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

[Dale Blanchard]

Brian Webster wrote:
> 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
> 
>I am still waiting for some documentated evidence that anyone was ever 
harmed by a radio on a motorcycle, or car, or truck.
My antenna is about two feet from my head.
WA7IXK
Dale