Assistive Listening Knowledge Base
  • International standard

IEC 61603-2:1997 Transmission of audio and/or video and related signals using infra-red radiation, Part 2: Transmission systems for audio wide band and related signals

From https://assistivelisteningknowledgebase.org/evidence/iec-61603-2-1997/ · record checked 13 October 2026

  • IEC Subcommittee 100C (Equipment and systems in the field of audio, video and audiovisual engineering)
  • International Electrotechnical Commission (webstore abstract and publisher's preview)

Standards body (International Electrotechnical Commission; the full text is sold, while the abstract and a preview of the first pages are free)

Summary

The international standard for measuring and specifying wideband audio infrared transmission systems; one assistive listening maker cites its band and channel definitions. Only the abstract and first pages are public.

Key findings

  • Gives methods for measuring and specifying the characteristics of wideband audio infrared systems not covered by Part 1, so that systems using the available bandwidth differently can be described and conclusions drawn about interference and compatibility.
  • Replaces chapter 1 of IEC 764, which covered only two carrier frequencies for analogue audio and nothing on digital audio.
  • Says radiators normally consist of infrared diodes with peak emission between 830 and 950 nm and an infrared bandwidth of about 100 nm. It defines wideband audio as bandwidth sufficient for reproduction to resemble natural sound; a note ties this to a minimum upper frequency of 12.5 kHz and includes digital audio up to about 20 kHz.
  • Is to be read with IEC 1147 (IEC 61147), a 1993 technical report on preventing interference between infrared systems. Its contents list sections on channel allocations and modulation, rated signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity, whose requirements are in the paid text.
  • First edition, prepared by IEC subcommittee 100C; the webstore lists 35 pages, a consolidated version with Amendment 1 (2004), and a stability date of 2038.
  • The catalogue lifecycle metadata dates the first edition to 28 February 1997, Amendment 1 to 7 April 2004 and consolidated edition 1.1 to 17 May 2004. These are publication dates; the amendment requirements were not read.

Limits

Only the webstore abstract and the free preview (cover, contents, foreword, scope, normative references and the first definitions) were read; the preview file was published by VDE Verlag. The channel allocations and all requirements were not read. The preview says nothing about sunlight, receivers or assistive listening by name.

Read the original

webstore.iec.ch/publication/5656

Link checked . We link to the original and do not host copies.

Cited in

Cite this source

IEC Subcommittee 100C (Equipment and systems in the field of audio, video and audiovisual engineering). IEC 61603-2:1997 Transmission of audio and/or video and related signals using infra-red radiation, Part 2: Transmission systems for audio wide band and related signals. International Electrotechnical Commission (webstore abstract and publisher's preview). 28 February 1997. https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/5656 (accessed 13 October 2026).

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