Compliance Success!

The compliance lab came back with our certificate which allows Stargraph LLC the legal ability to distribute units for beta testing and sale. This is a huge achievement that unlocks the next phase of the project. With certification in hand, we can launch our beta program and begin collecting real feedback to make sure the final product is perfect.

What is compliance?

Stargraph uses a pre-certified bluetooth module, which simplifies things! The bluetooth transmitter is already within tolerance of industry standards. But the overall circuit might be accidentally emitting radio waves.

This could happen if the wiring mixed with the signal frequency mixed with other conditions happen to product unintentional radiation. So the scope of our FCC Part 15B compliance certificate verifies that during normal operating conditions, Stargraph does not generate more signal beyond the core expected range.

The process

The certification lab sent me some fun pictures of Stargraph taped to a table at various orientations with sci-fi antenna pointed towards it. They look really cool, but I can only guess at the exact use case. Judging by the information they needed from me (how to get Stargraph into its primary operating mode), I surmise they were just sampling different radio frequencies and recording the level of waves generated.

This all happens within a giant padded chamber, by the way!

What comes next?

With the compliance certificate in-hand, the beta can begin! I'm sending out a handful of units to beta testers for real-life feedback on their experience. Once I have identified areas for improvement I'll begin iterating on the app, the on-boarding experience, and anything else that needs doing to ensure a perfect device. Just in time for the early 2026 Kickstarter!