What is happening?
The Green Bank Elementary and Middle School, located next to the Green Bank Observatory, will begin using WiFi in the school starting this year.
The school—and the Observatory—are located in an area that is designated as a “Quiet Zone:” an area that limits interference caused by certain technology, like WiFi, to protect the Observatory’s scientific research. The school has been operating without WiFi for its entire existence—until this 2025/26 school year.
Observatory engineers worked with the school to provide guidance on how to set up WiFi routers at a specific frequency, 2.4GHz, that was selected out of many frequencies available.
2.4GHz is a frequency used on many common WiFi routers. While this frequency overlaps with wavelengths studied by telescopes at the Observatory, engineers and scientists will compromise this science during school hours each day, with the routers to be powered off after school hours.
Because the school has been given access, other local residents are also permitted to use WiFi at 2.4GHz, following the same guidance. Previously, any residents within a 10-mile radius of the Observatory were not permitted to have WiFi.
The Observatory will be holding community events in August and September 2025 to explain this change, and share guidance [1] on how to set up routers to operate at 2.4GHz.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CHANGE YOUR ROUTER’S WIFI FREQUENCY TO 2.4GHZ [1]
Isn’t WiFi illegal in the Quiet Zone?
The “Quiet Zone” is actually made up of two areas that overlap, with different restrictions for each.
The West Virginia Radio Astronomy Zone (WVRAZ) is an area legally recognized by the state of West Virginia which places restrictions on emissions from electronic devices that interfere with the Green Bank Observatory’s operations, in a 10-mile radius surrounding the Observatory.
- The interpretation and enforcement of the WVRAZ is being changed to allow WiFi, operating at 2.4 GHz, in this 10-mile radius.
- Residents outside of this 10-mile area were already able to have WiFi in the “Quiet Zone.”
- All other Pocahontas County Schools already have access to WiFi.
This change allows students at the Green Bank Elementary Middle School to catch up with their counterparts at the rest of the area schools.
The National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) is a BIG place (13,000 square miles), home to hundreds of thousands of people who have no idea they live “in” a Quiet Zone. Residents have WiFi, cell service, and every high tech gadget you can imagine. In this larger area, the Quiet Zone only has restrictions on “permanent fixed ground based transmitters” (like cell phone or broadcast towers) that might point radio signals at the telescopes. Observatory engineers work with companies to find solutions to prevent this, and keep signals pointing away from the telescopes. These adjustments do little to interfere with people’s everyday lives.
Why does the Observatory exist?
The Green Bank Observatory was founded in Green Bank, West Virginia in 1956. At that time, it was known as the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory. It was the first national observatory in the U.S.—a place where astronomers from across the country could share telescopes and research for the betterment of all science.
The telescopes built in Green Bank were very different from others built before because they studied “radio” astronomy. Radio astronomy looks for objects in space that we can’t see with our eyes, using special telescopes that can “see” these invisible wavelengths.
The NSF Green Bank Observatory and the NSF National Radio Astronomy Observatory are recognized around the world as being important centers for scientific research.
Is this the end of the Quiet Zone?
No. The “Quiet Zone” has never been the “silent” zone. Fixed transmitters that operate at all other frequencies are still not permitted in the 10-mile radius around the Observatory, and those in the greater NRQZ must still be coordinated with the Observatory.
The big change here is allowing the school and nearby residents to use WiFi at 2.4GHz.
Will there be WiFi at the Observatory now?
No, WiFi routers will not be installed on Observatory property. There will be no WiFi at the Science Center, offices, labs, workshops, dorm, or cafeteria or on site housing.
How will WiFi be used at the School?
Pocahontas County Public Schools has its own policy for the access and use of WiFi by students and staff.
You can find more information, and contact information, here https://boe.pocahontas.k12.wv.us/ [2].
Is there a difference between using “wired” (Ethernet) internet, or WiFi that operates at other frequencies?
Using a wired internet connection, with Ethernet cables, to connect and communicate between your electronic devices is still the fastest and most reliable way to connect your devices. It is also the “quietest” for your friendly neighborhood telescopes.
Most wireless routers use one of two frequencies: 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. 2.4 GHz radio waves move through space (and your house) more easily, and tend to provide better coverage for your home.
5 GHz routers can provide more bandwidth and more channels, but these advantages are typically more important in urban environments where many routers are looking to communicate (and compete) in a small area.
For the many reasons mentioned above, 2.4GHz is the frequency that has been selected and approved for use in the 10-mile radius surrounding the Observatory.
I live in Green Bank! How do I set up my WiFi?
We’re so glad you asked! You can download guidance on how to set up your router here. [1] This guidance includes directions for the most common types of routers available for purchase in our area, and takes you step-by-step on how to set up your router to operate at only 2.4GHz. By following these instructions, you will enable the world-class Green Bank Telescope and other on-site instruments to continue to make ground-breaking scientific discoveries.
You can also pick up a printed handout from the Science Center [3] at the Front Desk, see our current hours of operation here. [3]