8D1 Recall that the International Commission for Non Ionising Radiation Protection(ICNIRP) produces guidance for exposure to Radio Frequency fields.
The ICNIRP (www.icnirp.org) has guides on just how close you may stand to an antenna with a specific wattage being radiated (ERP), these guides can be obtained from Public Health England. This information is vital when setting up say a field day or just working out the correct parameters for your own shack set up, as you must follow the guidelines for ERP exposure.
There is a link to the ICNIRP guidelines on the first page of this self-training website HERE
8D1 continued: Understand it is not advisable to exceed the recommended safe exposure levels and that this is particularly applicable at locations open to the public.
Please check for current advisable limits for exposure. This needs to be used when setting up any field day when the public may be visiting and there may be a need for some form of physical barrier. The barrier will prevent people getting too close to a radiating antenna and prevent accidents with any falling masts as a bonus ! Use the safe exposure rules as a general "must do" when using ham radio equipment both in the home shack and out and about.
8E1 Recall that thunderstorms carry heavy static charges.
Your radio receiver whilst being selective cannot discern between a radio signal from a distant transmitter and the static build up from a thunderstorm. Cracks and pops can often be heard with other signals.
Consider these :-
8E1 continued: Understand that the static charge from thunderclouds can ionize the air to form a low resistance path to ground, enabling a very high current to flow as a lightning strike.
The static charge from thunderclouds can ionise the air to form a low resistance path to ground, enabling a very high current to flow as a lightning strike. This current can be many thousands of amps at high voltages so you have a double problem with which to contend.
8E1 continued: Understand the risks to human life, domestic property and electronic equipment associated with a direct strike and/or the build up of static charges.
Thunderstorms can destroy Ham radio and electronic equipment via static discharge and the huge magnetic fields generated by it, they also can cause death via arcing from your equipment to you in the event of a direct strike.
Domestic property can be completely destroyed by a direct strike.
8E1 continued: Understand that there is little that can be done to protect an amateur station from a direct lightning strike, but that good static discharge systems can prevent dangerous static charges building up on antenna systems during thunderstorms.
There is no real protection from a direct lightning strike
8E1 continued: Understand that disconnecting antenna feeders from radio equipment also reduces the risks.
Some degree of protection can be gained and can reduce the risks by :-
The origin of some of the text on this page is from the RSGB with additions by the web master
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