After learning about the hazards of wireless radiation our family has transitioned from wireless to wired in our home environment. It has been a painful process but well worth the effort!
Our family is like most families. We love our technology. Our Wi-Fi used to be on 24 hours a day. This all changed after I “saw” the difference between having Wi-Fi on versus having it off. This image shows the dramatic decrease in radio frequencies (RF) after turning off our Wi-Fi.
This image shows the dramatic decrease in radio frequencies (RF) after turning off our Wi-Fi.
I was determined to minimize our exposure, but daunted by the task. We have four students in the household, and my husband works from home. I rely on the Internet for my health advocacy work.
We began by turning off the router and all internet connectivity at night. We instituted this practice several years ago as a way to set boundaries for our kids without realizing the health benefits.
Our next step was to limit Wi-Fi during the day. We contacted our Internet Service Provider about disconnecting the wireless feature from the router. The initial response from the tech crew at the ISP was, “No, you can’t shut the modem down like that. It has to be on all the time.”
We looked at purchasing a different device that had an on-off switch to the wireless but decided to call again. The new tech guy gave us the steps to disable the wireless through the computer, and it worked like a charm.
The next step was to cord each computer and device. I purchased USB Ethernet Adaptors for each Macbook. (Find the adaptors here) We had a total of four jacks in the house with six users, and a box where the phone and internet lines came together. Unfortunately, these were not near the room where the internet connection entered the house. So we ran a long Ethernet cable to one jack upstairs and connected the other jacks through a series of switches. Through trial and error, we corded everyone in the home.
As for our devices, we eventually corded iPods, iPads, and iPhones. See more here in my post on connecting our devices.
What about all the cords?
I miss the ease of WiFi. We have cords running into rooms that are not only an eyesore but a potential tripping hazard. I have found the flat Ethernet cords to be less cumbersome than round cables. Thankfully, it’s easy to put the cords away when necessary.
Overall, the family has adjusted well to the changes. I have noticed a difference in my ability to focus, and we seem far less dependent on technology. The kids still have access to their friends, and I have peace of mind knowing we’re doing our best to minimize our exposure to potentially harmful levels of wireless radiation.
See more about our family’s journey in my blog post From Wireless to Wired – Our Family’s Journey.
Andrea Fabry is a former journalist, certified building biology practitioner, and the mother of nine children. She is the founder of momsAWARE, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues. Her journey began in 2008 when a serious toxic mold exposure compromised her family’s health. Since then, she has discovered a passion for non-toxic living and enjoys educating and empowering others. She is the author of Is Your House Making You Sick? A Beginner’s Guide to Toxic Mold.
Andrea currently resides in Vail, AZ with her husband, Chris and four of their children. Keep up with Andrea by following her blog It Takes Time.
