Low EMF Monitor

Some time ago a friendly fellow, who runs the site http://www.lowemfoffice.com/, made a monitor for me that not only looks nice but radiates much less emf than usual.
I thought a few people might be interested in hearing about it or in his website, which contains some simple and valuable tips and basic information that may help to reduce emf around the computer-desk.
The monitor has an external DC linear power-supply with a smooth current, reducing flickering as well.
The refresh-rate is still present of course, and it emits some emf, but hardly any under 100 KHz.
The attached picture compares the monitor with my old one, both have LED backlights.
Although it may depend on the display on which it is seen, the difference is clearly large.
In case this means anything to you, the CRI and the R9 are both about 97 ( out of 100 ), the colours resemble natural light extremely well, that is : compared with LEDs in general.
I plan to still get an optical usb-cable for the keyboard and mouse, but without this and optical video- and ethernet-cables as well i already feel much more comfortable while using the monitor versus a number of regular ones.
Of course OLEDs would be an improvement, perhaps in a few years the backlights could be replaced, as everything is developing, however it helps me to reduce emf related stress substantially now, as sitting behind a computer appears to be a main cause, even within the city where electro-smog is getting from bad to worse.

It looks very nice.

earthworm wrote

 sitting behind a computer appears to be a main cause, even within the city where electro-smog is getting from bad to worse.

I had kind of the same experience - I could mostly tolerate the discomfort of ES, but using a computer for a long time would make me agitated and distracted.

Marc,

Have you continued to use this monitor?  How has it worked out for you.

I'm in desperate need of a new monitor.  My old VGA one is dying.  The one time I tried a flat screen monitor (10 years ago), I got dizzy so I haven't tried any since.  This one sounds like a possibility.  Do you think I could get one, and if so, how would I go about doing that?

Thanks.

ESther, I assume you were asking earthworm about the monitor, and not me (Marc) ?

I'm using a 28" BenQ monitor at home, and it's workable for me... I actually purchased & rejected 6 other monitors before settling on it.  Model is "GW2870H".  BenQ also sells a "GC2870H", which I have not tried.

Marc

Hi Marc,

Oops, I guess I was asking earthworm about that particular monitor, but I certainly appreciate your reply about the BenQ monitors.

I'd like to ask you another question.  Years ago I found that flat screen monitors made me dizzy, as do flat screen TV's.  I've assumed it's because I "see" the movement of the pixels.  (Don't know how to describe it actually, but I've heard of other people experiencing the same thing.) Has anything like that factored into your intolerance of some of the monitors you tried?

I've been using a CRT monitor all these years, but it's nearly impossible to get one (used, of course) these days.  I'm wondering if the newer LCD ones have improved so the dizzying aspect wouldn't be a factor now.  I'm homebound so I can't go to a store to look at any, but perhaps someone who got dizzy with the older ones, but doesn't now might have some comments?

Thanks,
Esther  

> I'd like to ask you another question. Years ago I found that flat
> screen monitors made me dizzy, as do flat screen TV's. I've assumed
> it's because I "see" the movement of the pixels.

Esther, I don't think that was what I was reacting to, so I cannot comment on that.
But not all monitors cause the same symptoms in me, so I never generalize about
"all flat panel monitors", as I know there are some that are very bad for me, and
some that are not so bad for me.

Marc

On February  9, Fog Top [via ES] <[hidden email]> wrote:
>  Esther, I don't know if this pdf will attach in Nabble, if not search
> "Subliminal Flicker - TheEIWellspring" as it may be of interest to you.
> The author is Richard Conrad, a physicist and inventor, who became ES
> while trying to invent a flicker-free screen. He describes the various
> problems with CRT and LCD screens and how they might affect a person.

Also, there are LED backlit LCD monitors that don't have any flicker in the backlight, even when dimmed.  Both my monitor at home and at work are such monitors.  These may be more tolerable than the usual monitors that have LED backlight flicker when dimmed.

