FCC Requires RF Radiation Exposure Calculation, ARRL Calculator Reviewed By Jim W6LG Ham Radio Elmer

[@75ohmHAM]

This is the beginning of the end of ham radio, this is not for us, it is a test of compliance

[@johnpeterson7264]

Great explanation ! Thanks ! I do wish the ARRL had some additional presets in its calculator to allow one to select antenna type such that e.g. “end fed half wave” or “vertical monopole “ would show up on the printed form.I also agree - a printed antenna emission chart would be great.

[@loctite222ms]

Makes me wonder what the RF exposure is of someone holding their I-phone up to their head. Especially someone claiming they are "RF sensitive."

[@n2rj]

I explained this in two of my three videos about the topic - they use a measurement called SAR where they have a human analogue and the cell phone is attached to it. There is a robot that measures the exposure at various points then software averages it out. It's very expensive for radio amateurs and we aren't expected to do that.

[@loctite222ms]

@@n2rj Oh, I get that. I'm just wondering if some of these alleged RF sensitive types use cell phones not realizing they are RF devices. I'm guessing that exposure is higher than what a 100 watt transmitter into a dipole 100 feet away is.

[@n2rj]

@@loctite222ms a lot of them don’t. Some even moved out to the national radio quiet zone in West Virginia.

[@spaceflight1019]

​@@loctite222ms I'm going to have to see if you can get a government check for alleged "RF sensitivity". In that case, no cell phone, no internet router, nothing that uses or generates RF energy, including utility meters.

[@timgoad5750]

The ARRL needs to add more antenna types to the list of choices such as random wires, loops horizontal or vertical, etc.

[@n2rj]

Random wire is impractical as gain and pattern are all over the place

[@ham-radio]

Hi Tim, there are many studies of wire antennas. Find one that is close and use the max gain. For example, it is a long wire that is one wavelength, I would estimate at 3dBi. For 2 wavelengths, maybe 4dBi. At 3 lambda maybe 5dBi. For a loop maybe 3dB more. A little research will help you estimate. I would use the max gain that you think it likely and then go from there. At reasonable power levels and transmit times, you will likely comply with the FCC and have data that would be presentable at a meeting in City Hall. As you well know, feedline losses can be huge depending on whether or not you use a window line or something similar. If you need some help, let me know. Thanks for watching Tim. 73, Jim

[@spaceflight1019]

I use a 1/2 wave end fed vertical on 10/11 meters. Since it's not listed I'll assume that I'm exempt from this.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Jim, Nicely done video. Have you seen any of the videos where the ham was told to cease operations because they thought he was interfering with an insulin pump of a woman a few doors down the street. The news organisation has shown no proof he was even operating during times when the pump was not acting normally. An Australian ham looked at the pump manufactures website on that model pump and there have been recalls on that model for that very reason. The attitude is blame the first person that comes to mind. You and the wife stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@ham-radio]

Private email from me to you in a few. 73, Jim

[@patriot7083]

My True story. Me: “Your honor, I swear that my 147MHz ham radio transmitting 140 watts ERP on FM caused the police officer’s radar to be inaccurate. Judge: “Son, I don’t give a damn about any ham radio. Guilty as charged.”

[@k5edd128]

Smiling! Thanks Jim, always a pleasure to watch your videos. Guess they don't factor in the height above ground. If your antenna is 60' above ground and in my case 50 feet above my neighbors house since they are below the hill from me by 10 or more feet, well you see where I am going. All my neighbors are a good 200 feet or more from me. I have to look at the form and see. Bet the same RF sensitive person has a cell phone and spends hours a day on it.

[@n2rj]

Sort of. They do the worst case. But you can actually go and input the gain of various lobes in 3D space. This is explained in the "RF Exposure and you" book.

[@dougtaylor7724]

Thank you for converting all this confusion into English for the typical ham. On a side note, thank you God for letting me live on 12 acres in Alabama with the closest neighbor at 200 feet.

[@fredflintstone8048]

Jim - Thank you for doing this video. I for one appreciate your experience and your very good advice. I agree with the idea of not letting local officials see any more than they need to see which might open the doors to all sorts of micromanagement on their part. We need to keep in mind that they're always on the lookout for additional sources of income for theirs as well as other local agencies in the way of permits, fines, etc.

[@tantrispicks2440]

After reconsideration I'm taking your advice to heart about being a smart-ass. They could always call the FCC to come in, or worse. Anyway, it just took a minute to run worst-case calcs on the bands and modes in which I operate, and they all come out under 2 ft for minimum distance. Thanks for the advice Jim. Great video as always. 73's, David AJ6RE

[@spaceflight1019]

I have no problem with a knowledgeable official inspecting my station. Asking "what does this do?" would result in the termination of the inspection.

