Apply 20dBm of power to antenna, bad to health?
If we make an 6GHz directional antenna and test it with 20dBm of power, will this bad to our health if we stand close to the antenna?
Thanks in advance
Hi there
welcome to the forums :)
20dBm is only 100 mW
tho you havent given the gain of the antenna so that we know the EIRP?
dont stand within a metre of it with it pointing at your head, well I wouldnt anyway
cheers
Dave
Hi :)
The gain of the antenna array is about 15dBi.
So what is EIRP?
You simply add them (in dB), so then you have approx 35 dBm (=3.16 W) EIRP.
Not extremely dangerous, but as davenn said. Don't fry your head :)
What value of EIRP is consider dangerous?
The antenna array have a farfield distance of about 3 meters, if i apply lower power like 0dBm instead of 20dBm, can i still able to measure the farfield radiation pattern at that 3 meters position?
It depends; can you achieve a suitable SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) in your measuring equipment?
Whether that is a network analyzer, or a Spectrum analyzer, or a sensitive power meter (like the -70 dBm sensor head from Agilent) ?
It really depends on your test equipment and setup, it would help if you could mention what you are using.
Also, it should be said, the actual power level is really immaterial (does not matter) to the 'physics' of the antenna, only to the test equipment (too much: overload and compression, or too little signal: degraded SNR as one intersects the 'noise floor' of the measuring device.)
Jim
Hi Jim,
I plan to use network analyzer to measure the radiation pattern and spectrum analyzer to measure the receive power then get the gain.
I have no idea about the sensitivity of the equipments. Is it possible equipments from different manufacturer will have different sensitivity?
Yeah i guess that is inappropriate if you just wanna test it i suggest you take stay in some distance and that can keep you away from any kinda danger.What the other members have suggested is correct for you.
In addition to the test equipment you mentioned you will need another "standard-gain" antenna (at least a calibrated one) to measure the radiation pattern and gain .
At 6 GHz, no dangerous effects to humans are known. Find health standards and keep the safe rules. 100 mW is a quite low power- try if your antenna can heat your hand, I doubt you can feel anything.
A microwave oven generates 500 W at 2.45 GHz; this can bake your eyes and flesh, and nobody cares! People live in a fear of 500 mW from their cell phone, but they never stop talking!
i read some manual on 20dBm device, it says: it is not recommended to be near the source more than 30 minutes if distance is less than one meter from radiating surface.
it depends on what u mean is "bad". If it is cold outside and u have to warm up, it would be good. If u had some unpopped corn kernals, you could pop them! both good!
LOL, 100 mw, as long as u do not stare directly into a high gain antenna, u will be fine forever. There is a slight chance of cateracts in your eye if you fell asleep right in the focal point of the antenna. If you are not anywhere near the front of the antenna....there is no worry AT ALL.
The UK safe limit for RF power is 10mW/cm^2, so unless you focus all your power into an area less then 10 square cms you should be OK. Mind you the Russians limits is a lot lower at 1 mW/cm^2.
Frank
Any comments?
physical therapy business