There are many testing laboratories to choose from when testing your wireless product. There are some considerations to think about when selecting a test lab to partner with. Choosing the right test lab makes a huge difference in the ease of your certification process.
Why is a test lab needed?
For example for US market approval, FCC certification, even if you bought a pre-certified module, and you want to use it in your product, thinking on minimizing testing costs, you still need to test your product with the module inside. And even if you don’t have a module inside, you still might have unintentional radiators.
The same holds for for EU market approval, CE certification, adding any pre-certified module will be seen as a total new product which needs testing.
Accreditation and technical competence
So how to find one? We can help you find a good one. Questions to ask are for example if they can perform all of the tests required. Check their accreditation. Determine if you need accredited test reports for compliance with the standards. ISO 17025 is the accreditation to look for when choosing a test laboratory, this is similar to ISO 9001 (for quality management systems) but has an additional component for technical competence. Further look for Equipment Calibrations and Proficiency Test Programs, like quality control when choosing a laboratory. Having a laboratory that stays up-to-date on technical information is crucial.
How much will it cost? What’s the lead time?
Cost and time are also very important factors to consider. Cost is always a factor and all businesses have different budgets and priorities. The price difference between some labs can be quite big. Its not always the lab with cheapest or highest price that can support you in meeting your deadlines. Most will work with you within reason and technical feasibility and some might offer increased pricing for expedited work.
Where are they located?
Not all labs are near your location and in many cases you will have to look for labs that deliver on quality and efficiency. Sometimes it is better to test with a test lab in another country than to use one nearby your location.
Responsiveness
Further of importance is to have a lab where the staff is easy to reach and quick to respond. You may have questions along the way, so you want to work with a laboratory that you feel is available and on your side to help as soon as you need it.
How do you know if its a good company?
Its not easy to find reviews of test labs, especially because many are located in other foreign countries, where they might not use any reviews for you to check. Test engineers at your company might know some test labs, but they also miss out on the test labs outside their range of known test labs. On the other hand we know the best test labs in this field and we know which one to contact for your type of product and for your focus of testing and certification work for market access. Contact us and we will bring you in contact with a third-party test lab that will fit your needs and where we have the best experience with. We are not getting any commission from any test lab and are fully independent from any test lab. We will only get a small consultation fee or work with you to manage the testing and certification on your behalf. Contact us for help on selecting test labs.