Filter
Top Products
Chapter 1 – Product Overview
MultiModem rCell User Guide 9
RF Interference Issues
Follow any special regulations regarding the use of radio equipment due to the possibility of radio frequency (RF)
interference. Follow the safety advice given below.
● Switch OFF your wireless device when in an aircraft. Using cellular telephones in an aircraft may endanger
aircraft operation, disrupt the cellular network, and is illegal. Failing to observe this restriction may lead to
suspension or denial of cellular telephone services to the offender, legal action, or both.
● Switch OFF your wireless device when around gasoline or diesel-fuel pumps and before filling your vehicle
with fuel.
● Switch OFF your wireless device in hospitals and any other place where medical equipment may be in use.
● Respect restrictions on the use of radio equipment in fuel depots, chemical plants, or where blasting
operations are in progress.
● Operating your wireless device close to other electronic equipment may cause interference if the equipment
is inadequately protected. Observe any warning signs and manufacturers’ recommendations.
Interference with Pacemakers and Other Medical Devices
Potential interference
Radiofrequency energy (RF) from cellular devices can interact with some electronic devices. This is
electromagnetic interference (EMI). The FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure EMI of implanted
cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators from cellular devices. This test method is part of the Association for the
Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standard. This standard allows manufacturers to ensure that
cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from cellular device EMI.
The FDA continues to monitor cellular devices for interactions with other medical devices. If harmful interference
occurs, the FDA will assess the interference and work to resolve the problem.
Precautions for pacemaker wearers
If EMI occurs, it could affect a pacemaker in one of three ways:
● Stop the pacemaker from delivering the stimulating pulses that regulate the heart's rhythm.
● Cause the pacemaker to deliver the pulses irregularly.
● Cause the pacemaker to ignore the heart's own rhythm and deliver pulses at a fixed rate.
Based on current research, cellular devices do not pose a significant health problem for most pacemaker wearers.
However, people with pacemakers may want to take simple precautions to be sure that their device doesn't cause
a problem.
● Keep the device on the opposite the side of the body from the pacemaker to add extra distance between the
pacemaker and the device.
● Avoid placing a turned-on device next to the pacemaker (for example, don’t carry the device in a shirt or
jacket pocket directly over the pacemaker).