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  1. #1
    Jeffrey Kaplan
    Guest
    For the past month or so, I've been getting odd noise effects from my
    speakers: Car, home stereo and computer. I was finally able to pin
    the pattern down.

    It started happening when I first got a Cingular GSM phone, and it only
    happens when the phone is on. It happens when the phone is turning on,
    turning off, or connecting for making or receiving a call, and
    semi-random times while the phone is on. It only happens when the
    speakers are on, and the volume/mute controls on the effected tuner/amp
    effect the volume of the induced noise.

    Does anyone know why this happens, and if there is any solution short
    of replacing everything?

    --
    Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
    The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

    "This is a possible future Commander, and it is my hope that you may
    yet avoid it." (Lady Ladira, B5 "Signs and Portents")



    See More: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers




  2. #2
    Jer
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    Joseph wrote:
    > On Sat, 02 Jul 2005 19:00:34 -0400, Jeffrey Kaplan <[email protected]>
    > wrote:
    >
    >
    >>For the past month or so, I've been getting odd noise effects from my
    >>speakers: Car, home stereo and computer. I was finally able to pin
    >>the pattern down.
    >>
    >>It started happening when I first got a Cingular GSM phone, and it only
    >>happens when the phone is on. It happens when the phone is turning on,
    >>turning off, or connecting for making or receiving a call, and
    >>semi-random times while the phone is on. It only happens when the
    >>speakers are on, and the volume/mute controls on the effected tuner/amp
    >>effect the volume of the induced noise.
    >>
    >>Does anyone know why this happens, and if there is any solution short
    >>of replacing everything?

    >
    >
    > There's really nothing you can do since the tinga-tinga-buzz-buzz-buzz
    > is what you get when a GSM handset gets near any unshielded device
    > such as a speaker or even near regular telephones with electret type
    > microphones. You won't get that with carbon granule transmitter
    > phones. With TDMA near speakers instead of getting the
    > tinga-tina-buzz-buzz-buzz you get a low toned buzz. To my knowlege
    > you don't get this with CDMA, but you do with GSM and "TDMA" aka
    > IS-136. You'll only get the buzzing as you said when the phone is
    > turned on, initiating a call or about to ring. You might get the
    > occasional burst of noise if for some reason the phone has to check
    > with the network. Bottom line is if you stay with GSM or TDMA you're
    > going to have noise on your speakers and other unshielded audio
    > devices. And the only thing you could really replace is your phone
    > service with cingular and go with a CDMA carrier. All GSM/TDMA
    > providers have this trait.
    >
    > - -
    >



    ....or replace any speaker wires with shielded cables.


    --
    jer
    email reply - I am not a 'ten'



  3. #3
    Jeffrey Kaplan
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    It is alleged that Joseph claimed:

    ; >Does anyone know why this happens, and if there is any solution short
    ; >of replacing everything?
    ;
    ; There's really nothing you can do since the tinga-tinga-buzz-buzz-buzz
    ; is what you get when a GSM handset gets near any unshielded device
    ; such as a speaker or even near regular telephones with electret type
    ; microphones. You won't get that with carbon granule transmitter
    ; phones. With TDMA near speakers instead of getting the
    ; tinga-tina-buzz-buzz-buzz you get a low toned buzz. To my knowlege
    ; you don't get this with CDMA, but you do with GSM and "TDMA" aka
    ; IS-136. You'll only get the buzzing as you said when the phone is
    ; turned on, initiating a call or about to ring. You might get the
    ; occasional burst of noise if for some reason the phone has to check
    ; with the network. Bottom line is if you stay with GSM or TDMA you're
    ; going to have noise on your speakers and other unshielded audio
    ; devices. And the only thing you could really replace is your phone
    ; service with cingular and go with a CDMA carrier. All GSM/TDMA
    ; providers have this trait.

    Basically what I figured, but with tech details. FWIW, I switched
    +to+ Cingular/GSM because there is zero CDMA coverage where I now live.
    I'm in signal shadow to/from all of the local CDMA towers. I've been
    here a year, and VZW, my previous provider, has no plans on doing
    anything about it.

