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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to ask how I stop my neighbour messing with my wireless speaker?

76 replies

MakeMisogynyAHateCrime · 21/01/2018 20:25

My neighbour is a dick, a grade A dick. He has taken to now somehow talking to my wireless speaker (a KS Miami cheapy thing).
He just said
“My name dog, my name back door, my name silly cow”.

What I’m playing isn’t loud. I’m playing the sound from my broken iPad which plays at about half the normal rate (I prop the iPad on my drawers but can’t hear it at all and then play the speaker next to me at a low volume - about half iPhone max volume and never after 20:30) it in my bedroom.

How do I prevent him from using it? The device just seems to be a case of turning it on and then syncing your device with no codes or anything.
Our internet is secure but this is really bugging me.

OP posts:
BashStreetKid · 21/01/2018 22:31

Bigbertha, your entire thesis is based on the assumption that it's not possible to communicate through a Bluetooth speaker whilst watching a TV programme. Numerous posters have confirmed that it's entirely possible. Plus it would appear that the problem disappeared when OP got rid of her speakers. QED?

StrangeLookingParasite · 21/01/2018 22:32

can you see if he has a wireless printer and send something long and tedious for it to print, in the dead of night

Send him this

And no, she shouldn't be required to wear headphones in her own house if the volume is within reason.

steff13 · 21/01/2018 22:32

How does the neighbor know it's your speaker? Or do you think he isn't targeting you, just pranking a random device?

EilaLila · 21/01/2018 22:36

I’m afraid even suggesting “auditory hallucinations” based on a few posts on an Internet forum doesn’t make you sound very knowledgeable.

Intelinside · 21/01/2018 22:36

From my understanding a wireless speaker would pick up other devices, such as music from an iPad or something, but can it really play voices? Is he using a walky talky or something? Just very strange. I’m not trying to upset OP

it seems incredibly unlikely that a neighbour is able to communicate through a speaker whilst she is watching and listening to a TV programme. How exactly is neighbour speaking into the speaker? With what device? And why would speaker play his voice at same time as TV programme?

I know you nothing about speakers 🤣
someone told you they have mental health concerns and you tell them they are hallucinating and paranoid as it's unlikely what they are saying is true. If you know as much about mental health as you say you do, I'm sure you'll know how damaging your comments are.

Instead of saying "Oh I didn't know that could happen" you said that it was unlikely and he needed a walkie talkie. Way to help there Bertha my dear.

MakeMisogynyAHateCrime · 21/01/2018 22:41

Priscilla he is an awful, loud bastard. He is a plague on our neighbourhood and we and other neighbours have had a lot of issues.

He would know it belongs to this house because of the layout of our properties and the property on his other side.

I have GAD but no, not psychosis. Both husband and I (former on my part)are trained HCP, so would spot that.

I’ve heard about phones connecting to Bluetooth speakers before from cars so I don’t see how there is a sudden leap to my having undiagnosed MH issues rather than my neighbour who has previous history of being a dick (decorated another neighbour’s house for Halloween when they were having house viewings, potatoes up exhaust pipes are just some of his “low level” pranks).

OP posts:
fastfrank · 21/01/2018 22:53

@Bigbertha123 it's an incredibly feasible story if you know anything about technology. Bluetooth only works in a certain radius so it could only be somebody close by, therefore he has a good chance of connecting to her speaker, or the neighbour on the other side (if there even is one). Secondly, many Bluetooth speakers also have built in phone connectivity, so it wouldn't be that difficult to speak through it. He could have recorded a video of his voice and played it through the speaker. The OP would have still heard her programme as it would then play through the devices speakers of the Bluetooth was disconnected.

It isn't the outrageous tale you're hoping for, and it's quite offensive to suggest the OP is having serious mental delusions because you're not proficient in technology.

fastfrank · 21/01/2018 22:55

*device's
*if

BulletFox · 21/01/2018 22:56

MakeMisogyny don't worry about it tonight.

He sounds like a grade A prick with nothing better to do.

