[JDNovak]

I guess I need to complete my theory on how static might create radio problems. The static voltage buildup doesn't cause the problem, it is the sudden discharge of that voltage (ESD) as Greg stated that can create problems.

Years before RFID was mainstream technology I bought and installed a series of antennas to read tags tied to material conveying hoses. They were used to identify where the hoses were plugged. Almost immediately I had lockups and failures. I finally determined that static discharges were being received by the antennas and were actually damaging the receivers. They wouldn't fail immediately but damage the inputs progressively. I was able to tell the damage by measuring input resistance and predict the failures. The problem was totally eliminated by creating paths for the charges to dissipate farther away from the antennas.

We are dealing with a router with antennas here also. The higher the gain the more possibility that the input can be overdriven by large magnetic pulses. The technology has advanced drastically over recent years but theoretically the radio would be the most vulnerable device unless the discharge were to the actual control system. Since it is supposed to be isolated from the frame that is less likely.

This is all just speculation and not based on anything tested with this equipment. Consumer electronic devices are tested for these kinds of events but at some reasonable level. I have seen many fail with the levels of discharge easily produced in plastics handling. The trick is to reduce the potential to an acceptable level.

We need to watch for signs of affects caused by discharges.