Protect Your Family from EMF Pollution

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Why Do Fiber Optic Installations Increase Electrical Sensitivity?

I have received dozens of emails from people in several countries who report an increase in, or initial onset of, electrical sensitivity symptoms when high-speed fiber optic internet is installed in their neighborhood. How could this be? Isn’t wired fiber optic internet, which uses light to transmit large amounts of data at incredibly high speeds, supposed to be safer and healthier for everyone?

The issue is that fiber optic internet service does not only use light to transmit data. The high-speed fiber optic data must be converted to electrical signals before the data can be transmitted to the home on the existing copper cable or phone line DSL. Those electrical signals, which carry our internet data, are not inherently problematic because they are in a very narrow frequency range and don’t typically radiate from the cable or phone lines.

However, there can be a significant problem with the high-speed fiber optic converters out at the street (or in the home with some newer fiber systems) that create these electrical data signals. This is because the converters are not designed with low-EMI emissions in mind. Thus, their power supplies and operation can generate high amounts of wide-spectrum EMI (electromagnetic interference). This inadvertent EMI then piggybacks on the copper cable and phone lines into our homes where it can radiate from every copper wire. This EMI from the fiber optic infrastructure is a primary reason why electrical sensitivity is increasing when high-speed internet is installed in our communities.

Fortunately, there are solutions to this issue. Here are a few:

1.)  If electrical sensitivity symptoms increase all of a sudden with a new internet provider (for example, switching from Comcast Xfinity to AT&T), go back to your original provider right away. There is likely an EMI issue with their fiber optic converters that is impacting your home. I have seen several people get better by switching back to their original internet providers (this is with all wireless disabled).

2.)  Continue internet service with a non-fiber optic provider as long as possible. Many communities have multiple internet service companies to choose from. Consider this EMI issue when choosing your service.

3.)  Select the lowest bandwidth internet package available. This may reduce the EMI transmitted into your home and reduce the EMI created from the modem/router within your home. In most areas, even the most basic package is much faster than you will need to stream movies on Netflix or Amazon. Choose a package at or below 100 Mbps and stay away from 1 or 10 Gbps packages, which will likely add more EMI to your home.

4.)  Disconnect the existing cable and telephone lines in your home from the cable provider. This will prevent EMI from the fiber optic infrastructure from conducting along the cable and telephone lines in your walls. You could still have a data connection brought to your residence, but have it in just one area of your home. You will be able to control the EMF exposures in your home more easily if every copper wire is not radiating EMI.

5.)  Consider filtering the EMI before it comes into your home. Genisco Filters is a company that specializes in this issue. Send me a message for more information on EMI filtering options.

6.)  Use your own low-bandwidth cable modem. The two primary sources of EMI from high-speed internet service are the fiber optic converters at the street and the cable modem within your home. The cable modem can also add EMI to the electrical wiring of your home, so you want this to be clean as possible. Unfortunately, the modem provided by your internet provider will often produce high amounts of EMI, along with WiFi. The non-WiFi modems that seem to work best for electrically sensitive families include the Arris models TM822R, SB6141 and SB6183.

7.)  If you experience increased electrical sensitivity at your computer after high-speed fiber optics are installed in your neighborhood, consider installing your own fiber optic system between your cable modem and computer. This idea may seem counterintuitive, but it will create an EMI barrier between your computer and your internet provider’s system. I will outline how you can easily do this in my next article.

8.)  Consider that the high-speed fiber optic networks being installed in our communities will be used as the backbone for 5G wireless installations. Every cellular antenna on a light or utility pole needs a fiber connection to operate. As award-winning science journalist B. Blake Levitt points out in this article, fiber optic systems can be used as a Trojan horse for 5G installations in our communities. Thus, living in an area without fiber infrastructure can both reduce the EMI coming into your home and prevent you from having a cellular antenna like these installed directly outside your home. I will discuss this aspect of 5G further in an article to be published in October.

While microwave radiation from wireless technology and magnetic & electric fields from electrical wiring are critically important, EMI is equally problematic for human biology. It’s a part of the EMF spectrum that gets very little attention. However, it is a major contributor to electrical sensitivity and poor health. Hopefully this article will help you understand and reduce an important source of EMI in your home – the fiber optic internet infrastructure that is becoming common throughout our communities.

Comments

  1. Thanks Jeromy. This is all getting so complicated and it seems the options are limited. I hope that we can get some legislation passed to help protect people from all of this. I am going to do my part.

    Reply

    • Thanks Jennifer.

      I think that we will eventually have a society where the biological impacts of EMF exposures are considered when equipment is designed. It wouldn’t be that hard to do in the case of EMI emissions. It will take building awareness of this issue, which we are all starting to do.

      Keep up the great work.

      Jeromy

      Reply

      • I wish I shared your optimism Jeromy, the Bible states that money is the root of all evil and seeing there are billions of dollars at stake here, I can’t see any company even the slightest bit concerned with public health as long as their coffers overflow.

        Regards,

        Dave

        Reply

      • Jeromy,

        Nobody has accurate information like you do. Everyone is confused and misled by fiber, solar and corrupted internet.

        I hope you keep your information coming.

        Thank you,

        Christine

        Reply

    • Dear Jeromy,

      Thank you so much for the article. I see!

      Now I am made surer that I did the right thing by getting rid of the fiber optics & 1 Gigabit router and went for a cable internet & a slower modem.

      Thank you so much for your professional advice back then and now also! Even though I still suffer from EHS, which I got after mobile base stations were built around my house, I can now use my computer without getting sick.

      Reply

    • I am so thankful for this information, Jeromy. It was very timely, since Shaw presented the idea of future fibre optic installations for highspeed internet in the Gulf Islands at our Island Trust meeting last month! We believed that fibre optic was a safe option. Not so…I will print this and bring it to our next meeting!

      Reply

      • Hi Maria,

        Fiber can be made safe, it’s just that the current systems can have problems.

        What we need is pure fiber to the home (GPON) with no power backbone (no EMI) and a low-EMI media converter at the home. This would give us internet that is healthy/safe/fast/reliable for the entire society.

        The other issue is whether these fiber networks will be used for the 5G/small cell infrastructure. Local laws need to be put in place that don’t allow this. Otherwise, the fiber networks can be used to radiate the entire community with RF.

