Replacing your WiFi with a wired internet connection can significantly reduce your EMF exposure, as well as improve your internet security.
WiFi has become an integral part of our lives, but so has its EMF emissions. And prolonged exposure to those emissions can really deteriorate your health.
Research studies say that daily EMF exposure can cause your body to develop a range of health problems, from minor sleep disorders to chronic diseases like cancer. Visit my “EMF Health Effects” page for more information.
Because of this, it’s important for your health that you distance yourself from your WiFi router’s constant EMF emissions.
But, it’s not that easy.
Once you turn your WiFi router on, it fills your whole home with EMF almost instantly– at the speed of light. And for most of us, turning off the internet forever is not really an option.
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But the good news is, there’s a really simple solution to this problem. Just set up a low-EMF wired internet connection.
Why Should You Use Wired Internet?
Wireless internet has undeniably made our lives easier. It can connect to multiple devices at once, and there are no limitations on what room you can use your devices in.
Obviously, this isn’t the case with wired internet. But, if you follow the instructions in this post, you can remove this limitation, at least to some degree. And most importantly, this will reduce your EMF exposure from your WiFi significantly while you still enjoy the convenience of high-speed internet.
Here’s a list of devices that you can connect to the internet using an ethernet cable:
- Desktop computers
- Stationary laptops
- Gaming consoles
- Smart TVs
- Smart assistants
- Printers
- NAS drives
- Surveillance cameras
- Wireless access points
- Smart speakers
You can even use an ethernet cable to connect your cell phone and tablet to the internet. Simply get a type-C to ethernet or micro-USB to ethernet adapter, depending on your device, and that’s it.
You can now establish a wired connection between your hand-held devices and your WiFi.
Concerns Around Wired Internet
I can understand that many of you reading this may have concerns like:
- Wired internet being hard to set up
- That it’s an old technology
- That changing from WiFi isn’t worth it because it’s less troublesome
And I won’t deny these are valid concerns. Undoubtedly, wireless internet has impressive benefits, and it’s far more convenient than wired internet.
But what you need to understand is that while it’s showering you with the benefits, it’s also showering you with a massive amount of EMF radiation.
And that’s not good for your health.
And about wired internet being an old technology and being really hard to set up, it would surprise you to know that wired internet is actually:
- Faster
- More reliable
- Significantly more secure than WiFi
- And it’s super easy to set up.
Have a look.
Speed
Ethernet cables allow data to travel through a single channel. On the other hand, WiFi uses air to move from point A to B. This makes the travel space for your internet huge, making it easy for other EMFs in the surroundings to interfere with your network. EMF sources include:
- Your neighbor’s WiFi
- Your Bluetooth devices
- Baby monitors
- Walkie-talkies
- Other radios
- And even a microwave oven
These interferences can cause your internet to slow down and become less reliable. Here are some examples of how outside interferences harm your WiFi signal.
Signal dropping
Sometimes, when there’s heavy interference, the router has to try too hard to keep its network consistent. This causes it to completely drop the signal. Although it reacquires the signal very quickly, this can be very irritating if the work you’re doing requires a consistent internet connection (video calls, for example).
Increased latency
The more EMF in the air, the higher your internet’s latency will be. Latency is the time the information from your device takes to reach its destination and receive a pingback.
Decreased speed
And finally, with all the EMF-emitting devices present in your home, your internet speed will not be nearly as much as you pay your provider for.
This isn’t the case with ethernet cables. Instead, the wires in ethernet cables are protected by a foil shield with excellent electrical conductivity.
This prevents outside EMF from interacting with the data transfer inside the cables. You can learn more about how EMF shielding works in my post “EMF Shielding Materials.”
So, in short, ethernet is significantly faster than WiFi, and there’s no getting around that fact.
Security
Security is one of the many things that makes wired internet connections superior to WiFi.
See, you can only access your wired internet connection using the physical cables in your home. And that’s also true for someone trying to access your internet, possibly with malicious intent.
They would have to come to your house physically, unplug the ethernet cable from your device, and connect it to their computer.
But that isn’t the case with WiFi.
