer sorted out the any payments. Now, the license requirement has been scrapped altogether. Again, systems will require a CE mark to ensure they meet the relevent European standards.
FM Transmissions