        It’s complex and vitally important, but I think we will eventually figure it out.

        Jeromy

        Reply

  3. Thanks for the timely info! I am getting ready to buy a new home. I was trying to choose one with a larger lot, so I can have some distance from my neighbors. However, after reading your article, I have two concerns:

    1) I think I may need to know where the fiber optic cables are buried underground, in case they run through my yard. How do I find out where the underground cables are? Would the phone companies know? There are several phone service providers in the neighborhood, how would I know which one to call?

    2) How do I find out where all the cell towers are in our area? Is there a map somewhere? Also, is there anyway to predict where future towers might be erected?

    Reply

    • Hi Julia,

      It’s not so much of where the cables are located (they are generally out at the street, either on poles or underground). The primary issue is the equipment that is used.

      As you look for a new home, just be aware of the type of telecommunications used. If you can use an older cable network, that should be better.

      As for cell towers, antenna search is good. However, it doesn’t capture most of the newer small 4G DAS/5G antennas. For those, I would use Google Earth to look at the tops of the light/utility poles. Most neighborhoods won’t have those until fiber optics are installed in the community.

      Jeromy

      Reply

    • Julia-
      In Illinois, where I live, if you are a homeowner and planning to do a renovation, you can call a number and they will put flags (different colors for different utilities) to show you where the lines are. Alternatively, there are expensive pieces of equipment than one could buy to do this themselves. For most houses, the lines are at the street, but I once lived in a condo complex and eventually figured out the the Comcast trunk line for the entire community was buried a few feet from where I slept and had major and varying amounts of current running on it.

      Reply

    • I have the same issue buying property in BC and Vancouver Island!! The underground cables are a big unknown. I think that in future it should be part of the seller’s responsibility to keep and provide this critical information. We keep our fridge manuals, but the schematics and the house plans, wiring, plumbing pipes (copper) are all big unknowns. This is crucial for people with EMF and RF sensitivity…

      Reply

  4. Good article and glad you added tips on how to reduce or prevent exposure in your home. Will you be writing a follow-up article that discusses the effects of fiber optic cable in connection with cell towers and small cells? We are seeing a lot of people who are having effects from cell towers and small cells.

    Reply

  5. Thanks for this Jeromy. This is really interesting. I allowed our provider to install fiber optics to our house 4 years ago, prior to getting ill or knowing anything about this. They installed microcells all over the back of our neighborhood where there are utility poles (currently running 4G), but not on our street and above yet as we have underground utilities. They came to my door after I had become ill to ask me to sign permission for them to switch my service to fiber optic. I declined, and hopefully they haven’t done that. Is there a way for me to tell for sure?

    Also, when you say disconnect existing cable and telephone, I am uncertain what that means. We are reliant on our landline, which is in an old fashioned telephone jack. Our cable TV downstairs is via a different provider. Does any of this matter?

    And lastly, will devices like the sine tamer which is installed at the circuit box and designed to reduce dirty electricity reduce the EMI?

    Thank you,

    Dawn

    Reply

    • Hi Dawn,

      Devices like the Sine Tamer won’t necessarily help with this issue. That is more for EMI coming in off the electrical grid.

      With the co-axial cables in your home, I might just disconnect the ones you are not using if you suspect that you have this EMI issue.

      It sounds like your phone line is still part of the older network and shouldn’t be a big issue.

      Jeromy

      Reply

  6. Hi Jeromy,

    To go from hypothesis to reality as to the existence of fields in living space is simple: measure the fields with a meter tuned to the frequency you are concerned about. Use it to trace the source, whether in the street or from your own wiring or devices.

    Why dance around with educated guesses when you just have to turn on a meter and use logic. Besides, it is fun. I have been enjoying the challenge for 31 years.

    Reply

  7. Thank you so much, Jeromy. I had heard about fiber optic causing problems but didn’t fully understand how until you put the pieces together. I have fiber optic internet which I have been happy with, however this prompted me to question whether it could be contributing to my EMF sensitivity. My desktop computer puts out semi-high levels and makes me wonder if the fiber optic is contributing. I have the lowest bandwith and find it to be adequate for my needs. Thanks for addressing this.

    Reply

    • Hi Dennis,

      Just call your internet provider to see what systems they have in your area. It will either be phone line DSL, cable or fiber optic.

      Jeromy

      Reply

  10. Hi, I’m all for getting rid of cell towers and 5G and wifi etc etc but this article is just 100% BS. Get your facts straight and stop fear mongering! Now do I know, I am an EE so I do know a little bit about this stuff.

    Reply

  11. Thank you so much, Jeromy, you are a godsend! I owe my health to the discovery of your website three years ago. Even though I was an expert in botanical medicine and nutrition for 35 years my health was mysteriously deteriorating until I followed your advice and cleared my home of all RF emitters.

    I look for opportunities to send people to your website all the time. Yesterday I was talking with a neighbor for the first time and found out he is an electrical engineer working in the solar industry. I steered our conversation into the electro-smog arena and he mentioned EMI as a concern he was already familiar with. But he did not know about the RF issues so I told him my story and gave him your website. We are going to talk again once he gets up to speed. I offered to loan him my RF detector so he can check his house.

    While recently showing a friend how my RF detector works he removed his wireless hearing aid and placed it on the meter. The meter started flashing red indicating 10x above extreme exposure level! Yikes! We really have to stay on our toes with all the new technologies and keep sharing what we learn. As the great article you shared by Ms. Levitt points out, the powerful profiteers and their government lackeys do not care about us.

    Carlton

    Reply

    • Dear Carlton,

      Grateful to hear the website is helping out and that you have regained your health. Also wonderful that you are sharing this information with your community.

      Keep in touch,

      Jeromy

      Reply

  12. Hi Jeromy,

    I was surprised by your statement that: “Those electrical signals, which carry our internet data, are not inherently problematic because they are in a very narrow frequency range and don’t typically radiate from the cable or phone lines.”

    Unless a cable carrying electrical signals is properly shielded and grounded it by its nature will radiate beyond the cable. Of course, whether that radiation will be harmful for humans depends on various factors.

    Perhaps you want to reword that section to better explain what you mean.

    Thanks,
    Tom

    Reply

    • Tom,

      Thanks for the great feedback.

