APEKS GNSS CE-RED (2014/53/EU) Certification Guide: Full 14-Report Technical Compliance Breakdown
Every APEKS GNSS RTK receiver series — including the AP10, AP20, AP20AR, AP30 Laser, AP40 Laser+, AP50 Vision, AP60 Vision, and AP80 Pro — is fully certified under the European Union Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU. Compliance is verified through an extensive battery of 14+ independent laboratory test reports covering ETSI EN 300 113 (UHF radio data transceiver), ETSI EN 303 413 (multi-constellation GNSS space signal receiver), ETSI EN 301 908 / 301 511 (4G LTE / 3G / 2G cellular telemetry), ETSI EN 301 489 series (multi-module EMC), EN IEC 62368-1 (electrical & battery safety), and EN IEC 62311 (electromagnetic field human health). This documentation provides complete legal clearance for EU customs import, commercial distribution, and government surveying tenders across the European Economic Area.
- 1. Why CE-RED Matters for Surveying Equipment in the EU
- 2. Complete 14-Report Test Standard & Harmonization Matrix
- 3. Internal UHF Radio Compliance: ETSI EN 300 113
- 4. GNSS Reception, Cellular 4G & Industrial EMC Standards
- 5. Electrical Safety (LVD) & Human Exposure (EMF) Verification
- 6. Covered Models & Official Certificate Details
- 7. EU Importer & Distributor Verification Checklist
- 8. FAQ
1. Why CE-RED Matters for Surveying Equipment in the EU
For European surveying equipment distributors, engineering contractors, and procurement agencies, importing GNSS positioning equipment requires rigorous regulatory verification. In the European Union, standard CE Machinery or standalone EMC certification is legally insufficient for GNSS RTK receivers.
Because RTK receivers integrate multiple wireless transmission technologies — including internal UHF radio modems, 4G/LTE cellular modules, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC — they are classified as radio equipment governed strictly by the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU. Operating or selling non-compliant radio hardware in the European Economic Area (EEA) risks customs confiscation, severe administrative penalties, and immediate disqualification from public civil infrastructure tenders.
A single summary certificate page cannot reveal the underlying testing depth. APEKS receivers undergo multi-stage laboratory evaluations across all integrated RF transceivers, validating that every wireless subsystem meets harmonized European Norms (EN) before units leave the factory.
2. Complete 14-Report Test Standard & Harmonization Matrix
The table below provides the full technical breakdown of the 14+ independent test reports comprising the APEKS CE-RED compliance portfolio under Directive 2014/53/EU:
| Essential Requirement | Harmonized Standard | Subsystem / Technology Evaluated | Core Testing Scope & Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Article 3.1(a) Health | EN IEC 62311:2020 | EMF Human Exposure | Assesses electromagnetic field radiation to ensure total safety for operators carrying receivers on range poles or backpacks. |
| Article 3.1(a) Safety | EN IEC 62368-1:2020+A11:2020 | LVD Electrical & Battery Safety | Evaluates internal lithium-ion battery management systems (BMS), power circuits, thermal runaway prevention, and insulation resistance. |
| Article 3.1(b) EMC | ETSI EN 301 489-1 V2.2.3 ETSI EN 301 489-3 V2.3.2 ETSI EN 301 489-5 V2.2.1 ETSI EN 301 489-7 V1.3.1 ETSI EN 301 489-17 V3.2.4 / V3.3.1 ETSI EN 301 489-19 V2.2.1 ETSI EN 301 489-52 V1.3.1 |
Multi-Transceiver Electromagnetic Compatibility | Comprehensive EMC testing verifying that cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, UHF radio, and GNSS modules do not cause or suffer electromagnetic interference in high-voltage industrial zones. |
| Article 3.2 Radio Spectrum | ETSI EN 300 113 V3.1.1 (2020-06) | Internal UHF Data Radio (410–470 MHz) | Evaluates transmitter power output, frequency error, adjacent channel power, spurious emissions, and receiver sensitivity for long-range base/rover UHF links. |
| Article 3.2 Radio Spectrum | ETSI EN 303 413 V1.2.1 (2021-04) | GNSS Space Signal Receiver | Tests multi-band satellite signal tracking (GPS, BDS, GLONASS, Galileo) and verifies adjacent band selectivity to prevent blockage by commercial telecom towers. |
| Article 3.2 Radio Spectrum | ETSI EN 301 908-1 V13.1.1 / V15.2.1 ETSI EN 301 908-2 V13.1.1 ETSI EN 301 908-13 V13.2.1 |
4G LTE & 3G WCDMA Cellular | Verifies cellular radiated power, spectrum mask, and spurious emissions across standard European LTE bands (B1, B3, B7, B8, B20, B28) for seamless CORS/NTRIP connectivity. |
| Article 3.2 Radio Spectrum | ETSI EN 301 511 V12.5.1 (2017-03) | 2G GSM Cellular | Ensures backward compatibility with 900/1800 MHz 2G networks in remote off-grid regions. |
| Article 3.2 Radio Spectrum | ETSI EN 300 328 V2.2.2 (2019-07) | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi & Bluetooth (BLE) | Tests wideband transmission systems, equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP), and frequency hopping for controller pairing and WebUI hotspot management. |
| Article 3.2 Radio Spectrum | ETSI EN 301 893 V2.1.1 (2017-05) ETSI EN 300 440 V2.2.1 (2018-07) |
5 GHz Wi-Fi (Band 1–3 & Band 4) | Evaluates 5 GHz wireless data telemetry, channel dynamic frequency selection (DFS), and out-of-band emissions. |
| Article 3.2 Radio Spectrum | ETSI EN 300 330 V2.1.1 (2017-02) | NFC (Near Field Communication) | Verifies 13.56 MHz short-range magnetic field strength and modulation for instantaneous one-touch pairing between field controllers and rovers. |
3. Internal UHF Radio Compliance: ETSI EN 300 113
The internal UHF radio module is the most heavily scrutinized component by European telecommunications regulators and customs authorities. Uncertified or unaligned radios operating in the 410–470 MHz spectrum risk interfering with licensed public safety and commercial channels.
APEKS GNSS receivers achieve full compliance with ETSI EN 300 113, the European standard for land mobile service radio equipment with an integral or external antenna connector intended for data transmission:
- Channel Spacing & Bandwidth: Complies with European 12.5 kHz and 25 kHz channel bandwidth allocations.
- Transmitter Power Control: Fully software-adjustable transmission power (0.5W, 1W, and 2W settings) allowing operators to adhere to local EU member state ERP (Effective Radiated Power) statutory limits.
- Spurious Emissions & Adjacent Channel Power: Rigorous laboratory filtering prevents out-of-band bleed and harmonic distortion, ensuring clean differential broadcasts up to 25 km without radio interference.
- Multi-Protocol Interoperability: Certified across standard industry modulation schemes (TrimTalk450S, Transparent, TT450, SATEL), enabling seamless integration into mixed-brand European survey fleets.
4. GNSS Reception, Cellular 4G & Industrial EMC Standards
Modern construction sites, open-pit mines, and transport corridors contain intense electromagnetic noise from variable frequency drives, heavy generators, and high-voltage power lines. APEKS receivers meet multi-layered EMC and RF receiver resilience criteria:
- ETSI EN 303 413 (GNSS Space Receivers): Evaluates receiver adjacent band selectivity. This ensures that high-power 4G/5G mobile base stations operating near 1.4 GHz or 1.6 GHz do not saturate the sensitive low-noise amplifiers (LNA) tracking GPS L1/L2/L5, Galileo E1/E5a/E5b/E6, BeiDou B1/B2/B3, and GLONASS G1/G2 signals.
- ETSI EN 301 908 Series (4G LTE Telemetry): Verifies full compliance for network RTK operations. Field surveyors connecting via NTRIP to European regional CORS networks (such as SAPOS in Germany, RGP in France, or Ordnance Survey in the UK) achieve stable high-speed data transmission without dropped correction packets.
- ETSI EN 301 489 Multi-Part EMC: Tests electrostatic discharge (ESD) immunity up to ±8 kV contact and ±15 kV air discharge, radiated RF electromagnetic field immunity, and electrical fast transient/burst resilience.
5. Electrical Safety (LVD) & Human Exposure (EMF) Verification
Under Article 3.1(a) of the RED Directive, electrical safety and human health protection are compulsory pre-requisites for CE compliance:
- EN IEC 62368-1:2020+A11:2020 (Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Safety): Evaluates electrical energy source classification, internal high-density lithium battery charging protection, USB Type-C power delivery safety, and housing structural flame retardance. The receiver design prevents thermal runaway during continuous fast charging or long hours under direct sunlight.
