Saturday, May 1, 2021

New FCC RF Exposure Requirements


TLDR version: Starting 3 May (next Monday!), the FCC is requiring all ham operators to make a halfway credible attempt at measuring or estimating radio wave exposure near their antennas, and then ensure that people are generally kept out of the problem areas.  In their usual way, both the FCC and ARRL have published reams of instructions on how to do this.  The broad exemptions formerly in effect for sub-100 watt equipment will no longer apply.  There is a 2 year extension from this date for existing stations, but change anything and you're right back to next Monday.

Well, you can go read all that if you wish.  For most hams though, this online calculator works fine.  Run the calculations, print them out, stuff the results into your station notebook, move on with life.  Easy, yeah.  It'll take you 15 minutes and head off trouble down the line.

If you wish to read more, here are articles at KB6NU's place and the QRPer.

For the record, the calculations have been done and W4ZNG seems well within the FCC's limits.

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