[@artriddle1]

Thank you Jim. I have a better understanding of RF Exposure. Clearly, this is very complicated considering most Hams are not continuously broadcasting. Where as, there is a 5g Antenna out side of my bedroom that is pumping RF 24/7. I was involved in a court case against a Power Company. The power company expert stated that the power lines were insulated by air and won. Power lines pump out so much RF and their are no actions against them. Where do I file a complaint? 73s

[@kevinmccool3719]

Big power companies pay off the judges and always win their case. He probably was given free electricity for life as well. Your fight will go absolutely nowhere, you don't stand a chance against the criminal element running the country.

[@johnoriel4241]

Power lines do not radiate electromagnetic energy. The net sum of current through a transmission line at any point along the line is zero. Forward current in each wire is balanced by an equal and opposite current in the other wires, so the electromagnetic fields around them, taken together, cancel each other out. The only energy they do radiate is a small amount of heat caused by the resistance of the conductors. If power lines did radiate energy, the electric power industry as we know it would likely not exist for economic reasons.

[@johnturner5691]

@@johnoriel4241 I don't agree power lines from the 60s supporting more electric load especially from 5g towers everywhere that do broadcast 24/7 at way more power than they say the powerlines do put off a field the more draw the bigger the field and put towers in that equation WE ARE BEING COOKED and murdered with cancer ..don't believe anything this lying government says...

[@spaceflight1019]

​@@johnoriel4241 They must radiate something because you can stand beneath a 138 kV transmission line with a fluorescent tube and it will illuminate.

[@johnoriel4241]

@@spaceflight1019 If you're in the near field there's a significant difference in the distances from you to each conductor, but as you move away farther, the distances are about equal, so fields around the individual conductors cancel each other out. If that were not true, transmission lines wouldn't work anywhere near as efficiently as they do.

[@AndrejaKostic]

It's quite interesting to see how simplified the situation is in the US. I'm in Germany right now, and an RF Exposure declaration is needed above 10 W EIRP, but amateur radio operators have an exception, so only calculations are needed, and no measurements need to be done. The Federal Network Agency here (which also regulates RF) has its own calculator which simplifies things, but, for example, it actually uses NEC models of antennas to do the calculations (and comes with a large database of antennas popular here, plus common coax types for loss calculation), the height of the antenna as well as the azimuth are taken into account. The values for modulation duty cycles come from the EN 50413 standard, and the transmit/receive times are based on a 6 minute time unit. It's also quite interesting to see the differences between the distances. For a 2x5 m dipole on 20 m band, 10 m off the ground and with 100 W PEP input power into the antenna, the minimum distance from the feedpoint would be some 2.6 m.

[@n2rj]

we used to have exemptions based on power. Now you either calculate an exemption based on power and distance or. you do an evaluation. The evaluation is only slightly more complex than the evaluation. So it's best to just do the evaluation. (I explained this in my video about the topic back in late April).

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

That was a really good video. Thank you. One question that I have, is, that MW saturation calculation is only at that particular safe /unsafe distance correct? So, if somebody is pumping 1500 W out, and the safe distance is, say, 5 feet… And they (think they) are RF sensitive at anything over whatever mw, well, it seems that a few more feet away would do the trick. How many people are going to be straddling the antenna while you're transmitting? Most neighbors houses are going to be 15 or 20 feet away at a very minimum, so its a non issue, right? I have set for a long time that the only time people really need to be concerned, is when they're pumping more than 100w into an antenna located inside the house. Or if you are running an amp in your car. (And no, I have not made any calculations yet, so I could be wrong on these points, I'm just going with what I have always understood).

[@2SD251Jim]

Great video Jim.....73's from Ohio NX8T JIM

[@aramb]

Great video, Jim! My only station currently is a portable HF radio with max power listed as 20W. Was unclear how to rate the antenna "gain" for MFJ ham sticks, so wrote the mfg. They gave me a number and that's what I used in the calculator. You can't actually stand close enough to the antenna to exceed max exposure at those power levels!

[@ham-radio]

Yes Ron you can. The ham stick is not efficient and the wavelength is very long. Exposure is limited and not heating and not ionizing. 73, Jim W6LG

[@aramb]

@@ham-radio I meant ... "with it actually mounted in the center of the car roof" ;-) I'm sure I could hug it and get an unhealthy dose, and maybe a shock...

