RF limits in Canada

Tim S. Ellam TELLAM at mccarthy.ca
Tue Aug 6 18:30:50 EDT 1996


In this country, Industry Canada(the regulatory body) expects amateurs to comply with Saftey
Code 6 or "Limits of Exposure to RadioFrequency Fields at frequencies from 10khz-300Ghz"
published by Health Canada.

Saftey Code 6 limits exposure to RF fields for persons other than "RF Workers" to no greater
magnetic filed strength of 2.19/f for frequencies from 1mhz to 30mhz when averaged over a
0.1hour period.

In practical terms I know of no amateur who has ever bothered to perform this calculation nor
has Industry Canada  ever attempted to enforce this code against an amateur. There is one
documented case in which Industry Canada did perform the appropriate testing of an
amateur station due to lobbying by neighbours and found that in a "typical" amateur
installation  running 100 watts to a yagi at 65' and in a "typical" urban enviroment it was
unlikely  Safety Code 6 would be violated. However, at 1kw the amateur in question came
very close to the code limits!

The difficulty with any RF exposure limits is to find a practical method for an amateur to say
with some authority they meet any "limits"! RF exposure limits have become the latest tool for
neighbours to challenge tower installations in this country.

Tim VE6SH
RAC GC
one of the many "import Canadians" as defined by USA Today!!

>From gswanson at arrl.org (Swanson, Glenn,  KB1GW)  Tue Aug  6 23:20:00 1996
From: gswanson at arrl.org (Swanson, Glenn,  KB1GW) (Swanson, Glenn,  KB1GW)
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 18:20:00 -0400
Subject: Ed Hare's call sign:
Message-ID: <m0unu1p-000f6IC at mgate.arrl.org>




Ed's call is KA1CV, not KC1.

     I'm now going to "retire" from this issue.  HI

          73 and GL in the fall (contests).

               --Glenn, KB1GW


>From seay at alaska.net (Del Seay)  Tue Aug  6 21:59:04 1996
From: seay at alaska.net (Del Seay) (Del Seay)
Date: Tue, 06 Aug 1996 13:59:04 -0700
Subject: More info: RF Safety..
References: <m0unsoR-000f4wC at mgate.arrl.org>
Message-ID: <3207B218.6B1B at alaska.net>

Does anyone on the net have any idea what criteria was used to
determine the "Safe Levels" of exposure?
The last scientific discussions I watched regarding rf exposure
determined that there were no studies that showed a definitive
reason for concern. 
I know that the U.S. Government did ask for guidelines, but it would
be interesting to know how they arrived at these results.
Also - any legal beagles have any idea what liability we have if
our next door neighbor develops cancer, or if his son has a low
sperm count? Are we going to be at that kind of risk?
de KL7HF

>From wtill at awinc.com (Bill Till - VE5FN)  Tue Aug  6 21:31:00 1996
From: wtill at awinc.com (Bill Till - VE5FN) (Bill Till - VE5FN)
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 96 13:31 PDT
Subject: Wasps
Message-ID: <m0unsms-0002EWC at mail.awinc.com>


Something I learned many years ago as a farmer who came in contact with
wasps fairly regularly was that the pain and swelling can be taken out of a
wasp sting quite effectively by swabbing the stung spot with a rag or a wad
of cotton wool soaked in rubbing alcohol. I have no particular allergy to
insect stings, but without this treatment, I do get lots of pain and local
swelling. If I get an alcohol soaked swab on the sting reasonably quickly,
very minor swelling and pain results.

I once applied gasoline to a sting when I stirred up a nest and got stung a
couple of times and the only suitable fluid available was some tractor gas.
It hurt like hell for a minute, but I had no swelling or reaction.

I carry a small bottle of rubbing alcohol and a wad of cotton wool in my
vehicle all summer. It doesn't take much room in a toolbox or backpack either.

This stunt even seems to help those who have a fairly strong reaction to
stings. I have a couple of family members whose eyes will swell almost shut
after a sting and if the alcohol is applied quickly and copiously, they
don't get much reaction. I have never seen it applied to anyone who has an
extreme anaphylactic reaction, though. A fast trip to the nearest hospital
is still the answer there, I suspect, but if there is no other alternative,
this alcohol trick may be a lifesaver.

Another thing that is nice to know when going to counterattack a wasp's nest
is that they cannot fly when the temperature is below 45F. This fact may not
be too helpful except up here in the cool north. It does mean that they can
often be sneaked up on in the cool of the early morning.

>From an old farm boy from the Canadian prairies.

73

Bill - VE5FN




>From kl7y at alaska.net (Dan Robbins)  Wed Aug  7 02:02:12 1996
From: kl7y at alaska.net (Dan Robbins) (Dan Robbins)
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 17:02:12 -0800
Subject: RF Exposure limits
Message-ID: <9608070102.AC25049 at alaska.net>

>
>
AA6TY wrote:
>
>3 dB loss.  On a good day, you won't even notice the 
>half S-unit difference.  If anything, it will encourage 
>the design of higher efficiency antenna systems.
>

I once did an experiment to this effect.  On 20 meters, running 1200 W out
on CW I was able to start a pileup of Europeans and have it grow.  I then
cut power to 600 w output and the pileup faded until I reached the point of
calling CQ repeatedly with only occasional answers.  Put the power back to
1200 watts out and the pileup gradually returned.  Cut the power again and
the callers wilted.  I agree that sometimes a 3 dB power cut won't make any
difference.  Other times it will make all the difference in the world.  When
your signal is close to the general background QRM/QRN level, a small power
change one way or the other can make a huge change in rate.  The difference
can be just amazing.

