Pacemaker/Defibrillator use near HF rig

[K3NOQ/Mobile]

Is there anyone on this forum that has experience wearing a pacemaker or Defibrillator in proximity to their HF Rig and/or Antenna on their RV?

I have found out that I am a candidate to have a defibrillator implant later this year. If so, I am curious about the fact that my "Archie Bunker" Chair is right next to my Icom 7000, and only about 8' from the Antenna.

If you would like to PM me, my email is k3noq at earthlink dot net

THANKS, any response will of course be held confidential,

[Radio]

Try this:

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pacemaker.html

More stuff there than I cared to sort through, most very technical. But in short, yes, strong RF feilds can interfere with your pacemaker, but precautions can be taken. The writers seem a lot more concerned about cell phones, but offer precautions for those as well.

I think I'd be more concerned about VHF/UHF than HF, and probably think about doing more QRP? Also, with your background, you might make sure your operation areas are not too hot, having a low field strength, good grounds and not to many harmonics running around.

[wa8yxm]

Till you know otherwise. Make sure your partner in life knows a few things, One thing said partner needs to know is the location of the POWER switch on the radio.

If there is 'Interference' shutting off the radio may be all that is needed to enable the electronics to return to proper operation.

If it interference is bad enough, CPR may be needed as well.

For all readers: If you have not already done so you should become CPR certified. I got to use my training a couple of weeks ago, 25 years as a police dispatcher and after 5 years of retirement I got to use my training at last. (I"m trained to tell folks how to do it over the phone, not the easiest way to do CPR) Though I do not know the outcome I do not believe CPR was started in time.

And though this is a bit too costly for me just now,,, You might consider a personal AED as well, your CPR instructor can explain those to you.

[N7OQ]

A friend and fellow Ham I know has a Pacemaker and what he did was buy a HF rig with a removable front panel and a separation kit so he operates his HF with enough distance from the transmitter to be safe. Of course he doesn't have a RV so he is also farther from the antenna. If it were me I would move the antenna away from the RV. I plan on doing this anyway, my RV makes to much noise and sense it is fiberglass I get a lot of RFI in the trailer. I plan on buying a tripod for my Buddipole do just that.

[VE3MPG]

Hi,

I have a cochlear implant and use it with cell, 2 meter, and HF and haven't had a problem - the manufacturer has no caveats with operating around strong rf fields. The only problem I did have with it was discovering that my implant puts out a steady carrier at 147.000Mhz - took me the longest time to find who was putting a carrier on that repeater.

Bob VE3MPG

[wa8yxm]

This brings out another issue... Reverse interference, From the implant to the radio

I suspect a strong signal on 147.0 might bother the implant, as well though.

However, You should complain to the implant maker about that, they need to correct that