FileSaveAs UK Forum - Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub

april

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Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub
May 23^rd, 2007 at 7:54pm

Hi

Do you know how to disable the wireless signal on the BT HomeHub? I am thinking of disabling this on the hub because I recently heard of a health/safety issue with having the signal on all the time.

Because I haven't had that much luck with a decent wireless signal (ie. without intermittently randonmly disconnecting itself), I don't mind switching it off and going back to ethernet. I plan to only switch wireless on if absolutely required. Roll Eyes

Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you.
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Jarviser

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Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub
Reply #1 - May 23^rd, 2007 at 9:24pm

See my reply to drnhdg. If you are really worried buy a voyager 205 from ebay instead of the HH, but this is all piffle put about by anally retentive hypochondriac journalists who daren't go to really dangerous places like Iraq, so they go to school computer labs and start whining. The levels in a wifi hotspot (pubs, cafes) are 300 times less output than government max safe levels, and the HH is puny in comparison to a commercial hotspot.
By the way I don't think that disabling the wireless interface will actually stop it transmitting. I may be wrong. Could take off the aerial.

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Bramshot

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Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub
Reply #2 - May 25^th, 2007 at 2:20pm

Add to that the fact that he hub is also a DECT phone hub and uses wireless (separate to or combined in some way with the wireless networking signal) to communicate with the hub phone.

I saw the programme too. It was really nothing but a load of 'what if's'. No-one appears to be able to prove that there's a problem (or isn't) and it takes a rare scientist to aboslutely confirm or deny anything without the proof. Some countries seem to be more timid when setting their safe levels than we are, but I wonder how the signal levels compare with ordinary broadcast stuff. The frequency of this comms technology is much higher than 'ordinary' radio waves and so is very line of sight dependent (for reception) - that's why there needs to be so many low power transmitter / recievers around, but I should think that the overall 'blanket' of signal s probably little different to the TV and radio.

The frequency gives rise to some concern - mainly because at certain frequencies you can vibrate water molecules and heat them up (aka your microwave oven). I suspect more power probably leaks from that than emanates from your home hub.

But I can't be sure - DOH!

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Jarviser Guru Offline Posts: 3779	Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub Reply #3 - May 28^th, 2007 at 7:21pm I could have done with my water molecules warming up over this weekend!
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Steve Smith Newbie Offline Watch this space Posts: 2	Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub Reply #4 - Jun 2^nd, 2007 at 12:28pm My partner's concerned about the health effects: regardless of the science, can anyone answer the point raised "By the way I don't think that disabling the wireless interface will actually stop it transmitting. I may be wrong. Could take off the aerial. " Thanks, Steve
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Jarviser

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Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub
Reply #5 - Jun 2^nd, 2007 at 9:50pm

That was my comment. I meant that if you disable the wireless interface to the PC, it may still transmit radio waves to communicate with the BT1010 hub phone which has similar range. If you are really worried, get a non transmitting modem like the BT 220V for a few pounds off eBay, and use a wired phone.

And disregarding the science is not in my nature. Science says 600 times the magnetic waves given off by a commercial wifi hotspot is still harmless to organic life. It's probably done by bombarding lab rats with radio waves til they fry, and I believe research results empirically obtained over the emotional scaremongering of tabloid TV journalists any day.

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« Last Edit: Jun 3^rd, 2007 at 10:00am by Jarviser »

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Bramshot Guru Offline Watch this space Posts: 3196	Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub Reply #6 - Jun 3^rd, 2007 at 3:42pm Not even sure if the aeriel comes off?
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Jarviser Guru Offline Posts: 3779	Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub Reply #7 - Jun 3^rd, 2007 at 6:00pm If you slip over a 1 metre length of steel pipe and pull rearwards it will probably come off! That's a JOKE by the way, Steve....
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Steve Smith Newbie Offline Watch this space Posts: 2	Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub Reply #8 - Jun 4^th, 2007 at 9:47pm oops....
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Chris_K Newbie Offline Watch this space Posts: 2	Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub Reply #9 - Jun 18^th, 2007 at 6:29pm Like Steve I'm not interested in hearing how safe/unsafe wi-fi may/may not be. All I want to know is if anyone can answer the point - if the wireless interface is disabled, does the hub still transmit radio waves or not? Chris
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Bramshot Guru Offline Watch this space Posts: 3196	Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub Reply #10 - Jun 18^th, 2007 at 7:04pm Yes it does, for the hub phone to connect, same as any other cordless digital (i.e. DECT) phone.
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Chris_K Newbie Offline Watch this space Posts: 2	Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub Reply #11 - Jun 19^th, 2007 at 10:53am Thanks for the reply, Bramshot. I take it from what you say, that it will continue to transmit in this way even if no hub phone exists and the only phone in use is an ordinary corded phone connected to the socket on the back, or indeed if there is no phone at all. Is this correct? Chris
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Bramshot

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Re: Disable wireless on the BTHome Hub
Reply #12 - Jun 19^th, 2007 at 5:47pm

I am not sure if it will transmit if there is no hub phone registered to the hub, but as power saving is not a priority for the hub, I wouldn't be surprised if it kept a line open.

If, under telephones in the hub manager you set the socket only to ring for both broadband and landline calls, then there is no reason for the hub phone to be active and it MAY turn off. But I don't know for sure.

Later... Silly me - I just tried it on mine and the hub phone remains connected. Still, if the hub phone wasn't registered - who knows. It's the old 'does the fridge light go off with the door closed?' routine.

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