                                Dan KL7Y


>From oddball at prairienet.com (Dean Feistamel)  Wed Aug  7 04:18:32 1996
From: oddball at prairienet.com (Dean Feistamel) (Dean Feistamel)
Date: Tue, 06 Aug 1996 20:18:32 -0700
Subject: Score for NAQP CW
Message-ID: <32080B08.248E at prairienet.com>

Can anyone or everyone tell me if W9NQ will take your NAQP scores 
again this year by eamil?
I have sent them before but I have moved with a lot of changes in the 
past year, but can't find his email address.

Thanks to everyone in advance
Dean AA9JY (oddball)


>From floydjr at Interpath.com (Jimmy R. Floyd)  Tue Aug  6 23:11:51 1996
From: floydjr at Interpath.com (Jimmy R. Floyd) (Jimmy R. Floyd)
Date: Tue, 06 Aug 1996 19:11:51 -0300
Subject: NAQP CW 96 Scores II
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19960806221151.275729fa at interpath.com>

NAQP 96 CW 
Raw Scores


Compiled by
>> WA4ZXA <<
floydjr at interpath.com

Date posted: 08/06/96

CALL                   SCORE       QSO'S      MULTI
------------------------------------------------------------

SINGLE OPERATOR

KM9P                 177,310        745        238
NM5M                 150,021        711        211
K0RF                 149,100        700        213
VE3EJ                132,060        620        213
N4OGW/9              123,004        644        191
AD5Q                 118,300        650        182
K7UP  (KN5H)         115,478        638        181
K1ZX                 115,000        599        192
W5NN  (KB5YVT)       114,211        631        181
NA5Q                 114,145        617        185
K5GA                 113,883        609        187
KF3P                 111,328        568        196
AC1O/4               110,048        608        181
N5DX                 109,824        572        192
WA2SRQ               108,519        593        183
KC4ZV                107,835        553        195
AB4RX                105,138        594        177
W1WEF                103,713        573        181
K4PQL                102,869        535        193
N0AT                 100,040        611        164
N0AX                  99,288        591        166
AA6KX                 99,224        628        158
AA3B                  98,484        566        174
K1VUT                 96,492        561        172
AB6FO                 95,004        546        174
N4YOS                 92,017        551        167
N6TV                  91,512        558        164
K9BG                  90,825        525        173
WB5B                  90,100        530        170
WR3O                  87,348        502        174
NX1H                  81,836        499        164
KM0L                  79,707        489        163
AB5LX                 78,186        498        157
AA4NC  (KI4HN)        77,989        467        167
K0RC                  75,604        461        164
WA6KUI                75,198        453        166
WF3T                  74,998        487        154
N5CT/7                72,065        497        145
KK9W                  68,310        495        138
AA0OB                 67,896        492        138
WA8YRS                67,200        448        150
AA9AX                 64,684        412        157
WA0I                  63,840        456        140
N8AAT                 56,400        400        141
WD4AHZ                54,576        379        144
W5ASP                 54,496        417        130
K8NZ                  53,802        366        147
KB8N                  52,272        403        129
WN3K                  52,122        357        146
K7NPN                 47,795        395        121
AC4ZO                 47,190        363        130
N5RP                  43,896        354        124
KE7GH                 43,200        450         96
KG5U                  39,625        317        125
WB0OLA/7  (@N9ITX)    36,296        349        104
AE0M                  34,542        342        101
W7MAP                 31,800        256        100
W6MVW                 18,900        210         90
AL7PT                 15,738        183         86
KK5ZX                 14,000        175         80
K0EJ                   9,900        165         60
KJ6HO                  4,800         96         50


MULIT-OP

WB5VZL  (@W5KFT)     158,108        841        188
N2NU                 145,920        760        192

TEAM SCORES

Coast-to-Coasters                       473,243
Latex Rookies                           142,292


OPERATORS IN MULIT-OP

WB5VZL         KT5V,N5HD,WB5VZL
N2NU           WW2Y,KZ2S,N2NU,K2WI


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
PLEASE NO ATTACHED FILES!!! 