A 2.4 GHz band wireless router can have a range of up to 300 ft (92 meters). This makes it easier for hackers to do things like de-authenticate your devices and crack the encryption key to get inside your network remotely.
Now, one might argue that modern WiFi routers use WPA2 encryption, making it impossible for hackers to sneak into your system and steal your data. But in 2017, Mathy Vanhoef found a serious loophole in the WPA2 encryption method.
And to prove this flaw in WiFi security, he created a program called Key Reinstallation Attacks, or KRACKs.
KRACKs can easily bypass the WPA2 security encryption that secures all modern WiFi networks, opening your network to several exploits.
These exploits include reading private information, stealing credit card numbers, and accessing passwords, chat messages, emails, and photos.
Vanhoef developed the KRACKs from a cybersecurity standpoint. But think of how many unsurfaced programs there may be that hackers can use for malicious purposes.
In comparison, performing remote attacks like this is almost impossible if you have a wired internet connection because of the physical barriers.
Low EMF
Hardwiring your internet connection means that the EMF radiation will stay inside the cable unless there are sharp bends and kinks.
In that case, some of the EMF comes out of the ethernet cable, but the amount is nowhere near the EMF levels you face from WiFi.
Switching to a wired internet connection will significantly reduce your EMF exposure. This means that by simply replacing your wireless internet with ethernet cables, you can enjoy high-speed internet without being subjected to the health risks that EMF brings along.
Eliminate Dead Spots Without Extenders
Dead spots are places in your home that don’t get WiFi. These can be incredibly frustrating because one moment, your internet is absolutely fine, and as soon as you step into a dead spot, your internet stops working.
There are many fixes to dead spots, namely:
- Wireless repeaters
- Wireless range extenders (WiFi extenders)
- Wireless network extenders
- MoCA adapters
- WiFi Mesh (or sometimes displayed as Mesh WiFi)
By using these devices, you can extend your WiFi range, allowing you to use your WiFi from anywhere in your home.
The Problem with Range Extenders
WiFi extenders will effectively eliminate dead spots, no doubt. But, as soon as you turn one of these devices on, it will start releasing a considerable amount of extra high-frequency EMF radiation inside your home.
This means WiFi range extenders are essentially more harmful than the WiFi itself.
Check out this amazing article by EMF portal, which discusses the impact of WiFi extenders on your health in-depth.
The best way to combat dead spots without using extenders is to hardwire your internet connection in a way that allows you to use your connection throughout your entire home. More on that later.
Eliminate Dead Spots Without Extenders
Dead spots are places in your home that don’t get WiFi range. It’s incredibly frustrating because one moment, your internet works absolutely fine, and as soon as you step into a dead spot, your internet stops working.
There are many fixes to dead spots, namely:
- Wireless repeaters
- Wireless range extenders (WiFi extenders)
- Wireless network extenders
- MoCA adapters
- WiFi Mesh (or sometimes displayed as Mesh WiFi)
By using these devices, you can extend your WiFi range, and you can use it from anywhere in your home. But, the problem is, as soon as you place one of these devices in your home, the EMF emissions in your home increases heavily. And it becomes more harmful than WiFi itself.
The best way to combat dead spots without using extenders is to hardwire your internet connection in a way that allows you to use your connection throughout your home. More on that later.
Process of Switching to Wired Internet
Switching to a wired connection is just a matter of following a set of precise instructions. And you don’t have to be a tech genius to be able to handle this.
But, in case you aren’t comfortable doing it yourself, you can always hire an expert to make the changes for you.
If you want to give it a go, here’s the simplest and most universal process of switching your WiFi to a wired internet connection.
Get the Equipment
All internet service providers install a modem and a router in your home when you subscribe to their connection.
Now, you need to keep in mind that WiFi routers and modems are two separate devices.
That said, most modern modems come with a router installed inside them. So there’s a high chance that the modem you have in your home is a 2-in-1 device.
To find that out, you can simply contact your service provider. Or you can also find this information on the router’s packaging and the pamphlet card that came with it.
Knowing this is important because a wired internet connection gets internet directly from the modem, and you’ll have to turn off the router.
A simple Google search will tell you exactly how to turn off your router. But don’t turn it off just yet. There are some other things you need to do before switching off your router.
