Challenges and Issues
Health issues

There are many unknowns concerning the safe limits of human exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation. The use of the word radiation does not necessarily connote any linkage to nuclear fission or other radioactive processes, but rather non-ionizing radiation of radio emissions. The general rule is to not subject living things to radiated RF energy unnecessarily. This means that one should not stand in front of, or in close proximity to, any antenna that is radiating a transmitted signal. Antennas that are only used for receiving do not pose any danger or problem. For dish-type antennas it is safe to be near an operating transmitting antenna if one stands to the back or sides of the antenna. These antennas are directional, and potentially hazardous emission levels will only be present at the front of the antenna.

One should always assume that any antenna is currently energized, especially since most antennas are used in duplex systems. Small-sized dishes of 30 cm (1 ft) or less are often radiating RF energy in the tens-of-gigahertz frequency range. As a general rule, the higher the frequency, the more potentially hazardous the radiation. Care should be taken to ensure that the transmitter is not operating before removing or replacing any antenna connections.

It is important not to stand in front of, or walk around, microwave antennas that are being installed on rooftops. If it is necessary to walk in front of any such antennas, there is typically a very low safety concern if one moves briskly across the path axis of the antenna. In order to comply with RF exposure limits established in the ANSI C95.1 standards, it is recommended that when using a laptop with a PC card client adapter, the integrated antenna of the adapter should be positioned more than 5 cm (2 in.) from the body of the operator or other nearby persons. This is especially true during extended periods of transmitting or operating time. It is recommended to limit exposure time if the antenna is positioned less than 5 cm (2 in.) from the user. Remember that the computer may be carrying on background network communications, even if the network is not actively being used.