      When I ran the article by a very knowledgeable EE he explained how both the phone line DSL and cable lines are not effective radiators when they are installed properly. I can send you his very technical explanation if you email me. However, I do stand by what I wrote above in the article. It is the accidental common mode EMI that is coming in from the telecommunications equipment that is the primary issue in this case.

      Jeromy

      Reply

      • Jeromy,

        Yes, please send me the technical explanation (I am assuming you have access to my email address).

        The reason that I wrote initially is that you suggest in so many words that the radiation is zero. But there certainly will be some radiation. Again, whether that radiation will be harmful for humans depends on various factors.

        I think your EE acknowledges my point when he uses phrases such as “are not *effective* radiators” and that “EMI … is the *primary* issue”.

        My only concern is that we speak carefully and correctly, in part so that the critics have even less excuse for dismissing the issue.

        Thank you for responding and for your work in this area,

        Tom

        Reply

      • I use a Cornet ED88Tplus and listen for any sounds on it, even if ever so faint, I use studio headphones. Don’t know about using a radio and what is the difference. But if I get even half a microwatt of HF and some crackling or pulse or repeated signals then there is likely something on the line. Not to confuse with wireless which is thousands of uW/m2

        Reply

  15. Hi Jeromy,

    Thanks for the update.

    In addition to your info, (I do not use wi-fi), I shielded my modem and use a ground plug for the modem cable.

    Big difference with grounding the cable! Also, the music sounds better because there’s no more uhm, buzz etc.

    Reply

  16. If fiber optics comes to your neighborhood, will you be able to notice a difference in the readings on either of the 2 DE meters or would you need an oscilloscope to pick it up? It was nice meeting you at the conference last week, looking forward to October’s article!

    Reply

    • Dear Mieke,

      Indeed, wonderful to meet you in person as well!

      The differential mode meters (Stetzer / Line EMI) won’t pick this up. A spectrum analyzer would, along with an older AM radio, which can pick up wide spectrum common mode EMI from about 500 KHz to 2 MHz. See the videos I have of this in the comments above.

      My best,

      Jeromy

      Reply

  17. Our community is installing fiber optics with the hopes it will keep 5G out. In fact it is already at our property line and will be connected to my house by December. We are on two acres with underground utilities. They just need to run it from the pole outside our gate and underneath the ground to our home. Because this is happening quickly, I don’t know if I can wait for your other blog posts. Are there any items that must be addressed at the time of installation? Or is easy to address them at a later date, when I’ve gotten up the learning curve? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Dear Renate,

      I know several ES people who have the option to connect to a fiber optic provider, but have held off for now. The have kept their phone line DSL or cable internet connections until they know more about the new system. If you are electrically sensitive, you may want to see if you are affected in other homes in your neighborhood. This will tell you if there is something with the fiber optic system that doesn’t work for you. It could also not affect you at all. It seems to be dependent on the equipment used by the internet providers, along with multiple other factors including the home and the individual.

      Jeromy

      Reply

      • Thanks for responding. I really need the higher speed for my home office where I teach classes via video teleconferencing. I’m often kicked out with my current DSL line which is affecting my business.

        I’m not able to feel WiFi or smart meters. But do feel dirty electricity in the form of fluorescent lights, etc. I’ve completely cleaned up our home because I’m a registered nurse with friends who are very sensitive. My view is it is best to err on the side of safety rather than to wait until one becomes ill. Therefore, we have no smart meter, and zero WiFi in our home.

        Because it will be very expensive to get hooked up after they leave our neighborhood, I’m inclined to go forward. If it becomes a problem I could then go back to the older technology. Although AT&T will probably stop maintaining the DLS lines when our community fully converts to fiber.

        Same problem with our landlines. AT&T won’t allow people who purchase a home to maintain the previous owners landline. Instead they are pushing VOIP.

        Is there anything I need to have them do prior to running fiber optic cable underground and into my house? Or can all remediation easily be done at a later date?

        Thanks!

        Reply

        • Renate,

          My next article will cover what I do in a home that is served by fiber optic internet (see #7 above). If the fiber system in your neighborhood becomes a problem for you (which it sounds like it won’t), then there are plenty of things you can do after the fact.

          Jeromy

          Reply

  18. Heh, heh… Like every other bird, insect, plant, and living creature, I was born electromagnetically sensitive.

    After 35+ years of attempting to wake people up to the biologically destructive properties of electromagnetic induction, I have given up any hope for humanity.

    Excerpted from: Recurrent thalamo-cortical resonance – Wikipedia

    Alpha oscillations and attention:

    “Gamma-range oscillations are not the only rhythms associated with conscious thought and activity. Thalamocortical alpha frequency oscillations have been noted in the human occipital-parietal cortex. This activity could be originated by the pyramidal neurons in layer IV.[3] It has been shown that alpha rhythms seem to be related to the focus of one’s attention: external focus on visual tasks diminish alpha activity while internal focus as in heavy working memory tasks show an increase in alpha magnitudes.[3] This is contrary to gamma wave oscillatory frequencies which emerge in selective focus tasks.”

    I’ve read nearly 100,000 pages of such data, and non-intended electromagnetic induction of neuronal cells and tissues are at the bottom line of altered and chaotic modern behaviors…

    I know I’m not being helpful, but ducking for cover whilst we destroy the Earth is a bit counterintuitive… We are murdering the planet with electromagnetic infrastructure so we can talk endlessly about how to stop doing it…

    ALL pulsed broadcast and oscillating electronic emissions need to be banned, period.

    Reply

  19. Jeromy,

    As someone who is involved in designing outside plant fiber networks I feel some clarification is needed here.

    Many newer fiber optic networks operate with zero power in between the signal origin point in the Telco office to the actual fiber modem / router / WiFi combo in the customers house. In effect they are all just light and glass from the ISP to the customer.

    Even the NID on the exterior of the house is just a transition point from outside planet fiber to an indoor jumper. Passive splitters are rapidly replacing old hybrid fiber / coax systems that would have been placed on poles or in pedestals. For example, AT&T is converting their old HFC pedestals that used power to convert from fiber to coax for Uverse (what is sometimes called “fiber to the curb”) into passive splitters for their new AT&T Fiber (true fiber) service. The power and electronics became too unreliable and costly to maintain over time and the passive fiber splitters allow for higher quality service.

