Wireless modem healthissues

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by Syzygys, Apr 14, 2008.

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  1. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    This might belong in the Biology section but I ask here anyway:

    Just how dangerous is to one's health when the wireless modem is very close to the body? I always assumed no concern, but somebody made a joke somewhere about being too close to the nuts. Now my wireless is under the desk, less than 3 feet away from my family jewels.

    Should I be concerned???

    After researching online:

    "First-hand accounts from Infinity Junction friends describe how a doctor and her family suffered, sleep disturbance, heart palpitations, migraines, headaches and general malaise all starting at the same time. At first it was thought to be a natural occurrence, a passing virus maybe, or other possible causes. But then when the new router, (Netgear DG824M modem gateway working on 2·4 gigahertz,) was turned off, suddenly they all felt better. What's more, since this was swapped for a non-wireless hard-wired equivalent, the symptoms have not re-occurred.
    While this instance involving just five individuals cannot be seen as proof of health hazard, it does point very strongly to a long-held suspicion that microwave transmissions are harmful to human health. And we have numerous second-hand accounts of similar effects from microwave routers and also microwave cell-phone towers."

    http://www.infinityjunction.com/microwaves.html
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2008
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  3. draqon Banned Banned

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    well there is radiation from the thing...
     
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  5. draqon Banned Banned

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  7. phlogistician Banned Banned

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    Well, WiFi has an output of up to 100mW, let's compare that to a few things, ... mobile phones broadcast up to 2W, walkie talkies, European PMR446 500mW, US FRS 500mW, US GMRS, 5W, ... all of the latter being held up close to the head, cellphones right by the head, when broadcasting (inverse square law comes into play here, ....)

    So suffering ill effects from a 100mW transmitter in another room? Hmmm, doubtful, but we have this anecdotal story. In a recent study, people claiming to be 'electrosenstive' all failed to determine whether a source was switched on or off, so I doubt these people could detect the radio source either.

    I would guess if there was an effect, it would be more likely down to a faulty power supply, making noise, rather than the radio source.
     
  8. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    In my case it is right under the desk, 3 feet from my nuts and I am exposed to it 6-8 hours per day. So the low W output is multiplied with longer and close exposure...

    Add to that when I sleep or watch TV another 8 hours although then I am farer, about 6 feet away...

    I have the G series, but if I upgrade to the N series, I assume it has a bigger output too...
     
  9. draqon Banned Banned

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    instead of wondering if your nuts are in danger...why not move it away? :bugeye:
     
  10. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Because of wiring issues. I guess if I want to, I could move it 3-5 feet away, but then it is going to be closer to me when I sleep.

    Now if I don't have to worry about it, then why move it? Or I might just put a metal plate in front of it between me and the modem...
     
  11. draqon Banned Banned

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    or you can wear a metal nut case around the crotch

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    I am sure girls will dig that
     
  12. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Yeah, but what about my brain? I guess there is always the tinhat...
     
  13. sowhatifit'sdark Valued Senior Member

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    I got headaches from one. I placed it high up and over ten meters away. No more headaches.
    Of course those damn things hurt people.
     
  14. phlogistician Banned Banned

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    If it's only 3feet away, you hardly need a wireless router. Disable the WiFi, and plug in instead.
     
  15. MacGyver1968 Fixin' Shit that Ain't Broke Valued Senior Member

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    or wrap your nuts in aluminum foil.

    I don't think there would be much danger from that low power output.
     
  16. Avatar smoking revolver Valued Senior Member

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    Sunlight is radiation too. Run and hide!
     
  17. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Oh boy. The WiFi is for the laptop, the other 2 computers are wired. I wouldn't broadcast if I didn't need to.

    You don't think. Well, I trust you as much as anybody, but that is not proof, and you are not really an authority on the question. When my balls start to GLOW I will fondly remember your honest advice...

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    Seriously, the question boils down to this:

    Is low output but very long exposure as dangerous as a high output but short exposure???
     
  18. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Bioeffects that are reported to result from low-intensity radiofrequency (RF) exposure include changes in cell membrane function, metabolism, cellular signal communication, activation of proto-oncogenes and heat-shock protein at 0.1 µW/cm2 and higher. Fatigue, depressive tendency, sleeping disorders, difficulty in concentration and cardiovascular problems were reported by Oberfeld (2004) with exposure to GSM 900/1800 MHz cell phone frequency at exposures characteristic of low-intensity base station levels (0.0006 – 0.00128 microwatts/cm2). Resulting effects which are reported in the scientific literature include DNA breaks and chromosome aberrations, cell death including death of brain cells (neurons), increased free radical production, cell stress and premature aging, changes in brain function including memory loss, retarded learning, slower promotion in school and slower motor function and other performance impairment in children, headaches and fatigue, sleep disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, reduction in melatonin secretion, and cancer. Disruption of sleep is reported to occur at levels as low as 0.0001 to 0.1 microwatt/centimeter squared (µW/cm2).

    Low-intensity bioeffects have been reported to occur as low as 0.0006 to 100 µW/cm2 range (power density) or 0.0001 to 1 W/Kg for whole body exposure (SAR). This is commonly the level of RF exposure within the first few hundred to a thousand feet of a typical cell tower or antenna farm with multiple transmitting cell phone or PCS wireless communication antennas. WI-FI levels are expected to be lower than for cell towers in most instances, but this is not an indication that there is greater safety from more numerous, but dispersed WI-FI antennas. WI-FI exposures are variable depending on the distance to each transmitting antenna, and different wireless routers can be set at different power outputs. Thus, variability in exposure levels can be expected.

    There is evidence that children have greater neurological sensitivity to the effects of many toxic environmental exposures including RF (WHO Report on Children and Health, 2000). FCC standards are based today on adults, so that chronic, low-intensity RF exposures for children may need to be lower taking into account their greater susceptibility during growth and development.

    Compliance with ICNIRP and FCC public exposure limits is not necessarily a measure or guarantee of safety. Existing exposure limits protect only against thermal damage (microwave heating). There ARE no exposure limits for non-thermal (low-intensity) RF exposures, even though there is substantial scientific evidence that such effects exist, and should be regulated. Debate among experts about the adequacy of current ICNIRP and FCC limits for humans is seen in countries around the world. Finally, the 802.11b exclusion means that WI-FI technology is exempted from public exposure limits anyway.

    Stories with wireless' effects on health:

    http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/3717544/
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2008
  19. phlogistician Banned Banned

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    I have three laptops, and all of them have LAN ports. I doubt you need to broadcast, ....
     
  20. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Some houses have more than 1 floor....

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    And carrying around 40 feet of wire is so much fun!

    But just to make you happy:

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    Last edited: Apr 15, 2008
  21. (Q) Encephaloid Martini Valued Senior Member

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    If it's a wireless modem, move it to where it's not near you, some other part of the house.
     
  22. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Well, let's approach the problem logically:

    It is either:

    1. Harmless, then it can stay where it is, out of sight, out of mind.

    2. It can cause harm:
    a.) Close range only >>> What is the dangerous range?
    b.) Farer range too >>> Let's not use it.

    I actually came up with a fairly simple and easy solution. I can turn on/off the broadcasting either online or manually, so just to be on the same side I can leave it generally OFF, and turn it ON on occasions when I use the laptop.

    How smart is that???

    Edit: I just did it. Turned off the modem's wireless part on the router's website. Takes about 20 seconds...Problem solved...Also better for security...
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2008
  23. draqon Banned Banned

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    why do you think people get cancer?
     
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