Tag Archives: EMF

Sep 23 2021

New EMF Regulation and QO-100 satellite / Microwave operation

Es'hail-2 Qatar-OSCAR-100Ian GM3SEK is giving an online talk on the application of the RSGB-Ofcom Calculator to Microwaves and QO-100 satellite operation on Saturday, October 16, at 1230 GMT (1:30pm BST)

John G3XDY, Secretary UK Microwave Group, writes:

As I expect you are aware, UK stations must have Electromagnetic Field (EMF) assessments in place for operation above 110 MHz from 18th November 2021. Some RSGB guidance on EMF is here:
https://rsgb.org/main/technical/emc/emf-exposure/

The RSGB has been developing a tool that incorporates the Ofcom EMF Calculator but extends the models to include single and multiple Yagis plus various sizes of dish antennas, and takes account of the directivity of the antenna.

Ian GM3SEK, a key member of the team that developed the spreadsheet tool, will be talking about its application to Microwaves and QO-100 operation on 16th October at 13:30pm, in a joint BATC/UK Microwave Group presentation during the BATC Convention.

Registration is not required, to view the talk just go to https://batc.org.uk/live/cat21

Full details of the BATC CAT21 program are available here
https://forum.batc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=135&t=7609

This is an important topic for all that operate on VHF and above, and Ian will dispense invaluable practical advice on how to assess your dishes and Yagis in the microwave bands. Not to be missed!

Jun 5 2020

Ofcom EMF Consultation: Your response needed by Friday, June 12

Ofcom are proposing to impose onerous new licence conditions and mandatory guidance on all licensees (not just amateurs) who are able to transmit >10W EIRP, prompted by recent but unjustified 5G concerns etc.

The RSGB EMF consultation response guide says:

However RSGB does not agree with Ofcom’s proposals to implement that principle by adding a major new enforceable condition to Amateur licences. We believe this would be:

1. In breach of statutory general duties
The Communications Act 2003 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 together require that regulations made by Ofcom:
• Must be proportionate, objectively justifiable, and targeted only at cases in which action is needed;
• Must not impose burdens which are unnecessary;
There would also be a danger of double regulation with what is normally a HSE/PHE matter.

2. Not objectively justifiable
• The Amateur licences include a long-standing requirement that safety precautions should be taken against “radio frequency radiation” which is accepted by Public Health England (PHE), and the NRPB before it, as being proportionate to the low levels of risk arising from Amateur Radio activities.

3. Inadequate with respect to the requirement for impact assessments
• The document contains no impact assessment of any kind.

4. Disproportionate and Discriminatory
We emphasise that all impacts upon Amateur Radio will be disproportionate to the related risks of harm.
• They will be extremely disruptive to the Amateur Service and Amateur Satellite Service
• They fall most heavily upon the very large numbers of non-commercial licensed spectrum users many of whom lack the resources to make the assessments demanded.

The RSGB recommends you acknowledge the need for ICNIRP guidelines but to state that the proposals from Ofcom are not proportionate for amateur licensees.

More details on the consultation and the Response Guide to help you with your response along with a copy of the RSGB’s response can be found at
https://www.rsgb.org/emf

Responses must be submitted to Ofcom before the consultations closes on June 12.

Ofcom Consultation PDF: Proposed measures to require compliance with international guidelines for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF)
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/190003/emf-condoc.pdf

Ofcom Consultation page
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/limiting-exposure-to-emf

Feb 24 2020

Ofcom consultation on EMF compliance

Ofcom is holding a public consultation on proposed measures to require all those with transmitting equipment capable of generating more than 10 watts EIRP to demonstrate compliance with international guidelines for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF).

An assessment would have to be carried out every time a change was made to an antenna or equipment. It appears the assessment would have to be based on the total EMF level that could theoretically be generated if all the transmitting equipment at a location is running maximum permitted power simultaneously.

