Are Wireless Networks Dangerous?

  Business Phone Service

People are becoming more concerned about the health risk associated with radio frequency (RF) devices. The scientific jury is still out on this question, but for the time being the general consensus seems to be that there is no health risk associated with low power devices used in WLANs.

Radio waves are a form of radiation. When most of us hear that word we tend to panic, but it helps to understand the difference between different types of radiation and distinguish between what is potentially harmful and what is considered safe. We are surrounded by radio frequency radiation (RFR) at work and at home. Microwave ovens, cordless phones, computers, fax machines, and cell phones all emit some form of RFR.

What raises concern with wireless network devices is that they operate at high frequency (2.4 GHz and above), and at higher frequencies radio waves have shorter wavelengths. Shorter wavelengths (microwaves) have a greater potential for harming living tissues than longer wavelengths.

The difference in the danger level is the power output of the devices. The Federal Communications Commission and other regulatory bodies have set strict limits on RFR emissions. In the U.S., current FCC regulations set the output for 802. 11x devices at 1 watt.

Most available 802.llx devices have a power output of less than 100 milliwatts (1 milliwatt is equal to 1 thousandth of a watt); the majority produce around 30 milliwatts. This is far below the safety limit set by the FCC, and considerably lowers than the power produced by a microwave oven. A microwave oven can emit up to 1100 watts, not milliwatts, 1100 times higher than the safety level imposed on 802.llx devices. Although a microwave oven is shielded, even a small leak is far more dangerous than components on a WLAN. Even the handset for a 2.4 GHz cordless phone emits around 5 watts of power. The base stations of many phones emit over 25 watts.

As long as you use unmodified, FCC-approved equipment, you should not be concerned. I say unmodified because there are many modifications that you can make to WLAN equipment, especially antennas, that can increase the range of a network and the power emitted, increasing the associated risk.