this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2025
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Just occurred to me that the humble microwave should be a fairly effective Faraday cage, certainly for the microwave spectrum, anyone know how good it is for the relevant communication frequencies?

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[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 16 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Stick your phone in it and test:

Make a phone call to it and see if it rings.

See if it remains connected to WiFi and data.

See if Bluetooth can be connected.

Considering the amount of outside interference it causes, I don't think it's as effective as a true Faraday cage, though.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Considering there's a thing emitting at 800-1000W in there I would say they are pretty effective faraday cages.

I've never had any interferences.

[–] lurch@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 days ago (2 children)

I played online games with some people who mentioned their wifi signal drops whenever someone operates the microwave in the kitchen. (Also, other people had problems when certain old neon lights next to their room were on.)

[–] Scheisser@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Are they opening the door while its running? Turning it off before opening the door might help.

[–] lurch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I have never encountered a microwave oven that wouldn't immediately shut down the magnetron when the door is opened.

[–] Scheisser@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 hour ago

They do, however they can release a short burst of radiation after the door has opened and before the oven turns off that can affect wireless networks.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 5 days ago

I've never had that problem, a few minutes ago I tried to make a call and put the phone in the microwave, the moment I closed the door it cut the call.

I'd be worried if I had a leaky microwave.

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I've never had any interferences.

All my microwaves in the last 20 years cause interference from several rooms away! Like Bluetooth headsets dropping signal.

I have a device that measures radiation and EMF, and that thing spikes when the microwave is on, too. 😮

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I hope OP does this and reports back.

Someone else recommended a tin cookie jar.

I'd like to hear results on all types* of connectivity, at least the three you mentioned. Maybe start a logger on the phone before you put it in.

* telephony, GPS...

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 2 points 5 days ago

I wonder if a cast iron crock pot would work, too. Those are dirt cheap second hand. They weigh a ton, though 😞