Raspberry Pi ARM-based Linux device may be hit by further delays

The eagerly awaited Raspberry Pi single-board computer may be hit by further delays due to compliance testing, according to the Raspberry Pi Foundation and the two distributors handling sales of the device.

In an update posted on the Raspberry Pi website, the Foundation said it had originally planned to defer compliance testing until the launch of the educational version later this year.

But demand for the initial production version unveiled on 29 February has been so great that both RS Components and Premier Farnell have requested that compliance testing be brought forward.

This version is uncased, and was intended as an "engineering sample" to build expertise around the system ahead of the version destined for the education market.

As detailed by Eben Upton, founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, compliance testing ensures that electrical equipment falls within the electromagnetic emission restrictions required for devices sold with the EU.

"It is common practice for development hardware to be sold without such certification, with the proviso that it should not be considered to be a 'finished end product'," he explained.

Testing is now at an early stage, but it is not clear yet whether this will result in further delays to the Raspberry Pi units, the first batch of which are set to arrive in the UK this week according to Farnell.

"It is still too early to say what this will mean for deliveries and we hope any impact will be minimal," the distributor states in the updated FAQ on its website.

"We are working closely with the guys from the Raspberry Pi Foundation to understand how this compliance testing will impact delivery dates for our customers and the impact, if any, on future orders that were originally expected to be delivered in April, May and June," Farnell said.

RS Components has a similar FAQ on its site.

"We're working with the Raspberry Pi Foundation to manage the testing process as quickly as possible, while ensuring all tests are carried out to guarantee safety," it said.

Earlier this month, deliveries were delayed when it was discovered that the first production batch of Raspberry Pi boards had been fitted with the wrong components at the factory.


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