Is 5G Technology Really A Health Risk?

[kedo1981]

I doubt that 5G fries your brain but one thing it does is interfere with the weather radar that local metrologists use too scan for storms.
We just barely dodged the tornados last night so anything that would mess that up is not a smart technology
early warnings saved a bunch of people
The 5 gigahertz band is also the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that turbulent air masses emit. So the weather radar will suffer lots of inference.
Hey let's all have speed data downloads and facetime and set weather prediction back 50 years

 

[Dr.Sid]

Good point.

Just little detail, the air masses don't really emit any EM radiation. Meteorological radar works like any other radar, by transmitting the energy, and listening for reflected energy. In this case, it's energy reflected from water droplets, not even air itself.

The interference has been problem for years. The sources are typically long range wireless links, and lately also local WiFi hotspots. But those have marginal powers, compared to cell towers.
Still, frequency band usage its regulated and planed. If 5G is green-lit, it will be educated decision, I'm sure.

 

[casebro]

I doubt that 5G fries your brain but one thing it does is interfere with the weather radar that local metrologists use too scan for storms.
We just barely dodged the tornados last night so anything that would mess that up is not a smart technology
early warnings saved a bunch of people
The 5 gigahertz band is also the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that turbulent air masses emit. So the weather radar will suffer lots of inference.
Hey let's all have speed data downloads and facetime and set weather prediction back 50 years

5G merely uses a wider band, 400mhz wide vs 100 for the older Gs. It's in the same range as cell phones- and digital TV. Some TV stations had to change their frequencies. So, If TV didn't interfere with weather radar, neither will 5G. And if digital TV didn't fry your brains, neither will 5G.

 

[Roger Ramjets]

5G merely uses a wider band, 400mhz wide vs 100 for the older Gs. It's in the same range as cell phones- and digital TV. Some TV stations had to change their frequencies. So, If TV didn't interfere with weather radar, neither will 5G. And if digital TV didn't fry your brains, neither will 5G.

Well actually... TV may indeed fry you brains - but not with microwaves.

TV Is Bad for Your Brain

In the study, researchers looked at the TV viewing habits of more than 3,200 people, who were 25 years old, on average, at the start of the study. The people in the study who watched more than 3 hours of TV per day on average over the next 25 years were more likely to perform poorly on certain cognitive tests, compared with people who watched little TV, the researchers found.

But what does this have to do with 5G?

How 5G will change home internet and TV

This means you won’t need to run a cable throughout your home to each TV, since you won’t be using cable boxes to get your TV content. No more drilling through walls. No more waiting for the cable guy.

A TV in every room means - more brain rot! And to maximize the damage:-

Huawei is developing a 5G 8K TV because that's apparently a thing now

 

[Elagabalus]

...Huawei is developing a 5G 8K TV because that's apparently a thing now...

Not to worry, Roger, it won't be sold in the States.

 

[Reality Check]

Not to worry, Roger, it won't be sold in the States.

Unlikely, Elagabalus. Huawei might be prevented from selling 5G telecom technology for vague "national security" reasons in a Trump executive order. Maybe the idea that data sent by 5G would be siphoned off to China. TVs are not telecom equipment so the order cannot be applied.

 

[kedo1981]

5G merely uses a wider band, 400mhz wide vs 100 for the older Gs. It's in the same range as cell phones- and digital TV. Some TV stations had to change their frequencies. So, If TV didn't interfere with weather radar, neither will 5G. And if digital TV didn't fry your brains, neither will 5G.

This guy might have a different perspective

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/5g-technology-could-interfere-with-weather-.

 

[kayle]

what isn't these days.
there were nice days when the only real risk was death.

 

[JeanTate]

Unlikely, Elagabalus. Huawei might be prevented from selling 5G telecom technology for vague "national security" reasons in a Trump executive order. Maybe the idea that data sent by 5G would be siphoned off to China. TVs are not telecom equipment so the order cannot be applied.

Actually, as I read the news, the Trump administration's, um, restrictions would likely make it very difficult for Huawei (or any Chinese company for that matter) to develop any such "leading edge" product (soon anyway). And even if they could, they (or anyone else) likely could not import them into the US.

 

[Elagabalus]

Actually, as I read the news, the Trump administration's, um, restrictions would likely make it very difficult for Huawei (or any Chinese company for that matter) to develop any such "leading edge" product (soon anyway). And even if they could, they (or anyone else) likely could not import them into the US.

