[ot] microwave and wifi

[Bob Hemus]

On Tue, 2006-09-12 at 10:27 -0700, Bill Campbell wrote:
> On Tue, Sep 12, 2006, Net Llama! wrote:
> >On Tue, 12 Sep 2006, Man-wai CHANG wrote:
> >>>> What's the frequency of waves used in microwave oven?
> >>> 2.4GHz
> >>> Inside the cavity: several hundred watts up to 1 KW.
> >>>> What about that of Wi-Fi network?
> >>> 2.4 GHz for 802.11b
> >>> Typical wireless card is +15dbm (32 milliwatts).
> >>
> >> So Wi-Fi is just a tamed version of a microwave oven?
> >
> >No.  Just because two different signals use the same frequency doesn't 
> >mean that they are the same signals.  Signals have many components, 
> >including frequency & amplitude.
> 
> Don't forget power.
> 
> Early RADAR technicians found out the cooking capabilities of microwave
> radiation when working near powerful military RADAR antennae -- it cooked
> them from the inside out.
> 
> FWIW:  My introduction to computers was in my first job after graduating
> from Johns Hopkins as a Jr. E.E. at Bendix Radio.  I was working on the
> AN/FPS-85 SPADAT RADAR, and my introduction to programming was being handed
> a deck of FORTRAN cards that would compile and print something on the
> Bendix G-20 computer, a copy of McGracken's FORTRAN manual, and was told to
> get the program working.
> 
> I have beaten RADAR tickets by referencing this experience and pointing out
> that the RADAR cross-section of the big truck behind me was what the cop
> was reading, not my father's Aston Martin DB-2 Vantage drop-head coupe :-).
> 
> Bill
> --
I think Mt. Wilson near L.A. is where all of the County & commercial RF
is located.  Any way, where ever it is, a friend told me that techs have
to wear chain-mail suits with micro-wave oven type face plated to keep
from getting burned up when working on the towers and equipment up
there.  I don't know how far they are located from the Observatory up
there? 
Bob