Ghost computer noises
May 16, 2011 5:30 PM Subscribe
How do I stop the faint but disturbing sound of what I believe is a Chinese-language radio station in the background on my computer?
I have an iMac, using OSX10.5.8, browsing via Firefox 4.0.1. I thought it was happening only while playing something from Youtube but I can also hear it right now with a tab open to a TED talk. If I pause the TED presentation, the sound continues, although increasing the volume on the computer-connected speakers won't make the ghost station come in any louder. Quitting the tab or Firefox altogether makes it stop -- but that's hardly the solution I'm after. Help?
Note that I tried looking at the Activity Monitor in Utilities but couldn't see anything suspicious (not that I know what to look for). Also note that I'm not crazy. Well, not on this one anyway.
I have an iMac, using OSX10.5.8, browsing via Firefox 4.0.1. I thought it was happening only while playing something from Youtube but I can also hear it right now with a tab open to a TED talk. If I pause the TED presentation, the sound continues, although increasing the volume on the computer-connected speakers won't make the ghost station come in any louder. Quitting the tab or Firefox altogether makes it stop -- but that's hardly the solution I'm after. Help?
Note that I tried looking at the Activity Monitor in Utilities but couldn't see anything suspicious (not that I know what to look for). Also note that I'm not crazy. Well, not on this one anyway.
do you still hear it if you use headphones? your speakers may be susceptible to what's known as "radio frequency breakthrough interference". this might be helpful.
posted by jjoye at 5:45 PM on May 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jjoye at 5:45 PM on May 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Try an external USB audio adapter.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:47 PM on May 16, 2011
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:47 PM on May 16, 2011
This happens to me: late at night when my computer is off, a sports talk radio show will come through my computer speakers. It's not your computer, but your computer speakers that is picking up some random radio station.
On preview, jjoye's link on "radio frequency breakthrough interference" is most likely what is happening.
posted by littlesq at 5:54 PM on May 16, 2011
On preview, jjoye's link on "radio frequency breakthrough interference" is most likely what is happening.
posted by littlesq at 5:54 PM on May 16, 2011
Do you have trouble with actual radios or other electronic devices in your house? Then it might be interference from a radio station. I lived for 18 months in a place a few blocks from a radio station antenna & it came thru on EVERYTHING, including the answering machine. I was able to get some doodads that helped a bit, altho the problem never went away entirely.
posted by epersonae at 6:27 PM on May 16, 2011
posted by epersonae at 6:27 PM on May 16, 2011
Everyone saying "you have interference coming through your speakers", have you noted this part?
posted by AmbroseChapel at 7:27 PM on May 16, 2011
Quitting the tab or Firefox altogether makes it stopHow do you account for that?
posted by AmbroseChapel at 7:27 PM on May 16, 2011
Seconding AmbroseChapel ...
This sounds very odd !
It would be good to understand the circumstances in which the problem is seen more clearly.
What I'd be interested to know is :
* What would you do if you wished to invoke the problem (that is what steps would you follow if you wished to replicate the problem)
* If you listen to this YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-folic8_ZXY - (which has no audible soundtrack [I'm not sure what the accompanying video is all about so if it's weird I'm sorry]) are you able to hear the problem noise ?
* I'm not a Mac person but can you use GarageBand (or similar) to record the audio which the machine is outputting. If you can can you hear the interference on that recording ?
posted by southof40 at 7:52 PM on May 16, 2011
This sounds very odd !
It would be good to understand the circumstances in which the problem is seen more clearly.
What I'd be interested to know is :
* What would you do if you wished to invoke the problem (that is what steps would you follow if you wished to replicate the problem)
* If you listen to this YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-folic8_ZXY - (which has no audible soundtrack [I'm not sure what the accompanying video is all about so if it's weird I'm sorry]) are you able to hear the problem noise ?
* I'm not a Mac person but can you use GarageBand (or similar) to record the audio which the machine is outputting. If you can can you hear the interference on that recording ?
posted by southof40 at 7:52 PM on May 16, 2011
What would you do if you wished to invoke the problem
I mean starting from not having FireFox running at all.
posted by southof40 at 7:53 PM on May 16, 2011
I mean starting from not having FireFox running at all.
posted by southof40 at 7:53 PM on May 16, 2011
so if it's weird I'm sorry
In closing tabs I've just read the comments on that YouTube vid - it definetly sounds potentially scary so maybe close your eyes whilst playing ;-)
posted by southof40 at 7:57 PM on May 16, 2011
In closing tabs I've just read the comments on that YouTube vid - it definetly sounds potentially scary so maybe close your eyes whilst playing ;-)
posted by southof40 at 7:57 PM on May 16, 2011
Oh my god I thought I was the only one!
My primary computer is currently in a house that has an incredibly tall CB radio antenna on it and ever since it was installed my iMac has ghost noise that sounds like a foreign radio station playing whenever I plug in my headphones. I cannot get rid of it and it is really disturbing sometimes. Do you live in an apartment complex or building with antennae on it?
posted by patronuscharms at 8:16 PM on May 16, 2011
My primary computer is currently in a house that has an incredibly tall CB radio antenna on it and ever since it was installed my iMac has ghost noise that sounds like a foreign radio station playing whenever I plug in my headphones. I cannot get rid of it and it is really disturbing sometimes. Do you live in an apartment complex or building with antennae on it?
posted by patronuscharms at 8:16 PM on May 16, 2011
Everyone saying "you have interference coming through your speakers", have you noted this part?
Quitting the tab or Firefox altogether makes it stop
How do you account for that?
The speakers might only be powered when playing audio?
posted by empath at 6:55 AM on May 17, 2011
Quitting the tab or Firefox altogether makes it stop
How do you account for that?
The speakers might only be powered when playing audio?
posted by empath at 6:55 AM on May 17, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for your helpful questions. Some answers below:
Yes to the external speakers, a two speaker and one bass box system, which wasn't expensive.
I have a 24" white iMac.
The sound stops when I pull out the plug on the external speakers. So the suggestions about the speakers or wiring picking up a radio station sound like plausible.
No trouble with other electronic devices that I know of.
It's not just YouTube -- I'd thought I had to run some kind of video/audio stream to make it kick in, but it happened just now looking at a static news page (well, static but with some kind of ad moving in a small box on the page).
If I wanted to invoke it? I'm trying everything to do the opposite. But I suppose I would run YouTube vids with the volume turned low so it didn't drown out the ghosts. I've only had it happen in Firefox but then that's what I use as a browser so I'm not sure if that's the issue.
The speakers are powered with their own electrical cord.
I live in a co-op building, three-story wood frame with 36 units, but no antennae on the roof.
posted by ecourbanist at 7:42 AM on May 17, 2011
Yes to the external speakers, a two speaker and one bass box system, which wasn't expensive.
I have a 24" white iMac.
The sound stops when I pull out the plug on the external speakers. So the suggestions about the speakers or wiring picking up a radio station sound like plausible.
No trouble with other electronic devices that I know of.
It's not just YouTube -- I'd thought I had to run some kind of video/audio stream to make it kick in, but it happened just now looking at a static news page (well, static but with some kind of ad moving in a small box on the page).
If I wanted to invoke it? I'm trying everything to do the opposite. But I suppose I would run YouTube vids with the volume turned low so it didn't drown out the ghosts. I've only had it happen in Firefox but then that's what I use as a browser so I'm not sure if that's the issue.
The speakers are powered with their own electrical cord.
I live in a co-op building, three-story wood frame with 36 units, but no antennae on the roof.
posted by ecourbanist at 7:42 AM on May 17, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by killdevil at 5:34 PM on May 16, 2011