Icom IC-M504 instruction manual Radio Operator Warning, Determining MPE Radius

W AR N IN G

RADIO OPERATOR WARNING

Icom requires the radio operator to meet the FCC Requirements for Radio Frequency Expo- sure. An omnidirectional antenna with gain not greater than 9 dBi must be mounted a minimum of 5 meters (measured from the lowest point of the antenna) vertically above the main deck and

all possible personnel. This is the minimum safe separation distance estimated to meet all RF exposure compliance re- quirements. This 5 meter distance is based on the FCC Safe Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) distance of 3 meters added to the height of an adult (2 meters) and is appropriate for all vessels.

For watercraft without suitable structures, the antenna must be mounted so as to maintain a minimum of 1 meter vertically between the antenna, (measured from the lowest point of the antenna), to the heads of all persons AND all persons must stay outside of the 3 meter MPE radius.

Do not transmit with radio and antenna when persons are within the MPE radius of the antenna, unless such persons (such as driver or radio operator) are shielded from antenna field by a grounded metallic barrier. The MPE Radius is the minimum distance from the antenna axis that person should maintain in order to avoid RF exposure higher than the allow- able MPE level set by FCC.

FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE LIMITS MAY ALLOW THOSE WITHIN THE MPE RADIUS TO EXPERIENCE RF RADIATION ABSORPTION WHICH EXCEEDS THE FCC MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE (MPE) LIMIT.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RADIO OPERATOR TO ENSURE THAT THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPO- SURE LIMITS ARE OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES DURING RADIO TRANSMISSION. THE RADIO OPERATOR IS TO ENSURE THAT NO BYSTANDERS COME WITHIN THE RADIUS OF THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMITS.

Determining MPE Radius

THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE (MPE) RA- DIUS HAS BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE A RADIUS OF ABOUT 3M PER OET BULLETIN 65 OF THE FCC.

THIS ESTIMATE IS MADE ASSUMING THE MAXIMUM POWER OF THE RADIO AND ANTENNAS WITH A MAXI- MUM GAIN OF 9dBi ARE USED FOR A SHIP MOUNTED SYSTEM.

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