FCC Part 15 Subpart E U-NII device testing

FCC Part 15 Subpart E — U-NII Device Testing

FCC Part 15 Subpart E governs Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices operating in the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. Compatible Electronics provides testing for U-NII devices including 5 GHz WiFi and WiFi 6E equipment using ANSI C63.10 (2013) measurement procedures, accredited at all three California locations. DFS testing is not performed — partner laboratory coordination is available.

NVLAP Accredited FCC Listed Lab ISO/IEC 17025:2017 FCC ID Support

What are U-NII Devices?

U-NII devices operate in the 5 GHz and 6 GHz frequency bands for wireless local area networks (WLANs) and other high-speed data transmission applications. These bands support wider channel widths (up to 160 MHz for WiFi 6) and higher throughput than the 2.4 GHz band. FCC Certification (FCC ID) is required for all U-NII intentional radiators before marketing in the United States.

U-NII Frequency Bands

5 GHz Bands

U-NII-1: 5.15–5.25 GHz — indoor use only; maximum 50 mW EIRP
U-NII-2A: 5.25–5.35 GHz — DFS required to protect weather and military radar
U-NII-2C: 5.47–5.725 GHz — DFS required; largest contiguous DFS block
U-NII-3: 5.725–5.85 GHz — outdoor permitted; maximum 1 W EIRP
U-NII-4: 5.85–5.895 GHz — shared with automotive applications

6 GHz Bands (WiFi 6E)

U-NII-5: 5.925–6.425 GHz — WiFi 6E lower 6 GHz band
U-NII-6: 6.425–6.525 GHz
U-NII-7: 6.525–6.875 GHz
U-NII-8: 6.875–7.125 GHz — upper 6 GHz band

DFS Testing — Important Note

Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) testing is required for devices operating in U-NII-2A (5.25–5.35 GHz) and U-NII-2C (5.47–5.725 GHz) bands to avoid interference with weather radar and military radar systems. DFS testing is not performed at any Compatible Electronics location, as noted in our NVLAP accreditation scope.

Compatible Electronics can perform all other U-NII measurements — transmit power, spectral mask, occupied bandwidth, spurious emissions, and EIRP — for all U-NII bands including non-DFS channels of 5 GHz and the full 6 GHz U-NII-5 through U-NII-8 bands. DFS testing can be coordinated through a partner laboratory to complete the full certification package.

Testing Requirements

Maximum conducted output power at antenna port
Maximum EIRP — radiated power measurement in anechoic chamber
Power spectral density (PSD) — compliance with per-MHz limits
Occupied bandwidth — channel width verification

Out-of-band emissions — spectral mask compliance
Band edge emissions at U-NII band boundaries
Transmit Power Control (TPC) verification where required (U-NII-2A and 2C)
Antenna requirements — gain and connector restrictions

Standards We Test To

USA — All 3 Locations

ANSI C63.10 (2013)

Procedures for Compliance Testing of Unlicensed Wireless Devices. The accredited measurement standard for FCC Part 15E U-NII devices. Accredited at Lake Forest/Silverado, Brea, and Newbury Park.

Canada — All 3 Locations

RSS-248 Issue 1 (November 2021)

Industry Canada RLAN devices in 5925–7125 MHz band (6 GHz WiFi). Accredited at all three locations.

Canada — All 3 Locations

RSS-248 Issue 2 (December 2022)

Updated ISED standard for 6 GHz RLAN devices. Supports parallel ISED certification for WiFi 6E devices. Accredited at all three locations.

Note — EU

ETSI EN 301 893 — Not In Scope

ETSI EN 301 893 (5 GHz RLAN) is not in the Compatible Electronics accredited scope. For CE marking of 5 GHz WiFi devices, EN 301 893 testing should be conducted at a laboratory accredited for that standard.

Products We Test

5 GHz WiFi Devices

5 GHz WiFi routers and access points (802.11a/n/ac/ax)
WiFi 6 (802.11ax) 5 GHz devices
Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless bridges
Outdoor wireless equipment operating in U-NII-3

6 GHz & Multi-Band

WiFi 6E tri-band routers and client devices
Dual-band and tri-band wireless devices
Mesh networking systems
Client devices — laptops, tablets, IoT — with 5 GHz or 6 GHz WiFi

Real-World Testing Examples

WiFi 6E Tri-Band Router — U-NII Testing

A consumer networking manufacturer needed FCC Certification for a WiFi 6E router covering 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. Compatible Electronics performed Part 15E testing per ANSI C63.10 for U-NII-1 and U-NII-3 5 GHz channels (non-DFS) and the full 6 GHz U-NII-5 through U-NII-8 range. DFS testing for U-NII-2A and 2C was coordinated with a partner laboratory. Part 15C testing for the 2.4 GHz radio and Part 15B unintentional radiator testing were completed in the same engagement, delivering a single consolidated test package to the TCB.

Outdoor Wireless Bridge — U-NII-3

A point-to-point wireless bridge manufacturer required FCC Certification for a 5.8 GHz outdoor link operating exclusively in U-NII-3. Since U-NII-3 does not require DFS, all testing was performed entirely at Compatible Electronics. Testing covered maximum conducted output power, EIRP with the high-gain dish antenna, PSD compliance, and out-of-band emission limits. The device's external antenna connector required verification against the fixed antenna restriction applicable to outdoor U-NII equipment.

IoT Gateway with 6 GHz WiFi — RSS-248

An industrial IoT company needed simultaneous FCC and ISED certification for a factory gateway integrating WiFi 6E for 6 GHz local connectivity. Compatible Electronics performed ANSI C63.10 testing for FCC Part 15E across the 6 GHz U-NII bands and RSS-248 Issue 2 testing for ISED in the same session. The parallel FCC and ISED test reports were delivered together, supporting simultaneous North American certification with a single lab visit.

Certification Requirements

FCC Certification (FCC ID) required for all U-NII intentional radiators
Software security requirements apply — devices must prevent modification of transmit power and frequency beyond certified parameters
Professional installation requirements apply to some U-NII-3 outdoor equipment
Antenna restrictions apply — fixed antenna or unique connector required for most U-NII devices
DFS testing required before certification for U-NII-2A and U-NII-2C — coordinate with Compatible Electronics for partner lab referral
RF exposure evaluation required — MPE per FCC OET 65