AP3-1

APPENDIX 3 (REV.WRC-12)

Maximum permitted power levels for unwanted emissions

in the spurious domain (WRC-12)

(See Article 3)

1 This Appendix derived indicates the maximum permitted power levels of unwanted
emissions in the spurious domain using the values indicated in Table I. The provisions of No. 4.5
apply to unwanted emissions not covered in this Appendix. (WRC-12)

2 Spurious domain emissions1 from any part of the installation, other than the antenna and
its transmission line, shall not have an effect greater than would occur if this antenna system were
supplied with the maximum permitted power at the frequency of that emission. (WRC-12)

3 These levels shall not, however, apply to emergency position-indicating radiobeacon

(3,5% VWDWLRQV HPHUJHQF\ ORFDWRU WUDQVPLWWHUV VKLSV¶ HPHUJHQF\ WUDQVPLWWHUV OLIHERDW
transmitters, survival craft stations or maritime transmitters when used in emergency situations.

4 For technical or operational reasons, more stringent levels than those specified may be
applied to protect specific services in certain frequency bands. The levels applied to protect these
services, such as safety and passive services, shall be those agreed upon by the appropriate world
radiocommunication conference. More stringent levels may also be fixed by specific agreement
between the administrations concerned. Additionally, special consideration of transmitter spurious
domain emissions may be required for the protection of safety services, radio astronomy and space
services using passive sensors. Information on the levels of interference detrimental to radio
astronomy, Earth exploration satellites and meteorological passive sensing is given in the most recent
version of Recommendation ITU-R SM.329. (WRC-12)

5 Spurious domain emission limits for combined radiocommunication and information

technology equipment are those for the radiocommunication transmitters. (WRC-12)

6 The frequency range of the measurement of spurious domain emissions is from 9 kHz to
110 GHz or the second harmonic if higher. (WRC-03)

_______________
1 Spurious domain emissions are unwanted emissions at frequencies within the spurious domain.

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7 Except as provided in § 8 and 9 of this Appendix, the spurious domain emission levels
are specified in the following reference bandwidths:

± 1 kHz between 9 kHz and 150 kHz

± 10 kHz between 150 kHz and 30 MHz

± 100 kHz between 30 MHz and 1 GHz

± 1 MHz above 1 GHz. (WRC-03)

8 The reference bandwidth of all space service spurious domain emissions should be
4 kHz. (WRC-03)

9 For radar systems, the reference bandwidths for specifying spurious domain emission
levels should be calculated for each particular system. Thus, for the four general types of radar pulse
modulation utilized for radionavigation, radiolocation, acquisition, tracking and other
radiodetermination functions, the reference bandwidth values are determined using the following:

± for a fixed-frequency, non-pulse-coded radar, the reciprocal of the radar pulse length, in
seconds (e.g. if the radar pulse length is 1 ȝs, then the reference bandwidth is
1/(1 ȝs) = 1 MHz);

± for a fixed-frequency, phase-coded pulsed radar, the reciprocal of the phase chip length,
in seconds (e.g. if the phase-coded chip is 2 ȝs long, then the reference bandwidth is
1/(2 ȝV = 500 kHz);

± for a frequency modulated (FM) or chirped radar, the square root of the quantity obtained
by dividing the chirp bandwidth in MHz by the pulse length, in ȝs (e.g. if the FM is from
1 250 MHz to 1 280 MHz, i.e. 30 MHz, during the pulse length of 10 ȝs, then the reference
bandwidth is (30 MHz/10 ȝs)1/2 = 1.73 MHz);

± for radars operating with multiple waveforms, the reference bandwidth for specifying
spurious domain emission levels is determined empirically from observations of the radar
emission and is obtained following the guidance given in the most recent version of
Recommendation ITU-R M.1177.

In the case of radars, for which the bandwidth, as determined using the method above, is greater than
1 MHz, a reference bandwidth of 1 MHz should be used. (WRC-03)

10 Guidance regarding the methods of measuring spurious domain emissions is given in the
most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R SM.329. The e.i.r.p. method specified in this
Recommendation should be used when it is not possible to accurately measure the power supplied to
the antenna transmission line, or for specific applications where the antenna is designed to provide
significant attenuation in the spurious domain. Additionally, the e.i.r.p. method may need some
modification for special cases. Specific guidance regarding the methods of measuring spurious
domain emissions from radar systems is given in the most recent version of Recommendation
ITU-R M.1177.