[@ham-radio]

@@aramb Honestly, I don't think either will happen. The ERP and the frequency really are not in the range to do anything to you. Thanks for the question and the discussion. 73, Jim W6LG

[@spaceflight1019]

This discussion is the modern day version of the old TVI/RFI bugaboo. It was common for hams and CB ops to get blamed for interference when they weren't home. Some people move into a neighborhood and just don't like your antennas. They are like the people who moved in and began complaining about the power station that's been there for 50 years.

[@stelluspereira]

Always Enjoyed your calm & pleasant way of explaining, keep up the good work sir

[@tantrispicks2440]

ARRL: "...For stations already in place, that evaluation must be completed by May 3, 2023." I might just tell them to come back in a couple of years. David AJ6RE

[@spaceflight1019]

Yeah, maybe we'll actually have an ionosphere worthy of the name by then.

[@mikeoswald8053]

A well balanced and very helpful explanation. I did the calculations for both 100 & 600 watts (my max output) and then put the results on an Excel spreadsheet. I have a printout copy in my station log should I need to show the results. Always a pleasure to spend a moment with you OM. 73 AA7MO

[@VictoriaSetili]

How do you get an inspection if someone is making people sick with rf and emf

[@davidhollfelder9940]

Did I not see a choice for a 5/8 vertical?

[@mitchelrowe7363]

*THOSE ARE MY RECEIVE ANTENNAS BUDDY... I TRANSMIT INTO THAT HEATHKIT CANTENNA ON THE FLOOR*

[@twohandsandaradio]

They don't need to see your station.... Under §97.103, Station licensee responsibilities, section (c) states, The station licensee must make the station and the station records available for inspection upon request by an FCC representative. You are correct in they don't "need" to but they can. Wonder how this will apply to portable operations.

[@ham-radio]

I think that either you did not understand what I was saying or I said it wrong. The FCC does have every right to see, inspect, test, whatever, at our stations. The local authorities do not have those rights. They are not the ones who issued the license. As I said, the chances of the FCC visiting are very very small. The chance of someone like a "Code Enforcement Officer" visiting is very likely if they have received a bunch of complaints (as in my case). 73, Jim

[@twohandsandaradio]

@@ham-radio now you explained who "they" were and you are correct. Code enforcement doesn't need in your house. Without explaining who "they" were as you originally quoted you lead a newer ham to believe the FCC doesn't need to. You were a bit vague and I pointed that out. 73.

[@ham-radio]

Thanks. Vague comes with some of the medications that I am taking which are powerful and have tons of side effects. Those drugs were before a bone marrow biopsy a week ago. Two reports confirm cancer that has caused severe anemia and low white counts too. I am in isolation and grateful for ham radio as a way to keep talking to friends around the world. 73, Jim

[@g0fvt]

FWIW we have recently had this introduced in the UK, I have not compared the limits to the US but the RSGB website does have an easy to use calculator. Ours is similar in that we are not currently expected to submit the documents, but to keep them archived. Mine are on my computer, which is all that is required but I may do hard copies, sadly that means a lot of printing, every antenna on every band etc etc. I must admit that I am concerned that the limits might arbitrarily drop by 10dB or more in the future. Like you I once was the one to be knocking on doors, so I like to be ahead of the curve for this. We also have the ballpark "mode factors" which are integrated over a period of 6 minutes. 73

[@Subgunman]

What about the height above local ground level? If one is running a 3 element up a 90 foot tower? From what I see their calculations do not take elevation above local ground level. I am a Ham but I cut my teeth in military comms and commercial radio and even though in average we are using VHF, UHF and higher frequencies elevation does play a role in exposure to RF energy. As for the military running HF comms, in my time very little was emphasized on RF exposure mitigation. What about comms on board a modern Hummve? Those two sticks on the butt of the vehicle really do a good job of nuking the occupants inside. Can we get the FCC to get on the Air Force and their e- countermeasures pods? There is some very serious RF radiated by the equipment within. Yeah I know when you put your John Hancock on that dotted line your butt belongs to our Uncle Sam and there is very little we can do until that DD214 hits our mailbox.

[@timbacchus]

Thank you for this I have not seen a demo like this any where else. 73s

[@Graimthu1]

Does the FCC require an Amateur operator to provide an RF radiation calculation to local officials or neighbors if requested?

