vB Easy Archive - Physical headache from 8900?

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Physical headache from 8900?
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Posted by: dingle

I've been on Verizon's CDMA service for years now, and have just recently switched from the Audiovox 9100 to the 8900. I have never had any physical problems from using any of the previous cell phones (9000/9100), and I typically use 1000-2000 minutes per month.

As soon as I started using the 8900, I got this dull sensation in my head, and the closest thing I can call it is a headache, even though it really isn't an ache. It's almost like a fuzzy, tired-like feeling that lingers a while after using the phone for more than a few minutes. At first, I thought it was the volume, position of the headset, the way I was holding the phone, etc., but I've ruled all those out now, since I have twice had a feeling a water in the ear that the phone was used on. This was in different ears, depending on which I used to speak with for more than 30 mintues.

I've taken the phone back for an exchange, and the old phone was being sent back to Audiovox for testing, but the new phone seems to cause the same problem. Unfortunately, the new phone is only one serial number away from the original, so I'm wondering if maybe there was a batch problem in manufacturing.

I'm curious to know if anyone else has had a similar problem, and if so, perhaps we can compare serial numbers. I like the phone a lot, and don't really want to change away from it. I've only used it in digital service areas (no analog yet), but I like the analog capability of the phone, as well as the camera gee-whiz feature.

Any help or info would be appreciated.

Posted by: jeff35080

Hmmm.... by any chance are you a lawyer looking for people to join a class action suit?

Posted by: dingle

Nope, I'm not a lawyer, but an engineer. I actually work with Intelectual Property (IP) lawyers, but they are not into any type of class-action lawsuit stuff, but rather, patents and trademarks. They don't even know I've posted about this.

I have no interest in any kind of lawsuit. I'm also not interested in any mumbo-jumbo radiation stickers, or that kind of thing. I'm just trying to find out if I should return this phone and get a different style/brand, or try to get one made in a different batch. I like the phone. I don't like the headache. Being an engineer, I know a few things about EMF and what it can and can't do. I also know that production mistakes sometimes happen, and that sometimes the only way to find out is through the end-user.

Please take my word for it. I just want to find out if anyone with a similar serial number has had similar problems, because I'm hoping this is a one-off event (well, actually two-off, considering I'm on my 2nd phone).

Posted by: cyman

Hi,

ITS MY FIRST POST

NEhow, my 2 cents is get a different phone. you don't wanna trade a cool phone for brain cancer

and as an engineer, im sure you know that there is very often things that seem safe right now, but later we learn are harmful to us. tho that's mostly in biology, but anyhow, you get my drift.

LG has phones that are identical in features to the audiovox 8900, and even better in certain areas. for the extra 40 cost, it worth it.

by the way, i use the 8900 and never had trouble. i don't plan on changing it, but im not getting headaches.

Posted by: yEsKiA

Sounds like a case of brain cancer. It might be just you, since you did mention using a maximum of 2000 minutes per month, and for more than one year. I don't know what other phones you might have had were, but I was wondering if you had any other previous cellphones with internal antennas, because those increase your risk of getting brain cancer.

What you might want to do, is either use an earpiece or extend your antenna whenever you use the phone. Because when you extend your antenna you wont have all these waves running straight through your brain, but rather the waves being as far from it as possible. That's all I can help you with though.

Be sure to tell me if you try these two methods, and how you feel afterwards!

Good Luck.

Posted by: dingle

Quoting yEsKiA: "Sounds like a case of brain cancer..."

Thanks for the response -- only let's not diagnose cancer over the net.

There is a possibility that my phone may have a production defect, so anything is possible with regards to the signal being emitted from the phone / antenna. It may also be normal, and I'm just sensitive to the frequency or something (?)

As far as my usage is concerned, I always extend the entenna on this phone, and have always extended the antennas on my other 9000 and 9100 phones. One thing to be noted, though, is that the previous phones were not clamshells, but "candy bar" style with extending antennas.

I would also estimate that about 3/4 of my usage is with a hands-free set on any of the above phones, so my exposure to RF has been minimized all along. The problem with this phone is that even after short usage without a hands-free, I get the strange feeling in my head. On the other hand, I can currently use the 9000 or other friends' phones with no strange feeling, regardless of antenna position.