- EN IEC 62311:2020 (EMF Human Radiation Assessment): Evaluates electronic equipment related to human exposure restrictions for electromagnetic fields (0 Hz – 300 GHz). Tests confirm that when a surveyor holds the rover pole or operates an AP40 receiver at close body distance, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and electromagnetic field emissions remain far below European occupational and general public safety limits.
6. Covered Models & Official Certificate Details
All flagship and standard APEKS GNSS receiver product lines are formally covered by verified Certificates of Conformity issued by accredited international testing laboratories:
| Certificate Number | Issuing Test Laboratory | Applicant & Manufacturer | Certified Product Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTT202608283 / HTT202608284 | Shenzhen HTT Technology Co., Ltd. | Shanghai Apekstool Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd. | AP40 Laser+, AP20, AP20AR, AP60 Vision, AP80 Pro |
| CKEYS250430047 | Guangdong KEYS Testing Technology Co., Ltd. | Shanghai Apekstool Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd. | AP10, AP30 Laser, AP50 Vision |
Manufacturer Information:
Shanghai Apekstool Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: D226, Xinao Creative Park, No. 350 Yindu West Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai 201612, China.
7. EU Importer & Distributor Verification Checklist
Ensure your shipment includes the manufacturer's signed EU DoC explicitly referencing Directive 2014/53/EU and the harmonized standard versions (e.g., EN 300 113 V3.1.1, EN 303 413 V1.2.1, EN IEC 62368-1:2020).
Check that the durable nameplate under the receiver base features the visible CE mark, model identifier, manufacturer address, and unique serial number matching factory calibration records.
For large municipal infrastructure or cadastral government tenders, download the complete 14-report laboratory test file pack to provide formal proof of electromagnetic and radio compliance.
Configure UHF radio channel frequencies and transmission power via the ApekSurv field software or WebUI interface to align with national radio agency allocations in your specific EU country.
8. FAQ
What is the difference between standard CE and CE-RED for GNSS equipment?
Standard CE typically covers only basic electrical safety (LVD 2014/35/EU) or electromagnetic compatibility (EMC 2014/30/EU) for non-wireless products. Because GNSS RTK receivers integrate wireless transceivers (UHF radio, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), they must comply with the Radio Equipment Directive (RED 2014/53/EU), which mandates strict radio spectrum efficiency (Article 3.2) in addition to safety and EMC.
Does the internal UHF radio in APEKS receivers comply with European regulations?
Yes. APEKS internal UHF radios are certified under ETSI EN 300 113. They support 12.5 kHz and 25 kHz channel spacing across the 410–470 MHz band, software-selectable power levels (0.5W/1W/2W), and standard European modulation protocols for legal field operation across all EU member states.
Can APEKS GNSS receivers be legally used for EU government surveying tenders?
Yes. With complete CE-RED certificates, official Declarations of Conformity, and independent test reports covering all essential requirements (Article 3.1a safety, 3.1b EMC, and 3.2 radio spectrum), APEKS equipment meets all statutory compliance requirements for European municipal, cadastral, and infrastructure tenders.
How can European distributors obtain the complete laboratory test reports?
Authorized distributors and institutional procurement clients can request the full unredacted 14-report laboratory test file pack (including EMC, UHF radio, EMF, LVD, and cellular test data) directly by contacting the APEKS compliance department.
CERTIFIED FOR EUROPE. TRUSTED WORLDWIDE.
APEKS GNSS receivers provide full CE-RED (2014/53/EU) compliance across all 14+ essential radio, safety, and EMC test standards — ensuring seamless customs clearance and proven reliability for European distributors.
Send an Inquiry → WhatsApp Us →Regulatory References & Standards
- Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (Radio Equipment Directive - RED)
- ETSI EN 300 113 V3.1.1 — Land Mobile Service; Radio Equipment for the Transmission of Data with an Integral/External Antenna
- ETSI EN 303 413 V1.2.1 — Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Receivers
- ETSI EN 301 489-1/-3/-5/-7/-17/-19/-52 — ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Standard for Radio Equipment and Services
- EN IEC 62368-1:2020+A11:2020 — Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment - Safety requirements
- EN IEC 62311:2020 — Assessment of electronic and electrical equipment related to human exposure restrictions for electromagnetic fields (0 Hz - 300 GHz)