Radio Frequency Information

RADIO FREQUENCY INFORMATION

The wireless transmitters used for the City of Waukegan AMR Project use radio frequencies (RF) to transmit data. The exposures to RF from a wireless meter are much lower than many common household devices, including cell phones, laptop computers, and microwave ovens. The meters use a fraction of the power of a cell phone, and total daily transmission is less than 15 seconds per day.

COMPARISON OF TYPICAL RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) EXPOSURES

Relative Power Density in microwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm2)

  • FM Radio or TV Broadcast Station Signal: 0.005
  •  AMR Transmitter: 0.32
  •   Cordless Phones and Baby Monitors: 0.60
  •   Wi-Fi: 10 – 20
  •   Laptop Computer: 10 – 20
  •   Cell Phone – Held up to head: 30 – 10,000
  •  Walkie-Talkie – At head: 500 – 42,000

Source: Richard Tell Associates, Inc.

RF OUTPUT INFORMATION FOR THE WATER METER COMMUNICATION MODULE

  • Operating frequency of the meter communication module is in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band at frequencies from 902 to 928 MHz.
  • The transmission time is extremely short, less than 10 milliseconds.
  • The module transmits a message every minute. Total transmission time is less than 15 seconds per day.
  • When not transmitting data, the module remains off.
  • The module's power output is 0.516W (the average lightbulb is 60W)
  • The FCC guideline for Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) is 6.10 mW/cm2 at 20 cm.
  • The meter communication module power density is 0.215 mW/cm2 at 20 cm.
  • FCC ID: EWQ100WC
  • IC: 864D-100WC