To improve measurement accuracy, sensitivity and efficiency, the resolution bandwidth in which
spurious domain emissions are measured can be different from the reference bandwidth used for
specifying spurious domain emission levels. (WRC-03)

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 AP3-3

11 The emission limits of this Appendix apply to all emissions, including harmonic
emissions, intermodulation products, frequency conversion products and parasitic emissions, at
frequencies in the spurious domain (see Fig. 1). The upper and lower parts of the spurious domain
extend outward from a boundary determined using Annex 1. (WRC-03)

FIGURE 1 (WRC-03)

Out-of-band and spurious domains

Unwanted emissions Unwanted emissions

Necessary
bandwidth
Spurious domain Out-of-band Out-of-band Spurious domain
domain domain

Frequency of the emission

Limits of the necessary bandwidth
Boundary of the spurious domain AP3-01

12 For the case of a single satellite operating with more than one transponder in the same
service area, and when considering the limits for spurious domain emissions as indicated in § 11 of
this Appendix, spurious domain emissions from one transponder may fall on a frequency at which a
second, companion transponder is transmitting. In these situations, the level of spurious domain
emissions from the first transponder is well exceeded by the fundamental or out-of-band domain
emissions of the second transponder. Therefore, the limits of this Appendix should not apply to those
emissions of a satellite that fall within either the necessary bandwidth or the out-of-band domain of
another transponder on the same satellite, in the same service area (see Fig. 2). (WRC-03)

FIGURE 2
Example of the applicability of spurious domain emission limits
to a satellite transponder

Transponder A Transponder B Transponder C Transponder D

Out-of- Out-of-
band band
n o p q

AP3-02

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AP3-4

Transponders A, B, C and D are operating on the same satellite in the same service area.
Transponder A is not required to meet spurious domain emission limits in frequency ranges o and q,
but is required to meet them in frequency ranges n and p. (WRC-03)

13 Examples of applying 43 + 10 log (P) to calculate attenuation

requirements

Where specified in relation to mean power, spurious domain emissions are to be at least x dB below
the total mean power P, i.e. íx dBc. The power P (W) is to be measured in a bandwidth wide enough
to include the total mean power. The spurious domain emissions are to be measured in the reference
bandwidths given in the relevant ITU-R Recommendations. The measurement of the spurious domain
emission power is independent of the value of necessary bandwidth. Because the absolute emission
power limit, derived from 43 + 10 log (P), can become too stringent for high-power transmitters,
alternative relative powers are also provided in Table I.

Example 1

A land mobile transmitter, with any value of necessary bandwidth, must meet a spurious domain
emission attenuation of 43 + 10 log (P), or 70 dBc, whichever is less stringent. The reference
bandwidths used for specifying spurious domain emission levels are provided in § 8 to 10 of this
Appendix. Applying this in the frequency range between 30 MHz and 1 GHz gives a reference
bandwidth of 100 kHz.

With a measured total mean power of 10 W:

± Attenuation relative to total mean power = 43 + 10 log (10) = 53 dBc.

± The 53 dBc value is less stringent than the 70 dBc, so the 53 dBc value is used.

± Therefore: Spurious domain emissions must not exceed 53 dBc in a 100 kHz bandwidth,
or converting to an absolute level, they must not exceed 10 dBW í 53 dBc = í dBW
in a 100 kHz reference bandwidth.

With a measured total mean power of 1 000 W:

± Attenuation relative to total mean power = 43 + 10 log (1 000) = 73 dBc.

± The 73 dBc value is more stringent than the 70 dBc limit, so the 70 dBc value is used.

± Therefore: Spurious domain emissions must not exceed 70 dBc in a 100 kHz bandwidth,
or converting to an absolute level, they must not exceed 30 dBW í 70 dBc = í dBW
in a 100 kHz reference bandwidth. (WRC-03)

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Example 2

A space service transmitter with any value of necessary bandwidth must meet a spurious domain
emission attenuation of 43 + 10 log (P), or 60 dBc, whichever is less stringent. To measure spurious
domain emissions at any frequency, Note 10 to Table I indicates using a reference bandwidth of
4 kHz.

With a measured total mean power of 20 W:

± Attenuation relative to total mean power = 43 + 10 log (20) = 56 dBc.

± The 56 dBc value is less stringent than the 60 dBc limit, so the 56 dBc value is used.

± Therefore: Spurious domain emissions must not exceed 56 dBc in a 4 kHz reference
bandwidth, or converting to an absolute level, they must not exceed
13 dBW í 56 dBc = í dBW in a 4 kHz reference bandwidth. (WRC-03)

TABLE I (WRC-12)

