When Wireless is off, is it really off?

Phil3 · 3 Dec 2010 at 13:21

Hi,

My uncle recently started complaining about getting head aches since he bought his new Belkin wireless router.

I suggested that we swap routers with him (I have a similarly spec'd Cisco WAG160N), but I don't know what his belkin is, it's a ADSL2+ complaint one though.
The reason for swapping is that my router has an option called "Disable Wireless", while his only has one to stop broadcasting the SSID which doesn't stop the broadcasting altogether.

What I want to know is if when I "Disable wireless" on my router, does it actually turn OFF the transmitter and stop sending out signals?

Cheers.

J.B · 3 Dec 2010 at 15:05

I imagine it probably would shut it off completly yes.

I would be questioning if he really is electrosensitive though, maybe a blind test to see if he can tell when the router is on or off etc.

Blue Cypher · 3 Dec 2010 at 15:09

Yes it literally turns wireless off, also i am no doctor but i would be very surprised if this was the cause of his headaches as they are very low wattage power "waves" compared to say a microwave.

Phil3 · 3 Dec 2010 at 15:31

Thanks for the answer all, I shall swap with him tonight, hopefully he will be happy.

Blue Cypher said:
Yes it literally turns wireless off, also i am no doctor but i would be very surprised if this was the cause of his headaches as they are very low wattage power "waves" compared to say a microwave.

I agree with you entirely. How ever I do not have the energy to argue the case with him.

I think it's really paranoia / the placebo effect.

Blue Cypher · 3 Dec 2010 at 15:34

Yeah its probably placebo effect like you say Phil3 however i brought it up just incase there is something else causing the headaches... like now he has wireless he might spend more time on a laptop and he now needs glasses etc

J.B · 3 Dec 2010 at 15:46

Also unlucky for you getting a belkin router! They are generally considered a bit poop

MissChief · 3 Dec 2010 at 15:51

If he now needs glasses and he hasn't got them yet that's more likely to be cuasing the headaches than his wireless.

Dano · 3 Dec 2010 at 17:01

You can use something like inSSIDer to confirm it's turned off and that it'll make little to no difference due to all the wireless networks of his neighbours. Not forgetting that household cordless phones also work off the same 2.4Ghz frequencies and anything else that is wireless too.

I had to bite my tounge a while back after being asked to setup a powerline network for a lady who in her own words was 'em sensitive' and as such couldn't have a wireless network in the house, I arrived and did a scan with inSSIDer to find three wireless networks within range and her sat with a cordless phone in her lap...

Phil3 · 3 Dec 2010 at 18:10

nahh it's not anything to do with eye sight. I'll see how I get on with the new Belkin,
I've actually been having a bit of trouble with the wireless on my cisco anyway, it tends to not let me connect properly sometimes on my laptop, and occasionally needs a reboot of the router to work.
Don't know why...I've checked all the wireless settings and the DHCP. It's all fine.