Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:7940 rec.ham-radio:13537 Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!att!cbnewsm!mhgki!rma From: rma@mhgki.ATT.COM (atkins, robert m) Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.ham-radio Subject: Re: Microwave oven output Summary: don't worry about the neighbors worry about yourself Keywords: microwave oven Message-ID: <4637@cbnewsm.ATT.COM> Date: 26 Sep 89 17:29:46 GMT References: <2410@radio.oakhill.UUCP> <346@foobar.hf.intel.com> <2427@ucsfcca.ucsf.edu> Sender: nntp@cbnewsm.ATT.COM Reply-To: rma@mhgki.ATT.COM Distribution: na Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories,MH,NJ Lines: 27 In article <2427@ucsfcca.ucsf.edu>, jst@cca.ucsf.edu (Joe Stong) writes: > In article <346@foobar.hf.intel.com> jim@foobar.UUCP (Jim Garver) writes: > > >Better yet, convert that thing to a high power FM 2.5 Ghz transmitter and > >nuke the neighborhood! > > I hope there was an intended smiley here. Eeeeeek! > > Someone doing this would give local neighbors cancer and cataracts! Anyone comtemplating converting a microwave oven into a high power transmitter should have more worries about his own health than his neighbors. In the far field (say 100ft) of a 10 degreee beamwidth antenna (several foot dish) running 500W of rf power the field strength would be less than 0.5mW/sq.cm. This is (I believe) within recommended exposure limits and would pose no health threats (though I wouldn't want to spend 24hrs a day, 365 days a year in such an environment). More of a problem would be stray rf in the shack. If anyone is contemplating this conversion (and yes, it can be done) they had better know what they are doing and have some kind of rf field strength monitor around. There is no doubt that exposure to high levels of microwave energy can cause cataracts. The evidence for inducing cancers is somewhat less certain, but its not something I would want to completely ignore. Be Careful. Microwaves are quite friendly if you know how to treat them right, but they can bite if you don't. Bob Atkins KA1GT