I feel like one of those conspiracy nuts, but in the last month or so, I’ve become aware that from time to time, my computer emits a very faint, high pitched tone for a moment. Sometimes, twice. It happens at home and at work, when I’m on line. And strangely enough, I’ve also noticed it, I think, coming from the radio! Today, while I was sitting very near my clock radio, while it was on I heard that little tone. I’ve never heard it before a few months ago and it’s just now that it’s dawning on me that I’m hearing it on a fairly regular basis. Or, is it just aliens using the refrigerator ot talk privately to me through the electronics? Dopers???
My first thought is that the noise is coming from your ears, not the electronics.
The only thing electronically that your fridge, computer, and radio all have in common is the power source. It’s not likely that the noise could be coming from the power line, considering that your computer and radio convert the AC to DC by rectifying and filtering it. High frequency signals would tend to get lost in the filtering. Some power companies do send high frequency signals down their power lines (used for communication and monitoring and such) but this is usually filtered off before it gets to you. I could see maybe one piece of equipment picking up some strange signals, but not multiple pieces of equipment in different locations.
I’m betting on tinnitus.
I’ve been getting that alot lately also. It just started recently and is coming from my monitor. Strange, it’s only on certain parts of certain websites. ie the top of some web site will cause it to make the sound, but if I scroll down a little it’s gone. Must have something to do with the colors.
The flyback tranformer in monitors can come loose and shake at 15,000Hz or whatever frequency it’s operated at. This produces an annoying high pitched hum.
This will happen the whole time the monitor is swithed on though, so it may not be the answer to your problem.
Sorry to spread this over 3 posts (Damn not being able to edit) but check out 12.11 on this page
On my old 286 with a monochrome monitor I could make a radio across the room make noises by covering the screen with alternating black and white pixels. For the monitor to do that, it would have to switch on and off every two pixels as it scans every line.
Do you remember any websites that have done this? Maybe they had an image or banner ad at the top that did the same thing.