Assignment 1: Identifying Wireless devices
Basic Organization
Each week we'll have a number of topics to consider, centered around some theme. This week is identifying wireless devices, and finding out how they work using the FCC database. You will first choose one of this weeks topics, and sign up by editing this google docs spreadsheet
Choose one of this weeks topics, and enter your name in place of “Signup here!”. At most five people can choose one topic, so we make sure everything gets covered.
You have access to the file through your stanford email. Let me know if you have problems, or if you'd like me to use another id.
As you go through the assignment, make a Google Slides document that summarizes what you've found. Choose a simple format, so you can merge slides with your group. Upload this weeks slides to the folder for your group
You should be able to write to these folders. Let me know if you have trouble. Upload your slides by 5 PM Monday. That gives your group members and me time to look over what you have found.
On Tuesday, your group will have 20-30 minutes to talk over what you've found, and merge your slides into a consensus. Each group will get 10 minutes to present their conclusions.
Overview
There is a bewildering array of devices that rely on RF, and the number is rapidly increasing. There are a many clues you can use, though. One is the size and shape of the antenna. Another is the FCC data base. We will look at both of these this week.
Part 1
The first part of the assignment is to find an antenna somewhere around you, and try to figure out what frequency it operates at. For your presentation, include one slide about your antenna.
Identify an Antenna
Take a picture of the antenna you've found. If you are on campus, there are big antennas on the roofs of Durand, Packard, the Hospital, and the Police Station, and lots of little antennas everywhere. How big is the antenna? What would you estimate the frequency to be. Guess what it might be used for.
if you are elsewhere, there are lots of places to look for antennas. Many houses still Have TV antennas. Police and fire stations, and municipal building will have antennas. There are also lots around your house (TV, phones, etc), and car.
Part 2
For the second part, we'll use the FCC data base to look up devices you use in your day to day life. Pick one of the categories below. Some of the data in the FCC data base can be quite technical, and involved. Don't get bogged down in the details. Look for high level features. Some of these are
What frequency does it operate at? There can be many.
What part of the FCC law is it covered by? This will be Part XX, where XX is some integer. Part 15 is all of ISM and WiFi, so you will see that a lot. Part 90 is public service radios, Part 95 is walkie-talkies (GMRS, FRS, etc) radio), and Part 97 is amateur radio. There are lots of different parts for cell phones, and lots and lots of other devices and services.
How much power does it put out. This will be a major part of the FCC report. More than 100 mW is something to note
Is there a user manual/guidelines about the device? What does it say?
Can you tell anything from the external/internal pictures? Where is the antenna? How does it work?
Almost every device sold in the US that uses RF energy is required to provide an FCC ID. The FCC ID has two parts, the applicant ID, and the product ID. An example is the WiFi board in my laptop. The FCC ID is
QDS-BRCM1069
The applicant code is QDS, this represents the company that applied to the FCC. This is 3-5 characters. The remaining characters are supplied by the applicant to indicate a specific product. In this case it is a Broadcom WiFi chip mounted on a card. Go to the FCC ID search page
If the FCC web site is down (not uncommon), use
This has all of the same files, plus some news, other information, and lots of ads.
For the FCC web site enter “QDS” for the Grantee Code, and “-BRCM1069” for the Product Code. Often you need the “-”, or it won't work, other times you need to omit it. Try both. For FCCID.io, just enter both parts of the ID at once. The FCC web page should look like this:
FCC Device Search
This will take you to a page that has all of the different filings for this device
QDS-BRCM1069
If you choose one of these folders, you can find out about that specific filing, and more about the device
QDS-BRCM1069
You will see that a lot of the files have to do with SAR, or RF power deposition. This depends on the frequency, the power output, the device, and the way the device is supposed to be used. All of these will be analyzed in great detail. In fact, what the FCC cares most about is SAR and user exposure, and the integrity of the output signal. Does the device comply with the performance specifications for the part of the FCC code that it is licensed for.
Your Goals for Part 2
One of the first things to do when confronting a new device is to look it up in the FCC data base. Choose one of the four catagories, and see what you can find out!
Group 1: Your cell phone
Your cell phone has lots of radios, all of which are covered in the FCC filing for this device. Find your cell phone's FCC ID, and look it up in the data base.
The FCC ID is usually in the user manual, which I'm sure you've cherished, and can find in an instant! Sometimes it is printed on the case of the phone. If your phone has a removable battery, it is often on a sticker inside the battery case. For iPhones, it is stored in the settings
settings >> general >> regulatory
For example, my iPhone reports an FCC ID of
BCG-E3175A
BCG is Grantee code for Apple, and the rest is the id for my model of iPhone. You can use this if you can't find your own phone's FCC ID. If you use dark mode, this page is almost illegible, it is dark writing on a darker background, but you can just barely read it.
Group 2: Your laptop computer or router
This is pretty much as above. The FCC ID is usually printed on the outside of the case. There will often be several ID's, for each of the wireless services (WiFi, Bluetooth, etc).
Routers can be a little more interesting. The power can be higher, and the FCC is very concerned about external antennas. There are many stories there.
Group 3 and 4: Devices around your house
There a lots of wireless devices out there. Find one, track down it's FCC ID, and look up what it does, and how it works. Some possibilities are wireless peripherals (mouse, pad, etc), cordless phones, wireless speakers, wireless video cameras. Any IoT device. Each of these will have an FCC filing. The FCC ID, by law, has to be easily accessible on the device. Sometimes it is printed on the case, often it is a sticker in the battery compartment.
If you are in the habit of buying stuff from Alibaba direct from Shenzhen, you may have less luck with this. It is amazing what you can get shipped to you as “Electronic Parts” and “Value $1”. The FCC ID's almost never appear on these devices (although the FCC logo often does).
Here are a few devices I found around my house. You are welcome to use any of these if you'd like.
Cordless Phone
| Basestation and Handset | Basestation ID | Handset ID |
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Note that the FCC is inside the battery compartment for the handset. This is pretty common.
Weather Station
| Basestation | Basestation ID |
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Note the frequency band for this one. We'll talk about this later in the course. I'd love to decode this one, so that I could read the data directly with my computer. The code is out there.
Amateur Handheld Radio
| Radio | Radio ID |
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This is an amateur radio that transmits on three bands, and receives just about anything that isn't digital.
Router
| Router | Router ID |
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This is a recent router. Note the bands here. We'll talk more about this when we talk about WiFi. Notice anything odd about this?
Apple TV Remote
| Apple Remote | Remote ID |
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This is another common place for the FCC ID, engraved on the back of the device. Lots of Apple products do this.