Marc

ESther wrote

I'd like to ask you another question.  Years ago I found that flat screen monitors made me dizzy, as do flat screen TV's.  I've assumed it's because I "see" the movement of the pixels.  (Don't know how to describe it actually, but I've heard of other people experiencing the same thing.) Has anything like that factored into your intolerance of some of the monitors you tried?

Lots of people have that problem. You can buy LCD monitors that change the pixels faster (higher "refresh rate"), and there's also a setting called "reduced blanking" that might help if you get headaches. The forum at blurbusters.com has some helpful information. Here's one post there:

"I notice that when I do a lot of text and web browsing on 60hz I get eye strain and a bit of motion sickness sometimes. As soon as I go to 120hz I feel like a "relief" on my eyes and brain."

https://forums.blurbusters.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4264&p=34630&hilit=projector&sid=f6c974207e273c692796932c3bd94921#p34349

Switching to an OLED screen might be another way to improve things. I was just in a computer store (something I avoid) and noticed that they were a lot easier for me to look at than an LCD.

> "I notice that when I do a lot of text and web browsing on 60hz I get
> eye strain and a bit of motion sickness sometimes. As soon as I go to
> 120hz I feel like a "relief" on my eyes and brain."

And I have the exact opposite problem... higher refresh rates have historically been worse for me, especially if that means the video source is sending through more data to accomplish those rates.

Marc

Does it help you to use a specific type of cable?

On February 12, Karl [via ES] <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Does it help you to use a specific type of cable?

It does help me to use a VGA connection... also my VGA cables are typically triple-shielded and with dual ferrites.

Marc

here is earthworm, sorry for the delayed responding.
yes i still use it, it is one of the sixth generation.
so far i could not cope with any other tested monitor for hours at a time.
the emfs are also measurable much lower.
you can write to mail@lowemfoffice.com with any question, the guy is really friendly and professional.

the rounded monitors are CRT's and produce some very strong fields.
flatscreens are either old LCD's with fluorescent backlights or modern ones with LED backlights.
the low-emf monitor has LEDs, for most electro-sensitive people that is the best option.
this type of light is hard on the eyes though, in a few years OLED monitors are probably preferable in this regard.
https://www.monitornerds.com/oled-pc-monitors/

by the way, there is a new interesting topic on the website fot the low-emf monitors :
https://www.lowemfoffice.com/filters_toc.htm

for those who have a landline phone connected to an adsl-modem : ground the modem !
otherwise enormous electrical fields ( at a low-frequency ) will emit from the phone.
usually there is an usb-socket in the modem, then just stick an usb-cable into it.
the outside metal of the plug on other end ( or the wire connected to it ) is to be grounded.
it works wonders.

Earthworm,

Your info on the modem is of particular interest to me because my phone service is through my cable provider.  However, this house has old two-wire wiring so the outlets aren't three-prong/grounded. What could I do to ground the USB cable from the modem?

Thanks.  ESther

"for those who have a landline phone connected to an adsl-modem : ground the modem !
otherwise enormous electrical fields ( at a low-frequency ) will emit from the phone.
usually there is an usb-socket in the modem, then just stick an usb-cable into it.
the outside metal of the plug on other end ( or the wire connected to it ) is to be grounded.
it works wonders."

so your computer is not grounded too, that sounds worse.
either the pc or the monitor should be grounded ( not both, otherwise there is a loop via the video-cable ), unless you work with a laptop of course.
a laptop can be easily grounded in a similar way as a modem via an usb-outlet.

if you have a garden or a cellar or so, you could hammer a rod or pipe deep into the ground and connect it to a grounding-wire.
i would prefer stainless steel but any metal will do.
best is often to insulate the higher part of the rod so that it touches the earth only on deeper levels.
this is especially better if you live in an electrosmog-polluted area ( in general : densely populated ).
there are parts in the u.s.a. where the earth is used as a return cable, grounding could be easily troublesome there.

if there is just one grounded outlet somewhere ( e.g. for a washing machine ), you could also extend that wire.

if all fails, a technical person could possibly construct a device, with both capacitators and inductors, that can smoothen out currents and replace grounding to some extent.

