FCC approves first 'power-at-a-distance' wireless charging device

Will this be another RFI source for amateur radio operators?

"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday for the first time approved a device that can recharge electronics up to three feet away."




SOURCES:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/wattup-long-range-wireless-charging-fcc,36183.html

http://thehill.com/policy/technolog...-power-at-a-distance-wireless-charging-device

https://ir.energous.com/press-relea...receives-industry-first-fcc-certification-for

 

Somewhere Nikola Tesla is smiling...

 

This must be fake news. The government is off for the holidays until next year.

Or did they do it when nobody was there to vote on it ?

 

"RFI at a distance".

 

Another source of rfi? Who knows but there have been concerns already.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4031486-energous-admits-wattup-unsafe-humans-get-fcc-approval

Interference? We don't interfere with any other products.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/39...feres-wi-fi-signals-wattup-mini-approval-late

 

Oh Right.... RFI source??? The unit operates in the 5.8 Ghz Wireless Band... Did you guys even READ the Specs?

 

If you look at the equipment authorization grant, the frequency is 913 MHz, which is within an ISM band (shared with the fixed, mobile, and amateur services). We probably have no more issues here than we do with other ISM equipment in the band (there's quite a bit of it, and it's there legally).

Of broader potential concern is LF and HF-based wireless power transfer systems, being designed to charge car batteries, among other applications that make charging a phone look like child's play. A reasonable explanation of the issue (albeit not fully accurate with respect to timing--it's been at play since at least late 2015) is on the ARRL web site:

http://www.arrl.org/news/iaru-administrative-council-considers-new-radio-spectrum-pollution-threat

Some things should keep us up at night. The Energous device ought not be one of them.

 

The device that secured approval this past week operates at 913 GHz.

But both bands (902 MHz and 5.8 GHz) are ISM bands. You're never going to get a pristine RF environment in an ISM band; that's a consequence of accommodating non-communication uses of RF (and there are ample reasons to do that).

 

Anyone remember "LightSquared" ?
It interfered with GPS and was sued so profusely that it was driven into bankruptcy.
I predict the same fate is in store for Energous WattUP.
913 MHz is a powerful transmitter in the middle of the 33 cm ham band (902.0-928.0 MHz).
It is a shared ISM band, filled with low power cordless phones, cameras, baby monitors, security devices, point-to-point data, and thousands of short-range low-power things living somewhat peacefully together.
The Energous 913 MHz WattUP system got them approval with the administration-corrupted FCC, but 913 MHz physics is too bulky and inefficient for consumer market viability.
The 913 MHz WattUP system was simply a ploy to boost their stock, and make it appear that they have a "viable technology" alternative to popular Qi low-frequency 200 kHz power products.

Energous's real target is a 5.8 GHz system.
It is a powerful transmitter in the middle of the 5.650-5.925 GHz ham band.
It also causes severe interference to 5 GHz WiFi.
Hence the prediction that it will be sued into oblivion if it is ever approved and/or deployed.


5 GHz WiFi Band

 

ugh... MORE noise to contend with....

 

More charging your cell phone in a microwave oven.

It works once.

 

Already a thread about it.
https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?th...ess-cell-charger-using-rf-frequencies.593254/

 

I did notice in the only demo I've seen on the news, the guy doing the demo was real careful not to get between the sending unit and the devices being charged. That stood out to me like a sore thumb. lol.

 

Does anyone recall the recent issue about cellphone radiation? Is not this much more of an issue in as much there is a great deal more power involved and is continuous.

 

I think they should do it with big ol' Tesla coils. Besides charging your phones it can power all the florescent lights in your home, too. And entertain the kids.