January 3, 2026
Blink if your router’s yelling
A Beginner's Two-Component Crystal-Style Wi-Fi Detector
Little Wi‑Fi blink‑stick sparks microwave scares — and demands for a 5G version
TLDR: A simple diode+LED stick visibly blinks near 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, and even microwaves. The comments split between using it to sniff microwave leaks and pushing for a 5 GHz upgrade, debating whether it’s a fun class demo or something you’d trust as a real tester.
A tiny two‑part gadget — just a fast diode and an LED — turns Wi‑Fi into a light show. The post shows the LED legs acting like a mini antenna so it blinks near routers, phones, Bluetooth, and even microwaves, and the classroom build needs no soldering. Then the comments erupt. One camp treats it like a kitchen Geiger counter, worried about leaky ovens. User jqpabc123 asks if it can spot “radiation escaping a microwave oven,” noting theirs wrecks Wi‑Fi. Skeptics clap back: cool demo, not a certified safety tester — calm down, science.
Meanwhile, the speed freaks want more. ifh-hn storms in with the big ask: a 5 GHz version. The post admits the chosen part stumbles at higher bands, so the thread morphs into a scavenger hunt for faster diodes, smarter antennas, and “don’t touch the legs” tips. Jokes fly: “Finally I can see my internet yelling,” “Router? More like rave box,” and “Where’s the 6G DLC?” The vibe: a cute classroom experiment just ignited a split between “is my microwave safe?” and “make it faster,” with tinkerers trading fixes while meme‑lords keep the blink‑jokes rolling. Either way, this pocket blinker turned invisible radio waves into drama you can see.
Key Points
- •A two-component detector using a 1N5711 Schottky diode and an LED can visualize 2.4 GHz signals via LED flashes.
- •Assembly requires bending LED legs as an antenna, connecting the LED anode to the diode cathode, and twisting leads tightly near the LED body.
- •The detector works by rectifying RF energy; accumulated charge triggers brief LED flashes synchronized with nearby transmissions.
- •The 1N5711 generally cannot detect most 5 GHz Wi‑Fi; a 2.4 GHz router is recommended for testing.
- •Performance depends on polarization and minimizing body capacitance; rotate for alignment and avoid touching the antenna, using an insulating holder if needed.