Palm MADECA Users Manual

Sprint PCS VisionSM Smart Device
Treo™ 650 by palmOne

User’s Guide

Portions copyright © 2002-2004 Sprint. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part without prior written approval. Sprint and the
diamond logo design are trademarks of Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Portions copyright © 2002-2004 palmOne, Inc. All rights reserved. palmOne, Treo, the palmOne and Treo logos, Palm, Palm OS, HotSync,
Graffiti, and Palm Powered are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to palmOne, Inc. This product contains
ACCESS Co., Ltd.’s NetFront 3.0 Internet browser software. © 1996-2004 ACCESS Co., Ltd. and ACCESS Systems America, Inc. NetFront is the
trademark or registered trademark of ACCESS Co., Ltd. in Japan and in other countries except the United States of America. NetFront is a
registered trademark of NetFront Communications, Inc. in the United States of America and is used under a license. A portion of this software
includes software modules developed by the Independent JPEG group. RealPlayer is a trademark or registered trademark of RealNetworks, Inc.
MPEG Layer-3 audio decoding technology is licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson. palmOne, Inc. is an authorized licensee of the
MultiMediaCard trademark. ActiveSync is a registered trademark or Microsoft Corporation. All other brand and product names are or may be
trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.

Printed in the U.S.A.

PN: 406-10149-00

Table of Contents

Welcome to Sprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

How to Use This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

Where to Learn More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Section 1: Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1A. Setting Up Your Sprint PCS VisionSM Smart Device

Treo™ 650 by palmOne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

What You Need. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Inserting the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Charging the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

1B. Setting Up Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Getting Started With Sprint PCS Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Setting Up Your Voicemail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Sprint PCS Account Passwords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

1C. Connecting to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Preparing Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Connecting Your Smart Device to Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Installing the Synchronization Software on Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Section 2: Your Sprint PCS Vision Smart Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

2A. Learning the Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Your New Sprint PCS Smart Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Turning Your Device’s Phone On and Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Moving Around the Treo Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Using the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Opening Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

2B. Using Your Device’s Phone Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Making Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Receiving Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Signal Strength and Phone Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Managing Active Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Controlling Your Roaming Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Internal Phone Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Defining Favorite Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Using a Phone Headset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Connecting to Devices With Bluetooth Wireless Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

2C. Using Your Device’s Organizer Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Memos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Listening to Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

World Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Looking Up Contacts and Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Beaming Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

2D. Managing Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Synchronizing Contacts and Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Installing Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Removing Applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Viewing Application Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Using Expansion Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

2E. Customizing Your Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Phone Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

System Sound Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Display and Appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Applications Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Button Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Date and Time Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Power Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

Locking Your Device and Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Additional Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Accessories for Your Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Section 3: Sprint PCS Service

Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

3A. Sprint PCS Service Features—The Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Using Voicemail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Call Waiting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Call Forwarding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Three-Way Calling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

Sprint PCS Voice CommandSM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

TTY Use With Sprint PCS Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

3B. Sprint PCS Vision—The Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Getting Started With Sprint PCS Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Sprint PCS Vision Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

Accessing Sprint PCS Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

3C. Sending and Receiving Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Setting Up an Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Creating and Sending Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Receiving and Viewing Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

Managing Your Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Customizing Your Email Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

Working With Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Sprint PCS Business ConnectionSM Personal Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

3D. Messaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Creating and Sending Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Receiving Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

Chatting With Messaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

Managing Your Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

Customizing Your Messaging Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

3E. Browsing the Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Viewing Web Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Working With Bookmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Customizing Your Web Browser Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

3F. Using Your Device’s Built-in Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217

Taking Pictures and Videos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218

Viewing Pictures and Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

Organizing Pictures and Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224

Customizing Your Camera Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226

Using Your Online Album. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Viewing Pictures and Videos on Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

Section 4: Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

4A. Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

Upgrading From Another Palm Powered® Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233

Resetting Your Treo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236

Replacing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

Desktop Software Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241

Network Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242

Synchronization (HotSync) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245

Email. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250

Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253

Camera and Sprint PCS Picture Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

Third-Party Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256

Errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258

Making Room On Your Treo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260

Voice Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

4B. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263

Section 5: Safety and Terms and Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267

5A. Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269

Getting the Most Out of Your Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270

Maintaining Safe Use of and Access to Your Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272

Caring for the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

Acknowledging Special Precautions and the FCC Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276

Consumer Information on Wireless Phones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278

Owner’s Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296

User’s Guide Proprietary Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296

5B. Terms and Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297

Terms and Conditions of Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298

Terms of Picture Mail Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307

Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323

Acknowledging Special Precautions and the FCC Notice

FCC Not ice

This phone may cause TV or radio interference if used in close proximity to receiving equipment.
The FCC can require you to stop using the phone if such interference cannot be eliminated.

Vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (propane or butane) must comply with the National Fire
Protection Standard (NFPA-58). For a copy of this standard, contact the National Fire Protections
Association, One Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269, Attn.: Publication Sales Division.

Antenna Care/Unauthorized Modifications

Use only the supplied integral antenna. Unauthorized antenna modifications or attachments could
damage the unit and may violate FCC regulations. Any changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the
equipment.

FCC RF Safety Statement

In order to comply with FCC RF exposure safety guidelines, users MUST use one of the following
types of body-worn accessories.

1. A palmOne brand body-worn accessory that has been tested for SAR compliance and is

intended for use with this product.

2. An accessory that contains NO metal (snaps, clips, etc.) and provides AT LEAST 1.5 cm of

separation between the users body and the unit.

Do NOT use the device in a manner such that it is in direct contact with the body (i.e. on the lap or in
a breast pocket). Such use will likely exceed FCC RF safety exposure limits See www.fcc.gov/oet/

rfsafety/ for more information on RF exposure safety.

276 Safety

Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) for Wireless Phones

The SAR is a value that corresponds to the relative amount of RF energy absorbed in the head of a
user of a wireless handset.

The SAR value of a phone is the result of an extensive testing, measuring and calculation process. It
does not represent how much RF the phone emits. All phone models are tested at their highest value
in strict laboratory settings. But when in operation, the SAR of a phone can be substantially less than
the level reported to the FCC. This is because of a variety of factors including its proximity to a base
station antenna, phone design and other factors. What is important to remember is that each phone
meets strict federal guidelines. Variations in SARs do not represent a variation in safety.

All phones must meet the federal standard, which incorporates a substantial margin of safety. As
stated above, variations in SAR values between different model phones do not mean variations in
safety. SAR values at or below the federal standard of 1.6 W/kg are considered safe for use by the
public.

The highest reported (FCC) SAR values of the Sprint PCS VisionSM Smart Device Treo™ 650, by
palmOne are:

Maximum SAR Values CDMA Cellular CDMA PCS

Held to Ear 1.50 (W/Kg) 1.33 (W/Kg)

Body - Worn .999 (W/Kg) .667 (W/Kg)

FCC Radiofrequency Emission

This phone meets the FCC Radiofrequency Emission Guidelines and is certified with the FCC as.

FCC ID number: O8FMADECA.

More information on the phone's SAR can be found from the following FCC Web si te :

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm.

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Consumer Information on Wireless Phones

(The following information comes from a consumer information Website jointly sponsored by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC),
entitled “Cell Phone Facts: Consumer Information on Wireless Phones.” The information reproduced
herein is dated July 29, 2003. For further updates, please visit the Website:
cellphones/qa.html.)

What is radiofrequency energy (RF)?

Radiofrequency (RF) energy is another name for radio waves. It is one form of electromagnetic
energy that makes up the electromagnetic spectrum. Some of the other forms of energy in the
electromagnetic spectrum are gamma rays, x-rays and light. Electromagnetic energy (or
electromagnetic radiation) consists of waves of electric and magnetic energy moving together
(radiating) through space. The area where these waves are found is called an electromagnetic
field.

Radio waves are created due to the movement of electrical charges in antennas. As they are
created, these waves radiate away from the antenna. All electromagnetic waves travel at the
speed of light. The major differences between the different types of waves are the distances
covered by one cycle of the wave and the number of waves that pass a certain point during a set
time period. The wavelength is the distance covered by one cycle of a wave. The frequency is
the number of waves passing a given point in one second. For any electromagnetic wave, the
wavelength multiplied by the frequency equals the speed of light. The frequency of an RF signal
is usually expressed in units called hertz (Hz). One Hz equals one wave per second. One
kilohertz (kHz) equals one thousand waves per second, one megahertz (MHz) equals one million
waves per second, and one gigahertz (GHz) equals one billion waves per second.

RF energy includes waves with frequencies ranging from about 3000 waves per second (3 kHz)
to 300 billion waves per second (300 GHz). Microwaves are a subset of radio waves that have
frequencies ranging from around 300 million waves per second (300 MHz) to three billion waves
per second (3 GHz).

http://www.fda.gov/

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How is radiofrequency energy used?

