Neighbor has TV on 24/7

[Muse]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: loki8481
complain to the landlord/building owner/super, if nothing gets done, call the cops.

if you can hear it in your house, I'd imagine it must be quite loud from the street.

You're the first person who suggested talking to the management first

seems like the easiest thing... you really have no way of knowing who it is unless you're peeping into their windows and if it's like any apartment building that I've ever been in, people can't just walk in off the street and knock on an apartment door.

Like I said in the OP, around 2 years ago I had to knock on the door of every apartment in that building in order to get signatures as part of an application process for a use permit with my town. I don't recall needing to be let in a locked gate, but maybe I just don't remember. In any case, maybe there's a locked gate now.

I'm 97% sure I know which apartment it is. I can tell. There's only one with the windows open, and the sound is clearly coming from that one.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Oil
I find it hard to believe that the other tenants in the apartment complex have not complained already

My sense of the situation is that the other tenants are wimps. Maybe one or more have complained, I have no way of knowing.

Anyway, they have a little shielding I don't, all except for the apartment next to hers, but when I was knocking on doors to get my signatures for my use permit 2 years ago IIRC, that particular apartment was empty! Amazing that an apartment building in Berkeley would have vacancies, but this isn't choice real estate.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: sandmanwake
Your neighbor probably fell down and hurt herself so badly she couldn't move. The phone was out of reach and all she had near her was the tv remote, so she left the volume blaring day and night hoping one of her neighbors would get tired of the noise and come to complain thereby discovering her plight. Sadly, because you didn't have the balls to go talk to your neighbor, she has died from lack of food and water.

You bring up an interesting point, though. When I knock on that door I figure there's a fair chance that noone will answer. Not because everyone inside is dead but because noone is home.

 

[LennyZ]

Call the police and report an overdose in that apartment.
If no one answers they will kick the door in and turn down the tv.
If someone answers they may ask them to turn it down.
Use a payphone.

 

[BackFlow]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Muse
This is not a new problem but it's been getting worse and worse.

Granted I live in the city and silence is uncommon in the city, but to my way of thinking you should try to not bother people no matter where you are.


I hear that TV whenever I go into my yard, which I like to do.

Topic Title: Neighbor has TV on 24/7

Topic Summary: Anything I can do?

MOVE

You have no business living there.

Move, or plant tall hedges, and replace the windows with double panels.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

The fact that you haven't knocked on her door and asked already is ridiculous. How old are you. WTH

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: LennyZ
Call the police and report an overdose in that apartment.
If no one answers they will kick the door in and turn down the tv.
If someone answers they may ask them to turn it down.
Use a payphone.

Yeah, that would work. Well, it would work if they aren't home, don't know what happens if they are home. But it's not my style. Thing is I am concerned about my vibes. IOW, I have a live-and-let-live philosophy in general and figure it's part of the reason the house hasn't been broken into since 1983-84 or so. It was broken into soon after I moved here at 2:00 AM. A housemate was coming home at just the moment that a burglar was trying to make off with some components, including my receiver (and maybe turntable), but having been caught he did as told by my housemate and left them on the windowsill and scrammed. I've lost a lot of my best stuff to burglars in the past at previous residences and don't want it to happen again.

I have been ruminating on this situation with the TV on all the time, thinking I should maybe set aside the LALL philosophy and do something about the situation. I did that with the guy behind my back fence who let his dogs poop and never cleaned it up. The smell was nasty in the summer, but a little talk got him to start cleaning his yard. I think this situation warrants action too.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: BackFlow

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Muse
This is not a new problem but it's been getting worse and worse.

Granted I live in the city and silence is uncommon in the city, but to my way of thinking you should try to not bother people no matter where you are.


I hear that TV whenever I go into my yard, which I like to do.

Topic Title: Neighbor has TV on 24/7

Topic Summary: Anything I can do?

MOVE

You have no business living there.

Move, or plant tall hedges, and replace the windows with double panels.

Move, yeah, easier said than done. But like I say, that noise-pollution has to drive down the value of my property. I figure I should do something to stop that before I sell.

Hedges? This is 2nd floor, so hedges aren't going to help. Besides, there already is a hedge.

Now replacing my windows with double paneled windows is an option, but it's expensive. I could just do the ones in my bedroom for a partial improvement.

I'm planning on knocking on the tenant's door this week. Today I'm busy and probably won't find the time, but tomorrow probably. Unless the tenant has an automatic light control system, they are living there. So, I expect an answer at the door. Then again, they might be in the habit of leaving the TV on loud when they are out. In fact, it seems likely. Or they might be a shut-in... not likely, but possible.

 

[Calculator83]

HAHAHHAHAHA,,,,, They're DEAD

 

[archiloco]

landscaping?? plant some large shrubs or a large tree between you and the TV

 

[OdiN]

Problem with TV B Gone:

If they are using a receiver to output sound to speakers, and not using the TV speakers, and the audio is coming from a cable or sat box, turning the TV off will not end the noise, just the picture.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: archiloco
landscaping?? plant some large shrubs or a large tree between you and the TV

You must go and bring us a shrubbery!!!

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: archiloco
landscaping?? plant some large shrubs or a large tree between you and the TV

The only tree that would do any good would be a sequoia and it would take 1200 years to grow big enough to be any kind of effective.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: OdiN
Problem with TV B Gone:

If they are using a receiver to output sound to speakers, and not using the TV speakers, and the audio is coming from a cable or sat box, turning the TV off will not end the noise, just the picture.

Thanks. I sort of doubt that their system is that sophisticated, but it's just my guess. Myself, I haven't had cable since the early to mid-1990's. I have no idea what kind of equipment they have. All I know is what I'm hearing.

