§ 15.204   External radio frequency power amplifiers and antenna modifications.

   (a) Except as otherwise described in paragraphs (b) and (d) of this section,
   no person shall use, manufacture, sell or lease, offer for sale or lease
   (including advertising for sale or lease), or import, ship, or distribute
   for the purpose of selling or leasing, any external radio frequency power
   amplifier or amplifier kit intended for use with a part 15 intentional
   radiator.

   (b) A transmission system consisting of an intentional radiator, an external
   radio frequency power amplifier, and an antenna, may be authorized, marketed
   and used under this part. Except as described otherwise in this section,
   when a transmission system is authorized as a system, it must always be
   marketed as a complete system and must always be used in the configuration
   in which it was authorized.

   (c) An intentional radiator may be operated only with the antenna with which
   it is authorized. If an antenna is marketed with the intentional radiator,
   it shall be of a type which is authorized with the intentional radiator. An
   intentional  radiator  may  be authorized with multiple antenna types.
   Exceptions  to the following provisions, if any, are noted in the rule
   section under which the transmitter operates, e.g., § 15.255(b)(1)(ii) of
   this part.

   (1) The antenna type, as used in this paragraph, refers to antennas that
   have similar in-band and out-of-band radiation patterns.

   (2) Compliance testing shall be performed using the highest gain antenna for
   each type of antenna to be certified with the intentional radiator. During
   this testing, the intentional radiator shall be operated at its maximum
   available output power level.

   (3) Manufacturers shall supply a list of acceptable antenna types with the
   application for equipment authorization of the intentional radiator.

   (4) Any antenna that is of the same type and of equal or less directional
   gain as an antenna that is authorized with the intentional radiator may be
   marketed with, and used with, that intentional radiator. No retesting of
   this system configuration is required. The marketing or use of a system
   configuration that employs an antenna of a different type, or that operates
   at a higher gain, than the antenna authorized with the intentional radiator
   is not permitted unless the procedures specified in § 2.1043 of this chapter
   are followed.

   (d) Except as described in this paragraph, an external radio frequency power
   amplifier  or  amplifier  kit  shall  be marketed only with the system
   configuration with which it was approved and not as a separate product.

   (1)  An  external  radio frequency power amplifier may be marketed for
   individual  sale provided it is intended for use in conjunction with a
   transmitter that operates in the 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, and 5725-5850
   MHz bands pursuant to § 15.247 of this part or a transmitter that operates in
   the 5.725-5.825 GHz band pursuant to § 15.407 of this part. The amplifier
   must be of a design such that it can only be connected as part of a system
   in which it has been previously authorized. (The use of a non-standard
   connector or a form of electronic system identification is acceptable.) The
   output power of such an amplifier must not exceed the maximum permitted
   output power of its associated transmitter.

   (2) The outside packaging and user manual for external radio frequency power
   amplifiers sold in accordance with paragraph (d)(1) of this section must
   include notification that the amplifier can be used only in a system which
   it has obtained authorization. Such a notice must identify the authorized
   system by FCC Identifier.

   [ 69 FR 54034 , Sept. 7, 2004, as amended at  78 FR 59850 , Sept. 30, 2013]

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