iii
RADIO OPERATOR WARNING
W ARNING
Icom requires the radio operator to meet the
FCC and IC Requirements for Radio Fre-
quency Exposure. An omnidirectional antenna
with gain not greater than 9 dBi must be
mounted a minimum of 5 meters (measured
from the lowest point of the antenna) vertically
above the main deck and all possible personnel. This is the
minimum safe separation distance estimated to meet all RF
exposure compliance requirements. This 5 meter distance is
based on the FCC and IC Safe Maximum Permissible Expo-
sure (MPE) distance of 3 meters added to the height of an
adult (2 meters) and is appropriate for all vessels.
For watercraft without suitable structures, the antenna must
be mounted so as to maintain a minimum of 1 meter verti-
cally between the antenna, (measured from the lowest point
of the antenna), to the heads of all persons AND all persons
must stay outside of the 3 meter MPE radius.
Do not transmit with radio and antenna when persons are
within the MPE radius of the antenna, unless such persons
(such as driver or radio operator) are shielded from antenna
field by a grounded metallic barrier. The MPE Radius is the
minimum distance from the antenna axis that person should
maintain in order to avoid RF exposure higher than the al-
lowable MPE level set by FCC and IC.
FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE LIMITS MAY ALLOW
THOSE WITHIN THE MPE RADIUS TO EXPERIENCE RF
RADIATION ABSORPTION WHICH EXCEEDS THE MAXI-
MUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE (MPE) LIMIT.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RADIO OPERATOR
TO ENSURE THAT THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPO-
SURE LIMITS ARE OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES DURING
RADIO TRANSMISSION. THE RADIO OPERATOR IS TO
ENSURE THAT NO BYSTANDERS COME WITHIN THE
RADIUS OF THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
LIMITS.
Determining MPE Radius
THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE (MPE) RA-
DIUS HAS BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE A RADIUS OF
ABOUT 3M PER OET BULLETIN 65 OF THE FCC.
THIS ESTIMATE IS MADE ASSUMING THE MAXIMUM
POWER OF THE RADIO AND ANTENNAS WITH A MAXI-
MUM GAIN OF 9dBi ARE USED FOR A SHIP MOUNTED
SYSTEM.
