- #1
mrb427
- 8
- 0
Hello all. Let me start with my main question and then provide a bit more background.
I just noticed that an unused coaxial cable outlet in my apartment is periodically producing a faint but very noticeable buzzing sound. It seems to come and go, flickering on and off sometimes and sometimes lasting for as much as a minute. Is it possible that this has anything to do with the large coronal mass ejection which took place very recently?
My initial thoughts on that question went something like this: "no way... well, maybe..."
I have a BS in electrical engineering and work in the field of advanced batteries, so I know what electrical arcing sounds like. It doesn't sound like arcing to me, but I can't imagine what else could be producing a sound from inside that junction box. I also took the face plate off of the outlet and glanced inside. It was tough to see, but there is a three way coax splitter in there. I could not see any loose, frayed, or burnt wires. Unfortunately I don't have my multimeter with me so I can't check the voltage on the wires.
I was under the impression that any signals on coaxial cables would be of relatively low voltage, maybe a few volts at most. I wouldn't expect this to produce arcing or such a noticeable buzzing.
To bring it back to my main questions:
1. Any ideas on what might be causing this noise?
2. Is it possible that the recent CME had anything to do with this? I believe it is a new problem as of today. I know that CMEs can cause surges of currents in wiring on Earth so is it possible that a CME could damage something in my coax cable or splitter which would cause this buzzing?
Thanks for any replies!
I just noticed that an unused coaxial cable outlet in my apartment is periodically producing a faint but very noticeable buzzing sound. It seems to come and go, flickering on and off sometimes and sometimes lasting for as much as a minute. Is it possible that this has anything to do with the large coronal mass ejection which took place very recently?
My initial thoughts on that question went something like this: "no way... well, maybe..."
I have a BS in electrical engineering and work in the field of advanced batteries, so I know what electrical arcing sounds like. It doesn't sound like arcing to me, but I can't imagine what else could be producing a sound from inside that junction box. I also took the face plate off of the outlet and glanced inside. It was tough to see, but there is a three way coax splitter in there. I could not see any loose, frayed, or burnt wires. Unfortunately I don't have my multimeter with me so I can't check the voltage on the wires.
I was under the impression that any signals on coaxial cables would be of relatively low voltage, maybe a few volts at most. I wouldn't expect this to produce arcing or such a noticeable buzzing.
To bring it back to my main questions:
1. Any ideas on what might be causing this noise?
2. Is it possible that the recent CME had anything to do with this? I believe it is a new problem as of today. I know that CMEs can cause surges of currents in wiring on Earth so is it possible that a CME could damage something in my coax cable or splitter which would cause this buzzing?
Thanks for any replies!