What is the Sigfox Certification Baseline (CBL)
Sigfox Certification baseline (CBL) is a fixed reference point defining all necessary material to perform Sigfox certification tests.
As Sigfox technology evolves, the Certification Baseline has a lifecycle associated with the content of the evolved baseline. The different steps of CBL are defined below:
The rules associated to the lifecycle of the CBL are the followings:
- A new CBL becomes mandatory in average 3 months after being released
- When a CBL becomes mandatory, the previous mandatory one becomes obsolete
- From the moment the new CBL version is released, it can be used for certification
- If a device includes a new feature, which associated testing is not included in current mandatory CBL version, it must use the new released CBL as soon as it is available.
- Maximum time between submission and granted certification is 6 months.
Sigfox Certification Tests
There are two kinds of Sigfox tests:
- RF & protocol tests, to check Sigfox protocol & RF performance compliance.
- Radiated performance tests, to assess the radiated performances of the device. These radiation tests will define a radiated power classification of the device in uplink mode.
Here are essential documents that you should keep in mind when preparing for your tests:
- Be prepared for RF & Protocol tests (PDF file, includes mandatory checklist)
- Be prepared for Radiated Performance tests
Sigfox has developed the SDR Dongle and RSA software to help device makers prepare for their Sigfox RF & Protocol tests.
Tests must be executed according to a Valid CBL.
- CBL Sept 2020 => Pre-Release
- CBL Nov 2019 => Mandatory
- CBL Sept 2018 => Obsolete
Pre-Release Next CBL 2020
The pre-release of next CBL, planned by September 2020 at the latest, has been published. At the same time CBL Nov 2019 becomes mandatory (CBL Sept 2018 becomes obsolete). The main improvements included in the new CBL are:
Test requirements modified to cover testing of Sigfox low cost reference design and applicable to all products (similar or lower constraints):
- Frequency step: Frequency Step test is replaced by “Product's population Spectral Occupation»
- Static frequency tolerance: addition of a check of measured Static Frequency vs Declared Static Frequency
- Max TX Baudrate Cumulated Error: limit relaxed from 0,1 % to 3%
- Power Spectral Density: addition of a lower limit applicable only to class 2 and class 3 devices and modular design used on class 2 and class 3 devices.
- Carrier center frequencies in bi-directional mode: new test
Sigfox RF & Protocol test specification simplification including:
- A single document including test specification, test plan and all RCs requirements
- Addition of applicability table and test modes table
Several tests adapted to allow flexibility and easy testing of supported features (no change in requirements)
Detailed changes can be found in revision history of each document.
Next CBL 2020 Tests List:
THE CONTENT OF THE DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED ON AN INDICATIVE BASIS. IN NO EVENT SIGFOX SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE RELIABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT.
Current mandatory CBL Nov 2019
| Released CBL Nov 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Be prepared for Sigfox Radiated performance Tests | 1.0.0 |
| Be prepared for Sigfox RF & Protocol Tests | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox Radiated Performance Specification | 0.6 |
| Sigfox Radiated Performance Test Plan | 0.6 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC1 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC1 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC1 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC1 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC2 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC2 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC2 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC2 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC3c Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC3c Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC3c Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC3c Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC4 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC4 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC4 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC4 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC5 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC5 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC5 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC5 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC6 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC6 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC6 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC6 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC7 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC7 Uplink Downlink | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Specification RC7 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Plan RC7 Uplink Downlink Monarch | 4.0.1 |
Pre-testing with the Radio Signal Analyzer and SDR Dongle
| Released CBL Nov 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Procedure Using RSA and SDR-Dongle for RC1 | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Procedure Using RSA and SDR-Dongle for RC2 | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Procedure Using RSA and SDR-Dongle for RC3c | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Procedure Using RSA and SDR-Dongle for RC4 | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Procedure Using RSA and SDR-Dongle for RC5 | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Procedure Using RSA and SDR-Dongle for RC6 | 4.0.1 |
| Sigfox RF & Protocol Test Procedure Using RSA and SDR-Dongle for RC7 | 4.0.1 |