Certified vs Noncertified modules

[Daniel]

Hi ,

During the review, I came across the certification question. After some reading, I found some details.

This got me worried because it looks like it is a difficult and lengthy process to get.

Couple of questions I have.

1) Do I need to get the product certified for every revision? If we design and small module and get certified that one only, will that work?

2) Am I allowed to make any software changes in certified modules? 

3) If I buy the modules off the shelf, Will I be able to make changes or flash the custom firmware on it?

-Daniel

[bjorn-spockeli]

1) Do I need to get the product certified for every revision? If we design and small module and get certified that one only, will that work?

It is important to distinguish between Bluetooth certification and FCC/CE certification. A pre-qualified Bluetooth Module will not require any re-certification/re-qualification wrt to FCC/CE or Bluetooth qualification. However, if you do changes to the PCB where you are soldering on the module, then you will likely have to re-certify for FCC/CE 

2) Am I allowed to make any software changes in certified modules? 

Yes, as long as you are using a Bluetooth data rate or TX output power that is covered by the certification, i.e. if the module is qualified for 1Mbit and 2 MBit upto +4dBm, then you need to stick to these datarates and stay below or at the qualified tx output power. 

3) If I buy the modules off the shelf, Will I be able to make changes or flash the custom firmware on it?

Do you mean if you buy a pre-certified board that uses a module? Or a module that is pre-programmed with the module vendors own SW( which in turn uses our SoftDevice). In both cases it would be the same rules as 2).

Best regards

Bjørn