Electromagnetic Radiation – Understanding Why Bluetooth Signals Can Exit a Microwave

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I was shopping for a bluetooth meat thermometer. Since this device would also be used in my combo (conventional and microwave) oven, which is shielded for microwaves, I expected the device to not work.

So, I decided to make the following test before ordering:

  • play a song over bluetooth on my headset
  • put my cell phone in the combo (conventional and microwave) oven
  • close the door

I expected the bluetooth connectivity to drop, since the oven is shielded to the microwave spectrum. Yet, I could still hear the song just fine on my headset.

So, what physics principle explain the bluetooth signal being able to exit by microwave oven ?

Best Answer

Just some rough numbers: say the oven produces ~1kW=60dBm RF power of which only 1mW=0dBm is allowed to leak out then the window's leakage is about -60dB. If your Bluetooth is radiating about 1mW =0dBm and your receiver has about -90dBm operating threshold meaning it will receive 0-60=-60dBm still having some 30dB (1,000X) margin above that value. A modern RF receiver is an amazingly sensitive device.

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