Radio Interference

Question

Level 2

165 points

Radio Interference

Hi guys,
I just purchased and installed an AirPort Express. I thought everything was working flawlessly until at night, when things were quiet, I could here some buzzing coming from my remote speakers.

I came closer and realized I could hear audio from a radio station playing lightly through my speakers.

I crossed out the possibility of it being just the speakers, by resetting the AirPort. When I did that, the radio interference was gone. When I reconnected there was still no interference. However, once I connected AirTunes by playing a song in iTunes, the interference came back.

I attempted changing channels, turning on interference robustness.. nothing worked. I'm stuck listening to a Pakistani radio station in the background of my music. Please Help!!

Posted on Jul 29, 2005 7:11 PM

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Answer 1

Magpie

Level 4

2,345 points

Jul 29, 2005 8:58 PM in response to Pedro Marques

Wow, it is one strange story. May be CIA should use Airport Express to spy on Pakistan. You know, war on terror. Jokes aside, I did not know that radios operated at same frequency as Airport devices. Also interference effects data transfer rate and radio range, but not Pakistani radio signal. I got the following list of interferences from Apple.

Sources of Interference for AirPort

The farther away the interference source, the less likely it is to cause an issue. The following items can cause interference with AirPort communication:

Microwave ovens: Placing your computer or an AirPort Base Station near a microwave oven that is in use may cause interference.
Direct Satellite Service (DSS) RF leakage: The coax cable that came with certain types of satellite dishes may cause interference. Obtain newer cables if you suspect RF leakage.
Certain electrical devices such as power lines, electrical railroad tracks, and power stations.
2.4 GHz phones: A cordless telephone that operates in this range may cause interference with AirPort communication when used. There are also other devices that operate in the 2.4 GHz range that could cause interference.
Metal objects: If possible, move metal objects or change the placement of the Base Station so the path between your AirPort equipped-computer and the Base Station is free from metal objects that may cause interference.
X-10 video senders (transmitters/receivers) that operate in the 2.4 GHz bandwidth.
Any other devices that operate in the 2.4 GHz bandwidth (microwaves, cameras, baby monitors, and so on).

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Answer 2

Henry B.

Level 9

78,731 points

Jul 29, 2005 9:05 PM in response to Pedro Marques

This is a problem that isn't really caused by interference with the wireless network signal - which by its nature is immune to interference of this type.

Instead, this problem results from the combination of the Airport Express, its attached cables (including the USB printer cable), and the sound system it is connected to, all acting as a radio receiver - a phenomenon familiar to anyone old enough to have ever played around with the "crystal radio" receivers popular over a generation ago.

This is an issue reported from time to time here. The problem is often caused by poor shielding from RF interference, either on the audio cable or the USB printer cable. Try using a different audio cable, try a different input on your sound system, and make sure the Airport Express and audio cable are not located in close proximity to other cables. If you have a printer cabled to the Express, try unplugging it from the Express as well. If all this fails to solve the problem, try to get a warranty replacement on the Airport Express since a manufacturing defect can make it more susceptible to this problem as well.

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Answer 3

Pedro Marques Author

Level 2

165 points

Jul 29, 2005 9:09 PM in response to Pedro Marques

Thanks guys, I'll buy an optical cable along with my new Sony Dream System next week. Hopefully, the radio signal will be gone.

And no, I'm not getting radio signals from Pakistan. I live in Toronto and the Eastern Asian population is quite large here. My neighbours are Pakistani so I'm assuming I'm picking up a signal from the radio station they're tuned in to.

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Answer 4

Pedro Marques Author

Level 2

165 points

Aug 6, 2005 9:17 PM in response to Pedro Marques

The problem still persists.

I've changed the location of the AE to a different side of the room and now I capture a different radio station. Is this an AE common problem or is this seen with other WiFi systems?

I tried changing the audio cord, I attempted moving the AE away from cables, I even used different speakers and every time, I capture a radio station.

A weird phenomena is that when I connect the audio cable halfway into the the jack, the audio from the radio station is very loud, when I insert it fully in, the audio is reduced to a buzzing but still distinguisheable sound.

Somebody please helllllp! 😟

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Answer 5

Sep 11, 2005 2:30 PM in response to Pedro Marques

I'm having a similar problem, but I'm picking up a local radio station quite clearly and rather loud.

I was using an extra 3-prong (grounded) cord from a PowerBook power brick. plugging it in with a cord that doesn't have a ground on it has eliminated the interference.

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