[Boatanchors] slightly off topic (pacemakers)

[Garey Barrell]

Tom -

I have had a Boston Scientific 'Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator' for about four years, and had the 
same concerns you do.  I first spoke withtheir technical support people, whose information seemed 
primarily related to CB operation.  The basic rule was 100' from an antenna with 100W applied.

My current situation is an attic dipole, ~40' long (length of the attic!) fed with an LDG 
auto-tuner.  The operating position is directly under one end of the dipole, so approximately 10' 
and one ceiling away.  I have run as much as 200W into this combination on the five HF bands with no 
difficulty.  I must admit I had a 'moment' just before pressing the key on each new band/frequency 
for a while!!  :-)

They also suggested using the 'other' ear for cellphone and/or HT use, but I've pretty much 
forgotten that rule.  I wouldn't intentionally hold a high power HT directly over the implant, but ...

As for the hacking problem, I've been told this device has a 32 character password, and contact is 
made via a loop probe layed right over the implant.

73, Garey - K4OAH
Glen Allen, VA

Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line
and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs
<www.k4oah.com>

Tom Chesek wrote:
> I have atrial fibrillation and was told in the past that at some point I would need a pacemaker due to very slow heart rates.  Medication takes care of the fast rates. Does anyone on this list have experience in this area?  Has you doctor told you to keep clear of electromagnetic waves, specifically radio waves?  My friend has a defibrillator and has been cautioned about things such as leaning over a running automobile engine, etc. due to electromagnetic fields but he is not a ham and did not pursue the conversation in with regards to anything else.
>
> Thanks,
> Tom K3TVC
>
>