To be honest, I just like riling up the Youtubers.




jump in around 1:00 and stay for about 45 seconds or so.

 

[Reality Check]

Actually, as I read the news, the Trump administration's, um, restrictions would likely make it very difficult for Huawei (or any Chinese company for that matter) to develop any such "leading edge" product (soon anyway). And even if they could, they (or anyone else) likely could not import them into the US.

It is a USA executive order that applies to all telecom companies. In theory, Trump has harmed 5G technology throughout the world because telecom companies might not sell 5G at all in case that order is applied to them .

More practically, doubts about being able to enter the USA market will not stop telecom companies from developing and selling 5G technology to the rest of the world. That is one of the problems with the order in news articles - the US may start to lag behind the rest of the world in the latest technology. It is thought that the order is specifically aimed at Huawe and Chinese companies so the other companies may proceed as normal with an added security check if the order is applied fairly. Huawei may have problems with importing their 5G telecoms technology into the USA. There should be no problems with any Huawei non-telecoms technology. The executive order is a ban on USA companies from importing any telecommunications equipment that the secretary of Commerce declares to be a national security risk. A TV is not telecommunications equipment. It should be very unlikely and a bit ludicrous to declare a TV to be a national security risk.

Executive Order on Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain

the transaction involves information and communications technology or services designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied, by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary;
...
b)the term “foreign adversary” means any foreign government or foreign non-government person engaged in a long‑term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of United States persons;

However, Huawei "pulled out of the U.S. consumer market in 2018, after these concerns affected the ability to market their consumer products there" so Huawei is likely to chose not to market their new TV in the USA.

 

[JeanTate]

Thanks for this.

It is a USA executive order that applies to all telecom companies. In theory, Trump has harmed 5G technology throughout the world because telecom companies might not sell 5G at all in case that order is applied to them .

More practically, doubts about being able to enter the USA market will not stop telecom companies from developing and selling 5G technology to the rest of the world.

As I read reliable reports (from Ars Technica, for example), it's ... rather more complicated. For example, to the extent that Huawei (for example) might want to sell 5G stuff (network equipment or handsets) in the EU, for example, they will be severely limited because that stuff needs to have chips made by US (or even UK - ARM - or Singaporean or Taiwanese) companies in it, and those companies will not sell to Huawei.

That is one of the problems with the order in news articles - the US may start to lag behind the rest of the world in the latest technology.

Cutting off your nose to spite your face; yes, quite a lot people in "the tech sector" here in the US are rather less than happy with the Trump administration for just this reason (incidentally, the US lost the lead when it failed to unequivocally embrace GSM, leading (indirectly) to the demise of Lucent and the shrinking of Motorola).

It is thought that the order is specifically aimed at Huawe and Chinese companies so the other companies may proceed as normal with an added security check if the order is applied fairly.

(my hilite)

Aye, there's the rub.

Huawei may have problems with importing their 5G telecoms technology into the USA. There should be no problems with any Huawei non-telecoms technology. The executive order is a ban on USA companies from importing any telecommunications equipment that the secretary of Commerce declares to be a national security risk. A TV is not telecommunications equipment. It should be very unlikely and a bit ludicrous to declare a TV to be a national security risk.

Executive Order on Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain

Except for the fact that modern "consumer electronics products" contain lots and lots of chips. From many suppliers.

However, Huawei "pulled out of the U.S. consumer market in 2018, after these concerns affected the ability to market their consumer products there" so Huawei is likely to chose not to market their new TV in the USA.

Indeed.

 

[Reality Check]

So, If TV didn't interfere with weather radar, neither will 5G.

TV and weather radar use quite separate parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. TV bands end before 1 GHz. Radar bands are separate from TV bands. Weather radar tends to use C (> 4 GHz) and higher bands.

The issue with 5G is that some proposed 5G bands are next to some bands used for weather radar. There is "bleed over" from adjacent bands. There is a possibility of unacceptable bleed over from 5G communication bands to the weather radar bands. That will led to degradation of the signals or even lost signals. That is not good for timely weather results. The solution could be simply that the FCC does not sell rights to those possibly interfering bands. Another approach would be to monitor the interference and shut down any 5G bands that get close to interference limits.

 

[casebro]

Flipping channels this after noon I caught a blurb like "only applies to products sold to the Gov.". Hence the 'security' concerns.

