Microwave Oven Interfering with Wireless Internet Connection

[mcgillianaire]

My microwave oven interferes with my wireless connection. I've read about the possibility of this happening and I suspected such interference earlier last week, but now I've caught the interference in action! Does anybody know just how far a laptop has to be from microwaves to avoid such interference, and if this has any potential side effects to either unit?

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

There won't be a specific distance as there are a number of variables. Neither unit will be permanently affected- Connectivity loss is about the worst thing that will happen.

The interference occurs due to RF leakage, specifically of transients that happen at the start and end of each ON cycle of the oven (ON cycle: picture most of the top half of a 50Hz sine wave). Transients have a large bandwidth

A reduced power setting on the oven and a larger separation distance from the oven and smaller separation distance to the transmitter will probably help. You could also consider (further) EM shielding for your oven :p

[lctrc-gtr-dde.livejournal.com]

(me)

[mcgillianaire.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot for the info! :) What are transients?

[caffeinefables.livejournal.com]

Ha.. I had no idea that could even happen.

[mcgillianaire.livejournal.com]

Neither did I till I bought my laptop (in April) and read some of the possible sources of wireless interference. And if it wasn't for a rudimentary knowledge of electromagnetism from 2 years of physics in highschool (yay IGCSE!), I don't think I'd've understood why. :)

[caffeinefables.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling we had the exact opposed classes in high school hehe. Other then perhaps economics. I've never understood math, physics, chemistry etc.

[swimanubis.livejournal.com]

try to not have the unit directly between the access point and the laptop. I had a similar problem from my freezer during the summer when it went into heavy usage.

[mcgillianaire.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice. The access point is furthest away from the laptop (where I normally use it in the room) and the fridge/mwave. In fact the units are in a completely separate room (kitchen, like duh) but I don't think a closed door and sofa are sufficient 'objects' to prevent the disruptions.