TB-1 — Information Relating to the Regulation of Radio Apparatus Capable of Receiving Television Broadcasting
Issue 3, June 2008
Spectrum Management and Telecommunications
Technical Bulletin
Contents
1. Introduction
Industry Canada's requirements concerning radio apparatus capable of and intended for receiving television broadcasting are contained in Radiocommunication Regulations, Part III, under Category II equipment, and the standards that apply are defined in the broadcasting equipment technical standard BETS-7, Technical Standards and Requirements for Radio Apparatus Capable of Receiving Television Broadcasting. The Regulations as promulgated pertain to three specific types of radio apparatus: standard television receiving apparatus, cable compatible television apparatus and supplementary television broadcasting receiving apparatus. These apparatus are more commonly referred to as: Standard TV receivers (digital and/or analog), cable compatible TV receivers (digital and/or analog) and supplementary TV receivers (digital and/or analog) respectively.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this bulletin is to clarify the application of the Regulations through of the following questions and answers, for the guidance of manufacturers and importers.
1. Q. What are the channel selection requirements of cable compatible TV receivers?
A. Cable compatible TV receivers are intended for display for home entertainment and must be capable of receiving over-the-air ATSC and/or NTSC type signals on all very high frequency and ultra high frequency channels. As well, these type of receiving apparatus can be connected to a cable TV distribution undertaking using a coaxial cable. The TV receiver must then be capable of receiving on all very high frequency channels, mid-band channels, super band channels and ultra high frequency channels.
2. Q. What are the channel selection requirements for supplementary TV receiving device?
A. The supplementary TV receiving device must offer the same channel selection capabilities as the cable compatible TV receiver if they are equipped with a co-axial cable input terminal intended to be connected to a cable TV distribution undertaking. Otherwise, the supplementary TV receiving device must be capable of receiving on all very high frequency and ultra high frequency channels. This type of TV receiving device is not however intended to display the signals received but to feed display equipment used for home entertainment.
3. Q. What is considered to be a permanent label or marking?
A. Any label or marking is considered permanent if it cannot be removed without the use of tools.
4. Q. Is there an additional labelling requirement for TV receivers under the Radio Interference Regulations?
A. Part VI of the Radiocommunication Regulations covers interference, including interference-causing equipment. With regard to cable compatible TV receiver and supplementary TV receiving device, the limits on interference are defined in sections 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 of BETS-7. However, there is no special requirement for a label to indicate compliance under that aspect only. Labelling is associated with meeting all of Industry Canada's BETS-7 requirements.
5. Q. Has the Minister of Industry approved any testing procedure as referred to in the Radiocommunication Regulations, Part III?
A. Yes. The measurement methods used by the Department in ascertaining compliance with the Radiocommunication Regulations have been published in Technical Bulletin 3 (TB-3), which presents the measurement methods for standard TV receivers, cable compatible TV receivers and supplementary TV receiving device. This bulletin is not intended to serve as a complete engineering standard and may be subject to future revisions. The methods described permit a certain flexibility in the measurement of parameters to allow the use of available test equipment. The Department will accept other methods provided that they are fully documented.
6. Q. Are TV under the Regulations limited to the reception of TV broadcasting signals?
A. No. The Regulations only address the TV broadcasting receiving capabilities of a TV receiver. Therefore, any additional features such as sound broadcasting reception capability (e.g. AM, FM, mono or stereo, and short-wave reception) inputs/outputs for connecting auxiliary equipment or apparatus, or connecting to a cable TV distribution undertaking are allowed provided that the full requirements of the Regulations pertaining to television reception are met.
7. Q. Do the TV receiver Regulations preclude the sale of AM/FM receivers that are also capable of receiving the audio portion of a TV transmission?
A. No. Multiband radios that do not display the images of objects are not included in the Department's Regulations on radio apparatus capable of receiving television broadcasting.
8. Q. Do the Regulations permit the use of numerical designators to identify mid and super-band channels?
A. Yes. However, given that this matter is not in any particular manner related to spectrum management, it is not covered in BETS-7.
9. Q. What is the effective date of the Regulations?
A. The Regulations came into effect in January 2002, and unless otherwise specifically stated therein, this is the effective date. However, there are other dates specified in certain sections of the Regulations for the purpose of the phasing-in of specific requirements.
