USB modems are tested for SAR on all 5 sides of the modem with a 5 mm gap between the modem face and the flat phantom. If there are multiple antennas and technologies in the modem, all antennas and technologies must be tested to meet the SAR requirement. All PCMCIA/express cards are tested on the bottom surface with a gap of 10 mm from the phantom for the US SAR requirements.

The only exception is if the PCMCIA/express card is installed into a PDA; then the device must be SAR tested with a 5 mm gap from the phantom. The EU requires that all sides of the device be tested at a distance not to exceed 25 mm.

The US SAR and RF exposure limit requirements are listed in OET bulletin 65 Supplement C, KDB 447498, KDB 248227 and KDB 941225. The EU requirements are listed in IEC 62209 Part 2.