Interference from mobile phones

[SueW]

Why does this happen?

You know that kind of fizzing noise you get through speakers sometimes just before you receive a call/text?

Actually I can understand that but why at 4am this morning and then again a little later did the same thing happen to my ipod speakers next to my bed when my phone was lying next to them being used as an alarm clock? I didn't get a call/text either time (nor on any of the previous occasions it's happened in the middle of the night!

Yours yawningly...

[CruelAndUnusualParenting]

Mine don't fizz, I get a clicking noise. It's the speaker wires acting as an aerial and picking up the radio transmissions.

At 4 a.m. it's probably the mobile phone talking to the base station. They have to do that every so often, so the network knows where your phone is to be able to route calls or messages.

The alarm on my mobile doesn't require the phone to be switched on. If it's switched off overnight then it won't talk to the base station. Flight mode is also an option.

[SueW]

Thanks I wish it wouldn't talk at 4am though - it doesn't any time it's near a computer during the day, except when I get a call/text. Maybe I get enough of those during the day that it doesn't need to update.

My mobile isn't modern enough to have things like flight mode and alarms that will switch it on so unfortunately that isn't an option. Yet. I am still waiting for someone to sort out my upgrade... or give notice on my phone on his contract.... and then I'll get a new one.

I could buy an alarm clock, then I wouldn't have to risk someone ringing/texting during my sleeping hours.

[CruelAndUnusualParenting]

Are you sure the alarm mode doesn't switch it on? The old Nokia 3310 was very basic, texts and phone only, but the alarm still switched it on. Try it (in the middle of the day, when you aren't relying on it, obviously) and see what happens.

[SueW]

OK - will do!