microwave oven interference with wireless router

It looks like you've determined the cause. If the loss of connection of the laptop to the router happens ONLY when microwave oven is on, you are right. It is possible, if this is the case, to diminish the oven interference just moving away either the laptop or the oven. Also I would check the grounding of the oven, or the ground on the oven outlet. The metallic case of the oven should screen the spurious emission, if properly grounded.

Here is a good FAQ doc on wireless ethernet.

ftp://download.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/wirelesslanfaq.pdf

Here's an excerpt...

Q: Will WLANs receive interference from other wireless devices or other WLANs?
A: The unlicensed nature of radio-based wireless LANs means that other products (ex. 2.4 GHz cordless phones, microwave ovens, garage door openers, Bluetooth™ devices) that transmit energy in the same frequency spectrum can potentially interfere with a WLAN system. Older microwave ovens are a concern, but
most WLAN manufacturers design their products to account for microwave interference. RF interference can also occur if two WLANs are located in close proximity to each other. This situation is usually dealt with by placing each WLAN on a different RF channel within allowed frequency range.

My microwave pre-dates wireless devices too. I have an wireless Internet radio on the shelf above it that kicks out whenever I'm nukeing stuff too. Sounds like we both should invest in new microwaves.

i think don't buy an oven but set your home network in "a" or "n" standards which works on 5 GHz. you only need to check that your router supports a/b/g/n standard. and then check the same in your laptop. if possible, enable only a or n standard.

As b and g standards work at 2.4 Ghz try to avoid.

try this. it shoul keep you out of trouble for a while............

Microwave ovens are technically close cousins of RADAR.

If the door seals are worn or missing and/or the case is not connected to a good earth, you will be emmitting radiation big time!! Not good for you or any household pets, can make you sterile I am told!!!

May I suggest that the old oven be pensioned off and a new one purchased with the proviso that if it causes the same problem, you can get your money back?

Also, checkout the earthing of the mains sockets in question......especially the microwave socket and its cable to make sure that the case is earth bonded when plugged in.

The door earth of the MWO is also a possible point of the problems....

(I am writing and thinking at the same time, but my fingers are faster than my brain!!!)

Thanks for all your suggestions. Two things that I will do before investing in a new microwave; (1) check that the outlet is properly grounded and (2) make sure the wireless router is plugged into a quality power strip. I'll let you know what I find.

Microwave ovens are technically close cousins of RADAR.

close cousins......their direct descendants.

We had the exact same problem when we were beta testing the Nortel wireless network that unfortunately was installed in The Royal Ottawa Mental Health center . The problem is interference at 2.4 GHZ and the only way around this is change to 5 GHZ band . Administration still went ahead with B & G radios at 2.4 GHZ anyhow against the IS dept advice and now they have the nerve to complain about all the problems. We also have VOIP phones which are cutting out all the time, lost information , dropped calls, no way to run a hospital. A living nightmare !...

My first suggestion is turn off the microwave oven, take it out of the house and dispose of it with a sledge hammer. Regardless of the frequency of the router, there should be no interference from the microwave. It is a danger to you and the family.

Regards

STFU, it is NOT bad for people. Drink bleach.

I have brand new Panasonic microwave (July 2011) and I am having the same problem with my wireless router and network. Netgear N750 that connects to a Netgear WNCE2001 Universal Internet Adapter and a WD Live TV Hub. The WLAN signal drops out whenever I use the microwave. It's hard to believe that a brand new grounded Panasonic microwave can cause havoc with home swireless network, but it looks like it is. Everything is grounded but the network drops out when the microwave is used.

Any suggestions other than hard wiring my system?