Section 4A: Safety 139
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 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.
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Hold the phone with the antenna raised, fully-extended, and over your shoulder.
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Try not to hold, bend, or twist the phone’s antenna.
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Don’t use the phone if the antenna is damaged.
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Speak directly into the mouthpiece.
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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.
