The electromagnetic (EM) energy radiated from an antenna may exceed the limits of safe human exposure, especially when the safe power levels and field intensities at different frequency bands are specified. Determining whether the safety criteria are satisfied when in a close vicinity of a large parabolic reflector antenna requires the knowledge of the near-field parameters.
In this article, existing methods are used to estimate these parameters, which are then compared with industry standards, such as the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) OET Bulletin 65 or Health Canada’s Safety Code 6, to determine the safe distance.2, 3 The results provided are for reference only and the user must measure the field parameters to ensure safety.