Transmitting Power Limits

[jfarr669]

The lower wattage for handhelds was usually 5 watts at VHF and 4 watts at UHF and 3 watts for 700/800mhz. It is a RF exposure limit. Many public safety officials use a remote speaker/mic where the handheld/portable is still worn on the side of the body while transmitting. Anything more is considered "harmful exposure".  You should stay about 3 feet away from a transmitting mobile radio with a mounted antenna, as most mobiles transmit at 15-50 watts, plus the antenna gain, if any.

[Lscott]

The attached papers give a bit more info on RF power exposure limits. This can get rather technical.

 

Limits for Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE).pdf CNIRP GUIDELINES FOR LIMITING EXPOSURE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (100 KHZ TO 300 GHZ).pdf

[AdmiralCochrane]

It can get rather technical but 50 watts of non-ionizing radiation is 50 watts.  Don't touch a 100 watt light bulb and don't hold on to a 50 watt bulb for too long.

[nokones]

On 7/31/2025 at 9:28 AM, LeoG said:

A fixed station transmits and received from another fixed station.  It doesn't talk to mobiles or HTs.  Usually they have line of site towers so 15 watts is usually more than enough for good communication.

And in almost every case, use yagi antennae pointing at each other. They (FCC) should refer to them as Operational Fixed Stations like they do in the Part 90 rules and regs.

[LeoG]

I was going to mention that specifically but I mentioned it in an obscure sense when I gave my microwave example.