What I’ve been hearing sounds like a snippet of Morse code followed by two bursts of static. If I were to attempt to phoneticize it, the result would be something like this:da dit da da dit da da dit da da da da buzzzzzz buzzzzzzI started hearing this some time ago while talking on a landline phone (particularly the phone at work). Then I began to hear it during cell phone conversations. Generally the person on the other line was unaware of anything. Today I heard it (faintly) over my car stereo when it was muted in a drive-through line.
I’ve tried to come up with some rational explanation for this. What I have so far:[ul]
[li]Flight 33 looking for a place to land;[/li][li][*]Someone who doesn’t know Morse very well, still trapped in the Marconi room of the Titanic;[/li][li]Secret messages from our new [insert peril here] overlords (whom I, of course, welcome);[/li][li]A sign that my tinfoil hat needs a tuneup;[/li][li]A further indication — as if one is needed — that I’m losing my marbles;[/li][li]Otherwise harmless interference from a perfectly ordinary communications network (perhaps a cellular system).[/li][/ul]Admittedly, that last one is a touch farfetched; but whatever the cause, the experience with the car stereo today was the last straw. So I decided it was time to throw myself upon the mercy of the Dope. Any guesses?
That’s weird. Only because my cubicle-mate’s radio does the same thing. Random times, not on a regular basis, but at least twice a week there’ll be what sounds like morse code and static coming through instead of oldies.
Unfortunately, I have no idea what the reason for it is…
It’s most likely a rogue group of Italian monks based in Petra, Jordan, but with cells world-wide, communicating with each other. They’re called “I Custodi.” Rumor has it, they control several big-time governments, including Israel and some former Soviet states.
Is it like the sound that comes out when a cell phone transmission comes through a speaker?
It sounds kind of like it. Does this noise come up when you happen to get a phone call?
As a matter of fact, I bet you dollars to donuts that this is it. Try moving the cell phone right next to the speaker and see if it gets more frequent or louder.
This makes absolute sense, given the fact that my cell phone was on the car charger (and thus in one of the cup holders, about three inches from the radio). And I’m not surprised that it would check in with the mothership periodically. The downside would seem to be that there’s no way to prevent the intrusion short of turning the phone off, which kind of defeats the purpose. So it’s just a minor inconvenience, part of the small price we must pay to live in the Age of Wonders.
[QUOTE=OttoDaFe]
da dit da da dit da da dit da da da da
I’ve tried to come up with some rational explanation for this. What I have so far:
QUOTE]
What you are hearing is the song “Da Da Da” by the group Trio. There is no cause for alarm, however this tune may be triggered when encountering Volkswagen vehicles.
Definitely cell phone interference. When I first heard it, it was through my computer speakers, and I though it was some kind of weird thing with my computer that was causing it. But then I started hearing it on other speakers – like at (what was then) Radio Shack and realized, “Hey, it’s not just me!” so I asked on a local board (which was pre-Dope for me) and got my answer.
Now I can tell when it’s just a passing signal, as it tends to be shorter:
dit…dit…dit dit…dit…dit dit…dit…dit dit…dit.
When it’s coming to my cell phone though, it does the extended version:
It annoys my wife because she’ll sometimes try and bug me by calling my cell while I’m wearing headphones at the computer, and I can always hear the cell tower pinging my phone before it rings, so I give her the look before my phone even rings. She doesn’t do it anymore.
It’s directional, too. If the antenna for my phone (well, it’s internal, so the top of my phone) is pointed away from the speakers, I won’t hear the interference.
Since this thread appears to be headed to a (well-deserved) demise, I’d like to take this opportunity* to thank everyone who responded. Even if the answer wasn’t as exotic as I’d been hoping. Good night, drive carefully, and don’t forget to tip your waiter.
*Can I just say that this is the first time I’ve been on television?
Just to add - this sort of interference seems to be specific to GSM cell phones - I certainly never had it with a non-GSM phone.
I have to turn my cell off if I am playing my guitar - the noise seems to punch straight into the pickups, and thence into the effects loop. Not a great idea.
Yup, it’s GSM and it’s prevalent everywhere in the UK. Even to the point of cropping up on radio interviews when the interviewee/er has their cellphone turned on. Particularly bad on things like PDA phones where there’s regular data updating going on. Makes me wonder about how much radiation my head absorbs when I’m using my phone.
