Look for the Logos

CONSUMERS CAN MAKE INFORMED purchasing decisions by comparing the technical aspects and compatibility of their products. However, sometimes that comparison isn't easy. How one manufacturer measures performance differs with another, and consumers are left to themselves to determine which is better.

To reduce consumer confusion by making product comparison easier and to help manufacturers identify and promote their products that meet certain high performance requirements, CEA created a number of stringent, industry-developed quality measurements on a variety of products. Often these product marks are based on CEA standards or definitions and rely on self-verification by the licensee.

Mobile Amplifiers Make the Mark

Among CEA's recently released product marks are two complementary mobile electronics logos for car amplifiers and loudspeakers.

The amplifier power for mobile electronics logo indicates that a car amplifier has been tested to CEA-2006-A, Testing & Measurement Methods for Mobile Audio Amplifiers. The standard requires that the manufacturers report at least three ratings: primary power output in watts, total harmonic distortion plus noise and signal to noise ratio.

Its partner mark, the mobile loudspeaker logo, indicates that a car loudspeaker has been tested in accordance with CEA-2031, Testing and Measurement Methods for Mobile Loudspeaker Systems. CEA-2031 requires that manufacturers report the following information about the loudspeaker: cutout diameter, mounting depth, impedance in ohms and maximum rms power in watts. Also frequency response is required to be reported for those speakers that are not subwoofers.

When consumers use the information found with both logos, they can select mobile loudspeakers with power handling capabilities that are appropriate for the power output characteristics of their mobile amplifiers.

Keeping the Public Alert

CEA also has a product mark for public alert receivers. These receivers adhere to ANSI/CEA-2009-A, Performance Specification for Public Alert Receivers. The standard defines minimum performance criteria for products that receive "all hazards alert" broadcasts from the federal government's NOAA Weather Radio network. This network covers all 50 states with more than 900 transmitters that broadcast weather forecasts and emergency alerts, including alerts about child abductions, civil emergencies and chemical hazards.

The Department of Homeland Security and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have partnered to provide Public Alert receivers to all schools in the U.S. For more information, visit http://public-alert-radio.nws.noaa.gov/.

Ensuring Antenna Performance

CEA's Technology & Standards Department developed two standards on TV antenna reception.

ANSI/CEA-2028, Color Codes for Outdoor TV Receiving Antennas, defines color codes to be associated with minimum performance parameters of outdoor television (TV) receiving antennas. When used in conjunction with the CEA TV antenna selector program at www.AntennaWeb.org, these color codes can help both consumers and professional installers select appropriate outdoor TV antennas for their particular reception environments.

ANSI/CEA-2032, Indoor TV Receiving Antenna Performance Standard, defines test and measurement procedures for determining the performance of indoor TV receiving antennas.

Both of these standards have logos that let consumers identify the type of indoor or outdoor antenna that will provide them with the best television reception.

Standardizing Audio Books

CEA's Mobile Electronics Committee developed a product mark program for audio books. An audio book is any audio file or collection of audio files of primarily spoken word content that is played in a linear order. CEA has published two audio book standards, CEA-2003-C, Digital Audio Book File Format and Player Requirements, and CEA-2004, Audio Book Media and Player Compatibility.  These standards cover the media, the player and how they work together to create a great listening experience. There is a pair of product marks for audio books, one for compliant media and a companion logo for compatible players. This pair of logos indicates to a consumer that an audio book has the features described in the standards and that the player is capable of using those features.

CEA's product mark program is another way CEA is helping the industry ensure its products are interoperable and that consumers can make informed choices about their purchases. For information about CEA's product mark programs, visit www.CE.org/Standards/1438.asp or contact productmarks@ce.org V

By Megan Hayes
January/February 2007