Ham radio

I am a ham radio operator and would like to know if there is high risk in using a 1 kilowatt linear for HF bands.I also wish to know if these difibrators are well protected now from rf and radio waves for ham radio use.

6 Comments

Ham radio

by Marie12 - 2013-08-12 08:08:18

I thought I had read that ham radios were a problem as they have a transmitter.

Do you have the telephone number of your defib maker?They will advise people on these things and if they don't know for sure they will research it. I have called the company who manufacturered mine (medtronic) and they have been very helpful.



should be ok

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-12 09:08:29

I have a pm, not a defib, but my husband has ham stuff all over the house and his car and it's never been a problem for me. Newer devices are very well shielded and every day electronics are not a problem. It's only the industrial things we have to worry about for the most part.

Waitaminit!!!!!

by donr - 2013-08-12 11:08:40

You are talking a KW at the plate - not recommended that you stand next to your antenna when it's radiating. we had a thread about this about two weeks ago - had some pretty good first person info in it.

Go to top right corner to "Search" function Search on "RF Wattage" When it comes up, click on it & all 5 comments will show. You'll be pleased.

Don

Hello VE2PJV

by LuCas - 2013-08-13 01:08:59

I used to be a radioamateur in the past. I got my pacemaker implanted and my radio friends want me to go back to the hobby. They joke to me ''you are getting old, so it is a perfect hobby for you and we can stay together many nights...''. Radio amateurs are such a bunch of joking people :-) . I will to a research on the subject since it of great interest for me. Another friend jokingly said that I could operate a radio from within a Faraday's cage hahahahahaha That is a good one. Yes, I know that devices should be shielded NOT ME. hahahahaha.
I will do a reasearch and help BOTH OF US to be properly protected. But one thing is for sure: we can operate radios, but we to carefull about servicing them, since you need to open the radio and I think that we will not be able to fix or adjust antennas, because we would be exactly in front of the irradiating system.
Lucio
from Brazil

More of Not A Problem

by jodafo - 2013-08-13 04:08:51

Hi VE2PJV,
.
Do have a read of my response to the posting "RF Wattage" Running a kW is no big deal when it comes to exposure to potential risk Medtronic have issued guidance on the distance you need between you and the radiating elements of your antennas. I moved one vertical antenna - a GAP Titan from about 4 metres from my operating chair to 12 metres. You will see that Medtronic suggest that 6 metres distance is OK for a kW. Read their info at :
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/Pacemaker/SSL_Radio_Frequency_Transmission.pdf

If you run with a high SWR then don't get close up to the coax. I run all modes, mostly CW and also SSB, RTTY and FM. Don't let it spoil your enjoyment of amateur radio. I do 48 hour contesting and chase the DX just the same as I did before the PM. Do get in touch if you need any help. You can see my kit on qrz.com

73, G3HTA

I called Boston Scientific. . .

by SteveE - 2013-08-13 10:08:48

When I first came home with my Boston Scientific S603 pacemaker, I called the tech support number on my device ID card. I spoke with a tech who transferred me to another person who was said to know about the effects of RF on their pacers. To make a longer story short, the specialist told me that my 100W output at 40 thru 10 meters would be no problem. He said that I would have to be running "hundreds of times" that to have any risk. My 100 watts goes to a ground-mounted trap vertical about 50 feet from the operating position, and I have absolutely no issues at all. I would check with tech support at the device manufacturer, but I'll bet that they expect no problems at HF with our power levels.

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