Bigbertha123 · 21/01/2018 22:57

@MakeMisogynyAHateCrime I’m glad you’re ok and sorry if I’ve offended you. I hope you get this sorted and this bullying behaviour stops. He sounds absolutely intolerable to live next to.

UnderCrackers5 · 21/01/2018 23:00

I think BigBertha is probably right. Hallucinations triggered by an orbital mind control laser probably. They use them to control society and that means the neighbour is probably a shape shifting lizard.
BB and I will keep working on it..

TenancyTroublesAgain · 21/01/2018 23:04

@MarieNostra why on earth should people wear earphones in their own home? Yeah, don't blast your music and especially not at unreasonable hours but the OP is being more than reasonable!!

safariboot · 21/01/2018 23:10

Wow. Your neighbour is an absolute creep. Hacking into your devices to make them play abuse at you. I've heard of bad neighbours but this takes it to a whole new level.

I'd say go to the police, though I think they're more likely than not to just pooh-pooh you. I'm concerned that it won't stop at this; your neighbour obviously has no sense of boundaries or morals.

Alternatively, do you have any intimidating friends who could threaten him into behaving himself?

MakeMisogynyAHateCrime · 21/01/2018 23:31

I genuinely think he thinks he is just one of those “I’m mad, me” types when he pulls this kind of stuff. This isn’t nasty, nasty in comparison to some of his other behaviour. He is a very violent person (been in prison for domestic violence and various other things) but also has this whole “I’m so bonkers” streak along side it.

Yes maybe running to Rightmove was over the top but I’m a homebody, I get very anxious about neighbour issues after a horrible incident in a previous home and I do panic over small threats which feel like they can leap.

OP posts:
BulletFox · 21/01/2018 23:34

Please don't worry about it tonight.

There's something seriously weird about him and it must have given you a terrible shock, but it's unplugged now and you need to relax.

MakeMisogynyAHateCrime · 21/01/2018 23:35

I’m relaxed now thanks Bullet.
I did get freaked but I’m working hard not to let neighbours ruin my lovely home environment.

OP posts:
TaliZorahVasNormandy · 21/01/2018 23:36

Can you not hide the device from searches. You might have to reset it first though.

SleepingKings · 21/01/2018 23:56

Maybe a stupid suggestion but do you leave the speaker near a dividing wall between your house and his?
Moving it to the other side of the room or house might move it out of range for him???

TheCowWentMoo · 22/01/2018 00:07

Someone's speaker keeps coming up on my phone, I don't have to even go looking for it it just keeps popping up and every time it does I'm really tempted to pause their music or skip a song or something.
It might have just come up on his phone and he thinks he is being funny. It doesn't really sound sinister to me just like a "prank" which, although fatty and annoying is essentially harmless.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 22/01/2018 08:03

Our blue tooth speaker won't pair with another device once it's paired to my phone.

The wifi has a password so no one can access that,

How on earth did someone interfere with a specific digital radio?

Not doubting people's experiences - just wondering how someone does this Hmm

SavageBeauty73 · 22/01/2018 08:10

My Bose speaker can only be paired to one device.

Get a new speaker?

Intelinside · 22/01/2018 16:00

One device at one time. If someone wanted to play through it, they'd just find the Bluetooth signal and kick you off of it and then they could play their music, Iplayer or voice recordings through it

Shannaratiger · 22/01/2018 17:22

My devices requiring a code is my fitbit to phone and laptop to phone.

Els1e · 22/01/2018 22:06

I was reading this thread last night and was stunned to read this could happen. Must be disturbing for you OP. I was telling my mum who is in her 80s when I phoned her this morning. Went round to drop her shopping off this evening and she has covered her wireless speakers with a tea towel. Seems to think that will stop anyone hacking her speakers. I nearly wet myself trying not to laugh.

FaintlyBaffled · 22/01/2018 22:21

Erm, haven't RTFT but isn't the speaker Bluetooth rather than WiFi?
I only ask because we have a couple of cheap Bluetooth speakers and it's really easy to pair with them with no password or anything. I know this because DS RickRolls me sometimes on my little kitchen one