73's Jim
           ********************************************************** 
           * Jimmy R. Floyd  (Jim)   Thomasville, NC                *
           *                                                        *
           * Amateur Call:              >> WA4ZXA <<                *
           * Packet Node:               >> N4ZC <<                  *
           * Internet Address:          >> floydjr at interpath.com << *
           **********************************************************


>From AA6KX at postoffice.worldnet.att.net (Bruce Sawyer)  Wed Aug  7 02:23:09 1996
From: AA6KX at postoffice.worldnet.att.net (Bruce Sawyer) (Bruce Sawyer)
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 1996 01:23:09 +0000
Subject: More info: RF Safety..
Message-ID: <19960807012307.AAA1140 at LOCALNAME>

At 08:59 PM 8/6/96 +0000, you wrote:
>Does anyone on the net have any idea what criteria was used to
>determine the "Safe Levels" of exposure?
>The last scientific discussions I watched regarding rf exposure
>determined that there were no studies that showed a definitive
>reason for concern. 
>I know that the U.S. Government did ask for guidelines, but it would
>be interesting to know how they arrived at these results.
>Also - any legal beagles have any idea what liability we have if
>our next door neighbor develops cancer, or if his son has a low
>sperm count? Are we going to be at that kind of risk?
>de KL7HF
>

Go to the FCC web site you've seen listed here and pull down FCC/OET
ASD-9601.  This is a 56 page report which documents tests the EPA did at
various amateur sites to determine what constituted "reasonable" radiation
levels.  After reading this thing, you can't help but be struck by a couple
of observations:
(a)  They didn't just pull those numbers out of the air in the "Report and
Order" they adopted last Friday.  A lot of study went into this thing.
(b)  Your tax dollars at work.  This is what EPA beauracrats do to justify
themselves.


As somebody else already commented, "Thank you, N6NB, for protecting us from
ourselves."

-AA6KX


>From syam at Glue.umd.edu (De Syam)  Wed Aug  7 03:00:03 1996
From: syam at Glue.umd.edu (De Syam) (De Syam)
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 22:00:03 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: FCC Exposure rule
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960806215235.14562B-100000 at z.glue.umd.edu>

On Tue, 6 Aug 1996, Earl Needham wrote:

> 
> 	Thank you , Dr. Overbeck (N6NB).  Please continue to protect us from
> ourselves.
> 
In this connection, it may be interesting to recall that Wayne Overbeck 
was once the Secretary of the ARRL Advisory Group on RF Exposure which 
was set up to advise the ARRL Board of Directors on this subject.

At some point the ARRL Board and the group of advisors came to a 
disagreement, and the former ARRL president, W4OYI, fired Overbeck and 
his group en masse...

Perhaps sometimes it's better to keep a frisky dog inside the house 
rather than forcing him to go outside where he can bite the neighbors...

                                  Very 73,

                                Fred Laun, K3ZO

>From jdowning at intelenet.net (John Downing)  Wed Aug  7 03:04:47 1996
From: jdowning at intelenet.net (John Downing) (John Downing)
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 19:04:47 -0700
Subject: ARRL CAC input sought
Message-ID: <01BB83CA.29C79A00 at downing-1.intelenet.net>

Hi Bob,

I've given a little more thought to this ten minute M/S rule issue.  First 
let me point out that my perspective is that of a Caribbean Multi-Single
entrant.  From the DX side the entire ARRL DX contest boils down to one
thing: QSO rate.  The only "rare" multipliers are Yukon, NWT, and, depending
on band D.C. and PEI.  So I never QSY mults to another band although
I may set up a schedule with them to meet at another time.  To win the thing
one must keep the Qrate above 160 per hour in recent years and close to 
200 per hour in years where the solar flux is more amenable to contesting. 
There is simply no time to QSY mults!  Obviously, from the W/VE side rates
are lower and multipliers are more plentiful and thus, more valuable, so moving
the mult may be a more advantageous strategy. 

Come to think of it since the W/VE side and the DX side are really two separate
mutually dependent contests, there's actually no reason why the rules should
be the same for each group.  Food for thought..... 

In looking through the last five ARRL DX contest logs from V31DX I found that
I never changed bands more than 4 times per hour and that was only in the
middle of Saturday night/Sunday morning when the pickings get slim!

Any rule change must be undertaken with the following in mind:

1) Does it make the contest more or less fun for the entrants?
2) Does it encourage or discourage new entrants?
3) Does it add to the cost / hassle to be competitive?
4) Is it easily enforceable?
5) Does it encourage real single transmitter operation so that a couple
    of hams can head off to some island with a minimal amount of stuff 
    and put in a contest winning score - like our friends at PJ0B?  

The current 10 minute rule makes it hard to move to a new band to test propagation.
For example, at sunrise moving up with the MUF only to find you worked the only guy
on ten meters and there you sit, stuck for ten minutes (one of those great moments in
contesting)!  Or the reluctance to move to 160 after 30 or so multipliers have been 
accumulated there because of the scarcity of contest stations there.  Some would
argue that band change timing separates the best from the pack (and that may be
true) but it does reduce activity on some of the chancy bands like 10 and 160.  The 
proposed 10 change per hour removes some of that risk.  I think band activity will 
increase somewhat so it seems to me that the fun factor may go up.

The current 10 minute rule is subject to endless interpretation - such as listening time
which is unenforceable.  The 10 change per hour rule is more easily understood by the 
non legal beagles who just like to contest so that seems OK also.

So it seems to me that this proposal is a step forward in simplifying the contest.  
Mikey likes it!

cheers,

John

N6YRU / V31DX
The Cuba Libre Contest Club







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