I'm finding this TV B Gone idea interesting. Last night I pointed my universal remote (Home Theater Master MX-700) out the window and had a try. I know it's IR transmission is pretty strong, at least compared to a lot of my remotes. It's only set up for my own TV, an old JVC, and I got no response from Vol Down or Off functions.

How does TV B Gone work? Super strong and directional IR? I figure absent knowing what kind of TV she has I'd have to set it to a variety of TV brands and try them one by one. I think she has cable, but I guess if she has an integrated TV ("cable ready") it can be turned off or the volume lowered with the appropriate IR signals.

Edit: I check it out and I think they have a big screen TV, probably a monitor, judging from all the light flickering on their blinds. A lot of light.

 

[Calculator83]

Originally posted by: archiloco
landscaping?? plant some large shrubs or a large tree between you and the TV

tkaes yearz to grow dude.

 

[Rubycon]

This will give you some ideas - esp. at 0:42.

 

[AVAFREAK182]

Originally posted by: Amused
Buy an air cleaner or loud fan and live in white noise heaven.

I can't sleep without a moderately loud fan now.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
This will give you some ideas - esp. at 0:42.

Um, yeah. That was really funny. Fact is, my broadband is and always has been PacBell DSL. Was that really an ad for it? I gotta think so! :Q

:42, well, not the best option.

Last night I hit the sack 9:30-10:00, and miracle of miracles there was no sound of TV (that's been rare recently)! There was lots of white noise and general city shit going on through my open window that faces perpendicular to my neighbor (the one facing the neighbor I have been keeping tightly shut!

I wake up at 12:30 AM and there it is again, that TV, fairly loud. I couldn't go back to sleep until after 3:00. I put on my clothes and went outside, checking out the situation. I think they have a big screen TV, probably a monitor, judging from all the light flickering on their blinds.

Yeah, I could have called the cops but figured I should talk to the neighbor first before resorting to that. I haven't called the cops in at least 30 years. It's not something I feel OK doing, generally speaking. OK, I did call them a year or so ago when I heard something alarming, a big crash at the corner. That's different.

The sound of TV was gone by 3:30 or so, so evidently at least this time the tenant turned off the TV. I figure I can ask them to do two things:

1. Turn down the volume.
2. Close the windows facing my house.

A combination of those two things would resolve the problem if they turn it down enough.

I guess I'll see if I can have that talk with the neighbor within the next day or two.

 

[Muse]

I knocked on her door today. Well, I yelled, cupping my hands. She had her screen door shut (it was dead bolted) and her inner door open for ventilation (mid 80's day). No answer. I'd yell every 45 seconds or so and then thought I'd wait for her TV to have a moment of silence. Was still waiting for that when a FedEx guy came by with a package for a different apartment. He said "knock loud on the screen door." I did and the woman came out of her bedroom and I explained that she used to turn down the TV after 8-9 PM but no longer does. She said "is it too loud?" I said yes and said it woke me up at 12:30 AM last night and couldn't get back to sleep for 3 hours. I suggested turning it down and closing her windows when possible. She said she would and I said "I appreciate it." She definitely seemed human and empathetic, but time will tell what happens. Like I said, I figure she definitely has issues and it's hard to tell what will happen.

 

[LemonHead]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: archiloco
landscaping?? plant some large shrubs or a large tree between you and the TV

You must go and bring us a shrubbery!!!

Ni!!!

 

[Muse]

Good news! After my brief talk with the tenant yesterday, having mentioned that she used to turn down (or off, don't know which) her TV after 8-9 PM, last night I didn't hear it at all and I spent the first night in months without earplugs! Fingers crossed.

 

[ForumMaster]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Text

dang. i wanted to post that...

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante

Originally posted by: mb

Originally posted by: Muse
I don't like to complain, but I'm thinking maybe I should.

Um, yeah?

OP hasn't heard of cliffs.

I guess not. What's cliffs?

Update: The tenant improved for a day or so, and slowly started going back to her _new_ ways. IOW, she's got it loud sometimes and is leaving it on (and loud) sometimes at night. At 4:30 this morning it was rather loud. It looks like I'll have to try something else: either talk to her again, talk to the building management or call the cops. Or, maybe try the TV B Gone thing. I guess the Pro version would be the one to try, a $50 investment. Of course, it's uncertain if that would even work and the only thing it does is turn a TV on or off.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante

Originally posted by: mb

Originally posted by: Muse
I don't like to complain, but I'm thinking maybe I should.

Um, yeah?

OP hasn't heard of cliffs.

I guess not. What's cliffs?

Update: The tenant improved for a day or so, and slowly started going back to her _new_ ways. IOW, she's got it loud sometimes and is leaving it on (and loud) sometimes at night. At 4:30 this morning it was rather loud. It looks like I'll have to try something else: either talk to her again, talk to the building management or call the cops. Or, maybe try the TV B Gone thing. I guess the Pro version would be the one to try, a $50 investment. Of course, it's uncertain if that would even work and the only thing it does is turn a TV on or off.

A condensed/shortened version of your long post.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante

Originally posted by: mb

Originally posted by: Muse
I don't like to complain, but I'm thinking maybe I should.

Um, yeah?

OP hasn't heard of cliffs.

I guess not. What's cliffs?

Update: The tenant improved for a day or so, and slowly started going back to her _new_ ways. IOW, she's got it loud sometimes and is leaving it on (and loud) sometimes at night. At 4:30 this morning it was rather loud. It looks like I'll have to try something else: either talk to her again, talk to the building management or call the cops. Or, maybe try the TV B Gone thing. I guess the Pro version would be the one to try, a $50 investment. Of course, it's uncertain if that would even work and the only thing it does is turn a TV on or off.

A condensed/shortened version of your long post.

No comprendo. Are you trying to be helpful or just making fun of me? Truly, I whiffed on this one.