FCC requirements for NRF9160 together with NRF52840

[Hay]

I’m developing a product that uses the nRF9160 for LTE-M and the nRF52840 for Bluetooth. The nRF52840 is a pre-certified module, and I have experience with FCC compliance for products using it. However, I have concerns about integrating the nRF9160, particularly when it's used together with another transmitter like the nRF52840. I assume this is a common configuration (e.g., Thingy:91), but I haven’t found detailed documentation or application notes addressing this, which is why I’m reaching out.

Here are my specific questions:

1. Is the nRF9160 covered by FCC modular integration in the same way as a pre-certified nRF52840 module?
   1. If not, what's the difference? Does integrating it on my PCB require full FCC intentional radiator testing?
2. If I integrate the nRF9160 and connect it to an RF connector on the PCB with an external antenna, do I need to go through full FCC intentional radiator testing?
3. Is additional testing required when integrating both the nRF9160 and the nRF52840 in a product?
   1. If so, can this be avoided by ensuring through software that the two transmitters never operate simultaneously?

[JONATHAN LL]

Hello,

There are also providers of the nRF91 series as a module : https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF9160/Modules?lang=en#infotabs 

Is additional testing required when integrating both the nRF9160 and the nRF52840 in a product?

If no pre certified 3rd party modules is used then both will have to be tested to some degree. So both need to be checked to make sure they operate as they should. But there are some extra things to consider when using both 52 and 91 series. Might need to have some coexistence interfacing between the two optimal performance. 

See answer here: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/47466/nrf9160-lte-modem-coexistence-interface  

Is the nRF9160 covered by FCC modular integration in the same way as a pre-certified nRF52840 module?

1. If not, what's the difference? Does integrating it on my PCB require full FCC intentional radiator testing?

Not in the same way, but the nRF91 does have more things certifierd: https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Wireless/Low-power-cellular-IoT/nRF91-Series-certifications/nRF9160-Global-and-regulatory 

But you will ned to certify your product so it is not covered in the same way as a pre-certified module. So check for 3rd party modules if that is what you are after. 


for more details on how to re-use certifications and certify your product see the following: 
See this blog post: https://blog.nordicsemi.com/getconnected/certifying-a-cellular-iot-device 

We also have docs on testing procedure her https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/nwp_034/page/WP/nwp_034/rd_qa_verification.html 

and here is the latest HW integration guide: https://nsscprodmedia.blob.core.windows.net/prod/software-and-other-downloads/sip/nrf9160-sip/hardware-integration-guide/nrf9160hardwareintegrationguidev12.pdf 

Regards,
Jonathan