Attenuation values used to calculate maximum permitted

spurious domain emission power levels for
use with radio equipment

Service category in accordance with Attenuation (dB) below the power

Article 1, or equipment type15 supplied to the antenna transmission line
All services except those services quoted below: 43 + 10 log (P), or 70 dBc, whichever is less stringent
Space services (earth stations)10, 16 43 + 10 log (P), or 60 dBc, whichever is less stringent
Space services (space stations)10, 17 43 + 10 log (P), or 60 dBc, whichever is less stringent
Radiodetermination14 43 + 10 log (PEP), or 60 dB, whichever is less stringent
Broadcast television11 46 + 10 log (P), or 60 dBc, whichever is less stringent,
without exceeding the absolute mean power level of 1 mW
for VHF stations or 12 mW for UHF stations. However,
greater attenuation may be necessary on a case by case basis
Broadcast FM 46 + 10 log (P), or 70 dBc, whichever is less stringent; the
absolute mean power level of 1 mW should not be exceeded
Broadcasting at MF/HF 50 dBc; the absolute mean power level of 50 mW should not
be exceeded
SSB from mobile stations12 43 dB below PEP
Amateur services operating below 30 MHz (including 43 + 10 log (PEP), or 50 dB, whichever is less stringent
those using SSB)16

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AP3-6

TABLE 1 (end) (WRC-12)

Service category in accordance with Attenuation (dB) below the power

Article 1, or equipment type15 supplied to the antenna transmission line
Services operating below 30 MHz, except space, 43 + 10 log (X), or 60 dBc, whichever is less stringent,
radiodetermination, broadcast, those using SSB from where X = PEP for SSB modulation, and X = P for other
mobile stations, and amateur12 modulation
Low-power device radio equipment13 56 + 10 log (P), or 40 dBc, whichever is less stringent
Emergency transmitters18 No limit

P: mean power in watts supplied to the antenna transmission line, in accordance with No. 1.158. When burst
transmission is used, the mean power P and the mean power of any spurious domain emissions are measured
using power averaging over the burst duration.
PEP: peak envelope power in watts supplied to the antenna transmission line, in accordance with No. 1.157.
dBc: decibels relative to the unmodulated carrier power of the emission. In the cases which do not have a carrier, for
example in some digital modulation schemes where the carrier is not accessible for measurement, the reference
level equivalent to dBc is decibels relative to the mean power P.
10 Spurious domain emission limits for all space services are stated in a 4 kHz reference bandwidth.
11 For analogue television transmissions, the mean power level is defined with a specified video signal
modulation. This video signal has to be chosen in such a way that the maximum mean power level (e.g. at the
video signal blanking level for negatively modulated television systems) is supplied to the antenna transmission
line.
12 $OOFODVVHVRIHPLVVLRQXVLQJ66%DUHLQFOXGHGLQWKHFDWHJRU\³66%´
13 Low-power radio devices having a maximum output power of less than 100 mW and intended for short-range
communication or control purposes; such equipment is in general exempt from individual licensing.
14 For radiodetermination systems (radar as defined by No. 1.100), spurious domain emission attenuation (dB)
shall be determined for radiated emission levels, and not at the antenna transmission line. The measurement
methods for determining the radiated spurious domain emission levels from radar systems should be guided by
the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R M.1177. (WRC-03)
15 In some cases of digital modulation (including digital broadcasting), broadband systems, pulsed modulation
and narrow-band high-power transmitters for all categories of services, there may be difficulties in meeting
limits close to r250% of the necessary bandwidth.
16 Earth stations in the amateur-satellite service operating below 30 0+]DUHLQWKHVHUYLFHFDWHJRU\³$PDWHXU
services operating below 30 0+]LQFOXGLQJWKRVHXVLQJ66%´ (WRC-2000)
17 Space stations in the space research service intended for operation in deep space as defined by No. 1.177 are
exempt from spurious domain emission limits. (WRC-03)
18 Emergency position-indicating radio beacon, emergency locator transmitters, personal location beacons, search
and rescue transponders, ship emergency, lifeboat and survival craft transmitters and emergency land,
aeronautical or maritime transmitters. (WRC-2000)

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ANNEX 1 (WRC-03)

Determination of the boundary between the

out-of-band and spurious domains

1 Except as provided below, the boundary between the out-of-band and spurious domains
occurs at frequencies that are separated from the centre frequency of the emission by the values shown
in Table 1. In general, the boundary, on either side of the centre frequency, occurs at a separation of
250% of the necessary bandwidth, or at 2.5 BN, as shown in Table 1. For most systems, the centre
frequency of the emission is the centre of the necessary bandwidth. For multichannel or multicarrier
transmitters/transponders, where several carriers may be transmitted simultaneously from a final
output amplifier or an active antenna, the centre frequency of the emission is taken to be the centre
RI WKH í dB bandwidth of the transmitter or transponder, and the transmitter or transponder
bandwidth is used in place of the necessary bandwidth for determining the boundary. For multicarrier
satellite systems, guidance on the boundary between the out-of-band and spurious domains is
provided in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R SM.1541. Some systems specify
unwanted emissions relative to channel bandwidth, or channel spacing. These may be used as a
substitute for the necessary bandwidth in Table 1, provided they are found in ITU-R
Recommendations.

