ANNEX 9: INDUCTIVE APPLICATIONS

Scope of annex
This annex covers frequency bands and regulatory as well as informative parameters recommended for inductive loop systems, which use magnetic fields for near field communication and determination applications. This includes for example: • car immobilisers, • radio frequency identification (RFID) applications including for example automatic article identification, asset tracking, alarm systems, waste management, personal identification, access control, proximity sensors, antitheft systems, location systems, NFC applications e.g. used for data transfer to handheld devices, anti-theft systems including RF anti- theft induction systems (e.g. EAS), • metal and proximity sensors, • wireless control systems, • animal identification, • cable detection, • wireless voice links, • automatic road tolling. It should be noted that other types of anti-theft systems can be operated in accordance with other relevant annexes.

Frequency Band Power / Magnetic Field Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation /occupied bandwidth ECC/ERC Deliverable Notes
a0 100Hz  -  9kHz
82 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement Not specified Antenna size of < 1/20 λ (see note 1)
a1 9kHz  -  90kHz
72 dBµA/m at 10 m - The limit is reduced according to Table 9bis No requirement Not specified In case of external antennas only loop coil antennas may be employed. Magnetic field strength level descending 3 dB/octave above 30 kHz
a2 90kHz  -  119kHz
42 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement Not specified In case of external antennas only loop coil antennas may be employed
a3 119kHz  -  135kHz
66 dBµA/m at 10 m - The limit is reduced according to Table 9bis No requirement See note 2 In case of external antennas only loop coil antennas may be employed. Magnetic field strength level descending 3 dB/octave above 119 kHz
b 135kHz  -  140kHz
42 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement Not specified In case of external antennas only loop coil antennas may be employed
c 140kHz  -  148.5kHz
37.7 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement Not specified In case of external antennas only loop coil antennas may be employed
k1 148.5kHz  -  5000kHz
-5 dBµA/m at 10 m in total -15 dBµA/m at 10 m per 10 kHz (see also Table 9bis) No requirement Not specified In case of external antennas only loop coil antennas may be employed.
d 400kHz  -  600kHz
-5 dBµA/m at 10 m in total -8 dBµA/m at 10 m per 10 kHz No requirement ≥ 30kHz For RFID only. In case of external antennas only loop coil antennas may be employed.
e 3155kHz  -  3400kHz
13.5 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement Not specified In case of external antennas only loop coil antennas may be employed
k2 5000kHz  -  30MHz
-5 dBµA/m at 10 m in total -20 dBµA/m at 10 m per 10 kHz No requirement Not specified In case of external antennas only loop coil antennas may be employed.
f 6765kHz  -  6795kHz
42 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement Not specified
g 7400kHz  -  8800kHz
9 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement Not specified
h 10200kHz  -  11000kHz
9 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement Not specified
j 13553kHz  -  13567kHz
60 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement See note 3 ECC Report 208 For RFID only
i 13553kHz  -  13567kHz
42 dBµA/m at 10 m No requirement See note 3


Standard frequency and time signals to be protected

Stations Frequency Protected Bandwidth maximum Field Strength at 10m Location
MSF 60 kHz +/-250Hz 42 dBµA/m United Kingdom
HBG 75 kHz +/-250Hz 42 dBµA/m Switzerland
DCF77 77.5 kHz +/-250Hz 42 dBµA/m Germany
DCF49 129.1 kHz +/-500Hz 42 dBµA/m Germany
ALS162 162 kHz +/-250Hz -15 dBµA/m France

Additional Information

Harmonised Standards
EN 303 447 sub-bands a0), a1) to a3), b) and c) EN 303 454 sub-bands a0), a1) to a3), b) and c) EN 300 330 all sub-bands except a0)

Technical parameters also referred to in the harmonised standard
Note 1: Sub-band a0): The antenna size is described by the distance between those two points on the antenna that have the largest distance between them (e.g. for a rectangle shaped antenna the largest diagonal; for a circular shaped antenna the diameter). Sub-bands a1) and a3): In case of loop antennas used within bands a1) and a3) integral or dedicated within an area between 0.05 m² and 0.16 m², the field strength is reduced by 10 x log (area/0.16 m²); for an antenna area less than 0.05 m² the field strength is reduced by 10 dB. Note 2: Sub-band a3): RFID operating in the frequency sub-band 119-135 kHz shall meet the spectrum mask given in EN 300 330. This will permit a simultaneous use of the various sub-bands within the range 90-148.5 kHz. Note 3: Sub-bands i) and j): Devices operating in the 13.56 MHz band shall meet the transmission mask and antenna requirements for all combined frequency segments, including the limits in the sub-bands k1) and k2), as described in harmonised standard EN 300 330. This will permit the simultaneous use of the sub-bands i) or j) together with the limits of the sub-bands k1) and k2).

Frequency issues
Users should be aware that emissions from inductive applications could cause interference to nearby receivers of other radio services. Particular attention should also be paid to the more stringent protection requirements identified by the ITU for global distress and safety communications frequencies in the same or adjacent bands. Sub-band a0): Some administrations do not regulate use below 9 kHz, but the provided limits allow usage on a non-interfering basis. See national implementation status (Appendix 1).