Accurate determination of the electromagnetic field due to WiMAX base station antennas

A method for accurate determination of electromagnetic fields around the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) base stations (BSs) is developed in this paper. The influence of the characteristics of the WiMAX signal on the settings and parameters of the spectrum analyzer (SA) used for exposure assessment is investigated. Optimal settings of the SA are proposed, and the results obtained using simulations and measurements agree very well. A practical application in the neighborhood of a WiMAX BS is performed. The obtained electric field values correspond very well for the different settings and are compared with the reference levels for the general public and those for occupational exposure. The results of this paper can be used for practical measurement procedures of the exposure due to WiMAX signals. Index Terms--802.16-2004, electromagnetic measurement, electromagnetic radiation, exposure assessment, spectrum analyzer (SA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX).