Would a newer router combat microwave interference better than WRT54G?

[Doppel]

I have this old linksys router and it's been solid for about six years. My only complaint is that when the microwave is on I drop all internet connectivity from all laptops. It's a fairly small complaint but infuriates me when people are using the microwave! I suppose a new router would have to either have a stronger signal or better noise filtering, since the laptop's cards aren't going to change.

 

[Modelworks]

Try moving around the router. Even a few inches can make a difference. Microwave ovens have leakage standards that are actually lower than a cell phone output limit so it shouldn't be causing a huge amount of interference. If the microwave is older, check the door for proper closure by putting a sheet of paper in the door and closing it on the paper. The paper should have resistance to being pulled out.

 

[MtnMan]

Have you tried different channels?

Might be time for a new microwave.

 

[smitbret]

It's not the router, it's the microwave. Get it replaced before ALL of your food gives you cancer.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Change channels, try 5ghz, move the router, get a new microwave. Thats pretty much your options

 

[JoeMcJoe]

I have read that microwaves affect the 2.4 Ghz more in the lower channels.
So set your to use channel 11.

 

[Cooky]

Like others have said, this is an RF issue, so a new router would not help, unless it has the intelligence to detect the interference, and automatically change the channels.
That feature is available on expensive enterprise grade WAP's; not sure if consumer grade support it.
Try 5Ghz; if it's not available, try different channels in 2.4.

 

[spidey07]

Try moving around the router. Even a few inches can make a difference. Microwave ovens have leakage standards that are actually lower than a cell phone output limit so it shouldn't be causing a huge amount of interference. If the microwave is older, check the door for proper closure by putting a sheet of paper in the door and closing it on the paper. The paper should have resistance to being pulled out.

Microwaves are a HUGE wireless killer. They trash the entire spectrum.

 

[mammador]

Well as said, it's inherent to wifi technology.

Only option really is to move the wifi router/access point to another location.

 

[spidey07]

The other thing is to try to make it so the microwave isn't in the path between client and AP including bouncing off walls. But even in professional environments, lunchtime can be a challenge. Why do we keep having problems, but only at lunchtime?

that big bank of high power overns

 

[Doppel]

Thanks, I'll try higher channels. I really don't think it's the microwave's fault; I mean a new one shouldn't fix it, as it's a fairly new unit and I remember my last microwave did the same thing (but with 2.4 ghz phones), made them impossible to use. Of Course, the microwave is in the kitchen directly above the router in the basement Moving it may help, too!

 

[Emulex]

new routers run 400-850mw - older wrt54g is like 80mw pumped up. 10x the power will certainly combat microwaves. Plus with mimo/channel bonding you can work around it (reduced rate instead of NO RATE).

 

[mbahr]

You have to match the "newer" router frequencies to the microwave. 2.4 is one of the congested areas and depending upon what "version" of 802.11 you are using it may rely on those frequencies (see my summary at http://www.easy-home-networking-guide.com/Computer-Glossary-2.html )

I agree with the others that suggest moving things around and trying to configure for a different channel. Also... you may want to try plugging in your router on different circuits to see if that cleans up the signal (a long shot, I know).

Perhaps your microwave is leaky?

Or, you could also cook over a open fire....

-Mike

 

[smitbret]

Thanks, I'll try higher channels. I really don't think it's the microwave's fault; I mean a new one shouldn't fix it, as it's a fairly new unit and I remember my last microwave did the same thing (but with 2.4 ghz phones), made them impossible to use. Of Course, the microwave is in the kitchen directly above the router in the basement Moving it may help, too!

Just weird. I've browsed the web on my cell phone via wifi while leaning on the microwave as it's heating a bottle of formula and had no trouble.

 

[Jeff7]

Just weird. I've browsed the web on my cell phone via wifi while leaning on the microwave as it's heating a bottle of formula and had no trouble.

It may just be a matter of speed reduction.

- In college, I'd sometimes watch DVR'd TV shows over my wireless connection while sitting on the sofa in the livingroom. I recorded the shows at the 12Mbps MPEG-2 setting. Normally, I could watch with no problems.
If someone used the microwave out in the kitchen, the playback would start skipping.
- At home, I've got a wireless headset that I use with Skype. If I'm on it while in the kitchen and I turn on the microwave, it causes distortion to show up on both incoming and outgoing voice data.

So I think it won't kill a connection completely, but it will increase the local noise levels quite a bit, so you're going to get more retries, which translate to slower overall throughput. This would be more noticeable on realtime applications that require the full amount of allocated wireless bandwidth, and are thus less tolerant of the lost/retried data packets.