Again, I'm not looking to sue anybody, and I am not on a crusade to prevent people from using these phones. I'm just trying to find out if anyone else has had this issue with this particular phone, and if so, if their phone was produced around the same time mine was. I'm sure Audiovox would be interested in this information, too, because they may have a quality assurance issue, and sometimes, the only way to discover the issue is through the customer. So, if I hear any other reports like mine, I'll also forward the information to them and/or Hyndai Curitel (the actual manaufacturer of the phone), regardless of whether I keep the phone or not.

Thanks, cyman, for your input. I agree with you whole-heartedly. I will most likely change from this phone if it's actually not a defective unit, and if it's just a matter of how my body reacts to it. However, since I like the analog capability and camera features, and I can't seem to find an LG with both features, I'm torn about finding a replacement. I think the Motorola 710(?) has both features, but it isn't available by me yet.

Posted by: mnMark

Recommended reading, regarding correlation and causal studies of radiation, cancer, and cellular/RF devices:

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/600_phone.html

While I am not disagreeing with anyone's statement that they have physical effects from cell phone use, I do wholly believe that other causes are the likely culprit, and not the dreaded "radiation" - if it were, you'd see issues with other phones you have used.

Rather, I think that heat, pressure on the ear/face from different phone layouts, and (most likely) frequencies that are outside of our range of hearing, but are 'aversive'...(think dog whistle) and cause headaches. To me, people are much too quick to write-off physical isses to radiation when in reality we are using the safest cell phones ever manufactured. Back in the 'old days' Moto phones used 3 watts...you could practically fry eggs with the thing. Current phones are not even 1/6 of that.

Posted by: yEsKiA

Quote:

Originally posted by mnMark
Recommended reading, regarding correlation and causal studies of radiation, cancer, and cellular/RF devices:

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/600_phone.html

While I am not disagreeing with anyone's statement that they have physical effects from cell phone use, I do wholly believe that other causes are the likely culprit, and not the dreaded "radiation" - if it were, you'd see issues with other phones you have used.

Rather, I think that heat, pressure on the ear/face from different phone layouts, and (most likely) frequencies that are outside of our range of hearing, but are 'aversive'...(think dog whistle) and cause headaches. To me, people are much too quick to write-off physical isses to radiation when in reality we are using the safest cell phones ever manufactured. Back in the 'old days' Moto phones used 3 watts...you could practically fry eggs with the thing. Current phones are not even 1/6 of that.

Sounds reasonable, but never doubt the CANCER. What doesn't cause cancer these days?

Posted by: dingle

mnMark: You may be on to something. I read the FDA paper, and I tend to agree, scientifically, with the conclusions so far. I haven't been one to ever say, "cell phones most definitely cause cancer", but on the other hand, it can't be ruled out completely. That's why more research needs to be done. It's all part of the process.

As far as the high frequency thing goes, I can hear many high-frequencies that others cannot, such as the high pitched-squeal of a television in a room, etc. that others cannot hear. Come to think of it, the feeling is quite similar to what I feel when the TV needs a good whack to reset a whistler.

As far as the phone is concerned, I do hear a "hiss" coming from the headset when I use it -- I don't know if it might have something to do with that

Does anyone else hear the hiss -- is it typical of this phone?

I don't think my ears are so good as to hear the 800-1900 MHz frequency, though.

But perhaps, it's an internal component squealing away that's causing my pain. I still can't figure out why I felt like I had water in my ear, but now you got me thinking.

Posted by: Manleyf

I get it too...wierd and never got it from my old t720...I just assumed it was probably vibration or something else though didn't even think of RF.

ahh well...99999 other things will get me before cell phone brain cancer

Posted by: jatman

Perhaps the 8900 is emitting an ultrasonic sound, which, when held right at your ear is causing the headache. Like when there is a TV with a real obnoxious 15.75 kHz screech in the same room.

(Switching power supply is unstable, drive frequency of LCD display, noise coupling into the headset speaker amplifier.... all possibilities with so much stuff in that small handset.)

I can't hear TV horizontal oscillators anymore... so my 8900 doesn't bother me as you describe.... but I do like my theory!

My 8900 irritation: the sweet spot on the earpiece is very small and asymmetric. I get tired of constantly readjusting the phone into the proper place for best hearing! My good ol' Samsung was very forgiving in this regard.

Posted by: dingle

manleyf:
Do you mean you get the headaches, or do you hear the hissing, or both? If so, would be be so kind as to let me know the serial number, or at least part of it, so I can see if the batch is near mine? You can PM me if you don't want the world to know your serial number.

This could be good info to go to Audiovox with.

Thanks.