    The problem many times is just getting enough fiber to the area, which would have been under estimated in years past when designing the HFC systems. However, AT&T is using powered outdoor ONTs on the exterior home wall and running ethernet from there instead of going all the way to an indoor modem / router combo such as the Calix Gigacenter that I had mentioned previously.

    To summarize, not all OSP fiber networks operate the same way, and what you are describing (HFC design) is rapidly being replaced by larger fiber cables and passive splitter systems (GPON) that operate with no power in between the optical laser at the signal point of origin to the media converter at the end user.

    Reply

    • Mark,

      Thank you for the thoughtful update on the current fiber optic technology / installations.

      I had a similar conversation at the EMF Conference with the president of American Teledata where he explained some of the coming/current advances in fiber optic technology. I am hopeful that we will eventually get this quite right.

      Perhaps the people who have contacted me with symptoms from fiber / high speed data systems had the older system you mention above in their communities.

      The next question will be how to design media converters in the customer’s home that do not put a lot of EMI both on the data (Ethernet) and electrical systems. This will take good engineering.

      This is what happens when it is done improperly with a cable modem:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw1Tqu_R_sI

      Thanks again for your comment.

      Jeromy

      Reply

  20. Jeromy,

    About EMI filters, what about those ones: https://www.curtisind.com/products/rfi-power-line-filters/?

    Should I select another page from them?

    Apart from this detail, what are the principles = which criteria to check?

    How to check?
    with a Fluke, AEMC, Sperry, else?

    Where to check?
    In the building, the two phases are accessible at the dryer and at the cooking range.
    The neutral cable should not be accessed by a non-trained because of its close location to the two phases.
    The earthing cable is accessible.

    What to check?
    millivolts, spikes, frequencies?

    What values are accepted?

    Thank you.

    Reply

  21. Thanks for this, Jeromy! This answers the 5-month issue I have had with electrical sensitivity. I noticed that when I am using the internet through a LAN in our apartment complex, my hands can feel the electricity and it radiates to my back. I am using an external keyboard and an old-school mouse and I only use the computer when it’s running on batteries plus I do not use a modem (the computer is directly plug to the LAN), yet I still feel the buzz and if I do this a long time, I get a headache. But when the internet is not plugged in, I can use the computer for hours without a problem.

    Now I limit my family’s use of the internet since I have small kids. I will also unplug all computers from the LAN cable every time it’s not in use.

    My question is how do I do a fiber optics system that will act as barrier for my condo since I cannot change the internet connection in the apartment complex.

    Would really appreciate your advice. Very grateful for this piece of information. Thank you and God bless you!

    Reply

    • Hi Jennifer,

      Grateful we are getting you closer to a healthier computing setup.

      There is likely quite an electric field and/or EMI coming to your computer. I would start with this grounding procedure (get the Ethernet ground adapter and the CAT-7 Ethernet cables):

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/low-emf-internet-connection/

      If that doesn’t work, then my next article about putting a home fiber optic system between your computer and the modem should do the trick (#7 above).

      I’ll send that out soon.

      Keep in touch about this.

      Jeromy

      Reply

      • Looking forward to the next article. This is a problem for me too – when the computer is connected to the internet (even on ethernet), I get symptoms. When I unplug the internet, I can use it as my word processor much longer. I haven’t redone my ethernet connection as per your video, so I need to try that first with the better-shielded cable.

        Reply

  22. Jeromy,

    As always, a collected analysis. I love this.
    It is a new problem for my knowledge, so, interesting.

    What we have here is:

    + Internet by fiber optic or… nothing, because we are eight terrestrial miles from the village’s center and we harbour polygon-destroying and film-loving teenagers.
    So, we are addicted to speed for family peace.
    Work telephone conferences and Internet use the fiber optic thin plastic cable at the same time.
    The other telephone line is copper only, so that it works when electricity is gone, sometimes 12 hours in winter by 0 ˚F.

    + the building’s Internet and phone equipment and their electronically hashed power supplies are in a metallic grounded cabinet. One plastic electrical cable supplies their artificial hunger.

    + the fiber light-electron-light converter (LEL, ha ha) connects to the modem which connects to the router which sends electrons through shielded cables.
    + the data/voices cables are shielded = electric field only detectable at the end.
    + of course, all building’s and users data/voice devices are wired, not wiSeless.
    + the electrical wires are AC 90/BX and are laid according to a minimalist plan.

    + one computer is a Macbook pro 2015 with *SSD*, seems to give zero symptom
    Bough it because one EHS person tolerated it. Installed F.lux set at 2 400 K.
    + one computer tower is wrapped in a carbon plastic sheet, grounded
    + the last computer is mobile, new and not checked, dispensing digital anesthesia
    + bought ten mechanical mice = one ball below and two buttons, no wheel.
    Bought ten USB active signal converter for the ten PS2 mice.
    Works with the Macbook computer.

    + all phones are on a copper line only, all zero AC.
    All phones are 10′ away from sleeping rooms’ walls.
    However, they are all plastic (EMF transparent).

    What more can we technically do given that we want to keep the addiction?

    Thank you

    Reply

  23. Hi Jeromy,

    They are currently drilling on my street for fiber optic wiring (for upcoming 5G), all underground, installing boxes every few houses to split the wires, including a box on our lawn. I am also currently suffering from illness from EMF exposure and was advised by my physician to lower it as much as possible.

    I would greatly appreciate it if you could explain how the fiber optic method creates EMF if you do not choose to use the utility company’s internet service, but the wires are running below your front yard, up through the box on your yard, etc.

    Of course, they told me there would be no EMF exposure from this because it’s not using antennas/cell technology.

    Thank you.

    Reply

    • Hi Jenny,

      It will depend on the equipment they use. As I mention in the article above, there are ways to reduce any EMI coming into your home. You likely won’t know if there is an issue until after they connect everything.

      If you want to have a consultant come over to look at things, let me know your area.

      Jeromy

      Reply

  24. Hi Jeromy,

    It was great to hear what you had to say at EMFC this year!

    Thank you writing this article on EHS and fiber optic installations, it was very interesting. I’m looking forward to reading more of your articles.

    Reply

  26. Jeromy,

    Thank you for the article. Still trying to understand it. (also EMF… how to check for problems and helps). While walking to bus stop asked a young man walking with a rolling measure tool what its for. He said AT&T doesn’t have records and wants to put in fiber on towns main road. Thought they had as there were large box that always hear a fan at end of our street, thought was fiber. On next street is another box they go to repair my phone landline (needed repair twice in last 2 yrs (he said AT&T was trying to rid landlines). We still have copper wire old line.

