Vertex Standard FT-1000MP manual Electrical Shock Prevention, Antenna Precautions

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

ELECTRICAL SHOCK PREVENTION

Be certain that all station wiring is properly insu- lated so as to prevent short-circuits which could dam- age this transceiver and/or accessories connected to it. Be sure to protect power cables from damage due to abrasion by ensuring that they cannot be walked upon nor crushed under rolling chairs, etc. Never route power cables near sharp metallic edges which might cut through protective insulation.

Never spill liquids into this transceiver, and do not drop sharp metallic objects into the transceiver enclo- sure. Electrical shock may result when you attempt to remove the object.

Unsupervised children should be kept away from any electrical apparatus such as the MARK-V FT- 1000MP transceiver and its accessories.

ANTENNA PRECAUTIONS

Always install antennas such that they can never come in contact with outdoor power lines in the event of a catastrophic antenna support or power line sup- port structure failure. An adequate safety margin is usually provided by separating power lines from the antenna and its support structure [1.5 times the height of the support] plus [the length of any antenna or guy wires attached to the support] plus [the height of the power line support pole].

Ground the antenna support structure adequately, so as to dissipate energy absorbed during a lightning strike. Install appropriate lightning arrestors in the an- tenna lead-in and rotator cable (if used) according to the arrestor’s instructions.

In the event of an approaching electrical storm, dis- connect all antenna lead-in, rotator control, and power cables completely from the station, but only if the storm is not immediately in your area. Do not allow disconnected cables to touch the case of your MARK-

VFT-1000MPtransceiver or accessories, as lightning can easily jump from the cable to the circuitry of your transceiver via the case, causing irreparable damage. If a lightning storm is in progress in your immediate area, do not attempt to disconnect the cables, as you could be killed instantly should lightning strike your antenna, tower, or a nearby power line.

If a vertical antenna is used, be certain that humans and/or pets or farm animals are kept away both from the radiating element (to prevent electrical shock and RF exposure danger) and the ground system (in the event of an electrical storm). The buried radials of a ground-mounted vertical antenna can carry lethal volt- ages outward from the center of the antenna in the event of a direct lightning strike.

RF FIELD EXPOSURE ADVISORY & ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY

This transceiver is capable of power output in ex- cess of 50 Watts, so customers in the United States may be required to demonstrate compliance with Fed- eral Communications Commission (FCC) regulations concerning maximum permissible exposure to radio frequency energy. Compliance is based on the actual power output used, feedline loss, antenna type and height, and other factors which can only be evaluated as a system. Information regarding these regulations may be available from your Dealer, your local radio club, from the FCC directly (press releases and other information can be found on the FCC’s site on the World Wide Web at < http://www.fcc.gov>), or from the Ameri- can Radio Relay League, Inc. (225 Main St., Newington CT 06111 or < http://www.arrl.org >).

Remember to re-evaluate your station’s compliance with these regulations during portable operations such as Field Day or special-event stations.

Regarding electromagnetic compatibility: if this transceiver is used with, or in the vicinity of, a com- puter or computer-driven accessories, you may need to experiment with grounding and/or Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) suppression devices (such as fer- rite cores) to minimize interference to your communi- cations caused by energy from the computer. Com- puter-generated RFI is usually a result of inadequate shielding of the computer’s cabinet or I/O and periph- eral connections. While computer equipment may “comply” with RF emission standards, this does not ensure that sensitive amateur radio receivers will not experience interference from the device!

Be certain to use only shielded cables for TNC-to- Transceiver connections. You may need to install AC line filters on the power cord(s) of the suspected equip- ment, and decoupling ferrite toroidal chokes may be required on interconnecting patch/data cables. As a last resort, you can try installing additional shielding within the computer’s case, using appropriate conductive mesh or conductive shielding tape. Especially check “RF holes” where plastic is used for cabinet front pan- els.

For further information, consult amateur radio ref- erence guides and publications relating to RFI suppres- sion techniques.

page 8 MARK-V FT-1000MP Operating Manual