Could the Enviro-idiots kill Wifi?

streaker69 · 03-08-2007

There's been alot of talk in the media the past few weeks about the banning of standard Incandescent bulbs in favor of the new Compact Fluorescent (CFL). If these bans are successful could this be the end of Wifi in it's current form as we know it?

I mention this because the other night while I was sitting in my TV room I had the overhead Fluorescent light turned on. I had just recently installed a WRE54G in the same room with it linked to my WAP54G that's in the pantry. The wife came in and turned off the overhead and turned on a different light. I noticed that Windows suddenly popped up a message that my connection, which I'm about 10 feet away from the WRE went from good to excellent. Which tells me that the Fluorescent fixture was causing that much noise it was actually killing about 20% of the signal.

Now imagine your house being completely outfitted with CFL's, each one giving off it's own noise pattern. Wifi could end up being suppressed a great deal through out your entire home.

Of course this is just speculation, as I don't have any CFL's. But in my garage I do have 5 4' fluorescent fixtures and a WAP54G and one PC. When the lights are on, I get a low signal even though I'm only 15 feet from the AP.

I know a couple of you guys have the WiSpy, how about some testing with standard 4' Fixtures, some of the 18" round fixtures and some CFL's. Let's see how much noise these things are actually giving off.

Barry · 03-08-2007

Nope, couldn't see any signal off my kitchen lights, which are 4 foot fluorescents, or a set of 3 CFL's. I unplugged my router during the test so it wouldn't light up the display. Maybe beakmyn can see something, I think he has a real spectrum analyzer at the house.

streaker69 · 03-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry

Nope, couldn't see any signal off my kitchen lights, which are 4 foot fluorescents, or a set of 3 CFL's. I unplugged my router during the test so it wouldn't light up the display. Maybe beakmyn can see something, I think he has a real spectrum analyzer at the house.

Ok, just do a simple test of connection strength. Setup your notebook with a light in between and turn it on and off, see if it shows any drop in signal.

Barry · 03-08-2007

No change that I could see.

Airstreamer · 03-08-2007

Our house only has maybe two or three incandescents in the whole place. Everything else is CF or dual 40 watt tube types. The router is upstairs and has to go through three sheet rocked walls to get to the kitchen. I usually get a "good to fair" signal. I can see the radio shift between 36 mb and one of the next lower down speeds, with an occasional bump up to 54 mb. If somebody walks down the kitchen hallway, it does block the signal, but usually not enough to drop the connection. I've never noticed much difference if the lights are off or not. BTW, the light right above the table has 6 15watt CF lights in it.
/shrugs

Barry · 03-08-2007

I think now we know the source of Streaker's psychic amish powers.

bobfunland · 03-09-2007

I don't know about wifi, but they sure kill my AM radio reception.

theprez98 · 03-09-2007

I'll try a test when I get home. I have slowly been replacing all of my incandescents with CFLs.

gm2net · 03-19-2007

I haven't noticed anything, and I've got a few CCFL bulbs on my desk...

streaker69 · 04-26-2007

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268747,00.html

Anyone up for accidently breaking a CFL in your home?

Barry · 04-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by streaker69

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268747,00.html

Anyone up for accidently breaking a CFL in your home?

Hell I snapped one off in my hand a month ago. Damn bulb was stuck in a recessed can in the ceiling. I guess I put a little too much strain on it.

streaker69 · 04-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry

Hell I snapped one off in my hand a month ago. Damn bulb was stuck in a recessed can in the ceiling. I guess I put a little too much strain on it.

Did you call the DEP and the EPA and have a Superfund cleanup site created?

Barry · 04-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by streaker69

Did you call the DEP and the EPA and have a Superfund cleanup site created?

No, I did what everybody else does. I threw away the pieces and vacuumed up the rest in the Dyson. Figured I'd ops check the hepa filter in it.

Thorn · 04-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by streaker69

Did you call the DEP and the EPA and have a Superfund cleanup site created?

"We have a 23-19! A 23-19!"

streaker69 · 04-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorn

"We have a 23-19! A 23-19!"

Aren't you a little old for Monster's Inc?

