Radio Frequency Testing

As the largest consumer electronics market in the southern hemisphere, Australia's regulatory system for wireless communication products is both rigorous and special. For composite products such as Bluetooth Headphones/Earbuds that integrate wireless radio frequency, audio processing and battery power, their compliance requirements go far beyond simple electrical safety. If Chinese manufacturers want to enter the Australian market smoothly, they must complete the mandatory RCM certification and meet a series of technical standards formulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

1. Core Pass: RCM logo

In the Australian and New Zealand markets, all electrical and electronic products and wireless devices use the RCM mark (Regulatory Compliance Mark) uniformly. It replaced the earlier C-Tick (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and A-Tick (Communications) signs as the only regulatory mark for compliance.

For Bluetooth headsets, RCM certification is not a single test, but a comprehensive compliance system including "safety + electromagnetic compatibility + radio frequency + ergonomics". Only when the product has passed the test of all relevant standards and has been registered in the national database by the local Authorised Supplier in Australia can it be marked with the RCM logo for sale.

2. Four major test dimensions of Bluetooth headsets

According to Australian regulations, Bluetooth headsets must meet the following four technical standards:

1. Radio frequency test (RF): AS/NZS 4268

This is a mandatory standard for short-range wireless devices. Bluetooth headsets work in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, and their frequency error, occupied bandwidth, transmit power (EIRP), spurious emission and other indicators must be tested to ensure that they will not cause interference to other wireless services.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC): AS/NZS CISPR 32

Test the electromagnetic radiation disturbance of headphones during charging and playing. Since Bluetooth headsets are generally multimedia devices, CISPR 32 is the current common standard to replace the legacy versions of CISPR 22 and CISPR 13.

3. Electrical Safety: AS/NZS 62368.1

Although Bluetooth headsets are usually powered by low voltage (5V USB), according to the Australian EESS system, the design of their built-in lithium battery safety and charging circuit must comply with AS/NZS 62368.1 standards to prevent the risk of overheating, explosion or chemical leakage.

4. Human electromagnetic exposure (SAR): AS/NZS 2772.2

This is often overlooked when exporting to Australia. Since Bluetooth headphones (especially TWS in-ear types) are close to the human head when used, they are high-risk radiation exposure scenarios. A SAR (specific absorption rate) assessment must be performed to prove that the amount of radio frequency energy it produces is absorbed by the body within the safe limit.

3. The "Australian representative" system that must be paid attention to

The biggest difference between RCM certification and CE certification is that the registered subject of RCM must be a local entity company in Australia or New Zealand.

Chinese factories or exporters cannot directly apply for registration with ACMA Australia. The process of compliance is:

1. Chinese laboratories (such AS GTG Guangce Group) complete the test and issue AS/NZS standard test reports;

2. Submit the report to the local importer or authorized representative in Australia;

3. Declaration and registration by the Australian representative in the ACMA database;

4. Mark the RCM logo on the product label.

Special tips:

If it is a TWS headset with a charging compartment, if the charging compartment has the function of directly connecting to the mains power (240V), the charging compartment is a Level 3 high-risk equipment (Level 3 Equipment) in the EESS system, and must be additionally issued by the Australian issuing agency. The Certificate of Approval is also the link that is most likely to cause obstruction in customs clearance.

4. Professional support from GTG Guangce Group

The difficulty of exporting to Australia often lies not in the test itself, but in the complicated registration process and standard differences. GTG Guangce Group has an experienced radio frequency and SAR testing laboratory, which can provide a complete set of testing services for Bluetooth headsets according to Australian AS/NZS standards, and assist enterprises in reviewing the registration documents of Australian representatives to ensure product compliance.