[@ham-radio]

Sorry for the long delay. I have cancer in my blood 3 ways which makes it difficult some times. The prognosis is not good and I am doing my best to forge ahead. I had emergency surgery a week ago and the stay in the hospital was terrible. To answer your question based upon my experience as a employee of 2 Counties in CA, NO, it does not have to be provided. It can be provided with limited detail. Providing may lead to a misunderstanding. My answer would be that I am in compliance. Period. If you want to come out to my house and measure, you certainly can to that from off of my property. You do not have permission to enter my property. Property is defined as land and improvements. The FCC under the terms of grant of my license can enter without permission and measure whatever they want to. Other Federal agencies can use that permission with the aid of the FCC. States, cities and counties do not have that permission without a warrant from a Judge. All of that is very unlikely if not almost impossible. It is very difficult for ham radio equipment to exceed the limits. The whole thing is folly and generated to make a few people satisfied. Happy Holidays and 73, Jim W6LG

[@Graimthu1]

@@ham-radio Thank you for being the one and only you and for being a Ham radio knowledge blessing to so many people-especially me.

[@ham-radio]

@@Graimthu1 Thanks. Webb is a common name in my DNA matches and family tree on Ancestry.com. Who knows? 73, Jim Heath W6LG

[@henningmikkelsen5077]

A very good video - this calculation can also be used here in Denmark. Can you state the section of part 15 where this new rule is stated, to read more 73 OZ4XF Henning

[@n8sdr473]

Hello JIM, Lets suppose in a situation like mine, where I and a few neighbors live within 700-800 feet of a 24 hour 1KW am broadcast station (single Antenna 1KW continuous no drop in nighttime hours and there 100-130% modulated ). Who would get the blame- after all I am not on air in a TX mode for 24Hr 7 days a week 365 a year- the AM broadcast station is.. Curious how this would be handled..

[@spaceflight1019]

Whoever has the worst lawyer gets the blame...

[@teddean7763]

Great video Jim very useful information to those hams closed to a neighbor thinking your creating a unhealthy conditions to them, and have the proof behind you that your not the problem, also pointing the finger a those following the rules. Thanks Jim keep those great video coming. ...

[@MichaelLloyd]

I live 6 miles from town. My closest neighbor is 1/4 to 1/2 mile away. My antenna is literally a 160m dipole weaved in between the roof deck and rafters (invisible from the outside). I mostly operate FT8 under 50W from 160m to 6m. Sometimes CW. Sometimes higher wattage depending on the band. I am more concerned with RF exposure to me than a neighbor. With all of that in mind I'll still do the calc.

[@DK5ONV]

Happy sunday to you, Jim!

[@davep6977]

Let them check. My lowest antenna is 45 feet above ground and 30 feet inside my property line. If I'm talking on the radio, does that make me "radio-active" ?

[@daveN2MXX]

Great advice...thanks for the video! Your life experience is much more valuable compared to many other videos from "experts" who really don't know what they are talking about. 73

[@marknesselhaus4376]

Thank you for this information. I have been rather inactive for several years but plan on getting my very low power QRP HF station back on the air. With my antenna feed power in the 1 watt range and a dipole I doubt I would ever have a issue but glad for your input on this calculator and the FCC rules. De WA4JAT

[@spaceflight1019]

This is just practice. Once enough of us have tested this calculator the FCC will launch its own version and its information will be kept in a file with our license information. This is becoming necessary because the number of interference complaints to home biomedical equipment is increasing. As long as my neighbor was bedridden I was a SWL at home.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

If you want to know why younger people have no respect for legal bureaucracy, just watch the first 5 minutes of this video.

[@survivabill5206]

Yep. The absolute best thing would be for nosy Karen neighbors and city workers to do would be to mind their own business and keep out of mine. If I'm not hurting anyone...if someone is hurting but can't prove that I'm the one hurting them...then I just want to be left alone!

[@kelvin0mql]

I'm RF insensitive. If my neighbor thinks my station is making them hear voices in their head, I don't care. ~heheheh~

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

Tell them to enjoy the conversation, right?

[@kelvin0mql]

@@BlueRidgeCritter I should be giving them suggestions… see how that goes.

[@qzh00k]

The two reasons for these limits, health and safety or FCC spectrum management requirements. Neither of these get fair debate, and a global industry is making you all pay for it. A distraction from their spectrum use and power outputs. Great talk, thanks.

[@spaceflight1019]

If you really want to get scared read about the spectrum requirements for the proposed 6G system.