    Can I measure if problem at phone jack or cable outlet (no longer get cable). Did use am AM radio and seems to be noisy there (both phone and cable). Have a voltmeter, would that test if EMI?

    Reply

    • Hi Rosemarie,

      Yes, electromagnetic interference (EMI) is the proper engineering term for “dirty electricity.” DE is just the term that has been popularized.

      EMI isn’t limited to being on electrical wiring. As the article points out, it can be on the copper cable/internet lines as well.

      Hope this helps,

      Jeromy

      Reply

  28. Thanks Jeromy a good article, but the sad thing in our country in area where there is hybrid fibre cable (HFC), we have no choice, as they are going to rip up the old copper landline.

    I have also found another device that is causing EMI in our homes is the power line communications (PLC) adaptors used to replace the ethernet cables in the home. I knew there was EMI in my home—not DE—and I pulled out my trusty old AM transistor radio and it picked a lot of induction around 10MHz from towers and I now believe the PLC that is am using for my cable Foxtel.

    Keep up the good work Jeromy.

    I am just preparing to go to NBN optic fibre, as I have no choice. Some areas will be able to keep their copper landlines, but provider service in outages will become worse forcing you to HFC.

    Reply

    • Thanks for sharing your experience George.

      Indeed, PLC communications can be quite problematic from an EMI perspective. The only time I recommend that is for a wired baby monitor option. In that case, the EMI will be less of an issue than having a powerful RF source next to a newborn:

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/safe-baby-monitor/

      I typically just run long Ethernet or fiber cables in my home.

      Let me know how it goes with the NBN fiber connection.

      Jeromy

      Reply

  29. I have a Comcast router that has no RF emissions, and the electric field measurement by my router and desktop computer is 15 V/m. The cable and outlet where the powerstrip for the computer is plugged in, which is 2 feet from where I sit, measures 50 V/m, but the chair where I sit is at the 15V/m level. Do you think this is a problem?

    Reply

  30. Hi Jeromy,

    Gloria Frank here in Reno, Nevada. I hope all is well with you. I am happy to see this info regrading Fiber Optics because I am very ill from the installation of Fiber Optics underground wiring in my neighborhood (and the whole town) about 5 months ago.

    I am currently a “Safe Technology Educator” in my town and how ironic that I am now needing to find information to remedy my own ill health. My whole home is all “wired” and still my health is so effected from Fiber Optics that I am compromised by even being able to use my computer, my landline phone and my grounding mat can’t be used anymore by grounding it outside because my lawn area is now compromised.

    I have Charter Spectrum for my landline phone and internet. I have a wired modem but I am suddenly having such a difficult time being on my computer. It was suggested to me to purchase a Furman Power Station to see if this reduces the sensitivity I am feeling, but I haven’t had it installed yet. I don’t know about Genisco Filters but do you think this is a product that would help me?

    Thank you Jeromy, Gloria

    Reply

    • Hi Gloria,

      I responded with some ideas in an email to you. Hopefully that will help get you on the right track.

      Also, I have no experience with the Furman Power Station.

      My best,

      Jeromy

      Reply

  31. Hi Jeromy,

    I have wondered myself whether the conversion back to electricity (and the conversion to light) could potentially be a problem with respect to EMI emissions and electrosensitivity. You are the first person I have heard talk about this potential issue.

    Such emissions are a by-product of operation, much like those of combustion. This is in contrast to wireless communications for which the radiation emitted is an intrinsic part of the process.

    We must recognise the problem and seek mitigation through improved design. Electronics that generate such emissions, including computer processors, might be shielded in a metal box, with filtering to stop the EMI carrying along cables that enter into or exit from the container.

    With respect to ‘speed’ – specifically bitrate – I think that there are many users that simply think higher speed must be better, and so may have signed up to a service that is greatly excessive for their needs. Information on the bitrate systems and applications require should be made available, so as to aid selection of a suitable service.

    Reply

    • Thanks for your comment Dave. You are exactly right.

      Most people are focused on RF, which is indeed a big issue (5G, WiFi, smart meters, etc). However, anyone who is electrically sensitive knows that EMI and the lower frequency fields can be just as important, if not more.

      Eventually we’ll have products that are designed with low-EMI emissions in mind. But first we have to bring to awareness that this is a problem.

      Jeromy

      Reply

  32. This is a wonderful article, Jeromy.

    Could you clarify something for me? If one does not use fiberoptics in one’s house, but it has been installed in the neighborhood, does that mean the EMI and be traveling on the Comcast cables that one is using for internet connection and phone service? In other words, is it like solar panels, that spread EMI everywhere on the neighborhood grid and everyone’s electrical wires, except in this case it’s getting spread on copper wires and internet cables?

    I used an AM radio to detect EMI and found the most EMI was coming from the modem, which is grounded following your instructions and is an Arris TM 7222G/NU with no Wi-Fi capacity. The other place where the AM radio was extremely noisy (buzzed loudly) was when I held it up to the shielded ethernet cable (Cat 7) where it inserts into the laptop ethernet port. Is that EMI unavoidable?

    Thank you so much for keeping us all aware of such important environmental pollutants!

    Connie

    Reply

    • Hi Connie,

      Thank you.

      You are correct in that with some systems, the EMI on the data lines will go into each home, much like solar system EMI on the electrical wiring. To a certain extent, this is unavoidable or needs to be filtered before coming into the home (see point #5 above).

      Most modems will create a lot of EMI, both from their operation and dirty power sources. However, you can and should ground this before it gets to your laptop. I outline how to do that in steps 2-4 in this article:

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/low-emf-internet-connection/

      I will add to this in my next article where I show you how to install your own home fiber optic network between your modem and computer so that there is an EMI barrier between the Comcast data system and your laptop.

      Stay tuned for that!

      Jeromy

      Reply

      • Thanks Jeromy. I look forward to seeing the article you are preparing.