    --
    Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
    The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

    "Look, I don't mind if you bend the rules a little, Doctor. I mean I
    bend a few myself. But I do like to be informed. If I'm going to
    share in the blame, I'd at least like to share in some of the fun."
    (Lt. Cmdr. Ivanova, B5 "The Quality of Mercy")



  4. #4
    Jeffrey Kaplan
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    It is alleged that Jer claimed:

    ; ...or replace any speaker wires with shielded cables.

    Actually, iirc, the speakers in my living room are fed by shielded
    cables. I'd have to double-check. But that doesn't help me wrt my
    computer or car.

    Guess I'll just live with it.

    --
    Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
    The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

    "I won't bite, Vir." "With all due respect, madam. That's not what
    I've heard." "all right, that +one+ time." "It was twice." (Timov
    and Vir Coto, B5 "Soul Mates")



  5. #5
    Jer
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:
    > It is alleged that Jer claimed:
    >
    > ; ...or replace any speaker wires with shielded cables.
    >
    > Actually, iirc, the speakers in my living room are fed by shielded
    > cables. I'd have to double-check. But that doesn't help me wrt my
    > computer or car.
    >
    > Guess I'll just live with it.
    >



    Most home theater and PC speakers are already shielded in this manner to
    protect CRT systems from a speaker's magnetic field. If a speaker
    enclosure isn't shielded, one can remedy that by lining the interior
    cabinet surface with aluminum foil, and connecting that to the coaxial
    shield.

    Here, all the speakers are connected via shielded cables - on the
    theater equipment in the rec room and the PC here in the office - due to
    the hi-powered CB radios so prevalent around here. Mind you, not all
    speaker enclosures are shielded, so there's still a minor risk there
    (see above), but the majority of the problem is with the wiring in walls
    and under carpet. The cabling for each speaker has the + and - wires
    enclosed within a coaxial shield, with the shield on the supply end
    connected to earth bond. Yes, I still hear it in the car, but trying to
    create a hi-end sound system there is expensive with dubious value, so
    I've let that go.

    --
    jer
    email reply - I am not a 'ten'



  6. #6
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    Foil won't do anything, except maybe for those MLB spy
    satellites (do you line your headgear, just in case?).
    Don't believe me? Put a magnet on one side of your foil
    and your TV screen on the other. Sure, go ahead and
    solder in your "coax". As anyone who knows how to *****
    experiment knows, you've failed. Back to the drawing
    board. Look up mu-metal. And for goodness sakes, wear
    goggles! Or just turn off your phone, which has nothing
    to do with the "shielding" of shielded loudspeakers.

    J- [Sun, 03 Jul 2005 07:52:40 -0500]:
    >protect CRT systems from a speaker's magnetic field. If a speaker
    >enclosure isn't shielded, one can remedy that by lining the interior
    >cabinet surface with aluminum foil, and connecting that to the coaxial
    >shield.


    --
    40th Floor - Software @ http://40th.com/
    iPlay : the ultimate audio player for mobiles
    mp3,mp4,m4a,aac,ogg,flac,wav,play & record
    parametric eq, xfeed, reverb; all on a mobile



  7. #7
    Jer
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    [email protected] wrote:
    > Foil won't do anything, except maybe for those MLB spy
    > satellites (do you line your headgear, just in case?).
    > Don't believe me? Put a magnet on one side of your foil
    > and your TV screen on the other. Sure, go ahead and
    > solder in your "coax". As anyone who knows how to *****
    > experiment knows, you've failed. Back to the drawing
    > board. Look up mu-metal. And for goodness sakes, wear
    > goggles! Or just turn off your phone, which has nothing
    > to do with the "shielding" of shielded loudspeakers.
    >
    > J- [Sun, 03 Jul 2005 07:52:40 -0500]:
    > >protect CRT systems from a speaker's magnetic field. If a speaker
    > >enclosure isn't shielded, one can remedy that by lining the interior
    > >cabinet surface with aluminum foil, and connecting that to the coaxial
    > >shield.

    >


    Interesting... then the foil I added to the inside of my center channel
    speaker cabinet (which sits directly on top of the display), which
    screwed up the display image beforehand, and not afterward, is a
    failure? Interesting hypothesis.

