Study › General › G0A › G0A09

G0A09

ELECTRICAL AND RF SAFETY · - RF safety principles, rules, and guidelines; routine station evaluation

G0A09G0A →

What type of instrument can be used to accurately measure an RF field strength?

  1. AA receiver with digital signal processing (DSP) noise reduction
  2. BA calibrated field strength meter with a calibrated antenna
  3. CAn SWR meter with a peak-reading function
  4. DAn oscilloscope with a high-stability crystal marker generator
Why Measuring an actual RF field means quantifying volts per meter (or power density) in the air, and that requires an instrument whose response is traceable to a known standard. A field strength meter reads the voltage its antenna picks up, so the antenna's calibration factor (gain and effective length versus frequency) must also be known to convert that reading into field strength. Without both the meter and the antenna being calibrated, you only get a relative indication, not an accurate number for a routine RF exposure evaluation.
Watch out An SWR meter only compares forward and reflected power in the feedline, which tells you about the match at the transmitter, not the strength of the field radiated out where people might be standing. A receiver with DSP or a scope with a marker generator can show relative signal levels or frequency accuracy, but neither is calibrated in volts per meter.
Field strength is measured in volts per meter, so you need a calibrated meter AND a calibrated antenna, not a feedline gadget.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
← G0A08 All of G0A G0A10 →

The rest of G0A

  1. G0A01 What is one way that RF energy can affect human body tissue?
  2. G0A02 Which of the following is used to determine RF exposure from a transmitted signal?
  3. G0A03 How can you determine that your station complies with FCC RF exposure regulations?
  4. G0A04 What does "time averaging" mean when evaluating RF radiation exposure?
  5. G0A05 What must you do if an evaluation of your station shows that the RF energy radiated by your station exceeds p…
  6. G0A06 What must you do if your station fails to meet the FCC RF exposure exemption criteria?
  7. G0A07 What is the effect of modulation duty cycle on RF exposure?
  8. G0A08 Which of the following steps must an amateur operator take to ensure compliance with RF safety regulations?
  9. G0A09 What type of instrument can be used to accurately measure an RF field strength?
  10. G0A10 What should be done if evaluation shows that a neighbor might experience more than the allowable limit of RF …
  11. G0A11 What precaution should be taken if you install an indoor transmitting antenna?
  12. G0A12 What stations are subject to the FCC rules on RF exposure?
Tram 1481 Dual Band Base AntennaSponsored · View on Amazon →MFJ-259D HF/VHF Antenna AnalyzerSponsored · View on Amazon →