Actually...
I was under the impression that all mobile phone signals utilised microwave radiation? Just that companies use "radio waves" because it would take too long to explain to the general public that "microwaves" and "radiation" are not inherently bad things. Incidentally had a rather nice question in an Electromagentism problems class the other day (I'm a Physics Student at Durham) about EM waves, skin depth, conductivity etc., to work out the electric field 1cm inside your brain due to a mobile phone placed next to the skin. Funnily enough, it's harmless.

On a related note, one of my aunts refuses to allow my uncle to get a wireless router, which of course actually *is* of radio frequencies. Fears that it'll melt her brain, or make her children like rock and/or roll music or somesuch...
(icassu, Thu 19 Feb 2009, 18:49, 1 reply)

Nah

Question of definition I suppose.

I don't have a spectrum map to hand, so saying that 800-1Ghz isn't (legally & technically) microwave would likely be me talking shit without sufficient evidence. Likely (from memory) they're all in the same band class though - I usually demarc 1Ghz as Joe Soap definition of microwave. Meh.

And yes, you're right - we do tend to use "radio wave" or "directional antenna" as opposed to "microwave" and "focused beam aperture". The resistance you meet when installing even small links or networks is ridiculous if you're not careful about how you speak to the locals.

Harmless is also bang on the nail - I've worked around the stuff for years now, and not once had any ill effect. The worst I've experienced was a mild tingling in my hand when I stuck it in front of a high-power dish (Automatic TX Power Control coming on-line and increasing power when decreased RSSI is shown).

In actuality, the nastiest injuries I've heard of from working in radio have come from guys working on AM transmitters and broadcast stages - high field strengths, bad earthing, localised heating etc. But then most of them have arisen from some situ like someone sticking their thumb on a grounding stub, or shorting a TX line.

Strikes me you'd have a field day in my line of work..
(mymilkshakebringsallthemongstotheyard poison hearts, poison minds - joining hate, Thu 19 Feb 2009, 19:21, closed)