Probably the most important use of RF energy is for telecommunications. Radio and TV
broadcasting, wireless phones, pagers, cordless phones, police and fire department radios,
point-to-point links and satellite communications all rely on RF energy.

Other uses of RF energy include microwave ovens, radar, industrial heaters and sealers, and
medical treatments. RF energy, especially at microwave frequencies, can heat water. Since most
food has a high water content, microwaves can cook food quickly. Radar relies on RF energy to
track cars and airplanes as well as for military applications. Industrial heaters and sealers use RF
energy to mold plastic materials, glue wood products, seal leather items such as shoes and
pocketbooks, and process food. Medical uses of RF energy include pacemaker monitoring and
programming.

How is radiofrequency radiation measured?

RF waves and RF fields have both electrical and magnetic components. It is often convenient to
express the strength of the RF field in terms of each component. For example, the unit “volts
per meter” (V/m) is used to measure the electric field strength, and the unit “amperes per
meter” (A/m) is used to express the magnetic field strength. Another common way to
characterize an RF field is by means of the power density. Power density is defined as power per
unit area. For example, power density can be expressed in terms of milliwatts (one thousandth
of a watt) per square centimeter (mW/cm2 or microwatts (one millionth of a watt) per square
centimeter (µW/cm2).

The quantity used to measure how much RF energy is actually absorbed by the body is called the
Specific Absorption Rate or SAR. The SAR is a measure of the rate of absorption of RF energy. It
is usually expressed in units of watts per kilogram (W/kg) or milliwatts per gram (mW/g).

What biological effects can be caused by RF energy?

The biological effects of radiofrequency energy should not be confused with the effects from
other types of electromagnetic energy.

Very high levels of electromagnetic energy, such as is found in X-rays and gamma rays can ionize
biological tissues. Ionization is a process where electrons are stripped away from their normal
locations in atoms and molecules. It can permanently damage biological tissues including DNA,
the genetic material. Ionization only occurs with very high levels of electromagnetic energy

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such as X-rays and gamma rays. Often the term radiation is used when discussing ionizing
radiation (such as that associated with nuclear power plants).

The energy levels associated with radiofrequency energy, including both radio waves and
microwaves, are not great enough to cause the ionization of atoms and molecules. Therefore, RF
energy is a type of non-ionizing radiation. Other types of non-ionizing radiation include visible
light, infrared radiation (heat) and other forms of electromagnetic radiation with relatively low
frequencies.

Large amounts of RF energy can heat tissue. This can damage tissues and increase body
temperatures. Two areas of the body, the eyes and the testes, are particularly vulnerable to RF
heating because there is relatively little blood flow in them to carry away excess heat.

The amount of RF radiation routinely encountered by the general public is too low to produce
significant heating or increased body temperature. Still, some people have questions about the
possible health effects of low levels of RF energy. It is generally agreed that further research is
needed to determine what effects actually occur and whether they are dangerous to people. In
the meantime, standards-setting organizations and government agencies are continuing to
monitor the latest scientific findings to determine whether changes in safety limits are needed to
protect human health.

FDA, EPA and other US government agencies responsible for public health and safety have
worked together and in connection with WHO to monitor developments and identify research
needs related to RF biological effects.

What levels of RF energy are considered safe?

Various organizations and countries have developed standards for exposure to radiofrequency
energy. These standards recommend safe levels of exposure for both the general public and for
workers. In the United States, the FCC has used safety guidelines for RF environmental exposure
since 1985.

The FCC guidelines for human exposure to RF electromagnetic fields are derived from the
recommendations of two expert organizations, the National Council on Radiation Protection
and Measurements (NCRP) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). In
both cases, the recommendations were developed by scientific and engineering experts drawn
from industry, government, and academia after extensive reviews of the scientific literature
related to the biological effects of RF energy.

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Many countries in Europe and elsewhere use exposure guidelines developed by the
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The ICNIRP safety
limits are generally similar to those of the NCRP and IEEE, with a few exceptions. For example,
ICNIRP recommends different exposure levels in the lower and upper frequency ranges and for
localized exposure from certain products such as hand-held wireless telephones. Currently, the
World Health Organization is working to provide a framework for international harmonization of
RF safety standards.

