Im REALLY thick :-) Can someone explain whether this router is safe?

[kizzie]

Ive got broadband from tiscali/talktalk and originally our PC was just plugged into the little blue box they sent us (you can see how technical I am .

Now ive also got a laptop from work which i use in another room and work have provided and set up a netgear 54 mbps wireless ADSL2 and modem reuter (thats what it says on the side anyway!!

It isnt wireless though - theres one thing plugged in in one room where the main socket is and then in the second room there is a second netgear plug which seems to link the tow up.

Anyway - ive always been concerned (neurotic ) about the safety aspects of broadband/wireless because of DC. I asked our engineer and he just said 'nothing to worry about' but then he likes bunjee jumping so didnt reassure me too much?

I do get lots of pins and needles in hands when use the laptop for any length of time but then that could be down to my shocking typing.

Does anyone know if there are any safety concerns with this equipment even though its not technically wireless.

thank you!!

Your laptop is connected wirelessly to the router. This is what the term wireless means. There will always be some wires and electrical supply.

I don't think anyone is 100% sure about the efffects of the wireless signal. But if there is a problem then nearly everyone in the country especialy MNS will be in trouble.
I live in a town house and can detect the wireless signal of 6 houses so even if I did not have it my self it would not make any difference.

I wouldn't worry about it.

When work provided the Netgear I assume that has a separate phone line.

If there's a cable from the laptop to the Netgear then it could be using either the cable or wireless. Since it is a setup from work, there are limits on what I'd suggest for you to do. A cable (if convenient) would allow for wireless to be disabled on both laptop and router, and allow you some peace of mind too.

With respect to pins and needles, I cannot really answer - personally I don't really like laptop keyboards (a) because many older laptops need to have too many functions per key - wider models these days now at least have the number-pad separate, (b) because I don't like having my wrists on the laptop (now wondering if the nerves in your hands are under any pressure) and (c) because I prefer a full-size keyboard after 30 years of using them.

I have plugged in a full size USB keyboard - it means I can position the laptop for best visibilty and place mouse and keyboard away from the laptop (also means that the cat can lie between the keyboard and laptop and not be blocking the screen, but get a stroke from me now and then as she is getting a bit older and slightly frail).

I've just got myself one of these, which really helps with wrist pains (my work paid for it for me, as I work with computers all the time) With me it's just one wrist as I use the mouse a lot more than the keyboard, but you can wear two if you need to.

Wi-Fi is like Mobile phones and TV a low level microwave band, as far as I know there has never been a study into the safety of them.

however like mobile phones it is not worth not using it yourself due to safety fears as the transmissions cover a wide distance I can pick up 11 peoples Wi-Fi signals in my flat, so your one will do nothing to you it will all be in your mind.

Unless your router strength is set too high but as you have a frog box that will not be an issue (unlike the one I have sitting in a bag on the floor which is a big metal thing designed for industrial use).

thank you so much for all the answers and for explaining it to me. (Because I have to plug the laptop into the extra router socket to be able to log on i had assumed that this wasnt wireless )

Thankyou!

There's a tiny chance wireless is "on" - possibly on both laptop and Netgear, but seems unlikely.

Maybe the business decided it was more secure not to use wireless - if it is there, someone could try to hack in - if it is 'off' then no-one outside knows the router is active on the line.