        I’m still a bit confused, though. In your reply, you write that the new article will explain how to set up one’s own home fiber optic network between the modem and the computer to create an EMI barrier between Comcast data system and my computer. How would setting up my own fiber optic network create an EMI barrier? I guess I’ll have to wait to see the article to understand better! Perhaps it follows the principle of fighting fire with fire? (fight fiber optics with fiber optics)

        Reply

        • Connie,

          I use slow fiber converters that are lower-EMI and then I ground the EMI and low-frequency electric fields to the outside before it gets to my laptop.

          By putting a fiber system between your computer and the modem, there is a barrier of light (your fiber cable) that won’t let that EMI pass through.

          It should make sense in my next article.

          For now, be sure that you are doing steps 2-4 in this article.

          https://www.emfanalysis.com/low-emf-internet-connection/

          This should really help with any computer sensitivity.

          Jeromy

          Reply

  33. Jeromy,

    I just found your page and I just need to offer a huge, hearty ‘Thank you’ for all this great info!!

    I’m in a pinch. I know so little about this subject and I’m frantically trying to read all I can in a short amount of time. My town is installing Fiber Optics and they’ve already staked the flags/markings on my lawn to begin digging here soon. I’m located about 2 hours north of Detroit in Southern Ontario, Canada.

    Here’s the problem: My Mother is SEVERELY sensitive to EMFs and I’m a close runner-up. We’re pretty old-school around here—our home is completely ‘wired’—absolutely no WiFi, cell phones, cordless phones, smart TV or appliances, microwave, etc. A smartmeter was forced upon us but I have installed a faraday cage and that has drastically helped. I use only a desktop computer hardwired to an old non-WiFi modem using DSL service. Just this summer we bought a Trifield TF2 EMF meter and have made adjustments and rid the house of more EMFs that we were not previously aware of.

    I am just now learning about EMIs. My Mother is insanely affected by things like LED lighting–if she sits under an LED light for just 10 minutes she turns from feeling great to literally deathly ill and downright green. (Dining in restaurants is pretty much history for us). I presume this would (at least in part) be a result of EMI.

    We once vacationed in a place where the phone was cable-based and the ‘box’ with battery backup was located in my Mother’s bedroom. Even with unplugging it each night, she became very ill with various maladies both years we vacationed there.

    So, this is an area of which I need to be EXTREMELY careful!

    My town wants our consent to install the Fiber Optic cable to our home free of charge (it will cost us if we want it later on). I’m always extremely leery of new technology, especially when it’s being offered for free. We have the right to say no to hooking up the Fiber Optic to our home, but it will definitely be installed at the curb.

    Here is what I know about what will be happening:

    They will be installing the Fiber Optic cables at the street with ‘vaults’ (presumably the ‘converters’ you mentioned) and ‘splice enclosure boxes’ on the outside of each home that has given consent. Inside the house they will mount an O.N.T. (Optical Network Terminal) where it is connected to the existing wiring to allow existing landline services to function once transferred to the fiber network. This O.N.T. requires a 110v electrical outlet for power supply and also contains a battery backup of up to 6 hours. From the O.N.T. they will connect the Fiber Optic system to the computer/modem/router with a CAT5E cable.

    https://www.quadro.net/internet/shop-by-speed/internet-packages/fibre-faq/

    As of yet I have not given consent, but time is ticking. I fully intend to switch to a different Internet provider, as I am not satisfied with my current one. However there are providers in the area that utilize the existing telephone line that I can choose from (at least for now and the foreseeable future).

    I have several questions for you, and I desperately hope you will help me with this as I am a newbie when it comes to all of this technology.

    My most pressing question right now is:

    1) If the Fiber Optics were installed right to my house, but not hooked up (leave the O.N.T. unplugged as well as remove any connections to the existing wires), would there be *any* EMFs or EMIs emitted from this set up?

    Also of huge concern:

    2) You mentioned that EMI can piggyback on the copper wires and phone lines—which I presume, makes virtually every wall/room in your house radiate with EMI/EMF. Can this happen if the Fiber Optic is NOT installed to the house? (if the Fiber Optic is just down at the curb and no where near the house?)

    3) It would seem that the system/technology my town is installing is that which Mark Williams talked about in his comment. If so, would Fiber Optic actually be a safe option for us to consider?

    4) I have read that the Fiber Optic cable itself does not emit EMFs. I also know that it is best to use at bare minimum a CAT6 Shielded cable to reduce EMF emissions. Obviously, as you have pointed out in this article, there are options to deal with the negative effects of Fiber Optic after it is installed.
    But my current concern is should it be installed at all??
    I have no need of super high-speed Internet—I just do light surfing, emailing, and would like to watch a few videos on YouTube from time to time. So if Fiber Optic is an option I should avoid altogether—that’s absolutely fine!

    5) If installed ‘properly’ (with the right kind of technology) is Fiber Optic actually safe? If so, what kind of technology (all the components) is the ‘right’ kind?

    6) This question will hinge on the answers to the previous, but I’ll just throw it in here as well – Is it possible to have the Fiber Optic O.N.T. hooked up only to my computer and nothing else—and would this reduce/eliminate EMFs and EMIs?

    I am so adamant about this that if “push came to shove” down the road, I would go so far as to cut ties with the Internet altogether if it would make our home a safer and healthier environment for my Mother. But right now we are faced with the decision to consent or not to Fiber Optics at our house.

    I apologize for being so long-winded and all my questions, but I’m at the mercy of time, lack of knowledge & adequate understanding.

    I also apologize if you have answered any of this elsewhere and I just have not come across it yet (I’m reading as much and as fast as I can!)

    I appreciate anything you can tell me and help me with these concerns. I’m sure many others are facing or will be facing similar situations and could greatly benefit by your answers.

    Thank you for all you do!

    Tara

    Reply

    • Hi Tara,

      Glad the article has been timely for you. In short, I would hold off on the fiber connection based on both of your sensitivities. If you can keep your same DSL connection for now, stick with it until you learn more about this and have a prudent path forward where you know the solutions will work for both of you (for instance GPON fiber to the home with a truly low-EMI media converter, once we find one that has been made).

      For most ES people, sticking with older technology as long as possible is the best option for now.

      Also, your mom likely has a flicker sensitivity. That is very common. I can send some solutions your way with that as well.

      For the time your questions/situation requires for an adequate response, we would need to set up a consulting call. This is how I work if you want to go that route:

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/work-with-me/

      Hope this helps,

      Jeromy

      Reply

      • Oh, you have helped me immensely! Thank you so much, Jeromy, for taking the time to respond and so quickly! I appreciate this more than you could ever know!

