[UK-CONTEST] QRO

[Bob Henderson]

> Ian GM3SEK wrote:
>
> Colin, is that really the quality of thinking by which we are to be
> regulated?
>

I share Ian's concern.

It is really sad that where once stood science stands hysteria.  Such is it
wrt radio waves.

Merely that the words radiation and radio come from the same origin and can
be used in the same sentence appears enough to spark the hysteria.  Nobody
seems to care that for a very very long time the differences between
ionising and no-ionising radiation have been fundamentally understood.  We
all know that ionising radiation can comprise a significant threat to life
whereas non-ionising radiation is a pre-requisite for its very existance.
Without non ionising radiation there would be no radio but that wouldn't
matter because there would be no warmth from the sun either and consequently
no life on the planet.

Non hysterical concerns over the potential risk from radio waves relate
purely to the tissue heating effect of non-ionising radiation.  These
concerns are grounded in the same science which gives rise to our concern to
use a fire-guard to keep children out of the fire and pan guards to keep
them from being scalded.  Anyone who has ever used a microwave oven knows of
the tissue heating effect of rf radiation.  It is absolutely clear that too
much rf energy can be harmful to humans through tissue heating.  For the
non-hysterical, it is all about understanding the effects of quantum.

Unless physics has changed unrecognisably whilst I've been busy getting on
with life, there are two very elementary formulae which when applied will
derive the quantum effect.

E=hc/lambda determines the relative energy in a wave based upon wavelength
and I=1/(d squared) determines energy levels based upon distance from
source.

Even with my rusty maths, I can see that at a point only 10 metres from an
antenna radiating 1500 Watts on a wavelength of 10 metres the energy level
available for tissue heating will be several orders of magnitude less than
that of a mobile phone radiating 1 Watt on 1800 MHz and held to the ear, say
2 cm from the skull.  Recent studies, I believe have concluded there to be
no evidence to support claims that mobile phones carry any radiation risk to
their users.

I know, I know, I am preaching to the converted BUT I would be very
concerned about any proposal to grant licenses to use 1500 Watts based upon
a station being located one mile or more away from the nearest neighbour.
Such would be a truly arbitrary act on the side of hysteria and would lend
credence to the unscientific nonsense spouted daily about health risks from
radio waves.

For everyone's sake, let's bring back the science.

Bob, 5B4AGN