RF Engineer

An "established effect" is one that, based upon peer-reviewed scientific reports, is demonstrated to be reproducible (in more than one laboratory), consistent (within the same laboratory and across other laboratories) and causal (due to the exposure agent). Although several articles in the scientific literature report RF biological effects within a study, these effects do not necessarily stand up to scientific rigour because they are often not reproducible within the same (or other) laboratories or are subsequently found to arise as a result of confounding factors such as sample/tissue heating or vibration.

There have been numerous epidemiological studies on RF exposure and its impacts on human health. The majority of these studies have failed to find any association between such exposure and any adverse heath effects.

Signal modulation is a process whereby certain characteristics of a radio wave are varied with transmitted information (voice, pictures and data).

Different signal modulations in both analogue (e.g. AM and FM) and digital (numeric) formats have been used in radio communication. Although most radio technologies originally used analogue signals, modern wireless telecommunications use digital transmissions. Detailed scientific reviews conducted so far have not revealed any hazard specific to different RF modulations.

RF field measurements take into consideration local terrain and structures and indicate actual levels, whereas calculation is a prediction that includes certain assumptions, erring on the side of caution. Industry Canada requires proponents and operators of radiocommunication and broadcasting installations to take RF field measurements to demonstrate compliance where it is suspected that the regulatory limits might be exceeded.

Yes multiple antenna towers and broadcast antennas safe

Radio communication, including the technical aspects of broadcasting, falls under the responsibility of the Minister of Industry, who has the power to establish standards, rules, policies and procedures regarding radio communication. The Minister, under this authority, has adopted the exposure limits specified in Health Canada's RF exposure guideline document as regulatory limits. All proponents and operators of radio communication and broadcasting installations and apparatus must demonstrate that their proposals will comply with the regulatory limits before constructing any installation and must continue to operate within these limits at all times.

Electromagnetic waves are measured by wavelength and frequency. Wavelength is the distance covered by one complete cycle of the electromagnetic wave. Frequency is the number of electromagnetic waves in one second, also known as a hertz or Hz. One Hz equals one cycle per second. One megahertz (MHz) equals one million cycles per second. Generally, microwaves are radio frequencies measuring more than 1 GHz.

The SAR is the rate at which radio frequency energy is absorbed by a defined amount of mass of a biological body. SAR is expressed in units of watts per kilogram (W/kg).

Electromagnetic fields, radio waves, microwaves and wireless signals are collectively referred to as radio frequency (RF) energy. RF energy is all around us. It's used in various electronics and appliances, including radio and television broadcasting, cellular telephones, satellite communications, microwave ovens, radars, and industrial heaters and sealers, to name a few.

The only health effect from RF fields identified in scientific reviews has been related to an increase in body temperature (> 1 °C) from exposure at very high field intensity found only in certain industrial facilities, such as RF heaters. The levels of RF exposure from base stations and wireless networks are so low that the temperature increases are insignificant and do not affect human health.

► What is radio frequency (RF)? How is it measured?

► Is there a health hazard associated with radio frequency?

► How is it regulated? Are there any safety limits on human exposure to wireless and RF fields?

► Where can I go to learn more about regulatory compliance?

► What is a smart meter?

► Are Itron's smart meters certified by the FCC?

► How is Itron addressing the issue of RF Safety?

► Will a smart meter interfere with a security system, pacemaker, cell phone or other RF devices?

Radio frequency identification, or RFID, is a generic term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify people or objects. There are several methods of identification, but the most common is to store a serial number that identifies a person or object, and perhaps other information, on a microchip that is attached to an antenna (the chip and the antenna together are called an RFID transponder or an RFID tag). The antenna enables the chip to transmit the identification information to a reader. The reader converts the radio waves reflected back from the RFID tag into digital information that can then be passed on to computers that can make use of it.

An RFID system consists of a tag, which is made up of a microchip with an antenna, and an interrogator or reader with an antenna. The reader sends out electromagnetic waves. The tag antenna is tuned to receive these waves. A passive RFID tag draws power from field created by the reader and uses it to power the microchip's circuits. The chip then modulates the waves that the tag sends back to the reader and the reader converts the new waves into digital data.

RFID uses the low-end of the electromagnetic spectrum. The waves coming from readers are no more dangerous than the waves coming to your car radio.