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Sam Benzacar of Anatech Electronics, an RF and microwave filter company, has
published his November newsletter that features his short op-ed entitled "Is
5G Safe for Humans? No One Knows." The controversy over whether or not RF radiation
from wireless devices - cellphones, notebook computers, tablets, smart meters, et
al, is harmful to human body cells has been with us since the early 1990s, when
the Wireless Revolution began. Industry
standards groups have defined
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) levels
for exposure that model human anatomy and cell structure in order to scientifically
assess the effects of RF radiation. As with studies done with other controversial
topics like tobacco and pharmaceuticals, the "truth" is as much subjective as it
is objective, and the two side of the argument will never agree - even in the face
of indisputable evidence. In other news, Sam includes other news related to our
RF industry.
A Word from Sam Benzacar
Is 5G Safe for Humans? No One Knows.
 By Sam Benzacar
For more than three decades, the scientific community has been trying to determine
whether ionizing (i.e., electromagnetic) energy radiated by mobile phones and base
stations is hazardous to humans. There's no question about whether, at sufficient
levels, it causes burns and damage to the eyes; that connection was established
a very long time ago, for a simple reason: It's obvious. What's not obvious is if
RF energy has other effects ranging from changes to DNA, brain cancer, and other
diseases
It could be argued that as we're not dropping like flies, there is either no
connection or one that is minimal at best. But how would we really know? It's almost
impossible to determine without long-term, well-controlled studies in humans that
have been thoroughly reviewed and replicated to produce a consensus, good or bad.
So, even after 30 years of cellular technology and hundreds of studies throughout
the world, there remains no such consensus.
Another argument is that even if some connection was established, it wouldn't
stop people from using wireless technology, and the entire wireless industry would
throw every nickel they have into maintaining the status quo. There's a solid case
to be made for this argument, because without absolute, irrefutable proof of causation
and an overwhelming public outcry, effective action is unlikely, at best. In short,
rolling back wireless communications of every kind at every frequency is simply
not going to happen.
 That said,
even though there is no agreement on this issue, governments throughout the world
have long had limits on exposure to non-ionizing radiation and what specific device
can radiate, and manufacturers of end-user products must have each product tested
to ensure they meet these standards. Even without a consensus, some studies proving
harm have never been entirely refuted.
Which brings us to 5G, a totally different electromagnetic paradigm in which
frequencies above 6 GHz, well into the millimeter-wave region, will be used by the
wireless industry for the first time. And as propagation distance at these frequencies
is measured in meters rather than miles, small-cell base stations will be much closer
to people, instead of utility poles and towers.
These facts haven't been lost on people in the U.S and Europe, where people are
protesting the installation of small cells. The FCC and carriers have urged municipalities
to stop dragging their feet on 5G deployment and respect laws that 25 states have
already enacted to ensure that they do. When they don't, carriers are using litigation
as a last resort. In the long term, all these anti-cell-site protests will achieve
is to delay rather than prevent 5G from moving forward. After all, no one really
knows if RF energy is dangerous.
More Flaws Revealed in 5G Security
 Researchers
from Purdue University and the University of Iowa have detailed 11 design issues
in 5G protocols that could expose your location, downgrade service to old mobile
data networks, run up wireless bills, or even track when people make calls, text,
or browse the web. They also found five additional 5G vulnerabilities carried over
from 3G and 4G. All these vulnerabilities were with a tool called 5GReasoner.
5GReasoner also found issues with how the 5G standard governs initial device
registration, deregistration, and paging. Depending on how a carrier implements
the standard, attackers could mount "replay" attacks to run up a target's mobile
bill by repeatedly sending the same message or command. It's an instance of vague
wording in the 5G standard that could cause carriers to implement it weakly, according
to the researchers.
A New Competitor for Home Broadband
 Common Networks, a company founded by ex-Square
employees, has designed a technology that can challenge providers in the telecommunications
market. For about $50 a month, Common Networks is offering 300 Mb/s too 1Gb/s download
speeds for households around Silicon Valley. The company uses unlicensed 5G microwave
and millimeter-wave spectrum an antennas installed on rooftops, and using open-source
software and hardware, the company developed so “graph-based technology” that delivers
high-speed broadband for what it claims is about one-tenth what telecom companies
typically pay.
DoD Making EW a High Priority
 When the Department of Defense sends Congress
an updated electronic warfare strategy this month, it will make rebuilding DoD's
EW capabilities a priority, according to C4ISR.net. The Pentagon requested more
than $10.2 billion for electronic warfare programs throughout DoD in the FY20 budget
request, according to a Congressional Research Service report, much of which is
dedicated the Army, whose EW capabilities were neglected since the end of the Cold
War.
The Army is worried about GPS jamming on the battlefield and is currently replacing
its 300,000 defense advanced GPS receivers with terminals that support a more jam-resistant
signal called M-Code. Army leaders also want to invest in long endurance, unmanned
airborne EW systems as well as more significant training for soldiers related to
electronic warfare, according to CSR.net.
Russians Testing U.S. Stealth Capability in Middle East
 Russian forces have been jamming GPS systems
in the Middle East to see how much it can disrupt and confuse America's stealth
fighters, according to The National Interest. The Times of Israel has reported that
GPS systems there have displayed the wrong location or stopped working entirely.
The signal that has been disrupting satellite navigation for planes flying through
Israeli airspace in recent weeks originates inside a Russian air base inside Syria,
according to data collected by a U.S. researcher. The Air Force deployed F-22 and
F-35 to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as it increases force levels after President
Donald Trump's withdrew the U.S. from the agreement limiting Iran's nuclear program.
Getting Ready for 5G:
Anatech Electronics introduce New Ka band 30.5 GHz Waveguide Band Pass Filter.
Featuring a center frequency of 30.5 GHz, a bandwidth of 1000 MHz, an Insertion
Loss 1 dB Max, and a Power Handling is 20 watts.
Anatech Electronics Introduces a New Line of Suspended Stripline and
Waveguide Type RF Filters
Check out Our Filter Products
Cavity Band Pass Filters
LC Band Pass Filters Cavity Bandstop/Notch Filter
About Anatech Electronics
Anatech Electronics, Inc. (AEI) specializes in the design and manufacture of
standard and custom RF and microwave filters and other passive components and subsystems
employed in commercial, industrial, and aerospace and applications. Products are
available from an operating frequency range of 10 kHz to 30 GHz and include cavity,
ceramic, crystal, LC, and surface acoustic wave (SAW), as well as power combiners/dividers,
duplexers and diplexers, directional couplers, terminations, attenuators, circulators,
EMI filters, and lightning arrestors. The company's custom products and capabilities
are available at www.anatechelectronics.com.
Contact:
Anatech Electronics, Inc. 70 Outwater Lane Garfield, NJ 07026 (973)
772-4242
sales@anatechelectronics.com
Posted November 20, 2019
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