\n<\/p>\n
The mystery \u201cValve 1030\u201d<\/a> that went through South Korea\u2019s National Radio Research Agency has now been definitively identified as a Steam Deck, and it\u2019s our first proof the hardware\u2019s potentially close enough to release to justify showing it to regulators.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Quectel filed for a Class II Permission Change to simply allow its certified Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth chip, the FC66E,<\/a> to retroactively work in a new Steam Deck, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s a clever technique \u2014 as you can see in the document above, Valve\u2019s supplier is able to argue that the new Steam Deck has a weaker antenna than other devices (presumably laptops, desktops and tablets) that use the chip, so its radio emissions don\u2019t need to be retested. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Does this mean that the new Steam Deck is a minor refresh that only adds Wi-Fi 6E? I very much doubt that<\/em>. In fact, Wi-Fi 6E might not be a supported new feature at all \u2014 South Korea only certified the device for 5GHz Wi-Fi<\/a>, not 6GHz Wi-Fi, despite the country approving unlicensed use of the 6GHz band back in 2020. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Valve can hide whatever new features it likes behind the Wi-Fi chip certification because these agencies only tend to regulate radio emissions, not other specs. I have a few ideas<\/a> for what Valve should include next.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I have to admit it could simply be an existing Steam Deck with a refreshed radio chip if its previous supplier, Realtek, ran out. But Valve wouldn\u2019t have to cook up a new \u201c1030\u201d model for that, would it? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n