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Is my cell phone killing my speaker? |
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Written by asap
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Saturday, 03 March 2007 |
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Question: You’re standing next to a computer with speakers attached, or maybe an iPod docking station or other electronic device. You’re making a call on your cell phone when all of a sudden a piercing buzz or popping sounds from the speaker.
Sound familiar? Why does this happen?
Answer: “Even when your phone is not being used for a voice call — when you’re not using it — it is still communicating with a nearby cell tower,” says Joseph Farren, public affairs director for CTIA-The Wireless Association, an international association of the wireless telecommunications industry.
Farren checked with one of CTIA’s engineers.
“It is communicating maybe to confirm a receipt of a text message or e-mail or even just telling the tower periodically, ’This is where I am. This is where I am. So if you need to send a call, this is where I am.”’
The buzz isn’t coming from the electronic itself, Farren said; it’s coming from the electronic device’s speaker.
“It’s sending bursts of radio waves that can create a current in the speaker’s coil because most speakers use a coil of wire and a magnet. That kind of creates the noise,” Farren said.
Farren said engineers say hearing that pop, tick or buzz sound depends on how close your cell phone is to the speaker. Farren also said CTIA hasn’t received any reports of damage to speakers because of the noise.
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Caryn Rousseau is an asap reporter based in Kansas City, Mo. Her cell phone makes computer speakers buzz. | Only registered users can write comments.
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