Once you have the complete information about your device, the next step is to get a LAN switch.
LAN Switch
A Local Area Network or LAN interconnects several devices in one physical location (e.g., homes, offices, and other buildings). A LAN switch with its multiple ports helps you connect many devices to a single network source.
To know which LAN switch best fits your needs, go around your home and check how many devices need internet. When you have the count, purchase a switch with that many ports available or a few more just in case.
Suppose you’re setting up a wired connection for an office with many internet users. In that case, there’s also a 40-port version available from TP-link.
Ethernet Cable
While shopping for a LAN switch, don’t forget to grab some ethernet cables because your setup won’t be complete without them.
There are many categories of ethernet cables, commonly identified with the word “CAT” followed by a serial number. Here’s a list:
| Category | Max Speed Transmission | Max Bandwidth |
| CAT 5 | 100 Mbps | 100 MHz |
| CAT 5e | 1,000 Mbps | 100 MHz |
| CAT 6 | 1,000 Mbps | 250 MHz |
| CAT 6a | 10,000 Mbps | 500 MHz |
| CAT 7 | 10,000 Mbps | 600 MHz |
| CAT 7a | 10,000 Mbps | 1,000 MHz |
CAT 5 cables are outdated, and it’s hard to find them in stores nowadays. So, the majority of people have switched to CAT 5e cables. They support speeds up to 1 Gbps and cost less than $10 for a 12 ft cable.
However, if this speed isn’t enough for you, you can go for CAT 6. It supports double the speed of CAT 5e and has a robust barrier of conductive material inside to shield and deflect crosstalk and interference.
CAT 6 costs around $12-$15 for a 12 ft cable. You can find them on eCommerce sites and in local stores like Walmart and Home Depot.
With the ethernet cables purchased, you’re now fully prepped for your setup.
Set It Up
Step 1: Turn on your modem, and ensure that the main cable from your service provider is connected. If you just installed your WiFi and haven’t gone through the setup process, you’ll have to do that first. However, you can skip this step if you’re already using WiFi in your home.
Step 2: Get a short ethernet cable and connect the LAN switch to the modem.
Step 3: Start connecting the remaining cables to the LAN switch and take those cables to the rooms where you have your devices. Note that this process could require drilling through the walls or ceiling if you have multiple levels in your home. You can also tape the cables on the walls or run them alongside the carpet.
Step 4: Once the cables reach the room, simply plug the end of the ethernet cable into your device.
Step 5: Now, turn off the router. This is a crucial step because if you keep your router on, it will keep emitting EMF in your home.
And don’t worry, turning off the router doesn’t turn off your internet.
Some routers have a physical switch that you can toggle to turn off. If your router has that switch, turn it off. However, if yours doesn’t have one, you can simply go to your router admin settings and turn it off from there. For instructions on how to do this, you can refer to the pamphlet that came with the router, or you can do a simple Google search with your router’s name.
Step 6: Now that you have turned off your router, you’re ready to enjoy a much safer wired internet connection.
Measure Your EMF Level
When you switch from WiFi to wired internet, the EMF pollution in your home will go down significantly. But you don’t have to take my word for it. As scholar Suzanne Massie once said, “trust but verify” – see for yourself how much impact this little change has made on your EMF exposure.
You can do this by testing the EMF levels in your home, before and after you turn off your router, using an EMF meter.
I have a free comprehensive guide on my website where you can learn how to use EMF meters and what the numbers mean. It also lists the best reasonably priced EMF meters.
Final Thoughts
Heavy EMF exposure has become an inescapable reality since we don’t have control over most EMF sources surrounding us. Therefore, it’s important that you do whatever you can to make the EMF sources that you do have control over, a bit safer.
But that’s not it. Though EMF is a significant health hazard, it’s not the only risk with modern technology. Experts say that prolonged tech use affects you physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically.
And since we can’t cut modern tech from our lives, the only thing we can do is build a healthier relationship with it. And that happens to be the prime focus of The Healthier Tech Podcast by SYB.
In this podcast, experts from several industries discuss tips and tricks you can use to continue enjoying modern technology without being subjected to the health risks that tag along. So, give it a listen.
