How to conduct the required station evaluation.

• Amateur operators must estimate the RF power density in the main lobe of each transmitting antenna to determine the safe distance required to meet the Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE). The MPE Calculator was developed to perform these calculations and prepare the complete station evaluation for the amateur radio operator.

• MPE calculations must consider frequency of operation, operating mode (SSB, CW, etc.), RF power delivered to the antenna, antenna gain, and the presence or absence of ground reflection effects.

• Once the safe MPE distance is known for each antenna, power level, and amateur band in use, the operating site must be evaluated to determine if anyone can get close enough to the antennas to exceed the Maximum Permissible Exposure limits.

• If unsafe conditions exist, corrective steps must be taken to prevent excessive exposure. Such steps might include reducing transmitter power, posting of warning signs, changing operating mode, or time-averaging exposures.

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