[@qzh00k]

@@spaceflight1019 scared isn't the word I would use, much prefer educated because these things matter. And fighting from fear can lead to mistakes. But yeh, lets hope people making these decisions show all the facts, or RISKS. Or liabilities. TY

[@robertvandersanden]

Hi Jim, I’m wondering how (in)correct these calculations are? The resulting safe distance even at higher power is well within a fraction of a wavelength (near field). If you are near the open ends of a dipole the voltage and thus the electric field is much higher than at the center, where there is a stronger magnetic field (less harmful). It seems to me that they assume a point source here which is of course not the case. Also things like a null in the radiation pattern makes no sense when at the same time you are standing close to the high voltage end of the antenna wire. I wonder what your thoughts are on this? In my country (Netherlands) the authorities base the exposure and safe distance also on the electric near field of the antenna. According to the ARRL calculator I should stay 1.5in. away from the antenna (I run QRP) but based on the electric field at the end of my EFHW I should stay 15in. away. Quite a difference, certainly when you would run >1kW.

[@ham-radio]

HI Robert, There are many errors possible with the ARRL calculator. In some cases it gives the wrong answer. Some times it has the distance, as you point out, backwards. for now, we just have to live with the algorithm and massage the input to get the result that we need. Thanks Robert and 73, JIm W6LG

[@packrat2569]

Thanks Jim, this is a very useful explanation. 73.

[@SgtBooker44]

Awesome advice Jim 73’s Roger, KJ6IEZ over in Foresthill.

[@j.d.schultzsr.9215]

Is anybody concerned about all the RF with we are constantly bathed? My friend showed me his cellphone screen showing the MASS of RF in the restaurant. When was the last time you saw wait-staff with a pencil and pad? Meter reader? Pay phone? Incandescent light bulb? Wrote a check at the checkout? My boat anchor often made my UN-PLUGGED printer type when I keyed CW on 80M. My 2008 car's AM radio is useless after dark, because of all the LED lighting. When I purchased a new high-efficiency toilet, I was surprised that it did not have a "part 15 notice" enclosed. I am not averse to reasonable RF exposure precautions. The last licensing exam I took , W A Y back in the last Century, included a question or two about RF exposure. 73, W8IMP JD Las Cruces New Mexico USA

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

All those things have something in common - big $$$ behind them. Be a source of the dough, and (in the voice of a game show announcer) "You, too, can win a 'Get Out Of Jail Free Without Calculations!" card. It's just us lowly radio spectrum parasites that must earn our keep.

[@archangel_one]

Imagine law enforcement/police RF exposure calculations, it would be off the charts!

[@bro.weaver1282]

CB'ers really need to do the RF REC!!!!

[@kingduckford]

50 kilowatt carrier, 12 beam Yagi, and a high duty cycle from screaming the same nonsense into their power microphone over and over again, I would think they would be required to keep quite a distance, some of them. Then again, some of those guys look and talk as if they have had WAY too much RF in their days.

[@ericzerkle5214]

@@kingduckford Take out every other electronic device in a 5 mile radius! Those clowns are why CB is useless!!!

[@spaceflight1019]

I read a story about a shootout some years ago. When the contestants keyed up every video camera (remember those?) ejected the tape cassette and stopped working. That's a pretty good indication that you're being cooked.

[@n1kkri]

Great job, thanks. It looks like hams have nothing to fear.

[@cliffyoung5712]

I just calculated mine at 1500 watts with 6db of gain. The OFCD is higher than the required distance. However i am gonna put a fence at 30ft around the 43ft vertical. That should cover everything until the tower goes up.

[@Davidjb37721]

Did technicians get privileges for 80 m and if so when can I start using it thanks

[@ham-radio]

I don't know. 73, Jim

[@Davidjb37721]

@@ham-radio thanks

[@brucesteele3052]

I retired from work requiring audits and regulation reviews. I practiced being truthful and did not try to hide anything. Most inspectors will help guide you through better practices. As you suggest, Jim, stay in control and know how to present the facts in lay terms.

[@ham-radio]

Thank Bruce. I think that is why I was in demand for court; simple words, looking at the Jury or the Judge, and short answers. 73, Jim

[@RedneckRepairs]

I note that it asks for transmit/receive times..indicating that the exposure is cumulative? Where is the data point for hours per day? It seems to me that the calculation implies that one would be transmitting for 1 minute, receiving for two minutes...for 24 hour a day cycles? Most people only use their equipment occasionally. Even a retired person has to sleep, eat, use the restroom, go shopping. No one is hammering on their equipment nonstop during a 24 hour period. That seems like an important data point to include, as the time seems to be relevant, but no mention of hours per day is indicated.

[@ham-radio]

You and others have asked those questions and I think I will do a second video using your questions in part of it. The FCC set up this situation by making, as I understand it, everyone do the same calculation. A sort of one size fits all. I think the ARRL has tried to adapt that to us and did so in a less that stellar result. i am going to leave my YT site and go try the ARRL calculator with some of the things that you have so clearly pointed out as issues. Thanks for writing some good questions. 73, Jim

[@sincerelyyours7538]

Thanks Jim, that calculator could be useful as I set up my new station. Any idea what the gain of a Tuned Magnetic Loop Antenna is? Is it the same as a Delta Loop or not?