The NCRP, IEEE, and ICNIRP all have identified a whole-body Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
value of 4 watts per kilogram (4 W/kg) as a threshold level of exposure at which harmful
biological effects may occur. Exposure guidelines in terms of field strength, power density and
localized SAR were then derived from this threshold value. In addition, the NCRP, IEEE, and
ICNIRP guidelines vary depending on the frequency of the RF exposure. This is due to the
finding that whole-body human absorption of RF energy varies with the frequency of the RF
signal. The most restrictive limits on whole-body exposure are in the frequency range of 30-300
MHz where the human body absorbs RF energy most efficiently. For products that only expose
part of the body, such as wireless phones, exposure limits in terms of SAR only are specified.

The exposure limits used by the FCC are expressed in terms of SAR, electric and magnetic field
strength, and power density for transmitters operating at frequencies from 300 kHz to 100 GHz.
The specific values can be found in two FCC bulletins, OET Bulletins 56 and 65: http://
www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins/#56; http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins/#65.

Why has the FCC adopted guidelines for RF exposure?

The FCC authorizes and licenses products, transmitters, and facilities that generate RF and
microwave radiation. It has jurisdiction over all transmitting services in the U.S. except those
specifically operated by the Federal Government. While the FCC does not have the expertise to
determine radiation exposure guidelines on its own, it does have the expertise and authority to
recognize and adopt technically sound standards promulgated by other expert agencies and
organizations, and has done so. (Our joint efforts with the FDA in developing this website is
illustrative of the kind of inter-agency efforts and consultation we engage in regarding this health
and safety issue.)

Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the FCC has certain
responsibilities to consider whether its actions will significantly affect the quality of the human
environment. Therefore, FCC approval and licensing of transmitters and facilities must be

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evaluated for significant impact on the environment. Human exposure to RF radiation emitted
by FCC-regulated transmitters is one of several factors that must be considered in such
environmental evaluations. In 1996, the FCC revised its guidelines for RF exposure as a result of
a multi-year proceeding and as required by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Radio and television broadcast stations, satellite-earth stations, experimental radio stations and
certain wireless communication facilities are required to undergo routine evaluation for RF
compliance when they submit an application to the FCC for construction or modification of a
transmitting facility or renewal of a license. Failure to comply with the FCC's RF exposure
guidelines could lead to the preparation of a formal Environmental Assessment, possible
Environmental Impact Statement and eventual rejection of an application. Technical guidelines
for evaluating compliance with the FCC
RF safety requirements can be found in the FCC's OET Bulletin 65.
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins/#65.

Low-powered, intermittent, or inaccessible RF transmitters and facilities are normally excluded
from the requirement for routine evaluation for RF exposure. These exclusions are based on
standard calculations and measurement data indicating that a transmitting station or equipment
operating under the conditions prescribed is unlikely to cause exposures in excess of the
guidelines under normal conditions of use. Such exclusions are not exclusions from compliance,
but, rather, exclusions from routine evaluation. The FCC's policies on RF exposure and
categorical exclusion can be found in Section 1.1307(b) of the FCC's Rules and Regulations [(47
CFR 1.1307(b)].

How can I obtain the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value for my wireless phone?

The FCC requires that wireless phones sold in the United States demonstrate compliance with
human exposure limits adopted by the FCC in 1996. The relative amount of RF energy absorbed
in the head of a wireless telephone-user is given by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), as
explained above. The FCC requires wireless phones to comply with a safety limit of 1.6 watts
per kilogram (1.6 W/kg) in terms of SAR.

Information on SAR for a specific phone model can be obtained for many recently manufactured
phones using the FCC identification (ID) number for that model. The FCC ID number is usually
printed somewhere on the case of the phone. Sometimes it may be necessary to remove the
battery pack to find the number. Once you have the ID number, go to the following Web
address: www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid. On this page, you will see instructions for entering the FCC ID

282 Safety

number. Type the FCC ID number exactly as requested (the Grantee Code is the first three
characters, the Equipment Product Code is the rest of the FCC ID number). Then click on “Start
Search.” The “Grant of Equipment Authorization” for your telephone should appear. Read
through the grant for the section on “SAR Compliance,” “Certification of Compliance with FCC
Rules for RF Exposure” or similar language. This section should contain the value(s) for typical
or maximum SAR for your phone.

Phones and other products authorized since June 2, 2000, should have the maximum SAR levels
noted directly on the “Grant of Equipment Authorization.” For phones and products authorized
between about mid-1998 and June 2000, detailed information on SAR levels is typically found in
the exhibits associated with the grant. Once a grant is accessed, the exhibits can be viewed by
clicking on “View Exhibit.” Grants authorized prior to 1998 are not part of the electronic
database but, rather, have been documented in the form of paper records.

