Why does my microwave knockout my wireless signal?

Question

Happens everytime, and sometimes takes an hour to get it back.

Answer 1

because your cell phone sends out radio waves and your microwave sends out microwaves and the microwaves block out radio waves

Answer 2

Because 1000 Watts trumps 500 milli-watts at nearly the same frequency.  Time to inspect / clean / repair the door of the microwave - sounds like RF is leaking out.

Answer 3

microwave runs at 2.3ghz and a wireless network operates at 2.4ghz.  Since they are so close, they often interfere.  Same with a 2.4ghz phone.  When I am on the portable, it kills my internet connection.

However, I don't understand why it take an hour after you use the microwave.  Once you stop using it, you should be able to reconnect.  Maybe your system is not retrying once it fails...maybe it retries every hour.  I would check that.  Either that or do you live in an apartment?  Maybe your neighbours cordless phone or his microwave is affecting the signal.

Answer 4

EMI, electromagnetic interference.  Your microwave is a huge  source of very high frequency EM radiation.  Cell phones are fancy networked two-way radios.  Radio waves are EM  in nature as well.  The FCC regulates how much emission various electronic devices such as MW ovens can have, but you can't stop it all.  I don't have a clue why it would kill your phone for an hour, though.