Section 4: Safety Guidelines and Warranty Information
102 4A: Safety
Getting the Most Out of Your Reception
Keeping Tabs on Signal Strength
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 0.006
watts to 0.2 watts in digital mode.
Knowing Radiofrequency Safety
The design of your PCS Phone 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 and the guidelines published by the
National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements
(NCRP).