Section4: Safety Guidelinesand W arranty Information
184 4A:Saf ety
Getting theMost Out of Your Reception
KeepingTabs on Signal St rength
The quality of each call you make or receive depends on the signal
strength in your area. Your phone informs you of the current signal
strength by displaying a number of bars next to the signal strength icon.
The more bars displayed, the stronger the signal. If you’re inside a
building, being near a window may give you better reception.
Understanding the Power Save Feature
If your phone is unable to find a signal after 15 minutes of searching, a
Power Save feature is automatically activated. If your phone is active, it
periodically rechecks service availability or you can check it yourself by
pressing any key. Anytime the Power Save feature is activated, a message
displays on the screen. When a signal is found, your phone returns to
Standby mode.
Understanding How Your Phone Operates
Your phone is basically a radio transmitter and receiver. When it’s turned
on, it receives and transmits radiofrequency (RF) signals. When you use
your phone, the system handling your call controls the power level. This
power can range from 0.1 µW to 0.2 W in digital mode.
KnowingRadiofrequency Safety
The design of your PCSPhone complies with updated NCRP standards
described below.
In 1991–92, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) joined in
updating ANSI’s 1982 standard for safety levels with respect to human
exposure to RF signals. More than 120 scientists, engineers and
physicians from universities, government health agencies and industries
developed this updated standard after reviewing the available body of
research. In 1993, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
adopted this updated standard in a regulation. In August 1996, the FCC
adopted hybrid standard consisting of the existing ANSI/IEEE standard