    --
    jer
    email reply - I am not a 'ten'



  8. #8
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    "Center channel" loudspeakers are made to be put on a TV.
    You may as well claim you don't receive any MLB spy
    satellite transmissions when you wear your tinfoil cap.
    That may be true; I wouldn't know. As for the foil acting
    as a barrier to any kind of magnet, that is not true.

    J- [Sun, 03 Jul 2005 14:40:05 -0500]:
    >then the foil I added to the inside of my center channel
    >speaker cabinet..., is a >failure? Interesting hypothesis.


    But not a terribly interesting story anyway. It has
    nothing to do with the thread topic, either.
    --
    40th Floor - Software @ http://40th.com/
    iPlay : the ultimate audio player for mobiles
    mp3,mp4,m4a,aac,ogg,flac,wav,play & record
    parametric eq, xfeed, reverb; all on a mobile



  9. #9
    Jer
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    [email protected] wrote:
    > "Center channel" loudspeakers are made to be put on a TV.
    > You may as well claim you don't receive any MLB spy
    > satellite transmissions when you wear your tinfoil cap.
    > That may be true; I wouldn't know. As for the foil acting
    > as a barrier to any kind of magnet, that is not true.
    >
    > J- [Sun, 03 Jul 2005 14:40:05 -0500]:
    > >then the foil I added to the inside of my center channel
    > >speaker cabinet..., is a >failure? Interesting hypothesis.

    >
    > But not a terribly interesting story anyway. It has
    > nothing to do with the thread topic, either.



    This particular speaker assembly was never intended to be used in this
    manner. The housing simply works for it's new application, as the
    original speakers were replaced with heavier drivers more appropriate to
    providing a balanced front sound stage for 200 watt channel given the
    timber of the other two front mains. The shield material was obtained
    from a sound engineer whom I've known for over thirty years - it's what
    he uses - and bonding it to the coaxial cable shield gives an acceptable
    performance.

    Your assertion that center channel speakers are designed to be used this
    way is certainly spot on - this design with the added shielding works
    for it's intended application, both physically and acoustically. Since
    the front grill is customized the same as the others, the aesthetic
    value of the entire system is preserved as well.

    Your assertion that it's not a very interesting story, despite my
    tinfoil wardrobe, is also spot on - however, I well and truly don't give
    a ****. You, sir, are welcome to sit there believing whatever you
    prefer - I will sit here and enjoy my own creation sans interference
    from CB radios, cell phones, and assorted idiots. The whole point of my
    post was to offer an alternative to complaining about an issue where
    none of us are without remedy. I beleive it to be relevant, apparently
    you disagree. Had you been the original poster, I may have given a ****
    about that, but you weren't and I don't.

    HANDA

    --
    jer
    email reply - I am not a 'ten'



  10. #10
    Tropical Haven
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    > Here, all the speakers are connected via shielded cables - on the
    > theater equipment in the rec room and the PC here in the office - due to
    > the hi-powered CB radios so prevalent around here. Mind you, not all
    > speaker enclosures are shielded, so there's still a minor risk there
    > (see above), but the majority of the problem is with the wiring in walls
    > and under carpet. The cabling for each speaker has the + and - wires
    > enclosed within a coaxial shield, with the shield on the supply end
    > connected to earth bond. Yes, I still hear it in the car, but trying to
    > create a hi-end sound system there is expensive with dubious value, so
    > I've let that go.


    I just realized that I don't get that interference in my car. It's become
    such a part of life that it's an extension of the phone's ringer to me, that
    I can follow the status of the phone based on the sounds.

    I have a Toyota.

    TH




  11. #11
    David W Studeman
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    Jer wrote:

    > [email protected] wrote:
    >> "Center channel" loudspeakers are made to be put on a TV.
    >> You may as well claim you don't receive any MLB spy
    >> satellite transmissions when you wear your tinfoil cap.
    >> That may be true; I wouldn't know. As for the foil acting
    >> as a barrier to any kind of magnet, that is not true.
    >>
    >> J- [Sun, 03 Jul 2005 14:40:05 -0500]:
    >> >then the foil I added to the inside of my center channel
    >> >speaker cabinet..., is a >failure? Interesting hypothesis.

    >>
    >> But not a terribly interesting story anyway. It has
    >> nothing to do with the thread topic, either.

