IEC 60315-4:1997

Overview

IEC 60315-4:1997 (consolidated with AMD1:2025-12) specifies standardized methods of measurement on radio receivers for reception of frequency‑modulated (FM) sound broadcasting emissions. It applies to receivers and tuners designed for ITU Band 8 with rated maximum system deviations of ±75 kHz and ±50 kHz. The standard focuses on laboratory FM receiver test methods using radio‑frequency signals applied to the antenna terminals and defines standard measuring conditions, signal presentation and reporting.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard defines measurement procedures, accuracy and presentation for FM receiver performance parameters, including:

• Sensitivity and internal noise
  • Signal‑to‑noise ratio (weighted/unweighted), SINAD, noise‑limited and gain‑limited sensitivity, usable sensitivity and deviation sensitivity.
• Rejection of unwanted signals
  • Capture ratio, selectivity and adjacent/alternate channel rejection (two‑signal methods), rejection of IF/image frequencies, spurious responses, suppression of amplitude modulation and intermodulation products (two‑ and three‑signal methods).
• Tuning and AFC characteristics
  • Methods to evaluate tuning behavior and automatic frequency control performance.
• Interference from internal sources
  • Single‑signal whistles, modulation hum, self‑oscillations, acoustic feedback.
• Overall audio‑frequency characteristics
  • Fidelity, harmonic and intermodulation distortion, inter‑channel characteristics, crosstalk attenuation, residual output and overall audio response.
• Effects of additional modulations
  • Rejection of subband signals (16–22 kHz, 54–99 kHz), SCA (62–73 kHz) rejection, RDS interference measurement, suppression of pilot tone/subcarrier components and adjacent‑channel effects for stereophonic receivers.
• Antenna performance
  • Sensitivity, antenna gain and directional response for rod/telescopic or built‑in antennas (including measurement by absorbing clamp per CISPR 16‑1).

The document also specifies standard measuring conditions (audio‑frequency output terminals, RF signal levels at antenna terminals), power supply and environmental conditions, preconditioning, test equipment accuracy and result presentation.

Practical applications - who uses this standard

IEC 60315-4 is used by:

• Radio receiver and tuner manufacturers for design validation and production testing
• EMC and radio test laboratories performing FM receiver compliance testing
• Certification bodies and regulators for type approval and conformity assessment in broadcasting bands
• R&D and QA teams verifying sensitivity, selectivity, distortion and immunity (RDS/SCA) performance
• Broadcast equipment integrators assessing antenna gain and receiver directional response

Related standards

• IEC 60315‑1 - referenced for characteristics whose measurement methods are specified there
• CISPR 16‑1 - referenced for the absorbing clamp method used in antenna gain measurements

Keywords: IEC 60315-4, FM receiver test methods, frequency‑modulated sound broadcasting, sensitivity, selectivity, SINAD, antenna gain, RDS interference, stereophonic pilot tone, ITU Band 8.