[aprssig] APRS for a motorcycle - radios? - RF safety?

[Brian Webster]

With all this talk of RF power and antennas on motorcycles, has anyone
looked up the maximum RF exposure limits in these cases? While the PEP limit
in to the antenna is set at 50 watts for 2 meters, over 100 w ERP right next
to ones head seems like it might be a problem. Maybe I'm wrong but I would
not want that much RF near my head, I'd take the option of fewer positions
to the APRS system over my health any day. This is not a like a car where
you have that nice solid metal roof shielding the energy from getting to
you. The MPE levels were developed for our health and safety. I know the
duty cycle of an APRS transmitter is such that it still seems like no big
deal but I would not do it. I know when I worked for a Motorola shop we
avoided trunk mount antennas if we could, and then if we did have to use
one, we put the antenna on the opposite side from the driver. This was
usually for 100 watt VHF units in police cars, add a 5/8 wave antenna and
you have 200 watts shooting right in the back window. Just my two cents
though............



Thank You,
Brian N2KGC


-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Brown [mailto:W2KB at comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 8:39 PM
To: 'TAPR APRS Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [aprssig] APRS for a motorcycle - radios?


A few times I've used the D700 with the 1995 Harley FXDS.  Garmin III+ on a
handle bar mount with the entire D700 in one of the saddle bags, control
head too since I didn't intend to try to actually operate it, only use it as
a tracker.  Power came from the plug I had installed for electric vest and
gloves.  I had installed a metal luggage rack that is above the rear wheel
fender, just behind the pillion seat.  5/8 wave Larsen mag mount on the rack
worked fine.

For this very temporary setup I got lots of posits recorded via findu.  The
50 watts of transmit had to be a factor over HT levels of course.

73, ---Ken W2KB

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]
On Behalf Of Mark Cheavens
The single biggest improvement would be using a REAL antenna over the short
rubber duck. I have not figured out a good antenna solution for the
motorcycle yet! (suggestions welcome).




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