topic Re: WiFi and the microwave in Broadband

WiFi and the microwave

Chris11521 — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:45:15 GMT

This may seem like a bizarre question.

But whenever I use the microwave my WiFi just instantly cuts out.

I've had to put a note on the microwave to remind me to tell anyone in the house to make sure it's OK to use the microwave as their WiFi will be interrupted!!

I'm guessing it's something to do with the WiFi frequencies but it never happened when I was with Virgin on their hub and I've still got the same microwave.

Is there a solution to this even if it's buy a different router instead of the sky one?

Re: WiFi and the microwave

Chrisee — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:52:30 GMT

@Chris11521 both Sky Virgin hubs use identical wifi frequencies but their power is measured in milliwatts while you microwave outputs several hundred watts. When new microwave ovens shouldn't leak (they are tested yo grt certified) but as they get older doorseals etc wear and they statt leaking radiation if your's is leaking sufficently to block wifi it either needs repairing or replacing .

Re: WiFi and the microwave

FLC — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 09:12:34 GMT

@Chris11521

Microwaves operate in the same 2.4GHz range as WiFi, but shouldn't affect the 5GHz band. If you have the white SR213 Hub my guess is that the Virgin Hub was doing a decent job of transmitting the 5GHz signal & your devices were connecting to that. But at the very best, the WiFi on a significant proportion the Sky Hubs is truly awful, including mine. So the chances are that your devices are now connecting to the slightly stronger 2.4GHz band & hence suffering interference.

So yes, another router or mesh system is the best option. Cheapest would be to acquire the previous SR203 Hub, where at least you have full control of the WiFi channels, whereas everything in the SR213 is locked down. Plenty of SR203s on Ebay/Facebook Marketplace, although they are technically the property of Sky. You could always give one a try & then resell it if it doesn't solve the problem.

Re: WiFi and the microwave

Chris11521 — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 09:17:20 GMT

Thank you.

I am going to have to work out if it's the microwave leaking or the sky hub itself.

I am tending to lean towards the hub as my microwave is just over a year old and the the issue appeared as soon as I swapped to Sky!

I'm going to borrow a neighbours microwave this evening to test out which it is

Re: WiFi and the microwave

FLC — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 09:32:33 GMT

That's likely a futile experiment as every oven will have a tolerance for leakage. So even if the neighbour's doesn't interfere, there's no guarantee that buying even the same model will solve the problem.

Something you could look at is moving the router well away from the the MW. Is the Sky close to where the Virgin Hub was?