10. Q. Are there any regulations under the Radiocommunication Act other than the Radiocommunication Regulations, Part III, that are applicable to technical requirements for TV receivers?
A. Currently, the only other regulations dealing with technical requirements for TV receivers under the Radiocommunication Act are contained in Part VI of the Radiocommunication Regulations and concern interference.
11. Q. Do the Regulations allow the sale of TV receivers without any antennas?
A. The expectation is that TV receivers and supplementary TV receiving devices are sold equipped with VHF and UHF receiving antennas.
12. Q. What are the antenna terminal impedance requirements for TV receivers?
A. For a cable compatible TV receiver and supplementary TV receiving device intended to be connected to a cable TV distribution undertaking, the signal input is through a 75 ohm impedance. Owners of antennas with 300 ohm leads only are expected to use a 300 ohm/75 ohm converting unit to connect the 75 ohm coaxial cable to the TV receiver input terminal.
13. Q. What are the tuning requirements for TV receivers?
A. The TV receiver as well as the supplementary TV receiving device, must have the appropriate tuning mechanism to adequately tune and display the channel selected.
14. Q. Does a manufacturer or importer require approval by Industry Canada before offering for sale radio apparatus capable of receiving television broadcasting?
A. Departmental approval is not required prior to offering for sale radio apparatus of the class of apparatus that is capable of receiving television broadcasting, as referenced in Section 3 of BETS-7. However, the manufacturer or importer has two ways for indicating to the Department that it meets BETS-7 requirements: (1) one is to forward electronically to the Department, at the email address given in Sections 2 and 3 of BETS-7, a notification attesting that the equipment meets BETS-7 requirements and giving the make/model number of each type of apparatus tested and keeping available for a period of five years the test data obtained as a result of the tests carried out and making it available to the Minister on demand (2) the second approach is to send the documents mentioned in (1) above in paper format to the addressee mentioned in Section 3 of BETS-7 with the same requirements as to the test data. The manufacturer or importer, by labelling the device as required in Section 3 of BETS-7, is certifying that departmental requirements are met.
15. Q. Do the Regulations apply to video monitors or computers with video monitors, or to TV sets which are designed for cable reception in hospitals or hotels?
A. No, the Regulations do not apply to video monitors, computers with video monitors, nor to TV receiving equipment intended for a purpose other than home entertainment.
16. Q. Does the tuning capability of a cable compatible TV receiver have to be simultaneously compatible when switched from the cable to the off-air mode?
A. No. It is expected that the apparatus may require adjustment of the preset selection controls to change from the cable to the off-air mode or vice versa.
17. Q. Do sections 4.2 and 4.3 of BETS-7 limit the maximum number of channels available on a cable compatible TV receiver or on a supplementary TV receiving device?
A. No. Currently, the tuning range covered by the standard is up to 1000 MHz. Extensions in tuning above 1 GHz may be introduced as developments in technology make this feasible.
18. Q. Are cable compatible TV sets that are capable of tuning channels below 120 MHz (commonly designated as -A1, -A2 etc.) permitted to be sold in Canada?
A. Yes. However, cable television distribution undertakings in Canada that are authorized to use the bands 108–120 MHz and 328.6–335.4 MHz to carry TV broadcasting signals can do so under very strict conditions because of the shared use of these bands by other radiocommunication systems.
19. Q. Is it permissible to add baseband, RGB or other input and output terminals to TV receivers?
A. Yes. There is no restriction on the addition of terminals for various other services and the Department encourages such additions.
top of pageThe contents of this bulletin are an expression of Industry Canada's practice, procedure and policy regarding the regulations referred to herein. The Department reserves the right to modify its practice, procedure or policy at any time, without notice if, in the opinion of the Department, the circumstances or regulations affecting the management of this aspect of the radio frequency spectrum so warrant. Notice of such changes will be given in advance whenever possible. This bulletin is not intended to replace the regulations themselves, nor is it comprehensive in that it does not answer all possible questions. Therefore, the relevant regulations and amendments thereto should also be consulted for all purposes of complying with the law.
Original signed by
Marc Dupuis
Marc Dupuis
Acting Director General
Spectrum Engineering Branch
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