Section 4A: Safety Guidelines 199
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; you can also check it yourself by pressing any key. Anytime the
Power Save feature is activated, a message is displayed 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 radiofrequency (RF) signals. When you use your phone, the
system handling your call controls the power level. This power can range from
0.01µ watts to 0.2 watts in digital mode.
Knowing Radio Frequency Safety
The design of your PCS Vision 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 mouthpiece.
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 Store or call PCS Customer Solutions for service.
