identify that sound

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Jeraden
They have that site blocked at work so I can't download the sample but...

My cell phone will cause interference with my speakers all the time. I always know when I'm about to get a call cause I'll hear the same interference pattern start a few seconds before the phone rings. It will do it other times too when not getting a call, I guess when the phone is either sending/receiving data. I remember I had no idea what it was for a long time, but then finally realized it was the phone. I have 3 computers at home and it only does it to 1 of them. But also does it to my computer here at work.

Anyways, not sure if thats the same sound, as I can't hear the clip, but possible.

It's not, but I know what you're talking about. Well documented phenomenon, happens when signal is sent from cell phone to tower either when receiving a call or intermittently. With ATT/GSM phones only.

 

[jteef]

Originally posted by: joeld

Originally posted by: jteef
I also have this sound and recently posted something to the GH forum. nobody knows what it is, but I can remember hearing it for a really long time. It seems to be pretty random, not associated with any user action at the computer. i.e. if i leave my volume up, i can lay in bed and hear the sounds every once in a while. The sound is so consistent and the same across multiple computers, i really doubt it's any kind of interference. I thought maybe its some notification of the processor engaging the intel speedstep stuff, but i don't know how to check that. I do not use outlook, trillian, or IE. I do use Firefox, gtalk, and skype.

Regarding intel speedstep, I use a program called RMClock to manage the clock and voltage on my Pentium M laptop. When I manually change the voltage I can hear a slight change in the sound, but it's not from the speakers.

Since you don't use outlook, that leaves firefox (including ads?), xp, and drivers.

I think they're on to us. I haven't heard it once since coming home for lunch an hour ago. Although I can remember hearing the same sounds many years ago. before Firefox was even out...perhaps in win2k even.

 

[joeld]

bump!

 

[Crono]

You could try process of elimination. Try disabling system sounds (Control Panel -> Sound and Audio Devices -> Sound-> Sound Scheme:->No Sounds), and if you still get the sound, try using Flashmute or Ad-Block in FireFox. Try logging your website history and match with the next time you hear the noise. It's possible the noise is a system tray app, as well, so you could try closing (manually, by msconfig startup, and/or forcibly with task manager) the programs one by one.

 

[Rubycon]

Go to C:\WINDOWS\MEDIA and delete everything in that folder. Gets rid of unnecessary WIndows sounds forever.

EDIT: recording with the mix (like record what u hear, etc.) WILL definitely record something an unused mic, line in, etc. is picking up. ALWAYS MUTE these inputs if they are not used for the best possible (lowest) noise floor!

 

[joeld]

Bump

I haven't heard the sound in a while, so I can't test any troubleshooting methods, but I'm still waiting for more folks to say they hear the exact same sound on their computers and have the solution to fix it.

 

[joeld]

bump

 

[joeld]

UPDATE! I just heard the sound again! I got a new laptop at work and haven't heard it until today when I've been installing visual studio stuff. I've installed VS6 and am installing VS2002. I just installed activesync yesterday, but never heard the sound yesterday, and closing the activesync conn process doesn't stop the sound from happening.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: joeld
UPDATE! I just heard the sound again! I got a new laptop at work and haven't heard it until today when I've been installing visual studio stuff. I've installed VS6 and am installing VS2002. I just installed activesync yesterday, but never heard the sound yesterday, and closing the activesync conn process doesn't stop the sound from happening.

It'd help if the original link still worked 😀

 

[nakedfrog]

What's that sound coming out of the hole in the wood?

 

[joeld]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: joeld
UPDATE! I just heard the sound again! I got a new laptop at work and haven't heard it until today when I've been installing visual studio stuff. I've installed VS6 and am installing VS2002. I just installed activesync yesterday, but never heard the sound yesterday, and closing the activesync conn process doesn't stop the sound from happening.

It'd help if the original link still worked 😀

LOL, Crap...

I re-uploaded a wav file I had to filefront. Here is the new link...

http://www.filefront.com/14555227/the%20sound.wav

I've heard it several times on my new laptop. Still haven't narrowed down any further.

 

[Jeff7]

Well, it probably won't help, but here's a cool frequency plot of the first sound spike, generated courtesy of Goldwave. 🙂

 

[Crono]

My original advice didn't help?

 

[joeld]

Originally posted by: Crono
My original advice didn't help?

I have not gone through the procedure you suggested, since I've only experienced the problem a few times since then and was busy.

jteef earlier suggested that he has heard the sound for years even before firefox was released. I am fairly confident that I have heard the sound when just sitting at the desktop as well with no active programs running aside from background/system tray apps.

Next time I hear it, I'll pay attention to what I've been doing and do an audit. It may be a while, as I've had headphones plugged in recently and they just lay on my desk for most of the day.