But where do you draw the line? Any cell tower transmission equipment just might carry pentagon comms...

 

[Reality Check]

As I read reliable reports (from Ars Technica, for example), it's ... rather more complicated. For example, to the extent that Huawei (for example) might want to sell 5G stuff (network equipment or handsets) in the EU, for example, they will be severely limited because that stuff needs to have chips made by US (or even UK - ARM - or Singaporean or Taiwanese) companies in it, and those companies will not sell to Huawei.

Perhaps a source would be good. I have found
ARM is the latest partner to shun Huawei, so how will it design chips?
This looks like an overreaction from ARM, maybe thinking that the executive order is a ban on all Huawei products. The order gives the Secretary of Commerce the power to ban telecom products from a company because of "national security risks". There may never be a ban an any Huawei product. Any ban would probably be not be on smartphones since it is a stretch to define them as telecom technology.

On the other hand, read the vagueness in Executive Order on Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain

(c)the term “information and communications technology or services” means any hardware, software, or other product or service primarily intended to fulfill or enable the function of information or data processing, storage, retrieval, or communication by electronic means, including transmission, storage, and display;

Does this include TV remote devices which transmit data by electronic means ? What about PCs that transmit data by electronic means even when not connected to the internet? Home WiFi devices? Hard drives?
If Huawei write a word processing program could that be banned? What about a messaging app?
Just about every electronic device today transmits or stores or displays data electronically, e.g. Internet of things. Ditto for software.
The other half of the vagueness equation is whether the product "poses an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons". Taken to an absurd limit: if Trump decides his made in China iPhone was insecure, could they be banned?

A reasonable interpretation for a federal executive order would be software or hardware involved in national scale transmission, storage, and display of electronic data which is has known security risks across the nation to make the risk unacceptable. That seems to be what the news articles are about - telecoms technology. Whether the Trump administration will simply declare the risk unacceptable because it is Huawei remains to be seen.

 

[JeanTate]

Again, thanks for this.

Perhaps a source would be good. I have found
ARM is the latest partner to shun Huawei, so how will it design chips?
This looks like an overreaction from ARM, maybe thinking that the executive order is a ban on all Huawei products. The order gives the Secretary of Commerce the power to ban telecom products from a company because of "national security risks". There may never be a ban an any Huawei product. Any ban would probably be not be on smartphones since it is a stretch to define them as telecom technology.

On the other hand, read the vagueness in Executive Order on Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain

Does this include TV remote devices which transmit data by electronic means ? What about PCs that transmit data by electronic means even when not connected to the internet? Home WiFi devices? Hard drives?
If Huawei write a word processing program could that be banned? What about a messaging app?
Just about every electronic device today transmits or stores or displays data electronically, e.g. Internet of things. Ditto for software.
The other half of the vagueness equation is whether the product "poses an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons". Taken to an absurd limit: if Trump decides his made in China iPhone was insecure, could they be banned?

A reasonable interpretation for a federal executive order would be software or hardware involved in national scale transmission, storage, and display of electronic data which is has known security risks across the nation to make the risk unacceptable. That seems to be what the news articles are about - telecoms technology. Whether the Trump administration will simply declare the risk unacceptable because it is Huawei remains to be seen.

Perhaps we could move to a different board, to continue discussing this? We've strayed rather a long way from what health risk 5G poses (if any).

 

[Hellbound]

5G poses the same health risks as other cell phone technologies, and I'm ashamed to see skeptics trying to push these under the rug. The list of risks is huge:

1. Texting while driving
2. Walking into traffic while staring at Candy Crush on the phone
3. Inciting murder while blocking the line at the fast food place while you just finish up that "quick text"

There are hundreds more...

 

[Reality Check]

Perhaps we could move to a different board, to continue discussing this?

I am not that interested in the politics behind a possible ban on Huawei 5G telecom products. A couple of posts here clarifying what is happening is enough.

 

[bruto]

Somehow I picture a person protesting the hazards of 5G, furiously posting to the internet on his wireless laptop.

 

[Myriad]

My 11-year-old MacBook is, for some reason, 5G capable. Now that I have a wifi router that's also 5G capable, I can choose between 5G and, um, not 5G.

The only difference I can tell is that with not 5G, the wifi still works in the bathroom. With 5G, it doesn't. Clearly, we desperately need this revolutionary technology!