Had a chance to test microwave oven interference. While my microwave was running I tried streaming a camera. The app seemed to try connecting in a variety of ways but was not successful. It took many seconds after the oven stopped for the app to be able to connect and stream the camera.
I tried again using the tinycam app so I could watch my 3 cameras simultaneously. The images stopped updating immediately with the oven running. Then I opened browser and tried random web site. Didn’t work well. Phone wifi was on 2.4 GHz so switched phone to 5 GHz. Web sites worked fine. Tinycam now showing no images. About 10 seconds after oven stopped all 3 cameras were streaming on tinycam.
Oven is a year old Panasonic.
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I was going to buy a Panasonic “inverter” microwave, but after seeing complaints about 2.4GHz interference, I went with another brand. From a cooking standpoint, the inverter microwave ovens are superior, but if you have 2.4GHz devices near them, they will probably be adversly affected, and much more so than they are affected by non-inverter microwave ovens.
https://www.cwnp.com/the-wise-article-series-interference-from-non-wifi-sources-part-1/
Excerpt from above:
“Another aspect not so commonly known is that there are newer models of “inverter” microwave ovens. While inverter microwaves are more efficient in terms of power usage and food heating, they can significantly affect Wi-Fi performance over the entire 2.4 GHz band (including channel 1). Thus to avoid this interference, one must avoid inverter microwaves, or choose 5 GHz operation for nearby Wi-Fi APs.”
What I don’t understand is how Panasonic is able to get these interference generators FCC approved. I also don’t understand why they can’t use better shielding around the inverters. The oven chamber is in a “Faraday cage” so the Magnatron radiation is well contained (for safety reasons as well as limiting interference). If you look at the window you will see that there is a mesh that is “opaque” to the microwaves.
Since you have no choice as to using anything but 2.4GHz with the Wyze, I am afraid I don’t have any good news for you. Especially if you want to use a Wyze camera near the Microwave.
Wifi is convenient and more aesthetic, but from a networking point of view, the reliability and perfomance of even a 100Mbs wired ethernet is usually better, especially when there are many wireless devices to “share” the channel airtime.
The Google Chromecast devices have an active USB and can be powered by a special ethernet adapter that allows the Chromecast to work in areas with poor wifi https://store.google.com/us/product/ethernet_adapter_for_chromecast?hl=en-US
I don’t think there is the possiblity of doing something like that with the Wyze camera, but someone from the hardware support would know for sure.
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Thanks for the post! I am glad I wandered across it because I have a Panasonic inverter and I had been concerned that it was leaking microwaves! It appears that perhaps it is not leaking in the conventional manner - i.e. door seal etc.
I can verify that it does really wreak havoc with 2.4GHz wifi! During this past winter I was getting into warming up some soup for lunch while listening to streaming radio, and even 10-12 feet away it was not possible!
I do love the having the ability to cook delicate foods precisely with the Panasonic however!
Also thanks for the link to the article.
Mark,
There seems to be a lot of conflicting information. I just saw this
https://ask.metafilter.com/277627/Microwave-ovens-that-dont-use-the-24GHz-frequency
In one of the responses made in the comments:
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Newer panasonic inverter microwaves don’t do this(and probably other brands inverter drive models). I got one for super cheap thrifting and was excited to discover this. My semi-educated theory is that it has something to do with the digital power supply not putting out as much RFI/EMI noise garbage. They also are rated at less power from the wall and seem more efficient. I’ve noticed it takes a lot less inrush current to start the magnetron than previous microwaves i’ve owned…
It also cooks my food obscenely fast. Like, stuff is searingly hot after 30 seconds.
I can stand right in front of it using my phone on wifi, which should completely murder the signal. No change. Even on crappy devices.
A+
Oh, and on the 915mhz thing… My coworker scored a dual-magnetron high powered commercial microwave recently that operates on those bands. It causes no interference either, and was cheap used, but required a special high amperage power socket to be installed in his kitchen(which he did, he’s an electrical engineer type). Personally, i’m happy with my non-interference-generating cheapo panasonic. Only complaint is the door sticks.
posted by emptythought at 3:12 PM on March 21, 2015
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So there is at least anecdotal evidence that at least one Panasonic inverter oven exists that doesn’t cause wifi interference.