RE: Certified vs Noncertified modules

bjorn-spockeli — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 14:29:46 GMT

[quote user=""]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?[/quote]

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

[quote user=""]2) Am I allowed to make any software changes in certified modules? [/quote]

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.

[quote user=""]3) If I buy the modules off the shelf, Will I be able to make changes or flash the custom firmware on it?[/quote]

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