Comments on: FAQ: The 411 on radio frequency interference

Ever wonder what causes that annoying "buzz" from a speaker? It's called radio frequency interference.

[usb123]

No, its not just GSM....

Ive been a Nextel subscriber for almost 10 years now, and been through about a dozen phones. Throughout that time, ive always had to deal with this kind of thing. In case you dont know, Nextel is using a technology developed by Motorola in the early 90s called iDEN, which runs at a fairly low frequency as far as cell phones go. The kind of RF interference experienced by many cell phone owners is a disruption in the RF band, and it doesn't only happen with frequencies that are close together either, it can happen all over the RF band. If a device isn't properly shielded, it can disrupt all sorts of devices, but speakers are especially susceptible because of the exposed magnet and their overall design.

Just wanted to dispell anyone believing it was ONLY GSM phones. iDEN is older than any current US technology by the major carriers ( It just took awhile for a carrier in the states to pick up teh technology, ie Nextel.

[mineralwalker]

haha

One time in church, I was giving a talk and i got a very large
amount of interference as a text message was being delivered. I
had to step away three feet before it would stop, lol.