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Why does my AT&T cell phone cause any speaker within ~15" to periodically "buzz"? My old Verizon phone didn't.
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This is a standard RFI issue. It is not a problem with AT&T phones, it is an issue with the frequency they use to communicate. As a HAM operator, I have to deal with RFI many devices throughout the house. Cellphones emminate mW of RF, HAMs deal with 5 - 1000 W of RF. The principals are the same for dealing with either case.
1. Try using split ferrite cores
Ferrite cores provide shielding for the cables on your existing equipment. You may have to buy extended connecting lines to loop them through the cores multiple times.
2. Purchase well shielded devices.
You can search around for devices that specifically mention being shielded.
www.eham.net is a great resource for reviews on devices as related to being in RF environments.
3. Distance
RF power decreases as you get further away from the source decreasing any RFI associated with it.
1. Try using split ferrite cores
Ferrite cores provide shielding for the cables on your existing equipment. You may have to buy extended connecting lines to loop them through the cores multiple times.
2. Purchase well shielded devices.
You can search around for devices that specifically mention being shielded.
www.eham.net is a great resource for reviews on devices as related to being in RF environments.
3. Distance
RF power decreases as you get further away from the source decreasing any RFI associated with it.
Probably because AT&T is the worst phone service imaginable. Even the iPhone can't get me to switch to it. Verizon doesn't disconnect most of the time.
Also, it's likely due to some kind of Wi-Fi transmission. Your cell is sending out a signal looking for response. The audio response you hear from your speakers is just proof that your phone is working hard for you.
Also, it's likely due to some kind of Wi-Fi transmission. Your cell is sending out a signal looking for response. The audio response you hear from your speakers is just proof that your phone is working hard for you.
It's because the speakers tend to pick up the pre-location activity (the bit before the phone rings)
To add... this has to do with phones on the GSM network.
My personal experience says this is limited mostly to GSM phones, but my sprint (CDMA) phone sometimes does it as well. I only notice it with text, so I imagine its the data transmission protocol.
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/audio/topic2973.html
John Schutt
The cell phone speaker noise problem is very common. Part of the radio energy that the cell phone is transmitting is being detected and amplified by your speakers.
It may help to use some ferrite RF suppression chokes that snap on the speaker wiring. Radio Shack has them, but they may end up being more expensive than your speakers.
Most likely, you'll have to try other speakers. Maybe you can "audition" them by receiving a cell phone call before buying them at a store if they have them on display.
Joe F
Jeff can rest assured there is nothing wrong with his speaker. In fact, I suspected he had a Cingular phone before he confirmed it in the last sentance of his message. The noise he is hearing is a common interference issue with Cingular (likely all US GSM) phones. The radio frequencies US GSM phones transmit on can often be heard on nearby powered speakers. For example, I can often tell if the person sitting next to the speakerphone in our conference room has a Cingular phone in their pocket because every few minutes you'll hear the phone "checking in" with the cell tower. I've also heard it on my car stereo, especially if the phone was in my pocket hear the door speaker, and on portable stereos.
I've since ditched my Cingular phone (for many, many reasons not related to this issue) and switched to Verizon. The CDMA phones do not cause this interference. So Jeff can either switch to Verizon, a recommended action anyway :-) or he can just move the phone farther away from the speaker.
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/audio/topic2973.html
John Schutt
The cell phone speaker noise problem is very common. Part of the radio energy that the cell phone is transmitting is being detected and amplified by your speakers.
It may help to use some ferrite RF suppression chokes that snap on the speaker wiring. Radio Shack has them, but they may end up being more expensive than your speakers.
Most likely, you'll have to try other speakers. Maybe you can "audition" them by receiving a cell phone call before buying them at a store if they have them on display.
Joe F
Jeff can rest assured there is nothing wrong with his speaker. In fact, I suspected he had a Cingular phone before he confirmed it in the last sentance of his message. The noise he is hearing is a common interference issue with Cingular (likely all US GSM) phones. The radio frequencies US GSM phones transmit on can often be heard on nearby powered speakers. For example, I can often tell if the person sitting next to the speakerphone in our conference room has a Cingular phone in their pocket because every few minutes you'll hear the phone "checking in" with the cell tower. I've also heard it on my car stereo, especially if the phone was in my pocket hear the door speaker, and on portable stereos.
I've since ditched my Cingular phone (for many, many reasons not related to this issue) and switched to Verizon. The CDMA phones do not cause this interference. So Jeff can either switch to Verizon, a recommended action anyway :-) or he can just move the phone farther away from the speaker.
Another solution to this annoying gsm buzzing can be found at http://www.stopthebuzzin.com
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