Take the tour ×

Since a week or so a constant high pitch sound (~4khz) emanates from my active monitor speakers. After eliminating any ground or power source issues I noticed, that the sound rises in volume whenever I open my window - which is exactly between my speakers and an array of cellular antennas on the opposite building. I recall there were new antennas added a few weeks ago. Our public database shows that there are over 20 transmitters on there, with 3 pointing exactly in my direction.

Question: Can HF-EMWs produce such a sound in an audio amplifier or through it's connectors (it's not the cables or whatever comes through them)?

share|improve this question
What exactly do you mean by "cellular antennas"? Are you talking about these kinds of signals? Signals that transmit to mobile phones? –  Kitchi Jan 29 at 5:49
yes, cell-phone towers. these here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_site –  reinhardt Jan 29 at 12:21
add comment

2 Answers

Considering that cell phone towers broadcast at frequencies that start at ~ $100$ $MHz$ and go on all the way up to nearly $1$ $GHz$, I'd say that the interference you're hearing isn't due to the cell phone towers.

But to answer your other question - It is possible for electromagnetic radiation to induce a signal in an audio amplifier. An amplifier takes an electrical signal, sends it through some circuitry to boost the amplitude, which then drives a speaker of some manner.

An electromagnetic wave will induce oscillations in the amplifier circuit (exactly the same way as an antenna), which will presumably be amplified and that's the hum that you hear.

I doubt that it's the cell phone tower, because it will induce a frequency comparable to it's transmission frequency, and if you are hearing something at ~$4$ $KHz$, then it's way too low a frequency to be caused by the cell phone signal.

share|improve this answer
That just means that the cellular transmissions (carrying messages to the phones) aren't affecting his amplifier. It doesn't mean that the cellular tower isn't also producing some other 4KHz noise that he's hearing. –  Peter Shor Jan 29 at 13:44
Thanks for your answers! What would be most probable in a multi-condominium neighborhood? Is 4 khz at least narrowing the source down? –  reinhardt Jan 29 at 14:11
For illustration, here is what it sounds like: mega.co.nz/… –  reinhardt Jan 29 at 16:19
add comment
up vote 0 down vote accepted

I can now safely say that it's LTE. For anyone interested: There are all sorts of lower frequency carrier waves that are then modulated with the actual HF. For UMTS, LTE or Bluetooth, perfectly distinctive sound signatures can be made audible with measurement-tools. Or a pair of KRK speakers that is, even with magnetic shielding. Although readings indicate a really unhealthy dose of radiation (6 μW/m2) in my room, it is still far below any judicial threshold.

share|improve this answer
add comment

Your Answer