        Your advice to hold off on the fiber connection is absolutely sound. That was my gut reaction from the get-go, although I could not base my instinct on any cold, hard facts, being virtually ignorant of the technology. Fiber may be the only venue in the future, but I’ll definitely be waiting until that point to consent to the technology if counteractive technology is available at that time to eliminate any EMF/EMI. It may be installed ‘free’ right now, but at what price? Our health is a FAR heftier price tag than saving a bit of money.

        I also want to say that I completely understand the need to for a consultation for the in-depth answers my questions would require. I am absolutely not opposed to that—you should not have to offer all your knowledge and time without proper imbursement. With the peace of mind you have already given me by helping me decide against the fiber connection installation, I would like to beef up my knowledge on this topic through a bit of research first—as I may have different questions for you as well. In not giving consent for the installation, this has given me more time to explore the subject without the pressure of a time-crunch decision.

        Thank you, too, for mentioning ‘flicker sensitivity.’ I don’t believe I’ve heard of that. I recall hearing about certain lights/TV/etc. have differing flicker rates. So putting the two together, this would seem to make sense. Here’s a new topic I must explore!

        Knowledge is power. The more I can learn the more changes and preventative measures I can put in place to make our little world as safe and healthy as possible.

        I cannot say “Thank You” to you enough, Jeromy!!

        Thank you!
        Tara

        Reply

    • Hi Cherry,

      I am not familiar with the low-EMI/EMF modem models/providers in Australia.

      I would work with a local EMF consultant to discuss this issue.

      Jeromy

      Reply

  35. We moved into a new home in a fiber optic community and took that service. I can’t sit at my computer for very long or use my phone without major symptoms. I thought fiber optics would be cleaner! This all makes sense now.

    My only option to switch is Spectrum. I need a land line too since cell phones bother me even more. How do you use your own modem if you have a phone with the provider? I have had to purchase their device and have them turn off WiFi. I have to keep checking it because they randomly turn it back on.

    I’ve been concerned about 5G and had no idea they use the fiber optic system! Those boxes are between every house in our neighborhood!

    Reply

  36. Jeromy, you write:
    =====
    However, there can be a significant problem with the high-speed fiber optic converters out at the street (or in the home with some newer fiber systems) that create these electrical data signals. This is because the converters are not designed with low-EMI emissions in mind. Thus, their power supplies and operation can generate high amounts of wide-spectrum EMI (electromagnetic interference). This inadvertent EMI then piggybacks on the copper cable and phone lines into our homes where it can radiate from every copper wire. This EMI from the fiber optic infrastructure is a primary reason why electrical sensitivity is increasing when high-speed internet is installed in our communities.
    =====

    I have a few questions:
    * Are there alternative technologies that could give high speed internet that DO operate with low-EMI emissions and thus less radiation.
    * I’m assuming we are talking “dirty electricity?”

    I think you would still agree that fiber is much more energy efficient than wireless. Just interesting in how you would answer that.

    You seem to have a better understanding of this than me. So, to cut to the chase, have you written about a “health friendly” infrastructure — from signal origination to signal destination — that would be safer? OR are their inherent technical considerations that make higher data rates inherently dangerous. Frankly I would be comfortable with 4G. There is no good reason to connect billions of devices which could be using up 20% of our electrical output — for wireless communication — by 2025.

    Thanks,

    Bruce W. Cain

    Reply

    • Hi Bruce,

      Yes, EMI and DE are similar. EMI is the more technical term.

      As I mention above in the response to Mark’s comment, having a low-emission media converter, along with GPON fiber all the way to the home would be a great solution for everyone. This is especially the case if the fiber isn’t also being used for 5G small cell antennas out at the street.

      It will take some awareness and good local laws to get there, but I think that is what we will eventually have.

      Thanks for your comment and work.

      Jeromy

      Reply

      • Thanks for the reply. So would this solution also work for 5G? Is this how 5G will be handled. Of course none of this will solve the EMR problems of 5G as THAT will be wireless radiation. My solution?

        * Remove all 5G antennas
        * Remove all Smart Meters and put the Analog Meters back

        This should be the position of ALL Stop5G groups as far as I am concerned.

        Reply

  37. Thanks for this great article Jeromy! I believe I am experiencing this problem but I’m confused because regular tv channels don’t cause me to feel ill. Most shows on Netflix and Amazon prime do cause me to be ill. Can you tell me why?

    Reply

    • Hi Patty,

      Most electrically sensitive people do worse with high data / high bandwidth applications such as HD Netflix, Amazon or streaming YT on your laptop. In some cases, there is more EMI created by these high bandwidth activities. This is likely what you are reacting to.

      If you are by chance using wireless for any of this, higher bandwidth applications will typically have greater amounts of RF involved.

      Perhaps ground the Ethernet connection before it gets to your TV, as I outline here:

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/low-emf-internet-connection/

      Let me know if this helps.

      Jeromy

      Reply

  38. We got fiber optics installed They said it was low EMF…. (NO!) They promised shielded wires, but it was just regular. They buried wires in the lawn, put an ONT box (modem) on our shed and then wired a non shielded Ethernet cable into the house (under floor in the crawl space).

    I only had 2 hours of sleep when they put that in. Whatever it is, it is from hell. So I went to the shed and turned off power supply to the ONT. And gonna pull out the cables from the house too & disconnect from that thing.

    Going back to the coax cable from another provider, it’s shielded it turns out.

    But the fiber is in the lawn now… and if the ONT is going to stay in the shed, will it make EMF in the house?

    Another option I thought would be put faraday enclosure on the ONT, ground the ONT and cable to the ground rod right there, and then use shielded cable at least to the router. Would that do a thing, or is the solution to get them to remove it, I think they were Ok with that.

    Thanks for your info and wish I had read it before we put in that thing!

    Reply

  39. Jeromy,

    Thanks for this great article and all the other great info that you provide!

    I’ve just been informed by Verizon that they will be suspending/disconnecting the current copper (landline) phone network in my community and I will lose my phone service in three weeks if I don’t switch to their fiber setup. They plan to install an Optical Network Terminal inside my house. Have you seen much difference in the amount of EMI created if the ONT is only used for phone service versus using it for full internet access? (I get my internet access through Comcast and use a wired connection with my own non-wifi router. I’m not planning on changing this.)

