[Elecraft] OT Look out for Magnets!

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

We Hams learn, sooner or later, to be wary of anything that generates energy
in the RF spectrum around our rigs. 

Spurious signals and broadband noise sneaks up on us like phantoms on All
Hallow's eve. 

Once in a while the RF poses risk to life by interfering with important
devices, such as pace makers and defibrillator. 

So while we're watching carefully our RF exposure, something else might slip
by unnoticed.

Magnets.

Modern magnets, such as those used in modern cell phones, headphones, ear
buds, etc., are hundreds of times more powerful than magnets of just a few
years ago, thanks to modern metallurgy and techniques. 

A recent report says that most of the headphones tested had magnets more
than 20 times stronger than needed to interfere with a defibrillator or
pacemaker when placed against the chest. 

Consider how often we might put phones or ear buds in a shirt pocket, or let
our phones hang around our necks with the ear pieces resting on our chest.
It's something to be aware of around any sensitive device, especially those
with a critical medical device. 

There's a report from Reuters written for the general public at:

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20081109/tc_nm/us_heart_headphones_1

It's something to be aware of. Or, as the man with the funny ears said,
"Live Long and Prosper.."

Ron AC7AC