When the wireless router is on is it constantly transmitting signals?

Question

I am a bit worried about the various signals around our houses these days. Cell phone, microwave, TV, wireless router, cordless phones etc..

How to best user the wireless router in this regard? Turn it off when not needed? If the router is on but laptops are shut down - there would still be same lavel of signals, right?
Will the total transmission much less when not connected & surfing the net vs. when doing so?

Answer 1

I am not sure what you are concerned about, but yes, you can shut off a router when you are not actually using it. There is actually a hardware device you can buy which will enable this very easily, it is called Internet Traffic Cop, and allows for easy shut off and turn on of a Wireless Router. I use it and find it very useful. It also allows me to shut down at night and cut my kids off from the net when I am not awake to monitor their activity. A great Parental Monitoriing tool.

Now, to answer you question regarding the radio signals: Yes, it transmits even when nobody is on the internet. It transmits constantly. These signals are not something which will harm a person though, so there is not worry there. Yes, microwaves are something some people need to concern themselves with, especially if they have a pace maker, or other heart equipment. Micowaves also can emit small radioactive material, which is not signicant enough for even a pregnant woman to worry herself over. Cell phones also emit very minute signals which have not been shown to cause adverse affect on individuals, even if they kept the phone to the ear for days on end. Cordless phones are even less likely to cause any harm.

However, if you are concerned by all means shut down your router when not in use. You can do so without buying the hardware I mentioned above, it is just that the hardware makes it very simple to shut down and turn on the router as needed. Just unplug the router or if it has an on/off button, hit that.

Good luck and have a very nice day.

Answer 2

I have to agree with most that it won't bother you. I assume that is what you're asking about (health issues as opposed to interference issues).

If you take a scanner and let it run you will realize that there are tens of thousands of frequencies running through us now.

But with the frequencies that are in use for most things such as cell phones, microwave, and cordless house phones today run up in the Microwave range (in the Ghz, not MHz).

That being said these frequencies are basically the same as what cooks your food in the, guess, microwave oven. Since they are very dangerous and powerful they have to run at a very low wattage (maybe half a watt or so), whereas other things like walkie talkies (work type or ham radio 3 meter band) run on less dangerous frequencies.

One of the main dangers is the radio wavelength is close in size to certain human organs such as the eye and kidneys.

But the choice is yours. I personally don't let these issues affect my daily life, and I am too lazy to wait for the router to boot up then connect the laptop. I think you'll be ok leaving it on.

best wishes
Ron

Answer 3

You are surrounded by radio signals 24/7 and not just from your router and cell phone or cordless phone.

Shutting off the router will not do anything in my humble opinion. It, like you cordless the signsl is very week. You get more radio type radiation from the power lines running outside your house and from outer space.......so not to worry.

Answer 4

It's safe to turn off your router. The previous person who commented is incorrect. If you turn off and turn back on your router, none of your settings get erased and are preserved. The only time it would reset to factory defaults would be if you held down the reset button.

I wouldn't worry about it though. There is no evidence that emissions from routers or other household electronics are bad for you.

Answer 5

The router is always on, always receiving packets of information, but not transmitting them to your computer unless it is on. It stands between the cable or DSL and your computer, and is the first line of defense against virus and hacking.

My equipment manufacturer told me not to have a cordless phone close to the router, but other than that, nothing much will bother it.

Answer 6

well i leave my router running 24/7 on.. since i have a good passphrase and using WPA security rather than WEP which is more secure. plus thats then wired into hardware firewall so nobody can break it unless they are a total mega expert hacker
if the router/laptop is turned off there will be no signal since no power no signal.

Answer 7

wireless router is always transmitting singnals. dont be worried as all the electronis work on different Mhz and different signals. u donot neet to turn off the wireless router. if u do so that it will reset all the setting to the default.

Answer 8

Its always blinkin...even when not in used. Mine is always blinking so do not worry!

Good Luck