A question for electronics engineers

A._Badger

I have a Roberts Internet radio situated aproximately two feet from a Sharp microwave oven. Both are in good condition, as far as I can tell.

The radio gets its signal from a BT hub situated a couple of rooms away. The signal is weak but usually acceptable. However, when the microwave is in use, the signal frequently drops out until the microwave has switched itself off and the signal has buffered again.

So what is going on here? Is the microwave leaking in some way that interferes with the signal from the hub? Is it potentially harmful? Is it having some strange effect on the mains current drawn by the radio? They are both on the same mains circuit...

As knowledgeable readers will have quickly worked out, I'm no physicist, so any suggestions will be gratefully explored...

[Deleted User]

Microwaves emit RFI and receivers are susceptible to it. Performance standards are set to ensure that the problem is kept to a manageable level, and that most equipment works most of the time, but if you put stuff close enough it's more likely you'll have a problem. My microwave used to interfere with my old analogue TV from a range of about 7 feet.

The microwave may be leaking dangerously of course, but the only way you'll find that out is to check it.

Fightsback

It's not harmful leaking microwaves, it's interference caused by the microwave oven's electrical circuit, they are notorious for interfering with 2.4ghz wifi.

The cure is to stop reading the Daily Mail.

kwikbreaks

Actually the frequency generated by the magnetron inside to cook the food is at 2.4GHz so it could well be leakage.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=microwave+oven+frequency&ei=9FC7VqzvNIX1Pc3fgOgP

That said it probably isn't at a dangerously high level as a WiFi router only generates at most 100mW and is likely meters away so just a tiny leakage at 2 feet could easily swamp that.

I often put my phone down close to the microwave and if it's on it can interfere with the bluetooth but that's at even lower power levels.

pappa_golf

I put my Sunday chicken next to my router on a Saturday night , usually just about cooked for 2pm on a Wednesday .


I find reading the daily mail helps whilst wearing a foil hat

londonTiger

upgrade to 5ghz wifi (wireless ac) if the radio supports it.

Or use a lan port. It will give more trouble free streaming when your house is packed and everyone is on the wifi.

londonTiger

wireless bgn = 2.4ghz, microwave = 2.4ghz.

The power of the microwave overpowers the wifi signal, you need to use 5ghz wifi (wireless ac) if you want to prevent the microwave interfering with the wifi.

There's not tinfoil hat issue here, it's well known.

paddyrg

As above, 2.4GHz is some of the busiest bandwidth around, also contented by home video senders just to compound things!

5GHz router is the ideal solution, that space is pretty much empty. Next best, home plugs to run an AP (better still, Ethernet) point to the radio. Next best, shuffle the house around a bit. Finally, get a gas oven - zero interference ;-)

bod1467

5GHz wifi router would only be any use if the Roberts Internet radio also supports 5GHz connection.

kwikbreaks

A 5GHz router is a rather expensive solution (even more so if a new radio is required too). I'd say that unless the OP is running a takeaway with the midrowave on every waking minute the best option is to just put up with it while waiting for the cordon bleu ready meal to heat up.

pappa_golf

buy another microwave at turn two on together , 2 x 2.4GHz is 4.8GHz , so well away from interfering with the radio ,


or alternately , move the radio