Cellphone Spec & Info

Cell phone is a device that enable us to do communication everywhere. The technology that enable this communication is wireless protocol technology. A cell phone is basically a two way radio. Cell phone will transmit and receive radio signal from nearest base station to relay our communication to a central communication controller server.

As a two way radio, cell phone need to emit some electromagnetic radiation to enable them to connect to nearest base station. To protect the user from excessive radiation FCC has made a standard for cell phone radiation. This standard is called SAR.

• SAR is Specific Absorption Rates, which specifies level of radiation that measured from any device. SAR level on handphone can be found on www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid using FCC ID.
• SAR Rating of production model can be different from tested model. These variation is normal, manufacturer will always test the product to conform maximum allowed SAR value 1.6 W/Kg.
• Multiband phone will have different SAR Rating for each band. On CDMA cell phone there are also analog (Part 22) and digital mode(PCS, Part 24), which is also have different SAR Rating. The SAR Rating on this page is for digital mode only.
• Different country can have different SAR level Rating on the same model. This rating is based on US manual book. Nokia's manual:SAR values reported in other countries may vary depending on differences in reporting and testing requirements and the network band.
• SAR(ear) is the value when tested for use at the ear, SAR(body) is the value when worn on the body using original accessories.
• There are usually two standard of SAR measurement that mentioned in cellphone manual:
  • SAR data information for residents in countries that have adopted the SAR limit recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which is 2 W/kg averaged over ten (10) grams of tissue (for example European Union, Japan, Brazil and New Zealand).
  • SAR data information for residents in countries/regions that have adopted the SAR limit recommended by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which is 1.6 W/kg averaged over one (1) gram of tissue (for example USA, Canada, Australia and Taiwan).

  This page using the later, measured on 1g tissue, except for value that has (10g). The differences is about 1.4-1.8 bigger. Example: SonyEricsson A3618s is 0.96W/Kg (10g), 1.43W/Kg (1g).

• SAR Rating can be associate with signal strength/power level. Phone with high SAR Rating usually have better signal quality when in use far from base station.
• SAR Rating displayed in manual books are usually maximum value. SAR Rating that measured from various position can have different value, but the SAR Rating on phone book manual is usually maximum value from all test.
• Handphone with low SAR level rating doesn't necessarily means lower radiation on strong signal cellular network. On handphone manual (SAR certification page): The actual SAR level of the phone during operation can be well bellow the maximum value. This is because the phone designed to operate at multiple power level so as to use only the power required to reach the network. In general, the closer you are to base station, the lower the power output.
• Also look at Handphone safety and Health Guide