I don't know if my computer is grounded or not.  Here's my setup.  The owner installed a garage door opener before I moved into this rental. It's connected to a metal box with two three prong outlets on it.  I plugged a heavy duty extension cord into one outlet and snaked it up through the spaces between the walls above the garage, into the bedroom through a hole I cut in the wall. I attached a power strip to the cord. My desktop computer, monitor, and printer are plugged into the strip.  Would that make my computer grounded?  

If not, what do I need to do?  I don't really understand what a grounding wire IS (type of wire, etc.), nor what you do with it (what you connect it to specifically and how).  If you or someone else could give me a brief, basic explanation I'd really appreciate it.  I have no experience with anything electrical, and have no understanding about any of this.

The house is surrounded by cement on all sides, so no chance of putting a rod or pipe anywhere close to the house, but it's a great idea.  Unfortunately, I AM in a densely populated, urban area where the houses are very close together, and I'm being zapped by many wifi's, smart meters, and a few cell towers/antennas.  Sigh….
 
Thanks, earthworm!

a cable that allows for grounding must contain 3 coloured wires.
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-differences-between-live-earth-and-neutral-wire

in order to check wether all 3 wires are connected and properly connected, you could get an electricity-tester or "circuit-analyser" :
https://www.thespruce.com/top-electrical-testers-1152571
in europe the voltage is higher, but there there are similar testers.
"open" will mean : connected.
that button will test and switch off the earth leak breaker and therewith all power, so do not push it in too easily.
 
look also at the plugs on the cables of your pc, monitor, printer etc., are these 3-spronged ? If not, then no grounding.
all the outlets and plugs should be grounded, if one is not, the earth wire will be interrupted.
as noted, actually it is not good when both the computer and the monitor are grounded, although i think in general it will be much worse if neither is.

Esther, you mentioned about being in a populated area and that you cant leave your house at the moment. ( I hear your pain, hang in there!!)
I know when my symptoms were at the worst it helped me to stay in the basement because it was partioally underground, no reception of mobile phones as well.. my thought is, do you feel better in the garage or any other lower elevated rooms. maybe worth a try. Just long as there is no smart meter on the other side of the wall. smart meters are bad!

so much good information about monitors on this thread Thank You All very much!
on this subject i heard from someone as well, that everyone is diffefient, and that collors of the monitors have a differient effect from person to person. That everyone needs a unique monitor to their particular self, as far as headaches go etc. Thinking back now a funny memory appeared, my first ever migrane with a visual effect happened while sitting behind a old computer monitor learning how to type in 7th grade computer class. Thats crazy and i never put the 2 and 2 together untill now. lol! Maybe I was ES sensetive all the way back then and did not realize it for such a long time. Mind Blown, Literally lol

Thanks for all your helpful info, earthworm.  I'm learning slowly; it gets daunting.  

Uphill battle,

Good idea about the garage, though unfortunately it's not doable for me. It's on the side of the house next to the neighbors with the wifi and it also has back of the electric meter (analog, not smart).  I get dizzy everytime I have to go down there.  Also, it's very moldy and I'm mold sensitive.  House doesn't have a basement.  I pretty much sit in the living room all day on the other side of the house to avoid their wifi, but it's not RF-free since there are other wifi signals coming into the house and smart meter signals.  Grrrr.

Your reflection on first sensitivity triggered thoughts of mine.  In the late 1980's I became really bothered by fluorescent lighting in the office.  My boss would get up on a ladder and loosen one of the two tubes to reduce the glare.  (Office services would not have approved if they'd realized what he'd done.)

Yes, thank you to everyone on this post!  It's all been very helpful to me.