RF Safe Distance for a PepWave Antenna - Help Please!

macjonald

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Jan 23, 2019
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Hi guys, wondering if you could help - sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place. I work in multimedia and my boss just bought some mobile data gear which includes a Peplink Pepwave antenna.

He's not really looking into the health and safety considerations and there doesn't appear to be any safety manuals with the hardware. He expects me to stream video in close proximity to this gear so I'm a bit worried, but unsure how to calculate the safe distance in terms of RF exposure.

I've found a datasheet for it online (attached), so I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to calculate this?

Thanks for any advice at all!
 

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merlin

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Hey, this works via cellular just like your cell phone. Nominal, the power will be 250 milliwatts. (750 mw max)
The dome won't allow direct contact with the antenna, so figure direct contact forever and no harm.
Also note this system won't be continuously transmitting. Its primary function is GPS receiving with no emission.
Last thing I would worry about is RF exposure.
 

mmckenna

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Yeah, that's -just- the antenna you attached the document for. The antenna itself doesn't mean quite as much as what you have connected to it.

But like Merlin said, it is designed for cellular frequencies, so essentially less than 1 watt. It's not a high gain antenna, so that doesn't figure in too much. Usually cellular radios will throttle back power to just what is needed to get a low error rate connection to the cell site.

Short of duct-taping that to the side of your head for days on end with it connected to a transmitter, there's really no risk as long as it's used as designed. Install it per the directions, stay a few feet away and you'll be fine.
 

macjonald

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Jan 23, 2019
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Yeah, that's -just- the antenna you attached the document for. The antenna itself doesn't mean quite as much as what you have connected to it.

But like Merlin said, it is designed for cellular frequencies, so essentially less than 1 watt. It's not a high gain antenna, so that doesn't figure in too much. Usually cellular radios will throttle back power to just what is needed to get a low error rate connection to the cell site.

Short of duct-taping that to the side of your head for days on end with it connected to a transmitter, there's really no risk as long as it's used as designed. Install it per the directions, stay a few feet away and you'll be fine.

Ah that's great thanks, that does set my mind at ease somewhat!

I think it's connected to a network-bonding router which takes several sim cards - I think this is the one: 1Gbps Dual LTE Router for Transportation MAX Transit Pro - Peplink

He got it to transmit high-bandwidth video streams from rural areas. Would that confirm roughly what you were thinking in terms of what's being transmitted through the antenna?

Really appreciate your advice here, I've realised that I'll need to go and educate myself on the basics of radio transmission rather than just sit and worry!
 

macjonald

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Jan 23, 2019
Messages
7
Hey, this works via cellular just like your cell phone. Nominal, the power will be 250 milliwatts. (750 mw max)
The dome won't allow direct contact with the antenna, so figure direct contact forever and no harm.
Also note this system won't be continuously transmitting. Its primary function is GPS receiving with no emission.
Last thing I would worry about is RF exposure.

Thanks Merlin, that's a relief to hear! I appreciate your advice.
 
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