If you know how cell phones and computers work...

[The Backlash Cometh]

I sometimes have the cell phone near the speakers of my computer and the speakers will pick up a frequency from the cell phone. At first, it would happen seconds before I received a text, but now it is occurring periodically, whether I get a text, or not. Any explanation what's happening? Why would the cellphone just send out a random signal?

Oh, and the speakers do something similar, right before lightening strikes.

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. Peril-sensitive computer speakers. Cool. n/t

[dkofos]

2. It's the ghost in the machine.

Or poor grounding.

[thereismore]

3. I noticed the same. i think the phone and the tower exchange some signals

before the call, sort of "are you ready" "yes I am" kind of thing. Also, I think the network pings the phone periodically, this is how they can locate you even though you're not making calls.

[Doc_Technical]

4. These are "handshake signals"

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Hand+shake+signal

[backscatter712]

9. Yep.

That's the phone and the cell tower talking to each other saying "Hi, I'm a phone, here's my ID and phone number. I think we spoke before." "Hi, I'm a tower - here's my ID. Oh, you're a repeat customer. I'll just make sure to keep track." "OK, keep in touch!"

[metapunditedgy]

6. Yep. I think it's worse with the European-style (GSM) technology type

of phones, but I'm not sure.

There's all sorts of communication going on between the phone and the tower, even when you're not in a call.

[rrneck]

5. I put tinfoil in my phone to make it stop. nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Your cell phone has a tin foil hat?

Now THAT's extreme.

[rrneck]

10. Yep. It wasn't too hard

since I had plenty left over after making the one for my head. I had to make two or three since it was really hard to get the eye holes right.

[L. Coyote]

8. Try moving an electric guitar close to a television.