EMF

[laika]

(I was going to start off with "Unbelievable!" but probably wrong demographic....)

Having just received my notice of licence variation from ofcom who if I'm reading this correctly want us to do some calculations in an excel (not vendor-neutral open document format) spreadsheet and knowing that I can't be the only one saying "huh?", before I waste a lot of time working out the implications can anyone who is already aware of this save us some time and give us the quick overview of what we need to worry about?

 

[Clancy Moped]

(I was going to start off with "Unbelievable!" but probably wrong demographic....)

Having just received my notice of licence variation from ofcom who if I'm reading this correctly want us to do some calculations in an excel (not vendor-neutral open document format) spreadsheet and knowing that I can't be the only one saying "huh?", before I waste a lot of time working out the implications can anyone who is already aware of this save us some time and give us the quick overview of what we need to worry about?

We bought our first London flat from the manager and her partner who was the A&R bloke at EMI.

 

[GHA]

Quick scan though here - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/193625/emf-faqs.pdf
..

We are currently consulting on our proposals. Our consultation document can be found on the Ofcom website. Please note however that the consultation deadline has been suspended until further notice.

Our proposals are aimed at protection of the general public from EMF emissions. Licensees will need to ensure that members of the public cannot access any areas where the limits for general public exposure from the ICNIRP Guidelines are exceeded.

And a few seconds on the spreadsheet, looks like for a marine vhf transmitting 25w @ 156MHZ, you'll need to make sure the general public can't come within 1.6m of your masthead antenna. Guessing hopefully that it's not one to get too worried about.

 

[Gary Fox]

How thoughtful of them to reassure radio licence holders and hams that 5g doesn't cause Covid-19

 

[Sandy]

How thoughtful of them to reassure radio licence holders and hams that 5g doesn't cause Covid-19

I though it activated the chips they inject into you?

 

[Alicatt]

I though it activated the chips they inject into you?

From the bottle with the 5 doses in it did you get the 5 chips in one shot or did you have to go back to get the rest of them?

Hmmm wonder if this letter is sitting at home in Scotland, Now I wonder how this is going to work with the 100W HF/VHF radio in my car?

 

[Alicatt]

Quick scan though here - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/193625/emf-faqs.pdf
..

And a few seconds on the spreadsheet, looks like for a marine vhf transmitting 25w @ 156MHZ, you'll need to make sure the general public can't come within 1.6m of your masthead antenna. Guessing hopefully that it's not one to get too worried about.

While driving in my car with my 100W mobile HF/VHF (Yaseu FT895D) and multiband antenna (ATAS120) do I have to do a risk assessment every km or every 100m, what about driving through the city exchanging information with the other ham operator in Brazil/India or is that going to have to stop as people can literally walk up and touch my car while waiting at a junction, certainly people can get to less than a meter from my antenna.

Just reading through the ofcom website now...

Edit: So people should be more than 3meters from my car when I'm transmitting according to the spreadsheet and more than 5 meters when I'm using my 5/8 whip Eeek!

 

[prv]

you'll need to make sure the general public can't come within 1.6m of your masthead antenna. Guessing hopefully that it's not one to get too worried about.

Not a problem for us, but actually motorboatalists with antennas on a flybridge arch, or RIBs with a fixed VHF and an antenna on the console or A-frame, could conceivably have people's heads within that distance. Are there lesser restrictions on irradiating your friends and family versus the general public?

Pete

 

[Gary Fox]

It's all cojones, these new concerns are totally at odds with the long lives and good health, for over a century, of untold millions of radio operators.

 

[GHA]

Not a problem for us, but actually motorboatalists with antennas on a flybridge arch, or RIBs with a fixed VHF and an antenna on the console or A-frame, could conceivably have people's heads within that distance. Are there lesser restrictions on irradiating your friends and family versus the general public?

Pete

The links for ofcom discussion are in the link above, better speaking to them. The consultation period won't end soon it seems.

 

[Stemar]

I guess I'd better throw away my handheld...

 

[dom]

Not a problem for us, but actually motorboatalists with antennas on a flybridge arch, or RIBs with a fixed VHF and an antenna on the console or A-frame, could conceivably have people's heads within that distance. Are there lesser restrictions on irradiating your friends and family versus the general public?

Pete

My emergency stern rail antenna would fall foul of these proposals for VHF transmissions.

 

[jwilson]

My emergency stern rail antenna would fall foul of these proposals for VHF transmissions.

As would the emergency VHF antenna (normally supplied with a fairly short lead from the VHF) required by law for coded boats .....

 

[laika]

I guess I'd better throw away my handheld...

The change only applies to >10W. As handhelds tend to be 6, you should be OK. Not that it matters for a 6W handheld but is the quoted power of marine VHF transmitters EIRP or ERP? Not that I'd been aware of the distinction until today...

And a few seconds on the spreadsheet, looks like for a marine vhf transmitting 25w @ 156MHZ, you'll need to make sure the general public can't come within 1.6m of your masthead antenna. Guessing hopefully that it's not one to get too worried about.

I think it's more about this statement:

This means licensees must operate their services within the ICNIRP Guidelines as a condition of their Ofcom licence – including keeping records of any compliance assessments.

ie would we theoretically have to keep a printout of the calculation along with our radio licence even the antenna is up the mast...

 

[st599]

Quick scan though here - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/193625/emf-faqs.pdf
..

And a few seconds on the spreadsheet, looks like for a marine vhf transmitting 25w @ 156MHZ, you'll need to make sure the general public can't come within 1.6m of your masthead antenna. Guessing hopefully that it's not one to get too worried about.

It's not 25W - you need to add the antenna gain and subtract cable losses to get the EIRP.

 

[Daedelus]

Thing that I wondered about was are they aiming to acquire some of the older radar wavelengths so they can flog them off to the mobile phone mob and try and balance the horribly depleted books.

 

[Alicatt]

Just got my Ofcom notice through at 18:01

 

[Boathook]

It's not 25W - you need to add the antenna gain and subtract cable losses to get the EIRP.

Where do I find out about the antenna gain and cable loss. Those bits came from SaltyJohn and he has shut shop!

Anyway, I have emailed Ofcom ( spectrum.licensing@ofcom.org.uk ) and asked for it all in plain and simple English as it made no sense to me. May others could do the same ?

 

[agurney]

Not a problem for us, but actually motorboatalists with antennas on a flybridge arch, or RIBs with a fixed VHF and an antenna on the console or A-frame, could conceivably have people's heads within that distance. Are there lesser restrictions on irradiating your friends and family versus the general public?

Pete

YES it's relevant for us, or at least anyone who enters a canal sea lock, or goes alongside a pier at low water, where a VHF antenna or radome could be at head height for anyone on shore. Marine band VHF safe distance might be 1.6 metres, but it's tens of metres for radar.

 

[st599]

Where do I find out about the antenna gain and cable loss. Those bits came from SaltyJohn and he has shut shop!

Anyway, I have emailed Ofcom ( spectrum.licensing@ofcom.org.uk ) and asked for it all in plain and simple English as it made no sense to me. May others could do the same ?

The gain would be on the antenna datasheet.

I think contacting Ofcom is a good idea.