Recently, I got in touch with Bill Baker of ISS regarding the Range Extender. We got talking of other things, and he appeared interested (at least somewhat) in the certification process for Canada.
Today, I was browsing around the web, and discovered that Industry Canada will accept FCC testing for the purposes of certifying radio equipment in Canada. Additional testing in Canada may be required depending on the differences between Canadian and U.S. rules.
Considering that Part 15 AM and RSS210 AM are identical, ISS (and other manufacturers) should be able to just submit the testing done for the FCC and obtain RSS210 certification (which is what the ProCaster and Talking Sign were certified under). I'm not sure whether that would be done through a certification body, or directly to Industry Canada.
I will be contacting Bill Baker with that information. That should simplify the certification process immensely if he was serious about bringing the product to Canada.
And while IC certification is necessary to sell a transmitter in Canada, I have to wonder if it is strictly necessary if you just want to use a Part 15 certified AM transmitter. You could certainly put forward a good argument that if FCC certification is good enough to get something certified in Canada (for selling purposes), it should be good enough for using purposes.
Based on my communication with industry Canada and being read the riot act and shown in writing in the rules, any transmitter can't be used here unless it is in the Industry Canada radio equipment certification look up section. I even gave an example....the Talking House transmitter, with FCC certification, no license needed, and operating the same as RSS-210 rules it still is not acceptable here(Canada) and it's considered importing and using an unauthorized transmitter. Of course it doesn't make sense! I sent them the web site for it and asked can I use this here and no was the answer and sent me the document in the rules about it. The most important thing they care about if you ever get inspected is whether(FM or AM), is it in the radio equipment look up page and certified for use here. I as you know use the BETS-1 Decade but just gave the Talking House as an example for my inquiry.
Basically, according to that only the Procaster for AM is good here, none others. Using a part 15 certified transmitter is not accepted but if you can find out different with it in writing with a name of an official with Industry Canada I'd sure like to see it!
Agree fully that if it's part 15 approved and the same regulation applies here exactly as part 15, why isn't it accepted here? Makes sense. Or doesn't make sense, however you look at it.