I'm hearing radio through my speakers... unwillingly!

witold

Member
Apr 8, 2001
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A few days ago, I hooked my new speakers. They are Altec Lansing 641s. So far, they've been great (hadn't had a chance to max them out yet). However, one thing is annoying the hell out of me.

The speakers pick up radio signals! So basically, I am forced to listen to the radio. This is a big problem especially if I try to watch movies late at night.

What would be a cheap way to solve this problem. What kind of shielding do I need to get and where can I get it? Anyone know?

Witold
 

Slick5150

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2001
8,760
3
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Uhhhh. It's more or less impossible for a speaker to pick up a radio signal.

Unless I'm misunderstanding something about your post

Or these speakers have some kind of built in radio tuner, which I'm assuming they don't
 

zepper00

Member
Jul 1, 2002
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There are several ways that things can pick up radio signals but usually it just comes across as noise. If it is actually distinguishable as music then it becomes a bit more difficult.
First I would unplug the speakers from the computer and then turn them on. Do you still hear the music? If yes, then it's in the speaker system, if no, then it's probably in your sound card. In either case, neither should be rectifying radio signals, so replace the defective item--unless you want to track down which cold solder joint or dirty contact is doing the rectifying on your own. It's also possible that a dirty plug or socket could be your rectifier so clean both the speaker plug and the sound card's socket with contact cleaner and see if that makes a diff. Good luck.
.bh.
 

stevewm

Senior member
Dec 6, 2001
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Is there a radio station transmitter tower nearby?


I had the same problems in a apartment I used to live in. Transmitter for a FM country radio station was a little over a half mile away. Nearly every electronic device I had picked up the station.

My cordless phone, TV speaker, computer speakers (old labtecs), I could even hear it from the small beeper speaker on my alarm clock if I put my ear close!


Oddly enough my Altec Lansing ACS33s didn't pick it up at all. Nethier did the new TV that replaced my old one.


 

Tal

Golden Member
Jun 29, 2001
1,832
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I had this problem with some cheapo speakers that I had purchsed for $10 from OM right after moving into my new apartment. It was definitely radio and came in very clear actually. I was bummed and didn't want to take time to figure out what was going on so I went and bought some Logitech Z-560's and haven't had a problem since. Sorry I can't offer a solution, but I wanted to make it clear to any naysayers out there that you most certainly can pick up Radio on your speakers. -TAL
 

witold

Member
Apr 8, 2001
57
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Police radio frequencies.. I could deal with that... But all I get is elevator music!

Is there some way to shield the wires/speakers from picking this sh*t up?

Witold
 

zepper00

Member
Jul 1, 2002
135
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It would be best if you could figure out where the signal is being picked up--the wire from sound card to amplifier, wire from amilifier to speaker(s), power cord to speakers, the amplifier itself, sound card, etc.
To block RFI from wires, you use ferrite cores which you can get from electronic parts vendors (e.g. Radio Slack or on-line like AllElectronics).
To shield the sound card, take some heavy-duty AL (aluminum) foil or fine-mesh CU (copper) or AL screening and coat the side that will be toward the sound card (and wrap some around the edges of the foil or screen a little and protect any other surface that might come in contact with other boards or the mobo) with a double thickness of plastic wrap (original Saran Wrap is best) or heavy package tape. Make a little tab in the foil or screening of double or triple thikness to fasten to a nearby screw (like the one that holds the card in) for grounding. Use a washer under the screw head to avoid stress on the foil. Try it covering the back (wiring) side of the sound card first. If that doesn't help, try it on the component side of the board, still nothing, make one that wraps over (or around) all sides of the card.
To shield the amplifier (might have to open up a speaker to do this) make a cage from fine mesh CU or AL screening that will completely surround the amplifier components. All edges of the screening must be bonded together with solder and a wire soldered to the cage that will be attached to ground. Protect form shorting components as above. Alternatively, you could try wrapping as much as possible of the outside of the speaker that has the amp in it with heavy AL foil or screen as above which will work better if you can find a way to ground the foil. No warranties or guarantees expressed or implied with any of this <g> .
.bh.
 

Bleep

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,972
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Go to Radio Shack and get some .001 mfd caps. open the speaker boxes and solder the cap. across the speaker leads. This will short out the radio sigs.
Bleep