    Thanks.

    Reply

    • Hi Eric,

      Thanks for writing. This is likely a situation that many of us will face in the coming years.

      My first question is whether Verizon is going to provide pure fiber to the home (with no copper / power backbone)? See Mark’s comment for more on this:

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/fiber-optics-increasing-electrical-sensitivity/#comment-8780

      This would be a good thing for you, if you can get a low-EMI media converter that will transfer the fiber data to your copper system in the home.

      That is a big “if” though at this time and most likely the stock media converter they give you is going to be produce a lot of EMI, which will then go on all the copper telephone wiring in your home (if that is all it is hooked up to).

      So, I would be wary of what they are offering.

      You will only know once you have the system installed and see how you feel with it. This is all so new that we are seeing what works for electrically sensitive people as we go.

      I rarely use a landline phone. What I do is use Skype on a low-EMF laptop where I have grounded out all of the EMI / electric fields between my modem and computer. You would simply do this between your Comcast modem and computer:

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/low-emf-internet-connection/

      This allows me to do even 1 or 1.5 hour calls without too many symptoms. This system works better for me than even this analog landline phone setup:

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/analog-phone-system/

      If you did this, you wouldn’t need Verizon’s fiber connection to your home.

      Keep in touch with what you find.

      Jeromy

      Reply

      • Thanks for the reference to your article on the analog phone and amplifier. I had not read it before. I just ordered the items (the links you give are broken now, but you can find the amplifier on eBay and the phone on Amazon by searching for the product). It will be interesting to see if it helps me when I’m on the phone!

        Connie

        Reply

  40. Hi Jeromy,

    As usual your article is very interesting and clear. In Europe they don’t worry much about the consequences of EMF and I figure that EMI is just known as the nickname of Emily.

    I will check with a friend that cables Telecom, what they are installing here out of the doors and at home for optic fiber.

    On the other hand, there’s a big concern for the 5G connection on the air. The scientific community (too often in revolving doors with the same industries that produce and sell cables phones and modems they should honestly analyze) says it’s just a conspiracy theory and the 5G is absolutely safe.

    I don’t think so, but it would be nice to have your opinion on this.

    Take care and best regards

    Enrico

    Reply

  41. Another, human cause — better bandwidth and your neighboring houses are suddenly filled with more WiFi devices and repeaters. Every room become a powerful transmitter.

    Reply

  42. Jeromy, can you please give me some advice? I have to stay at an AirBnB that has 4 very strong wifi networks according to my cell phone (all full bars). I think they generate from the same modem. Is there ANYTHING I can do? I’m pretty desperate as I can’t rest well at night. I know the modem is in the room below me and I know the side of the room where it is. I bought four 32″ x 32″ aluminum sheets from Home Depot and I placed them on the floor right above the spot where the modem is in the room below. My phone still gets the 4 networks with 4 bars. Is there anything you would recommend please?

    Reply

    • Hi Anna,

      I encourage you not to stay there if you are too close to the WiFi routers.

      The other thing is that you really need an RF meter to test the power of the WiFi. Using your phone won’t work. Here are the meters I recommend:

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/recommended-emf-meters/

      And how to use the EMF Meters: https://youtu.be/_aVINxa2ERA

      If you can’t find another place, a bed canopy is your main option. The Dream Canopy on this page is a good option when you are traveling around:

      https://www.emfanalysis.com/bed-canopies/

      Hope this helps,

      Jeromy

      Reply

      • Thank you so much Jeromy 🙂

        When will you have a paper version of the book? When/if you update the electronic version with any essential info, will you let buyers know?

        Do you have a YouTube channel? It would be so great to see videos of how you deal with EMFs at home, travel, etc. So many people on YouTube addressing this issue don’t really seem to know nearly as much as you do.

        Reply

        • Thank you Anna.

          I am working on the updated version of the book. Then it will be to the presses. Many people get the current PDF and print/bind at a local print shop if they need the book now.

          Here is my YT channel. I’ll be posting many more articles and videos in 2020:

          https://www.youtube.com/user/emfanalysis

          Keep in touch,

          Jeromy

          Reply

          • Hi Jeromy, thank you! If I get the pdf now, do I get the updated version of the previous version? I just subscribed to your YT channel, thank you for all this information you’ve taken time to make available! One more question – I want to switch from an iPhone 7 to a low emf phone. I see that you recommend flip phones – are there any smart phones that would be significantly better than the iPhone?

            Reply

            • The main reason I want a smart phone is because I like to listen to podcasts and YT videos. Of course I know there’s radiation of the phone antenna is on, but there are ways to download files and listen offline. But a flip phone wouldn’t allow me to download anything.

              Reply

              • Then I would keep using a smart phone, but listen to the podcasts and music when the phone is on Airplane mode. Then there is no harm at all. You can download items, set the phone down, and come back near it when the downloads are complete. I know many people who do this.

                Reply

            • Hi Anna,

              Yes, if you remind me about your purchase, I will send you the updated version. The changes won’t be significant though.

              There are no truly low-EMF phones (and SAR is a very misleading calculation meant to give people a false sense of security). The main thing is how you use them. Here are my tips:

              https://www.emfanalysis.com/headsets/

              Jeromy

              Reply

  43. Jeromy,

    Remember the brick-phone? Can’t remember exactly when those first cell phones came out but I’m pretty sure these networks of cell towers didn’t exist then. How did those brick phones work without cell towers? Why are these towers needed today if they were not needed then?

    EMI, EMF’s, RFI’s, VHF’s
    All of there terms confuse me.
    I know different one’s are present with different sources such as cell towers, fiber, CAT6 & WiFi. Can you help me distinguish between the many?

    There is a big 3-story apartment complex being built up the street from me and it has a brand new cell tower that stands within a hundred yards of the structures. I feel pretty certain those folks who will be moving into those apartments are going to be highly exposed to harmful radiation.

    This is all leading up to a question:
    Is there a single, hand-held device made that can measure all of this harmful radiation, Wifi & VHF’s (30-300 MHz) included?

    Thank you,

    David

    Reply

  44. I just submitted my consent for fiber optics in my neighbourhood, hoping there would be no problems with it being wired…

    Reply

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