[@ham-radio]

No idea. My guess, just a wild guess, at least 3dB down. 73, JIm

[@thestonerguy5276]

This is at the bottom of the ARRL RF Calc Intructions page: Small mag loops are particularly difficult to calculate their near field RF exposure. See the ARRL Antenna book, Chapter 5 "Loop Antennas", section 5.3 "Small Transmitting Loops" and Table 5.5 on page 5.19. (I haven't looked at the Table yet)

[@thomasmaughan4798]

Jim's reply is pretty good. A reasonably well made Small Magnetic Loop is about 3 db down from a dipole. It can also be a lot less than that if your conductors aren't sufficient in diameter. That is to say, it makes a big difference if you use 1/4 inch copper tubing versus 1/2 inch copper tubing and you want the loop to encompass more area rather than less. Two turns will resonate at a particular frequency but if you can open the loop at the same frequency it will work much better, more than twice better. On the other hand, a magloop antenna will outperform a dipole in circumstances such as you cannot get the dipole high enough in the air.

[@randallsizemore4406]

Thanks very nuch, for a very informative video. You make it easy to understand.

[@ham-radio]

Glad it was helpful! 73, Jim ....there is more for me to do in a subsequent video.

[@metatechnologist]

Really good video. Thank you. Rf exposure is the last thing we need to worry about. The only rf exposure we need to worry about is sunburn imo. Edit: Just an FYI and maybe the topic of another video, but you can buy a pendant to help with those pesky RF problems. They're made from "shieldite" or "shungite." You know, crystals! Or my personal favorite "Orgonite." Just so people know what's driving conversations now!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKO9eHZrq9WCbKc

[@wolfhawg]

Your explanation is just about what the country is coming to.

[@ham-radio]

It is. 73, Jim

[@SgtBooker44]

If the local jurisdiction knocks on your door, you could ask them to come back in 10 days after your COVID quarantine. LOL

[@ham-radio]

Actually, in my case now, it may be months due to a medical situation where I have to stay isolated until we can improve my blood counts. In any case, they have no right to come in. That visit could lead to other issues. So, the answer is a polite no and have a nice day sir or mam. 73, Jim

[@patriot7083]

Great video. The RF calculation requirement seems ridiculous unless you live next door to a “Karen”. This requirement is a good and easy defense mechanism for hams against Karen. Since only I possess the information about how long I transmit, how often, at what power, and at what frequency, I can play this game. After operating on all bands for decades I know from experience about what is safe. Newer hams may not understand this as well and could use this calculation to improve safety. In my case, I won’t waste my time filling out the form until AFTER some “inspector” makes an appointment. I totally agree we should NOT complain about this requirement or we may be mandated to log ALL of this information with date and time for every transmission.

[@spaceflight1019]

A meaningful interaction would require a knowledgeable official and they will have to agree with the information you're putting into the calculator, otherwise the phrase "we respectfully disagree" enters the conversation.

[@km6yss-daveincaldwellid601]

Great video Jim! Thanks for posting.

[@bille3rd]

Great video explanation! Great job as always! 73 from your WV friend, W1WRE.

[@billmoran3812]

This calculator seems to be aimed more at HF stations than VHF and higher. This seems to contradict with the physics that RF exposure effects are greater at higher frequencies.

[@n2rj]

There's actually a graph showing the variances in OET65B, and. the ARRL docs.

[@jrjr1273]

Great presentation once again. Thank You. 73’s

[@chuckrann9784]

Thank you Jim.

[@paulhastings3109]

Thank you Jim. Is the ARRL Still gonna represent us to the FCC. Or is it just all about the money. Hope this finds you well Jim 73 Paul

[@NebukedNezzer]

when I do this my situation is so safe its not a problem for anyone.

[@stater3]

My cousin's neighbor asked him about his vertical delta loop And he told him he listens to the BBC, shortwave listener.

[@ham-radio]

You bet and the BBC is the best in the world. 73, Jim

[@bruceblosser2040]

If there is no current safety and engineering report, made by CalTrans, on any road, except interstate freeways, then any police speeding ticket is inadmissible in court! This is the law!