In their document – Proposed measures to require compliance with international guidelines for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) – Ofcom say:

We are proposing to include a specific condition in Wireless Telegraphy Act licences requiring licensees to comply with the relevant levels from the ICNIRP Guidelines. This condition would apply to all equipment which can transmit at powers above 10 Watts [EIRP].

Ofcom may, from time to time, conduct EMF compliance checks and audits. Licensees, installers and users should therefore be in a position to explain the steps they took to ensure compliance with the basic restrictions for general public exposure and provide records demonstrating their compliance. To this end, they should have appropriate processes in place that will enable them to:
a) Identify the measurements, tests, calculations or other procedures they have carried out.
b) Explain why they considered those procedures were appropriate.
c) Provide evidence that a site is compliant with the basic restrictions, including by providing, where appropriate, test measurements, calculation results and/or certificates of compliance.
d) Explain how they ensure they continue to comply with the basic restrictions, including (i) when they modify radio equipment or a site; (ii) where for any other reason the power anticipated to be transmitted from the site has increased above that originally assumed; and (iii) when they become aware that a site may not be complying with the basic restrictions.
e) Explain what measures are in place to ensure members of the public cannot unknowingly enter areas close to antennas where exposure may exceed the basic restrictions.

Responses to this consultation must be made by May 15, 2020.

Download the Consultation document PDF and the response form at
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/limiting-exposure-to-emf

RSGB briefing paper on the EMF consultation published February 28, 2020
https://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/rsgb-notices/2020/02/28/rsgb-emc-briefing-paper-now-available/

Feb 7 2020

EMF 2020 to contact the ISS via ham radio

EMF 2018 AMSAT-UK VillageThe ARISS-UK Team have announced that the Electromagnetic Field 2020 event is to host an ARISS contact during the weekend of July 23-26.

The event will be held at Easton Manor Deer Park, near Ledbury in Herefordshire.

Amateur Radio Mast at EMF 2018The callsign for the contact will be GB4EMF and the ISS will use NA1SS. More details will be available closer to the date.

Imagine a camping festival with a power grid and high-speed internet access; a temporary village of geeks, crafters, and technology enthusiasts that’s lit up by night, and buzzing with activity during the day. Thousands of curious people will descend on the friendly open space to learn, share, and talk about what they love.

Talks and workshops start at midday on Friday and last until the Sunday evening.

The first public sale of tickets for EMF 2020 will be Wednesday, February 19, at 19:00 GMT. For the full list of ticket sales dates, see https://blog.emfcamp.org/2020/02/14/ticket-sales-dates/

Further info on Electromagnetic Field 2020 at
https://www.emfcamp.org/
https://wiki.emfcamp.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_Field_2020
https://twitter.com/emfcamp

Aug 4 2016

Amateur radio presentations at EMF 2016 Guildford

David Rowntree 2E0DVR communicating via Amateur Radio Satellite

David Rowntree 2E0DVR communicating via Amateur Radio Satellite

Many radio amateurs are giving presentations at the Electromagnetic Field EMF 2016 event taking place near Guildford August 5-7 and two special event stations will be operating from the site. There is live streaming of presentations at http://streaming.media.ccc.de/emf2016/

The event is aimed at makers, scientists, engineers and radio enthusiasts. Most radio amateurs will be in two villages on the site, HABville and the Amateur Radio Village.

The London Hackspace Amateur Radio Club are planning to erect at least one of their Clark masts in the amateur radio village. London Hackspace will be showcasing Amateur Radio on bands from 3.5 MHz (80m) to 430 MHz (70cm) and maybe higher using the call sign GB4EMF.

RSGB Youth Committee member Rebecca M6BUB will be at the GB8EMF station which will be using three ICOM transceivers, two IC-706MKIIG and an IC-746.

