[Elecraft] Smoke Detectors

[Geoffrey Feldman]

Radio waves are non-Ionizing. I hope we all know that and know one another
know that.  However the near field is an electrical field.  The smoke
detector compares the ionization between two chambers, both with the same
radioactive source. One is exposed to the environment (smoke) and the other
is not while both have the same radioactive source.  An imbalance in the two
chambers indicates smoke impeding ionizing radiation.  It is triggered by a
very small amount of smoke, barely visible to the eye.   The means of
detection is electronic and can be affected by a strong near field.   Most
of the smoke detectors I know of here in the US are the ion type.  

It may also be that other electronics in the detector are affected by the
near field.   That would be another theory but I think that affecting the
detector itself is more likely.

-73-
W1GCF
Geoff