The Radio Frequency Testing Laboratory was set up at Széchenyi István University in 2006, to study wireless radiation and waves. István Drotár, head of the laboratory, said that the facility serves both scientific research and businesses, both manufacturers and developers.

“The most important element of the lab is the non-reflective, shielded measurement space to which a number of instruments are connected. In this chamber we can perform the tests prescribed by European Union directives. One is the EMC, or Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive, which requires all electronic industrial household appliances, from microwave ovens to floor lamps, to be subjected to a compatibility test before being placed on the market.

The other is the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), which applies to all devices that are controlled and communicated with using wireless technology. Two types of compliance testing are mandatory before applying for certification and placing on the market. One is the emission test, which shows the extent to which the device emits radiation. In addition, the extent to which it can withstand disturbances while still functioning (immunity) needs to be examined. The importance of this is easy to see: it should not happen by accident, say in a kindergarten, that the fire alarm system does not send a fire notification, because nearby children are playing with a remote controlled car operating on the same wireless communication band, which has a stronger signal,” explained István Drotár.

István Drotár

The specialist was pleased to report that the laboratory has been accredited by the National Accreditation Authority, so it can now perform not only inter-developmental support tests, but also compliance tests. According to István Drotár, there are four or five EMC-accredited laboratories in the country, but Győr is the only one in the higher education environment; true, demand is high as the number of electronic devices is increasing. At the same time, the only market-oriented RED-accredited laboratory at Széchenyi István University is not only among higher education institutions, but in the entire country.

 “All this means that the results and documents we issue are authentic, incontestable, measurable and verifiable at any time. In addition, the university background is of great value, guaranteeing independence for everyone. We are already experiencing the positive effect of obtaining accreditation in the increase in the number of orders, and we are confident that the trend will continue - detailed István Drotár. - In order to obtain accreditation, the help of many colleagues was needed: the current management of the university, who provided the basic environment and enabled continuous development, as well as the work and support of, among others, Dr Miklós Kuczmann, former Dean, Dr Gábor Borbély, Head of department, and Dr Tibor Kolos. The National Media and Communications Authority, Antenna Hungária, Huawei and MVM Net also contributed to the laboratory reaching this professional level. In addition, it is very important that we could always count on the knowledge of the Faculty and department colleagues, and thus we were able to attract students to this exciting field.”

István Drotár added that colleagues of the two other University laboratories with accreditation - the Materials Testing Laboratory and the Packaging and Environmental Testing Laboratory – acted as examples of how to achieve this certification. According to the head of the laboratory, it is also unique on an international level that there are three accredited laboratories in one institution, which also has the advantage of being able to provide support to each other and each other's customers, a wider portfolio of services and trustworthy additional competencies, all of which strengthens internal collaboration.

“All of this strengthens the service university on both the business and academic sides. There is no real research if there is no real laboratory environment that businesses, manufacturers and developers can connect to,” said István Drotár, noting that the laboratory provides a solid background for diverse research on 5G at the Digital Development Centre, also supported by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, with which to meet society’s needs.