In our increasingly connected world, we’re surrounded by an invisible form of pollution that most people never think about: Radio Frequency (RF) pollution.
This pollution is often self inflicted and leads to: poor internet speeds, shortened battery life, health impacts, environmental impacts and interference with sensitive devices.
AI generated. The idea is that RF emitting sources are all around us.
Understanding the RF sources
Radio Frequency radiations can be emitted by analog devices like radio or TV transmitters or digital devices like Phones, Tablets and all kinds of so called “smart” devices in the home.
The digital signals are more disruptive as they emit in bursts / spikes of high power instead of continuous low power emissions.
Digital RF Sources
- Cell phones and cell towers (700 MHz - 6 GHz and way up for millimeter wave 5G)
- WiFi routers (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz for WiFi 6E and WiFi 7)
- WiFi devices (2.4 - 6 GHz)
- Tablets
- Phones
- Smart Speakers / Assistants
- WiFi doorbells and ringers
- WiFi security cameras
- Robot Vaccum cleaners
- Connected Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers
- all other IoT devices that call themselves “smart” or “connected” (but are, most of the time, pretty “dumb” and “poorly connected”)
- Bluetooth devices (2.4 GHz)
- Wireless headphones
- Wireless speakers
- Non-infrared remote controls (like Apple TV, many modern TVs)
- Wireless game controllers
- 433 MHz and 968 MHz band devices
- Weather stations
- Garage door remotes
Analog RF Sources
- Microwave ovens (2.45 GHz)
- Radio broadcasts (500 kHz - 108 MHz)
- TV broadcasts (54-88 MHz VHF, 174-216 MHz UHF)
Note that these radio and TV broadcasts are now turning digital. They reuse the same frequencies but the nature of the signal is different.
Other EMF Sources
- Power lines (50-60 Hz)
- Electric appliances (50-60 Hz)
- Computer monitors (scanning frequencies 30-120 Hz; 15 kHz-60kHz)
- Solar panel inverters (50-60 Hz)
These lower frequency radiation sources are EMF (Electro Magnetic Frequencies) sources but are not typically included in what we call the RF spectrum (which ranges from 3 kHz to 300 GHz.)