Odd Buzzing Pulses on Cable Channels?

[dampier]

This one may prove obscure, but I've noticed this on several channels since this past summer, and I wonder if I've been the only one noticing it, and if not, what the heck is it?

Periodically, especially on C-SPAN, but I've also heard it on some news channels, I am hearing a strange brief audio buzz. It occurs as a single long buzz (about a half a second) followed by several (maybe 7-10) pulsing buzzes in the background. The whole thing never lasts more than five seconds and does not come with any regularity. It doesn't override the normal audio, it accompanies it. I've heard it also on C-SPAN Radio on XM Radio, so I can't imagine it's my local cable company inserting this interference. On C-SPAN I hear it every other day or so. I heard it on one of the news channels the other day as well.

Anyone else hearing this?

 

[brian77]

I think I know what you're referring to. I work at a TV station and we sometimes hear what you described when someone in the control room gets a cell phone call or text message. I had never heard it on air before until the other night on baseball postgame.

> This one may prove obscure, but I've noticed this on several
> channels since this past summer, and I wonder if I've been
> the only one noticing it, and if not, what the heck is it?
>
> Periodically, especially on C-SPAN, but I've also heard it
> on some news channels, I am hearing a strange brief audio
> buzz. It occurs as a single long buzz (about a half a
> second) followed by several (maybe 7-10) pulsing buzzes in
> the background. The whole thing never lasts more than five
> seconds and does not come with any regularity. It doesn't
> override the normal audio, it accompanies it. I've heard it
> also on C-SPAN Radio on XM Radio, so I can't imagine it's my
> local cable company inserting this interference. On C-SPAN
> I hear it every other day or so. I heard it on one of the
> news channels the other day as well.
>
> Anyone else hearing this?
>

 

[dampier]

> I think I know what you're referring to. I work at a TV
> station and we sometimes hear what you described when
> someone in the control room gets a cell phone call or text
> message. I had never heard it on air before until the other
> night on baseball postgame.

You know what... I think you're right! I recall once getting strange interference before my cell phone rang once. What's odd here is that during these instances, my cell phone didn't ring. I wonder if a phone went off somewhere in a control room and it bled into the signal? If so, there needs to be some new rules to keep them out. It's very annoying.