[@kevinmccool3719]

Ever had the local city police who use 800 mhz p25 digital come by your house to tell you that your 12 watt pep ssb cb on 27.385 was causing interference on their radio system? Unmodified early 80's old uniden grant xl 40 channel ssb cb into a 1/4 wave ground plane up 25 feet. Even had a good quality low pass filter in line, everything grounded etc... They clearly lie to you, only to find out a neighbor called to report rfi on her ancient 70's tv set with rabbit ears. When the police arrived they saw my antenna and concocted a story about interference by me on their 800 mhz system and they threatened arrest if I didn't stop. Neighbors old tv finally died and got much newer set plus cable and never heard from police again. They would slowly drive past my house often looking for 800 mhz interference which all along was due to a early system and poorly installed equipment on their end.

[@ham-radio]

That was my neighbor too. An old TV with, yes, rabbit ear antenna. Crap. She went around the neighborhood complaining and seeking support. Two others helped her complain. There is no way you could cause interference for many reasons. 73, Jim

[@dieselscience]

*DO NOT open the door* is the _BEST ANSWER_ for anything. If they have a warrant for WHATEVER reason, they'll kick the door in. Anyone wanting to 'inspect' the antenna can do 100% of it outside the house. *BTW* "...power AT THE antenna" is NOT what the radio and/or amplifier power is at the output jack. There is ALWAYS loss in the cable.... your mileage may vary, do your own arithmetic. 😉

[@Songwriter376]

I think this is just the beginning.

[@RevGunn-jq3cq]

Hell no!!! No warrant no lookie !!!!

[@curtstacy779]

Yeah, don't complain!? Just do it. That's how we protect all of our freedoms. Don't worry they won't take it way

[@k5rmj]

Very Good Jim. Thanks

[@amateurshooter6054]

Thanks Jim well done 73 AB7RR Bob

[@jeepien]

Another stupid error: the symbol for a watt is W not w. So the mw/cm² should be mW/cm². Somehow they got dB right.

[@ham-radio]

OMG, I missed that. Thanks! For the ARRL, a publisher, to miss that is really hard to understand. I am tempted to rewrite their instructions. But right now i don't have the time or the energy. I am still recovering from the bone biopsy 2 days ago. Boy, that hurt. 73, Jim

[@jeepien]

@@ham-radio Jim, I have had several of those. The last one done by a trainee! OMG! I feel your pain! 73, Gary, AK2QJ

[@OutlawNix]

If someone in my town did had 1500watt ham station setup. I don't see my town coming to the front door knocking asking for info about it. Matter of fact the people who works for our small is very lazy. You got better luck getting blood from a rock then getting the town people to do anything like clean the town up.

[@ham-radio]

It took justs a few days and 4 complaints that were dishonest after I put up the small tubular tower and small yagi. I understand what you are saying. Thank you, Jim

[@axandio]

Government sucks. Vote for less government. That is all. Support the ARRL. They fight for us in Washington. People have asked on FB "why should there be an ARRL or what are they good for....." THIS sort of stuff at least at the Federal level where things do start.

[@survivabill5206]

Not to mention that the Constitution should be the SUPREME law of the land that bind any and all gov agencies - including the FCC! Why is it that the FCC is allowed to just enter your house without a warrant to check your radio equipment? Because, and this is simple, they don't respect the Constitution - namely the 4th amendment! And folks allow all manner of gov intrusion and trampling of our rights in the name of being "law abiding citizens." News flash - the founding fathers that we all supposedly look up to weren't "law abiding citizens." At the time, they were criminals and traitors against England. Had the US lost, we'd be reading history VERY differently right now. And don't look to the ARRL to help you. They are FCC lap dogs who roll over, legs up, for a belly rub from the FCC.

[@ralphl220]

Your a great mentour. Thank you

[@ham-radio]

Thank you. I hope to continue for as long as I can to add videos with some quality to the presentation. 73, Jim

[@kevingary7018]

The process of calculating RF exposure using the ARRL Calculator seems to be somewhat of a guessing game.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

It is a pretty good guess. The characteristics of many different kinds of antenna are well understood; without knowledge of which radio itself would be a guessing game.

[@rogerlafrance6355]

This is not so much about the FCC as it is their being required to incorporate other agencies rules and regulations, OSHA, CDC, FAA and such. FAA is an other example. Antenna structures 20 ft above an existing structure require that a TOWAIR be filed with the FAA. Legal liability and the responsibility of government agencies is the issue. A number of broadcast engineers widows have filed lawsuits claiming RF radiation as the cause in the past. Also, some states have their own rules that need to be considered.

