Radiation Question

All,

I recently moved into a new apartment and there is a
cell antenna on the roof. The roof is accessible so I
went up there and there are signs all over that tell phone
techs to "take radiation precautions" or some such. The
electrical transformer that drives the cell antenna is as
big as a refrigerator, so they must be blasting out quite a
bit of energy. So here's the question -- I'm only two floors
down from the top of the building and the antennas is right
at the corner of the building near my bedroom, should I
be worried? Should I wear a tinfoil hat when I sleep?

I'm not one of these environmental luddites who is afraid
of a 0.2 W cell phone (non-ionizing) radiation output but
my bedroom is only about 25ft from the cell antenna and
I need more info to judge my risks. Is there a better, more
technical newsgroup to post to?

Regards,
David

David,
There is almost nothing to worry about. First, the warning signs are just
there because the feds require it. They require it to keep kids away, it is
possible to hurt yourself at a site, but not from living near it.
Additionally, the signal is directed horizontally, like a spotlight pointed
far off in the distance. Only a very weak signal is allowed to escape
downward, it would only be wasted, and you know companies don't need to
waste their most valuable asset, the signal.

Finally, the average urban cell site radiates from 8 to 100 watts with most
on the lower end. At that level, you have far more to fear from your
1,000-watt microwave oven. The large electric transformer does not result
from a need for so much of a large amount of transmit power, but also for a
large amount of computer processing.


Bill Radio
Click for Wireless Reviews at:
http://www.mountainwireless.com


"DMF" <me@sans.spam.com> wrote in message
news:csidnaJOuO3uvXTZnZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@inreach.com. ..
> All,
>
> I recently moved into a new apartment and there is a
> cell antenna on the roof. The roof is accessible so I
> went up there and there are signs all over that tell phone
> techs to "take radiation precautions" or some such. The
> electrical transformer that drives the cell antenna is as
> big as a refrigerator, so they must be blasting out quite a
> bit of energy. So here's the question -- I'm only two floors
> down from the top of the building and the antennas is right
> at the corner of the building near my bedroom, should I
> be worried? Should I wear a tinfoil hat when I sleep?
>
> I'm not one of these environmental luddites who is afraid
> of a 0.2 W cell phone (non-ionizing) radiation output but
> my bedroom is only about 25ft from the cell antenna and
> I need more info to judge my risks. Is there a better, more
> technical newsgroup to post to?
>
> Regards,
> David
>
>

Bill Radio wrote...
> There is almost nothing to worry about. First, the warning signs
> are just there because the feds require it. They require it to keep
> kids away, it is possible to hurt yourself at a site, but not from
> living near it. Additionally, the signal is directed horizontally, like
> a spotlight pointed far off in the distance. Only a very weak signal
> is allowed to escape downward, it would only be wasted, and you
> know companies don't need to waste their most valuable asset, the
> signal.
>
> Finally, the average urban cell site radiates from 8 to 100 watts with
> most on the lower end. At that level, you have far more to fear from
> your 1,000-watt microwave oven. The large electric transformer
> does not result from a need for so much of a large amount of transmit
> power, but also for a large amount of computer processing.

This makes a lot of sense... thanks for your reply Bill.

Regards,
David

It's also helpful to know that there are federal rules regarding the
maximum permitted exposure to RF from mobile phone facilities. Bottom
line is just don't stand in front of any of the antenna panels and you
will be fine.

See
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineeri...56/oet56e4.pdf

Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the FCC has
certain
responsibilities to consider whether its actions will "significantly
affect the quality of the
human environment." Therefore, FCC approval and licensing of
transmitters and facilities
must be evaluated for significant impact on the environment. Human
exposure to RF
radiation emitted by FCC-regulated transmitters is one of several
factors that must be
considered in such environmental evaluations.
Major RF transmitting facilities under the jurisdiction of the FCC,
such as radio and
television broadcast stations, satellite-earth stations, experimental
radio stations and certain
cellular, PCS and paging facilities are required to undergo routine
evaluation for RF
compliance whenever an application is submitted to the FCC for
construction or modification
of a transmitting facility or renewal of a license. Failure to comply
with the FCC's RF
exposure guidelines could lead to the preparation of a formal
Environmental Assessment,
possible Environmental Impact Statement and eventual rejection of an
application. Technical
16
guidelines for evaluating compliance with the FCC RF safety
requirements can be found in
the FCC's OET Bulletin 65 (Reference 57).
DMF wrote:
> All,
>
> I recently moved into a new apartment and there is a
> cell antenna on the roof. The roof is accessible so I
> went up there and there are signs all over that tell phone
> techs to "take radiation precautions" or some such. The
> electrical transformer that drives the cell antenna is as
> big as a refrigerator, so they must be blasting out quite a
> bit of energy. So here's the question -- I'm only two floors
> down from the top of the building and the antennas is right
> at the corner of the building near my bedroom, should I
> be worried? Should I wear a tinfoil hat when I sleep?
>
> I'm not one of these environmental luddites who is afraid
> of a 0.2 W cell phone (non-ionizing) radiation output but
> my bedroom is only about 25ft from the cell antenna and
> I need more info to judge my risks. Is there a better, more
> technical newsgroup to post to?
>
> Regards,
> David

On Sun, 20 Aug 2006 19:54:36 -0700, "DMF" <me@sans.spam.com> wrote:

>All,
>
>I recently moved into a new apartment and there is a
>cell antenna on the roof. The roof is accessible so I
>went up there and there are signs all over that tell phone
>techs to "take radiation precautions" or some such. The
>electrical transformer that drives the cell antenna is as
>big as a refrigerator, so they must be blasting out quite a
>bit of energy. So here's the question -- I'm only two floors
>down from the top of the building and the antennas is right
>at the corner of the building near my bedroom, should I
>be worried? Should I wear a tinfoil hat when I sleep?
>
>I'm not one of these environmental luddites who is afraid
>of a 0.2 W cell phone (non-ionizing) radiation output but
>my bedroom is only about 25ft from the cell antenna and
>I need more info to judge my risks. Is there a better, more
>technical newsgroup to post to?
>
>Regards,
>David
>

If I was in your place, I'd move as quickly as possible. That thing
is slowly cooking your body like a microwave. You will likely get
cancer in the next few years if you continue to live with that
radiation, and even if you move, some damage has already been done,
and will affect your health and life span. Until you move, I'd
recommend getting some sheets of tin, covering all the walls, ceilings
and floors in your apartment, and being sure this tin is well
grounded. All tin sheets must form a tight electrical connection at
the seams, which means soldering or welding. Moving sounds like a far
better and cheaper solution. Be sure to place warning signs on the
doors of all your neighbors, (except the ones you hate).

By the way, that transformer might be running up your electric bill !