Make the voices stop!
May 12, 2010 5:38 PM   Subscribe

How can I get rid of RF Interference in computer speakers?

When I turn my Logitech speakers on, I seem to be picking up radio interference. This is a recent development and I can't figure out what has changed to make this happen. I haven't moved the computer or the wires or anything, which seems to be a common explanation. Is there anything I can do to quiet the unwanted voices? If I need to get new speakers, what ones would avoid this problem in the $50-$100 (or less) range. They don't need to be fancy, since my hearing is pretty shot anyway, just good enough to listen to MP3s and movies on.

Other bits of info on preview: The noise does not come though the speakers on my laptop. I've read the threads related to this, but since I have *no* concept of the powers at work here, I'm rather lost on possible solutions.
posted by youcancallmeal to Technology (14 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Do you happen to have a cell phone anywhere near the speakers? GSM cells are notorious for this kind of thing.
posted by jjb at 5:40 PM on May 12, 2010


Response by poster: I have an iPhone on my desk, but it happens even when it's not around.
posted by youcancallmeal at 5:41 PM on May 12, 2010


Is it possible the noise could be generated inside of the computer? Try some headphones to see if the noise is coming directly out of the PC.
posted by delmoi at 5:42 PM on May 12, 2010


Response by poster: Also: it comes and goes. I don't hear it now, I heard it five minutes ago. Also, if I play something on my computer, it either goes away or drowns it out. (I'm not sure which.)
posted by youcancallmeal at 5:43 PM on May 12, 2010


Response by poster: @delmoi The noise does not come though the speakers on my laptop.
posted by youcancallmeal at 5:44 PM on May 12, 2010


I understand that you haven't moved the computer or the wires, but have you tried to move them, to see whether that affects things at all?
posted by box at 5:45 PM on May 12, 2010


Response by poster: @box I haven't, mostly because by the time that occurred to me this time, the noise was gone. I'll give that a shot the next time I notice it.

Watch, now that I posted this, it'll never happen again.
posted by youcancallmeal at 5:47 PM on May 12, 2010


Hooray, problem solved!

(Alternately, you could try some of those metal-donut-looking ferrite ring insulator deals.)
posted by box at 5:57 PM on May 12, 2010


I asked this same question last month. I confirmed that the problem was indeed GSM buzz from my iPhone on the desk. It makes the sound in EDGE mode but not in 3G mode. I bought some ferrite beads at Radio Shack and they did absolutely nothing to fix the problem. It still makes the noise whenever my phone is transmitting or receiving data, and I've resigned myself to live with it until I get a new non-GSM phone. There doesn't seem to be anything I can do.

Maybe ferrite beads will help you. Plenty of people report success using them for this problem, but I was really disappointed that in my case, they didn't even noticeably diminish the volume of the buzz.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 6:17 PM on May 12, 2010


By the way, you can probably recreate the buzz on demand. Just wake up your phone from sleep and some background process will phone home, creating the sound. It goes haywire if you're about to receive a call or text message, too.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 6:18 PM on May 12, 2010


Response by poster: FWIW, this is not a phone buzz. I know what that sounds like, this is actual radio interception into my speakers.
posted by youcancallmeal at 6:19 PM on May 12, 2010


Sorry for the third post in a row, but I should've added: Even if your phone's not around when it happens, it could be related to a neighbor's phone. Do you live in shared housing?

And I read your original question more thoroughly and you mentioned voices in the sound. If that's the case, my answers are irrelevant: GSM buzz is simply garbly digital noise. I was so sure I knew what your problem was until I reread that part.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 6:21 PM on May 12, 2010


I had this problem with a set of computer speakers a while back, I could pick up radio stations on them due to the unshielded cables. I found that spooling the cables mitigated the problem somewhat.
posted by burnmp3s at 6:53 PM on May 12, 2010


Not sure if it's relevant, but central texas is a hotbed of Pirate Radio, which often use low band transmitters.

Anecdotally, I know that my college radio station used low band transmitters and had their antenna on top of a large dorm. Many computer speakers in that hall would pick up the signal, even when off.

I don't know a whole lot about pirate radio, or the "scene" as it were in Austin, but it's pretty interesting.
posted by fontophilic at 9:54 AM on May 13, 2010


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