TABLE 1

Values for frequency separation between the centre frequency

and the boundary of the spurious domain

Frequency Narrow-band case Normal Wideband case

range for BN < Separation separation for BN > Separation
9 kHz < fc d 150 kHz 250 Hz 625 Hz 2.5 BN 10 kHz 1.5 BN + 10 kHz
150 kHz < fc d 30 MHz 4 kHz 10 kHz 2.5 BN 100 kHz 1.5 BN + 100 kHz
30 MHz < fc d 1 GHz 25 kHz 62.5 kHz 2.5 BN 10 MHz 1.5 BN + 10 MHz
1 GHz < fc d 3 GHz 100 kHz 250 kHz 2.5 BN 50 MHz 1.5 BN + 50 MHz
3 GHz < fc d 10 GHz 100 kHz 250 kHz 2.5 BN 100 MHz 1.5 BN + 100 MHz
10 GHz < fc d 15 GHz 300 kHz 750 kHz 2.5 BN 250 MHz 1.5 BN + 250 MHz
15 GHz < fc d 26 GHz 500 kHz 1.25 MHz 2.5 BN 500 MHz 1.5 BN + 500 MHz
fc > 26 GHz 1 MHz 2.5 MHz 2.5 BN 500 MHz 1.5 BN + 500 MHz

NOTE ± In Table 1, fc is the centre frequency of the emission and BN is the necessary bandwidth. If the assigned
frequency band of the emissions extends across two frequency ranges, then the values corresponding to the higher
frequency range shall be used for determining the boundary.

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AP3-8

Example 1: The necessary bandwidth of an emission at 26 MHz is 1.8 kHz. Since BN is less than
4 kHz, the minimum separation of 10 kHz applies. The spurious domain begins 10 kHz each side of
the centre of the necessary bandwidth.

Example 2: The necessary bandwidth of an emission at 8 GHz is 200 MHz. Since the wideband case
applies for BN > 100 MHz at that frequency, the spurious domain begins 1.5 × 200 MHz +
100 MHz = 400 MHz each side of the centre of the necessary bandwidth. Using the general separation
formula, the out-of-band domain would have extended to 2.5 × 200 MHz = 500 MHz either side of
the centre frequency.

2 Tables 2 and 3 show exceptions to Table 1 for narrow-band and wideband cases,
respectively, applicable to particular systems or services and frequency bands.

TABLE 2

Narrow-band variations for particular systems or services and frequency bands

Narrow-band case
System or service Frequency range for BN < Separation
(kHz) (kHz)
14 kHz-1.5 MHz 20 50(1)
Fixed service PT ” W 30 75(2)
1.5-30 MHz
PT > 50 W 80 200(2)
(1)
The separation value is based on an assumption that the maximum value of the necessary bandwidth is
about 3 kHz for the frequency range 14 kHz-1.5 MHz. The separation value of 50 kHz is extremely large as
compared with the necessary bandwidth. This is because unwanted emissions of high power transmitters
under modulated conditions have to be below the spurious limit (70 dBc) at the boundary between the out-
of-band and spurious domains.
(2)
PT is the transmitter power. The separation values are based on an assumption that the maximum value of
the necessary bandwidth is about 12 kHz for the frequency range 1.5-30 MHz. The separation value of
200 kHz for PT > 50 W is extremely large as compared with the necessary bandwidth. This is because
unwanted emissions of high power transmitters under modulated conditions have to be below the spurious
limit, 70 dBc, at the boundary between the out-of-band and spurious domains. Also, if future systems in the
fixed service operating in this frequency range require a necessary bandwidth larger than 12 kHz, it may
become necessary to review the 200 kHz separation.

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 AP3-9

TABLE 3

Wideband variations for particular systems or services and frequency bands

Wideband case
System or service Frequency range
For BN > Separation
Fixed service 14-150 kHz 20 kHz 1.5 BN + 20 kHz
Fixed-satellite 3.4-4.2 GHz 250 MHz 1.5 BN + 250 MHz
service (FSS)
FSS 5.725-6.725 GHz 500 MHz 1.5 BN + 500 MHz
FSS 7.25-7.75 GHz and 7.9-8.4 GHz 250 MHz 1.5 BN + 250 MHz
FSS 10.7-12.75 GHz 500 MHz 1.5 BN + 500 MHz
Broadcasting-satellite 11.7-12.75 GHz 500 MHz 1.5 BN + 500 MHz
service
FSS 12.75-13.25 GHz 500 MHz 1.5 BN + 500 MHz
FSS 13.75-14.8 GHz 500 MHz 1.5 BN + 500 MHz

3 For primary radar, the boundary between the out-of-band and spurious domains is the
frequency at which the out-of-band domain limits specified in the applicable ITU-R
Recommendations are equal to the spurious domain limit defined in Table I of this Appendix. Further
guidance on the boundary between the out-of-band and spurious domains for primary radar is
provided in the most recent version of Recommendation ITU-R SM.1541.

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