03-08-2007	#1 (permalink)
streaker69 Psychic Amish Stumbler Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Virginville, BlueBall, Bird In Hand, Intercourse, Paradise, PA Posts: 12,239	Could the Enviro-idiots kill Wifi? There's been alot of talk in the media the past few weeks about the banning of standard Incandescent bulbs in favor of the new Compact Fluorescent (CFL). If these bans are successful could this be the end of Wifi in it's current form as we know it? I mention this because the other night while I was sitting in my TV room I had the overhead Fluorescent light turned on. I had just recently installed a WRE54G in the same room with it linked to my WAP54G that's in the pantry. The wife came in and turned off the overhead and turned on a different light. I noticed that Windows suddenly popped up a message that my connection, which I'm about 10 feet away from the WRE went from good to excellent. Which tells me that the Fluorescent fixture was causing that much noise it was actually killing about 20% of the signal. Now imagine your house being completely outfitted with CFL's, each one giving off it's own noise pattern. Wifi could end up being suppressed a great deal through out your entire home. Of course this is just speculation, as I don't have any CFL's. But in my garage I do have 5 4' fluorescent fixtures and a WAP54G and one PC. When the lights are on, I get a low signal even though I'm only 15 feet from the AP. I know a couple of you guys have the WiSpy, how about some testing with standard 4' Fixtures, some of the 18" round fixtures and some CFL's. Let's see how much noise these things are actually giving off. __________________ Treat your gun like your genitals, only whip it out when it's absolutely necessary.

03-08-2007	#2 (permalink)
Barry Managing the iTards. Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,882	Nope, couldn't see any signal off my kitchen lights, which are 4 foot fluorescents, or a set of 3 CFL's. I unplugged my router during the test so it wouldn't light up the display. Maybe beakmyn can see something, I think he has a real spectrum analyzer at the house. __________________ Never do anything you don't want to explain to the paramedics.

03-08-2007	#4 (permalink)
Barry Managing the iTards. Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,882	No change that I could see. __________________ Never do anything you don't want to explain to the paramedics.

03-08-2007	#5 (permalink)
Airstreamer Sniffin' the aether Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: A little North of Reason Posts: 2,821	Our house only has maybe two or three incandescents in the whole place. Everything else is CF or dual 40 watt tube types. The router is upstairs and has to go through three sheet rocked walls to get to the kitchen. I usually get a "good to fair" signal. I can see the radio shift between 36 mb and one of the next lower down speeds, with an occasional bump up to 54 mb. If somebody walks down the kitchen hallway, it does block the signal, but usually not enough to drop the connection. I've never noticed much difference if the lights are off or not. BTW, the light right above the table has 6 15watt CF lights in it. /shrugs __________________ "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.." - Claire Wolfe, 101 Things to Do 'Til the Revolution

03-08-2007	#6 (permalink)
Barry Managing the iTards. Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,882	I think now we know the source of Streaker's psychic amish powers. __________________ Never do anything you don't want to explain to the paramedics.

03-09-2007	#7 (permalink)
bobfunland Mostly Harmless Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: in a van, down by the river Posts: 543	I don't know about wifi, but they sure kill my AM radio reception. __________________ Today's Signature! Sherman's Crossing Space Bison: Exploring the Universe

03-09-2007	#8 (permalink)
theprez98 SpoonfeederExtraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,709	I'll try a test when I get home. I have slowly been replacing all of my incandescents with CFLs. __________________ :00475160 0E A6 AE A0 19 E3 A3 46 .......F :00475168 0D 65 17 0C 53 70 6F 6F .e..Spoo :00475170 6E 66 65 65 64 65 72 2E nfeeder. :00475178 45 78 74 72 61 6F 72 64 Extraord :00475180 69 6E 61 69 72 65 5D 3B inaire]; :00475188 8B 9E 92 5A FF 5D A6 F0 ...Z.]..

03-19-2007	#9 (permalink)
gm2net Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 39	I haven't noticed anything, and I've got a few CCFL bulbs on my desk...

04-26-2007	#10 (permalink)
streaker69 Psychic Amish Stumbler Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Virginville, BlueBall, Bird In Hand, Intercourse, Paradise, PA Posts: 12,239	http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268747,00.html Anyone up for accidently breaking a CFL in your home? __________________ Treat your gun like your genitals, only whip it out when it's absolutely necessary.

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