The FCC database does not list phones by model number. However, consumers may find SAR
information from other sources as well. Some wireless phone manufacturers make SAR
information available on their own Web sites. In addition, some non-government Web sites
provide SARs for specific models of wireless phones. However, the FCC has not reviewed these
sites and makes no guarantees of their accuracy. Finally, phones certified by the Cellular
Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) are required to provide SAR information to
consumers in the instructional materials that come with the phones.

Do hands-free kits for wireless phones reduce risks from exposure to RF emissions?

Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from wireless phones, there is no
reason to believe that hands-free kits reduce risks. Hands-free kits can be used with wireless
phones for convenience and comfort. These systems reduce the absorption of RF energy in the
head because the phone, which is the source of the RF emissions, will not be placed against the
head. On the other hand, if the phone is mounted against the waist or other part of the body
during use, then that part of the body will absorb more RF energy. Wireless phones marketed in
the U.S. are required to meet safety requirements regardless of whether they are used against the
head or against the body. Either configuration should result in compliance with the safety limit.

Do wireless phone accessories that claim to shield the head from RF radiation work?

Since there are no known risks from exposure to RF emissions from wireless phones, there is no
reason to believe that accessories that claim to shield the head from those emissions reduce

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risks. Some products that claim to shield the user from RF absorption use special phone cases,
while others involve nothing more than a metallic accessory attached to the phone. Studies have
shown that these products generally do not work as advertised. Unlike “hand-free” kits, these so­called “shields” may interfere with proper operation of the phone. The phone may be forced to
boost its power to compensate, leading to an increase in RF absorption. In February 2002, the
Federal trade Commission (FTC) charged two companies that sold devices that claimed to
protect wireless phone users from radiation with making false and unsubstantiated claims.
According to FTC, these defendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate their claim.

What are wireless telephone base stations?

Fixed antennas used for wireless telecommunications are referred to as cellular base stations,
cell stations, PCS (“Personal Communications Service”) stations or telephone transmission
towers. These base stations consist of antennas and electronic equipment. Because the antennas
need to be high in the air, they are often located on towers, poles, water tanks, or rooftops.
Typical heights for freestanding base station towers are 50-200 feet.

Some base stations use antennas that look like poles, 10 to 15 feet in length, that are referred to
as “omni-directional” antennas. These types of antennas are usually found in rural areas. In urban
and suburban areas, wireless providers now more commonly use panel or sector antennas for
their base stations. These antennas consist of rectangular panels, about 1 by 4 feet in dimension.
The antennas are usually arranged in three groups of three antennas each. One antenna in each
group is used to transmit signals to wireless phones, and the other two antennas in each group
are used to receive signals from wireless phones.

At any base station site, the amount of RF energy produced depends on the number of radio
channels (transmitters) per antenna and the power of each transmitter. Typically, 21 channels
per antenna sector are available. For a typical cell site using sector antennas, each of the three
transmitting antennas could be connected to up to 21 transmitters for a total of 63 transmitters.
However, it is unlikely that all of the transmitters would be transmitting at the same time. When
omni-directional antennas are used, a cellular base station could theoretically use up to 96
transmitters, but this would be very unusual, and, once again, it is unlikely that all transmitters
would be in operation simultaneously. Base stations used for PCS communications generally
require fewer transmitters than those used for cellular radio transmissions, since PCS carriers
usually have a higher density of base station antenna sites.

284 Safety

Are wireless telephone base stations safe?

The electromagnetic RF signals transmitted from base station antennas stations travel toward the
horizon in relatively narrow paths. For example, the radiation pattern for an antenna array
mounted on a tower can be likened to a thin pancake centered around the antenna system. The
individual pattern for a single array of sector antennas is wedge-shaped, like a piece of pie. As
with all forms of electromagnetic energy, the power decreases rapidly as one moves away from
the antenna. Therefore, RF exposure on the ground is much less than exposure very close to the
antenna and in the path of the transmitted radio signal. In fact, ground-level exposure from such
antennas is typically thousands of times less than the exposure levels recommended as safe by
expert organizations. So exposure to nearby residents would be well within safety margins.

Cellular and PCS base stations in the United States are required to comply with limits for
exposure recommended by expert organizations and endorsed by government agencies
responsible for health and safety. Measurements made near cellular and PCS base station
antennas mounted on towers have confirmed that ground-level exposures are typically
thousands of times less than the exposure limits adopted by the FCC. In fact, in order to be
exposed to levels at or near the FCC limits for cellular or PCS frequencies an individual would
essentially have to remain in the main transmitted radio signal (at the height of the antenna) and
within a few feet from the antenna. This is, of course, very unlikely to occur.

