Medical radiation on the 70cm band

A radio-wave cancer therapy may be the latest in a string of devices to share the 70cm band.

In Melbourne, a leading foxhunter Mark Harrison VK3BYY has tracked down a signal that was triggering his club's UHF repeater.

First, he hears it strongly on his hand-held while on a tram as it passes a building in Collins Street, Melbourne and then he enters the premises in search of the signal.

Mark VK3BYY is warmly welcomed and shown equipment that he identifies as a having folded dipole antenna. It is explained to him that a cancer patient receives an injection of a substance that acts on cancer cells. The theory is that the UHF radiation blocks sugars reaching the cells to enable the therapy to be effective.

A doctor advises that everything is approved for use, and then adds that the radiation is 40 watts on 433MHz, as it seems that this frequency is considered the best for radio-wave therapy.

The Australian Communications Authority was contacted. It's understood that it was Low Interference Potential Device, LIPD running milliwatts. Not so, it was pumping out 40 watts and interfering with an amateur repeater more
than 20 kms away.

A solution is being sought, with talk of the device needing a shielded enclosure to prevent it radiating on the 70cm band, which is a primary allocation to Australian Defence and secondary for the Amateur Service.

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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