[@3dPrint_and_chill]

It would be interesting to do the calculation for the WiFi and cell phone for the people who are "RF sensitive" 🙄

[@ham-radio]

A woman did say exactly that while holding her cellphone. To put HF to UHF in that same category is wrong. And that is why I made those graphics. They could easily say, "... if you don't like 45 how about 15 Mr. Heath?" 73, Jim

[@3dPrint_and_chill]

@@ham-radio I'm not sure why the FCC has suddenly become worried about hams emissions while allowing other wireless devices to run rampant! It's insanit. Also RF is non ionizing so won't cause DNA mutations like other forms of radiation like the the sun for example. Anyway I'm preaching to the choir here. Thanks for the reply 73s

[@Ferret488]

There is now some woman that claims a local Ham is affecting her insulin pump 🙄

[@ham-radio]

I saw that. Did you see what the "expert"wrote? Worthless! 73, Jim

[@kb7tse]

Sounds like Kommiefornia problems.

[@ahbushnell1]

I wouldn't delete anything. Someone will get on the website and see that something was deleted.

[@ham-radio]

Thank you Andy. You may be right. I made an assumption that simply stating and showing that there was no exposure risk would be better. Thanks. 73, Jim

[@ahbushnell1]

@@ham-radio Make a power point and have backup?

[@Atomshamradio]

Great video 👍

[@N5LRZ]

Calculator completely forgot something called FT8 as well as FT4 both of which are transmit in seconds not minutes. . N5LRZ Ray

[@Deploracle]

3 words ... Inverse Square Law.

[@nobodybetter9175]

This stuff is a laugh riot. There are no laws in this country this crap is all just frivolous BS.

[@scooter2kool173]

Hate to say it just go pirate.

[@margaqrt]

Thanks for the advice and nice job on the video. Embarrassing to the ARRL? I think not Jim. Grammatical errors, punctuation errors and overall poor writing are hallmarks of the ARRL. As a card carrying member myself, am I embarrassed of the ARRL? You bet, but I've become accustomed to it.

[@ham-radio]

Thanks Ben. Your response is good to read. I make lots of mistakes too; especially now. I have had to postpone cataract surgery since my diagnosis of cancer in my blood and bones. The bone and bone marrow biopsies were done on Monday. II get results in 3 weeks; sent to Utah. Back to the ARRL, there is no excuse with them having a large staff of really good people. I have been there and I am a Life Member. I hope that the Board wakes up to the problems and makes changes starting at the top. Thanks Ben, 73, Jim W6LG

[@margaqrt]

@@ham-radio I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I hope your test results provide useful answers.

[@neilrobinson3085]

A good reason to deny entry to your shack to anybody asking without a warrant is the risk of Covid exposure by anyone outside your household bubble. Keep them outside for pandemic protocol reasons.

[@nobodybetter9175]

Unless it's been changed. There is no warrant required to enter ones home if you are a licensed amateur radio operator. Hence the need for an actual shack and a separate address as far as "Get Off My Property St 123 Rearand not ones actual home address.

[@loctite222ms]

@@nobodybetter9175 For the FCC to enter. I don't think that includes some local no-nothing official with no authority over radio communications.

[@survivabill5206]

@@loctite222ms Not to mention that the Constitution should be the SUPREME law of the land that bind any and all gov agencies - including the FCC! Why is it that the FCC is allowed to just enter your house without a warrant to check your radio equipment? Because, and this is simple, they don't respect the Constitution - namely the 4th amendment! And folks allow all manner of gov intrusion and trampling of our rights in the name of being "law abiding citizens." News flash - the founding fathers that we all supposedly look up to weren't "law abiding citizens." At the time, they were criminals and traitors against England. Had the US lost, we'd be reading history VERY differently right now. And don't look to the ARRL to help you. They are FCC lap dogs who roll over, legs up, for a belly rub from the FCC.

[@mikemcdonald5147]

sep 7th and still havent spell checked their EVALALUATION LOL

[@ham-radio]

Ya know Mike, I think I will do my best to rewrite those two paragraphs and submit them to the ARRL. For example that first sentence with evalaluation or evil valuation, is really 3 sentences that any proofreader would have changed immediately or is that imediadatedly? 73, Jim who got a C in college Angleish.

[@terrydormaier7172]

Government overreach gestapo making jobs

[@buffdelcampo]

More rules to empower all the whiners.

[@TXLorenzo]

The FCC should look at the radiation levels of 5G before harassing ham radio operators.

[@DonHavjuan]

Did you fail highschool physics

[@TXLorenzo]

@@DonHavjuan Go away troll.

[@spaceflight1019]

High school physics said nothing about RF exposure levels. You learned that in electronics class.

[@DonHavjuan]

RF sensitive people need a psychiatrist, nothing more. RF sensitivity is not a real thing.

[@qzh00k]

Where does something like a leaky microwave oven fall in your opinion?