I"M SCARED OUT OF MY MIND!?

Question

Hi,

I noticed the other day that while calling my cousin there was this creepy, eerie, digital sounding country like music (Red River Valley) playing on the phone. No words. It went to both lines. He heard it too. It wasn't coming from either of our phones because we were both in quiet rooms and we checked the other phones in our house. None of them were being used. We were both really freaked out and decided to use our cell phones instead... We're considering calling Comcast and possibly the police if this happens again because we're both scared sh*tless. Has this happened to anyone else? Any input would be greatly appreciated as we are both scared out of our minds. It keeps happening. HELP!

Answer 1

I highly doubt it's crosstalk as Comcast is not a land line provider but a digital phone/VoIP provider. You never did mention whether your cousin was on a VoIP line or not. Suppose it could have been cross talk on their end if they had a real landline. The fact that it was music leads me to believe that it was strong AM signal interference. Crosstalk usually yields other peoples' conversations. It's not that common to be playing music on the phone. Depending on ionospheric conditions at the time, various strong AM radio signals can be picked up on your telephone wires which can be demodulated by the microphone and/or speaker in your telephone. The wires inside your house should be twisted pair to prevent this but it isn't 100%. Plus, phone cords from the wall to the phone usually are not twisted but straight allowing them to act as an antenna. The longer they are the greater the chance of RF interference being inducted onto the line. Signals can fade in and out from AM broadcast band or even shortwave. I would have tuned around on an AM radio to see if you could find the same song playing at the same time. Sometimes if you listen long enough (and the interference stays long enough) you can hear an announcer/DJ give the station ID.

Answer 2

Does this only happen when you are calling your cousin? Does it happen only when you call your cousin and not when your cousin calls you. Note the times that you and your cousin notice the problem, the time of day helps. If you have a noisy connection, and one or the other of you call your land line provider and report the problem, they will be able to locate the problem easier, if you are holding the call. One more question that will help is if the problem is on the call all of the time or does it start after the call has been going for a while, or does it eventually stop during the call.

As mentioned, unless your cousin is messing with you, it is cross talk, and is caused by many different problems.

Answer 3

Hmm, not sure if you are messing around, or not, but I'll give you benefit of the doubt.



I would check with your phone carrier. It could just be someone hacking the line playing a joke. I know T-Mobile is notorious in my area for having this happen, or for lines crossing. One minute, I could be talking to someone and then the next thing I know, it switches to some random person speaking Spanish, or Chinese!



Best of luck, I wouldn't worry about it.

-Shart

Answer 4

I have worked in telecommunications for 35 years and what you are describing is cross-talk. Although it is not talk, music in your case, anything on another line can bleed over onto your conversation. It is no big deal.

Answer 5

From this valley they say you are going,

We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile.

For they say you are taking the sunshine,

That has brightened our pathway awhile.



So come sit by my side if you love me.

Do not hasten to bid me adieu.

Just remember the Red River Valley,

And the one that has loved you so true.

Answer 6

You are experiencing crosstalk, where electrical signals from one

line leak over to another.