Wi-Fi Is It Damaging Childrens Health

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Le Hoff

I was talking about BIIIIIIG gains, like 30dB +

True. Biggest omni I've seen I think was rated at 15 dBi.

Originally Posted by Feek

And the figures you quote, Mark will be theoretical, another pet hate of mine, the dBi/dBd farce.

Also true. Otherwise it'd have actually worked instead of running home to mama every time I showed it a 1GB file.

[Darrin]

Another thing to consider is the frequency these systems operate at.

I've been so far out of the loop on cellular that I don't know what the run on anymore, but wireless networks run at 2.4GHz, which, btw is almost identical to the 2.45GHz that microwave ovens operate at.

So, how happy are you now to know that every time you log in on your laptop you are sitting with your head a couple feet from a 5W microwave oven? 5W not a big deal you say? Remember microwave exposure is a cumulative effect over time....

[Feek]

Most wifi devices run something between 20 and 200 milliwatts, it's hardly 5 Watts and the output isn't focussed at all, it's nothing even remotely resembling the output of a microwave oven.

[8 I3ALL]

Originally Posted by Mark

My parents have a mast pretty close to their new home, and there's several kids living very close by. I'm more worried about that than wi-fi.

But the whole point is that when they are outside close to a mast the effect is minimal, but sitting less than a foot away from a laptop connecteed via WI-FI for at least an hour per school day will be subjecting them to way more radiation

[Will]

I'm afraid you're not quite right there as Feek has pointed out, the overall power of an AP transmitting is minimal, especially compared to a gsm mast. My main issue would be as has been discussed the security aspect/paedophile issue and the need for it. I agree that one more bit of radiation is not a good thing - don't get me wrong, I don't think they should add any more to the atmosphere where children are going to be spending a lot of time in. However the effects of the APs wouldn't be that great. It's more damaging for your brain/cells to be out in the sun during a solar storm, or talking on a mobile phone, or even listening to their ipods for hours than spending a year in a room with an AP.

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by Le Hoff

My main issue would be as has been discussed the security aspect/paedophile issue and the need for it.

Thanks for highlighting this again Will.

Whilst I don't discount the possible radiation danger then I feel this is one of the most important things and can't understand how it could be overlooked by a school :/

[8 I3ALL]

Originally Posted by Le Hoff

I'm afraid you're not quite right there as Feek has pointed out, the overall power of an AP transmitting is minimal, especially compared to a gsm mast. .

So you are both saying the tests they showed were fixed/fake ?

[Will]

I think they were using theoretical isotropic values and sensationalising the "facts". Yes it's more radiation and that's not good, however it's not as bad as they make out.

However I agree there is no need for wifi in school at all. So I'm completely behind you on that one. I feel the scaremongering is a little baseless - it's not completely trivial obviously as there is necessarily going to be extra EM/RF radiation - but the amount of increase is so negligible that it's really making a mountain out of a molehill.

Had they focused on the security aspects of it I'd have been more concerned and more in agreement with a little over zealous reporting.

[Feek]

I didn't see the program so I can't comment on whether what they said was fixed or fake but I read the related article on the website and it was a load of garbage. As Will says, it was sensationalising, scaremongering and making a mountain out of a molehill in the pretence of investigative journalism.

[Dymetrie]

Straight from the BBC site

And this bit made me giggle

Originally Posted by Professor Will J Stewart

This is not to say that all electromagnetic radiation is necessarily harmless - sunlight, for example, poses a significant cancer risk; so if you are using your laptop on the beach make sure and get some shade.