Knowing Radio Frequency Safety
The design of your Sprint PCS Phone complies with updated
NCRP standards described below.
In 1991-92, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) and the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) joined in updating ANSI’s 1982 standard
for safety levels with respect to human exposure to RF
signals. More than 120 scientists, engineers and physicians
from universities, government health agencies and
industries developed this updated standard after reviewing
the available body of research. In 1993, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) adopted this updated
standard in a regulation. In August 1996, the FCC adopted
hybrid standard consisting of the existing ANSI/IEEE
standard and the guidelines published by the National
Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements
(NCRP).
Maintaining Your Phone’s Peak Performance
There are several simple guidelines to operating your phone
properly and maintaining safe, satisfactory service.
Hold the phone with the antenna raised, fully-extended
and over your shoulder.
Try not to hold, bend or twist the phone’s antenna.
Don’t use the phone if the antenna is damaged.
Speak directly into the phone’s receiver.
Avoid exposing your phone and accessories to rain or
liquid spills. If your phone does get wet, immediately turn
the power off and remove the battery. If it’s inoperable,
return it to a Sprint PCS Center or call Sprint PCS
Customer Care for service.
Section 17
Knowing Performance and Safety Guidelines 145
17
Performance
and Safety
Getting the Most Out of Your Reception
Keeping Tabs on Signal Strength
The quality of each call you make or receive depends on the
signal strength in your area. Your phone informs you of the
current signal strength by displaying a number of bars next
to the signal strength icon. The more bars displayed, the
stronger the signal.
If you’re inside a building, being near a window may give
you better reception.
Understanding the Power Save Feature
If your phone is unable to find a signal after 15 minutes of
searching, a Power Save feature is automatically activated.
If your phone is active, it periodically rechecks service
availability or you can check it yourself by pressing any key.
Anytime the Power Save feature is activated, a message
displays on the screen. When a signal is found, your phone
returns to standby mode.
Understanding How Your Phone Operates
Your phone is basically a radio transmitter and receiver.
When it’s turned on, it receives and transmits radio
frequency (RF) signals. When you use your phone, the
system handling your call controls the power level. This
power can range from 0.003 µ watts to 0.2 watts in digital
mode.
Section 17
144 Knowing Performance and Safety Guidelines
Note:
For the best care of
your phone, only
Sprint PCS authorized
personnel should
service your phone
and accessories.
Faulty service may
void the warranty.
