Shield Testing
Don't be misled when reviewing shielding effectiveness claims, particularly when a product's test results are presented as a SAR thermal reduction based upon tests using equipment or low cost meters designed to measure temperature (you can easily determine this if the test results are expressed as mW/cm2). Equally as important, find out how long the tests lasted, the number of products tested and if the products were actually tested at digital cell phone frequencies above 1 GHz.All AegisGuard™ Radiation Shield tests were conducted by three independent testing laboratories. They tested multiple electronic products for 8 hours each, instead of a few seconds or minutes as presented by every other shielding product supplier, and more than 50 wired and wireless products were tested with AegisGuard™ LS Radiation Shields. If you are considering a shielding product, this is an extremely important consideration, as is confirming that a shielding product was actually tested at the frequency and power level of your wireless product. For example, AegisGuard™ LS and XP Radiation Shields are the only shielding products for cellular and cordless phones tested at frequencies and power levels at, above and below what is required for wireless communication.
SAR safety standard deficiencies are why AegisGuard™ Radiation Shields were tested measuring actual radiation emissions in dB using two different procedures, instead of temperature. For frequencies of 5 Hz. to 2.6 GHz. and power levels between 1 milliwatt (0.001 Watt) and 25 Watts, globally accepted ASTM D4935-99 procedures were used by the independent testing laboratories. For frequencies of 2.0 to 45 GHz. at power levels between 1 milliwatt (0.001 Watt) and 25 Watts, established test procedures do not exist and were developed in-house to measure the shielding effectiveness in dB with the same type of network test equipment used by cell phone manufacturers and carriers. The shielding effectiveness using both procedures exceeds the requirements specified by IEEE 299 and the discontinued MIL-STD-285 standards. Click here for additional test information.
Deflection Versus Absorption Technologies
Aegis was the first company to advise its customers about the risks associated with using cell phone radiation shielding products that claim to absorb radiation, and AegisGuard™ Radiation Shields are still the only shielding products available to consumers proven to deflect radiation frequencies. In 1999, the World Health Organization advised consumers not to use cell phone radiation shields incorporating absorption technologies, as does every phone manufacturer. Click here to learn why products claiming to absorb radiation, including cell phone radiation, cannot possibly be effective.
Pendants, Chips And Other Magnetic Field Shields
The foundation of the cell phone radiation controversy is the effects of non-ionizing radiation element of electromagnetic radiation emitted by these products upon our health. Magnetic fields are the other element, commonly referred to as electromagnetism, and they have not been linked to the health effects associated with cellular phones.
Available as chips, pendants or small adhesive devices attached to wireless phones and other electronic devices, these products claim to “harmonize” or “neutralize” the negative effects of electromagnetic radiation upon the body by generating a resonant frequency which is either permanently infused in the product or powered by the human body. A review of the available product information clearly indicates the only portion of electromagnetic radiation being addressed is the magnetic field, rather than the electric field or non-ionizing near field wireless operating frequency radiation which has been linked to more than fifty health effects attributed to cellular phone use. Click here for additional information about magnetic fields.
Stress level reduction, improved concentration and enhanced energy are benefits these products claim to provide and while some studies suggest altering a magnetic field using therapy, magnets or other devices may improve how a person feels, none of these claimed benefits any correlation with the health effects attributed to wireless or wired products. Several studies have confirmed cellular phone use actually improves cognitive functions and while there have been many studies linking long term power transmission line and transformer magnetic field exposure to diseases such as leukemia, it has never been determined if these occurrences are due to magnetic fields or non-ionizing radiation frequency emissions.
Small Adhesive Phone Speaker Shields
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed charges on February 20, 2002 against two companies selling these types of products, stating "the vast majority of electromagnetic energy emitted by cellular and cordless phones comes from parts of the phone other than the earpiece." In May, 2003, two companies were barred from selling these types of products in the United States, and it should be noted these types of products were previously banned in many nations. Click here to learn why the FTC is correct.
Antenna Shields And Signal Boosters
Every cellular and cordless phone manufacturer warns consumers not to place anything over an extendable antenna mast, or otherwise interfere with its' operation, and they are correct. It should be noted that AegisGuard™ LS Radiation Shields does not interfere with an antenna's operation in any manner whatsoever.
Any device (including flashing devices for children) designed to interfere with an extendable antenna mast will cause a phone to increase its' output power, and some products, including signal boosters, can create a very serious health risk.
These products normally consist of one or more pieces of metal that may be enclosed in a plastic housing. They are designed to be placed over an extendable antenna mast, or attached to the back of a phone. When a phone is in use, the metal used in these products absorbs the radiation and emits a radiated field the same size as the device towards the point of least resistance; specifically the head or body. Click here for additional information.
Pocket, Pouch And Purse Shields
With increased frequency, reports have been published since mid 2001 addressing concerns about low level radiation emitted from a phone's components, such as the battery or display, which are not required for cellular communication. AegisGuard™ LS and XP Radiation Shields support an extremely wide range of frequencies and power levels were initially developed for a wide frequency range of military applications and they are perfectly suited to provide protection from operating frequencies between 5 Hz. and 45 GHz. if these concerns are proven to be justified.
Excluding AegisGuard™ LS and XP Radiation Shields, body style and personal radiation shields promoted for these applications by other companies contain an absorbent or conductive shielding material which is not designed by the manufacturers to protect against cell phone radiation, particularly at frequencies above 1 GHz. Click here to learn more about the importance of AegisGuard™ deflection properties.