    >
    >
    > This particular speaker assembly was never intended to be used in this
    > manner. The housing simply works for it's new application, as the
    > original speakers were replaced with heavier drivers more appropriate to
    > providing a balanced front sound stage for 200 watt channel given the
    > timber of the other two front mains. The shield material was obtained
    > from a sound engineer whom I've known for over thirty years - it's what
    > he uses - and bonding it to the coaxial cable shield gives an acceptable
    > performance.
    >
    > Your assertion that center channel speakers are designed to be used this
    > way is certainly spot on - this design with the added shielding works
    > for it's intended application, both physically and acoustically. Since
    > the front grill is customized the same as the others, the aesthetic
    > value of the entire system is preserved as well.
    >
    > Your assertion that it's not a very interesting story, despite my
    > tinfoil wardrobe, is also spot on - however, I well and truly don't give
    > a ****. You, sir, are welcome to sit there believing whatever you
    > prefer - I will sit here and enjoy my own creation sans interference
    > from CB radios, cell phones, and assorted idiots. The whole point of my
    > post was to offer an alternative to complaining about an issue where
    > none of us are without remedy. I beleive it to be relevant, apparently
    > you disagree. Had you been the original poster, I may have given a ****
    > about that, but you weren't and I don't.
    >
    > HANDA
    >


    I work as an Avionics Tech and the newer aircraft use proximity sensors and
    ferrous targets for such things as gear down, weight on wheels, doors being
    open and so forth. We use pieces of aluminum to break the electromagnetic
    lines of flux such as when we want to fool the aircraft into thinking it is
    not on the ground, and if we want to test the sensors when the aircraft
    configuration has the ferrous targets in a far condition, we tape something
    ferrous to the sensor such as a piece of hacksaw blade or anything like
    that. You are correct that aluminum will shield magnetic lines of flux.
    Aluminum is often used to shield speakers built to be near any type of crt.
    --
    Dave



  12. #12
    James Mason
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers


    "Jer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:
    >> It is alleged that Jer claimed:
    >>
    >> ; ...or replace any speaker wires with shielded cables.
    >>
    >> Actually, iirc, the speakers in my living room are fed by shielded
    >> cables. I'd have to double-check. But that doesn't help me wrt my
    >> computer or car.
    >>
    >> Guess I'll just live with it.
    >>

    >
    >
    > Most home theater and PC speakers are already shielded in this manner to
    > protect CRT systems from a speaker's magnetic field. If a speaker
    > enclosure isn't shielded, one can remedy that by lining the interior
    > cabinet surface with aluminum foil, and connecting that to the coaxial
    > shield.
    >
    > Here, all the speakers are connected via shielded cables - on the theater
    > equipment in the rec room and the PC here in the office - due to the
    > hi-powered CB radios so prevalent around here. Mind you, not all speaker
    > enclosures are shielded, so there's still a minor risk there (see above),
    > but the majority of the problem is with the wiring in walls and under
    > carpet. The cabling for each speaker has the + and - wires enclosed
    > within a coaxial shield, with the shield on the supply end connected to
    > earth bond. Yes, I still hear it in the car, but trying to create a
    > hi-end sound system there is expensive with dubious value, so I've let
    > that go.
    >
    > --
    > jer
    > email reply - I am not a 'ten'


    Who would buy cheap, unshielded speakers for a sound system?





  13. #13
    Morgan Goose
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    Dude,
    the frequency at which gsm phones operate (850-1900 mhz) resonates at an
    approx. dimention of modt wires. just move your phone away from the music
    box.





  14. #14
    Jeffrey Kaplan
    Guest

    Re: GSM interfering with powered stereo speakers

    It is alleged that Morgan Goose claimed:

    ; the frequency at which gsm phones operate (850-1900 mhz) resonates at an
    ; approx. dimention of modt wires. just move your phone away from the music
    ; box.

    Not possible. Each area where this happens places me no more than 8
    feet away from a speaker, and I'm already as far from them as the space
    or circumstance allows.

    My only real options are shielding or live with it.

    --
    Jeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org
    The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol

    "And after spending a day dealing with Amb. G'Kar, I long to sink my
    teeth into something..." (Amb. Londo, B5 "Born to the Purple")



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