Listen out for 434 MHz balloon trackers from HABville during the weekend, tracking information at https://tracker.habhub.org/

At 1559 GMT (4:59pm BST) on Saturday, August 6 the International Space Station (ISS) astronaut Kate Rubins KG5FYJ should be receivable at the event on a handheld radio tuned to 145.800 MHz FM. Full details at http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/july/ariss-event-0608.htm

The amateur radio satellite talks being given over the weekend are:
• A hacker’s guide to satellites — Dave Rowntree 2E0DVR (drummer in rock-band Blur)
• Receiving live video from the Space Station — Daniel Cussen EI9FHB HamTV
• The story behind $50SAT, a new approach to Amateur satellite design which became the world’s smallest operational satellite, built for £125 in a garden shed — Stuart Robinson GW7HPW

Other presentations by radio amateurs include:
• 100 years of Shannon — the man, his work and his legacy — Matthew Ireland MW0MIE
• Asynchronous or Analogue Methods for Computation — Matthew Ireland MW0MIE
• Connecting computers together over 1,000s miles without using the Internet — GB8EMF Amateur Radio Station
• Hacking Robot Dinosaurs — Dr Lucy Rogers M6CME (Judge on BBC Robot Wars)
• My Ubertooth Year — Michael Ossmann AD0NR developer of HackRF One SDR
• Numbers Stations: Cold War, short waves — Henry Cooke
• Rebooting a Hobby: How Modern Digital Comms are Reviving Amateur Radio — Ryan Sayre M0RYS

Electromagnetic Field EMF 2016
https://twitter.com/emfcamp
https://www.emfcamp.org/schedule
https://www.emfcamp.org/line-up/2016

EMF HABville https://wiki.emfcamp.org/wiki/Village:HABville

EMF Amateur Radio Village https://wiki.emfcamp.org/wiki/Village:Amateur_Radio

London Hackspace ARC
https://twitter.com/m0hsl
https://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Group:Amateur_Radio

Previous EMF events have generated BBC News coverage
https://amsat-uk.org/2014/09/02/bbc-reports-emf-2014/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Find a short Amateur Radio training course near you at https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/

The book Getting Started with Amateur Satellites 2016 is available from the AMSAT-UK online shop
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/06/27/getting-started-with-amateur-satellites-2016/

Jul 26 2016

Satellite Talk at EMF 2016 Guildford

David Rowntree 2E0DVR communicating via Amateur Radio Satellite

David Rowntree 2E0DVR communicating via Amateur Radio Satellite

Radio amateur Dave Rowntree 2E0DVR, drummer in the rock-band Blur, will be giving a presentation and demonstration of amateur radio satellite communications at the Electromagnetic Field event EMF 2016 near Guildford which takes place August 5-7.

There will be an Amateur Radio Village at the 3-day event aimed at makers, scientists, engineers and radio enthusiasts. The London Hackspace Amateur Radio Club are planning to erect at least one of their Clark masts in the village. London Hackspace will be showcasing Amateur Radio on bands from 3.5 MHz (80m) to 430 MHz (70cm) and maybe higher using the call sign GB4EMF.

Dave Rowntree’s presentation is titled “The Hackers Guide To Satellites” and according to the schedule is planned for 2pm on Saturday, August 6.

On July 25-26, 2016 Dave tested out the equipment he will use for his satellite demonstrations. One of his contacts was with Peter Goodhall 2E0SQL in Oxford via the FM satellite SO-50. Peter will be giving a presentation titled “Satellite Operations in the Field” to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium on July 30.

EMF Amateur Radio Village https://wiki.emfcamp.org/wiki/Village:Amateur_Radio

Electromagnetic Field EMF 2016
https://twitter.com/emfcamp
https://www.emfcamp.org/schedule

London Hackspace ARC
https://twitter.com/m0hsl
https://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Group:Amateur_Radio

Previous EMF events have generated BBC News coverage
https://amsat-uk.org/2014/09/02/bbc-reports-emf-2014/

The book Getting Started with Amateur Satellites 2016 is available from the AMSAT-UK online shop
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/06/27/getting-started-with-amateur-satellites-2016/