We have cordless phones..... A fish tank, I suspect, would mess with the head (and eventually the dryness) of the cat more than it would mess with an 802.11 signal.
Some cordless phones are 900 MHz so they should not interfere. The 2.4 GHz ones could be an issue. I would expect the user manual to list the specifications.
Just to confuse the issue a bit more... Panasonic microwaves use an inverter power supply. Noise from the power supply may be backfeeding the 120VAC line. The interference may have nothing to do with the intended RF signal - it may be the power supply generating the noise. Same deal with cell phone towers - their inverter power supplies can trash the local power grid with RF noise that is not at any of the cell frequencies.
Some Panasonic microwaves use an inverter. It'll say if it does. The newer, smaller ones (like the one I have now) don't. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Discussing edge cases could go on ad infinitum and would mask the good advice in this thread, IMHO Perhaps we should have put a YMMV disclaimer with the advice.
networking - Why if I put wireless access point near water (fish tank) will degrade its signal? - Super User Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Ahha! I was almost right. @Nifle: I'd be more concerned if the fish had little microwave ovens in their miniature cave kitchens (you know, the little caves you can buy at pet stores?). ;-D – Randolf Richardson May 28 '11 at 21:44 I know water absorbs UV light pretty effectively. But that's at 800 terahertz.
Water also stops neutrons and other particles effectively. Which is why spent fuel rods go into a pool when first removed from a reactor, and why water tanks are used for shielding some scientific equipment.