When cellular and PCS antennas are mounted on rooftops, RF levels on that roof or on others near
by would probably be greater than those typically encountered on the ground. However, exposure
levels approaching or exceeding safety guidelines should be encountered only very close to or
directly in front of the antennas. In addition, for sector-type antennas, typically used for such
rooftop base stations, RF levels to the side and in back of these antennas are insignificant. General
guidelines on antenna installations and circumstances that might give rise to a concern about an
facility's conformance with FCC regulations can be found in A Local Government Official's Guide
to Transmitting Antenna RF Emission Safety: Rules, Procedures, and Practical Guidance. This Guide
can be accessed at:
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety.

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Who regulates exposure to radiation from microwave ovens, television sets and
computer monitors?

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public from harmful
radiation emissions from these consumer products.

Does the FCC routinely monitor radiofrequency radiation from antennas?

The FCC does not have the resources or the personnel to routinely monitor the emissions for all
the thousands of transmitters that are subject to FCC jurisdiction. However, the FCC does have
measurement instrumentation for evaluating RF levels in areas that may be accessible to the
public or to workers. If there is evidence for potential non-compliance with FCC exposure
guidelines for a FCC-regulated facility, staff from the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology
or the FCC Enforcement Bureau can conduct and investigation, and, if appropriate, perform
actual measurements. Circumstances that could give rise to a concern about an facility's
conformance with FCC regulations can be found in A Local Government Official's Guide to
Transmitting Antenna RF Emission Safety: Rules, Procedures, and Practical Guidance. This Guide
can be accessed at: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety. Potential exposure problems should be brought
to the FCC's attention by contacting the FCC RF Safety Program at: 202-418-2464 or by email:
[e-mail].

Does the FCC maintain a database that includes information on the location and
technical parameters of all the transmitting towers it regulates?

Each of the FCC Bureaus maintains its own licensing database system for the service(s) it
regulates (e.g., television, cellular service, satellite earth stations.) The FCC issues two types of
licenses: site specific and market based. In the case of site specific licensed facilities, technical
operating information is collected from the licensee as part of the licensing process. However, in
the case of market based licensing (e.g., PCS, cellular), the licensee is granted the authority to
operate a radio communications system in a geographic area using as many facilities as are
required, and the licensee is not required to provide the FCC with specific location and
operating parameters of these facilities.

Information on site specific licensed facilities can be found the “General Menu Reports”
(GenMen) at

http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/genmen/index.hts.

286 Safety

The various FCC Bureaus also publish on at least a weekly basis, bulk extracts of their licensing
databases. Each licensing database has its own unique file structure. These extracts consist of
multiple, very large files. The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) maintains an
index to these databases at http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/database/fadb.html. Entry points into the
various databases include frequency, state/county, latitude/longitude, call-sign and licensee
name. For further information on the Commission's existing databases, you can contact Donald
Campbell at [e-mail] or 202-418-2405.

Can local and state governmental bodies establish limits for RF exposure?

Although some local and state governments have enacted rules and regulations about human
exposure to RF energy in the past, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the Federal
Government to control human exposure to RF emissions. In particular, Section 704 of the Act
states that, “No State or local government or instrumentality thereof may regulate the
placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of
the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such facilities comply
with the Commission's regulations concerning such emissions.” Further information on federal
authority and FCC policy is available in a fact sheet from the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau at www.fcc.gov/wtb.

Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?

The available scientific evidence does not show that any health problems are associated with
using wireless phones. There is no proof, however, that wireless phones are absolutely safe.
Wireless phones emit low levels of radiofrequency energy (RF) in the microwave range while
being used. They also emit very low levels of RF when in the stand-by mode. Whereas high
levels of RF can produce health effects (by heating tissue), exposure to low level RF that does
not produce heating effects causes no known adverse health effects. Many studies of low level
RF exposures have not found any biological effects. Some studies have suggested that some
biological effects may occur, but such findings have not been confirmed by additional research.
In some cases, other researchers have had difficulty in reproducing those studies, or in
determining the reasons for inconsistent results.

What is FDA's role concerning the safety of wireless phones?

Under the law, FDA does not review the safety of radiation-emitting consumer products such as
wireless phones before they can be sold, as it does with new drugs or medical devices.

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