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Writer's pictureSafer EMF

Why newer modems still emit EMF with WiFi off

Updated: Aug 26

In the last few years, manufacturers have installed many more antennas in nbn compatible modems. Each one of these antennas is capable of emitting significant levels of radio-frequency (RFR) wireless radiation EMF's.


Often, simply turning off the WiFi no longer stops the modem from emitting wireless radiation, because all the other antennas are still on.


More antennas in modems


Newer release nbn compatible modems may include one, some or all of these wireless radiation emitting antennas:


  1. 2.4 GHz WiFi

  2. 5GHz WiFi

  3. 3G/4G/5G backup

  4. Mesh

  5. DECT

  6. Bluetooth

  7. Zigbee



TP-Link One Mesh Logo
NetComm Cloud Mesh Logo


If you are trying to reduce your exposure to wireless radiation from your modem we recommend the following:

  • If you are using ethernet cables and wish to have a low EMF radiation free home or work space always, you will want to ensure you have disabled all of these antennas

  • If you are turning your WiFi off at night by turning the modem off at the power point you will want to ensure only the 2.4GHZ and/or 5GHz antennas are active during the day, or when in use, and the other 5 or 6 antennas are disabled

  • If you are turning your WiFi off at night, using the WiFi off button, you will want to disable all of these antennas at night and check the WiFi off button really does disable the WiFi antennas (sometimes it doesn't!)

  • If you like to leave your WiFi on always you may want to reduce your exposure to the wireless radiation by ensuring only the 2.4GHZ and/or 5GHz antennas are active and the other 5 or 6 antennas are disabled


Check if your modem is emitting wireless radiation


The fastest and most effective way to know if your modem is emitting wireless radiation is to hire, buy or borrow an RF-EMF meter and measure the levels. Safer EMF hires and sells EMF meters Australia-wide including these meters which all measure wireless radiation:







Another way to check if wireless radiation is emitting from your modem is to look for these antennas on your wireless device when you try to connect to WiFi. Look for WiFi connections labelled 3G, 4G, Mesh or some other unusual option. It could be your neighbours or another device in your home, but you can rule that out by switching the modem off at the wall and any other devices that might be emitting. If it disappears when you turn these off, it is most likely emitting from an antenna in your modem.


Next, you might like to search online for product specifications for your modem to identify the antennas that might be emitting in your modem.


Lastly, you can log in to your modem admin interface to find options that could be disabled. If you are unsure about how to do this you might like to call your internet service provider and ask them if they can see any antennas that might be emitting, Note that most ISP helpdesk staff are not specifically trained to disable antennas, so we recommend preparing yourself with patience and some knowledge about the antennas that could be emitting in your modem before calling.


Safer EMF offers online consultations to help clients identify and disable as many antennas as possible. We can guide you to do it yourself, support you to ask your internet service provider to do this or with your permission we can remotely take control of your device to identify and disable the antennas for you.



Disabling the antennas


Firstly look for any buttons on the outside of the modem which might disable an antenna and press those until the light goes off.


Next, look for the location of any externally accessible 3G, 4G or 5G sim cards. If you find one pop or pull the sim card out and store it away. You might want to use it one day if there is ever an nbn outage.


3G, 4G, 5G sim card slots on Telstra modems
3G, 4G, 5G sim card slots on Telstra Modems

Then, login to your modem admin interface to find options for antennas that could be turned off. If you are unsure about how to do this you might like to call your internet service provider and ask them if they can do this for you. Alternatively, you can book an online consultation with Safer EMF and we can guide you to do it yourself, support you to ask your internet service provider to do this or with your permission we can remotely take control of your device to identify and disable the antennas for you.


Unfortunately, turning off an antenna button or antenna functionality in the admin interface does not always ensure the antenna will stop emitting wireless radiation, it might only disable the connection to that antenna.


For some modems it is not possible to stop wireless radiation emitting from all of the antennas and the only solution is to replace or shield the modem. Book an online consultation with Safer EMF and we can advise which modem will be best suited to your needs and can express post a pre-configured low or no EMF modem to you. Safer EMF can also suggest a range of solutions including shielding, to reduce or remove the levels of wireless radiation.










Double-check with an RF-EMF meter


When you've completed all the recommended steps to disable antennas, replace or shield your modem you should always double-check that the modem is not still emitting high levels of RF-EMF. The fastest and most effective way to know if you modem is emitting wireless radiation is to hire, buy or borrow an RF-EMF meter and measure the levels. Safer EMF hires and sells EMF meters Australia-wide. If you live in the Gold Coast region we can come onsite and do all this for you




Client stories


Mary consulted Safer EMF because her modem was emitting wireless radiation although her ISP assured her many times that the WiFi was off and no other antennas could be emitting. Mary owned an RF-EMF meter so she could measure the radiation emitting from the modem. Mary was considering options to shield her modem. We emailed Mary details of the steps required to disable the Mesh in her model of modem, she called her ISP and walked them through the process. Mary remeasured and the wireless radiation was gone. No shielding is required.


Thanks Safer EMF.

I rang and walked them through the steps you suggested and SUCCESS!!

Regards Mary



Stay Safe


Safer EMF




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