Why does my microwave interfere with my satellite radio signal?

Factual Questions
1

Every time I fire up the microwave, my satellite radio cuts out. Sometimes it’ll come back on for a few seconds while microwave is on, but always cuts back out and won’t get back to normal until a few seconds after microwave is done.

Are there loose microwaves flying around?

2

How old is the oven? It sure sounds like it’s leaking enough microwave energy to interfere with the satellite, which is also a microwave-range frequency.

One other possibility is that it’s putting out electrical interference on the power line, but that’s usually only something done by motorized applicance like blenders or mixers.

If you can borrow a neighbor’s oven, put it in the same spot as yours and fire it up. If there’s no interference, then you know for sure that your microwave oven is faulty in some way.

3

Microwave is pretty old. It’s the only electrical appliance (we have at least 5 other electrical appliances in the kitchen) that interferes, in fact, it’s the only thing period that interferes.

Should I be worried that I’m getting microwaved? (said kind of jokingly, but also kind of seriously)

4

As previously mentioned, they both work around 2.4GHz so it’s quite likely interference. As to whether your microwave is leaking I believe you can buy testers quite cheaply.

Now the interesting part - designing a self-test for microwave leakage. First I’d position the microwave at various angles to the radio to see if one position causes more interference. If so, lets assume that the screening is less than perfect in one position. To enhance accuracy I’d try to do this in an open area so we can be reasonably sure that interference is caused by line of sight emission, not reflected waves.

Then we need to identify the emissions. I’d consider using containers of water that have reached ambient temp. Place the containers around the microwave and turn it on for a long-ish period. Accurately measure the temp of the water post test. If any are above the norm you may have proven a leak.

Issues:

  1. Need to make sure the microwave isn’t radiantly heating the water (from whatever you have inside whilst it’s energised)
  2. Probably should have a control water sample nearby but screened (Faraday cage) just in case the ambient temp changes.
  3. If it is leaking, this is just exposing you further!

I would be interested to know your findings if you carry this out

tim

5

I will do some experiments this weekend. The only thing I can’t do is reposition the microwave- it’s built in. However, I can reposition the radio, so I’ll do that.

I always try not to stand too close to the microwave anyway, so at least I have that going for me!