Amp noise from cell tower

[Yreva]

Hi all,
I’m hoping someone here might be able to make some suggestions for a problem I’m having with a nearby cell tower. I’m hearing a high frequency oscillating static punctuated with an occasional beep from my guitar amplifiers. It’s not my wiring as I’m observing the same thing with various amps both tube and solid state, even battery powered ones. When I use the amps in my basement no problem. What options do I have as far as shielding a guitar amp from this? My guitar tech of 40 years is grasping at straws. I know this forum is a shot in the dark but I’m determined to find a solution.
Thanks for your input,
Mark

[loudthud]

First question: What country are you in ? Do you know what type of cell phone is being used ? In the USA we have what is called 4G and 5G cell phone service. It generally does not cause any problems with guitar amps. In the past, I think it was 1G and 2G type service, there were noises that were caused by cell phones, generally you just had to keep the cell phone several meters distant from the guitar amp.

[Chuck H]

If the noise IS from the cell tower and you're having the problem with several amps then the noise is getting into your GUITARS and not the amps, per se. Even if your guitars are properly shielded most pickups do have an exposed face that is not. So, if your guitars are properly shielded you may benefit from painting the room you play in with a shielding paint. Walls and cieling. It's a little expensive but you should only need to paint the one room. That room will need to be earth grounded. These products are black in color but can be painted over if that's offensive.

If your guitars are not properly shielded you should try doing that first. Also, make sure you're using a proper INSTRUMENT cable and not an unshielded cable between your guitars and amps.

[Tom Phillips]

... noises that were caused by cell phones, generally you just had to keep the cell phone several meters distant from the guitar amp.

This is an important point. Make sure your noises are really caused by a cell tower and not by your personal cell phone. Where is your cell phone when you are hearing the noise?

[Yreva]

Thanks for the replies. The noise is present in every amp WITHOUT a cable or guitar attached. The noise is virtually gone in the basement. If I take a battery powered amp outside and point it at the cell tower it’s much louder. Gotta be the cell tower, not cell phone. The phone isn’t in proximity.

[Chuck H]

Thanks for the replies. The noise is present in every amp WITHOUT a cable or guitar attached. The noise is virtually gone in the basement. If I take a battery powered amp outside and point it at the cell tower it’s much louder. Gotta be the cell tower, not cell phone. The phone isn’t in proximity.

Well then, considering that amplifiers, by nature and construction, are properly earth grounded at the conductive chassis this means that no amount of shielding would be sufficient. That is, unless your amplifiers aren't properly earth grounded. This could be a condition of your home wiring.

I'm not at all disputing your claims. Just pointing out a possible thing to inspect. If the amps are receiving noise from the cell tower with the inputs unused (they are typically grounded to the chassis when not in use) this would imply a signal strong enough to overcome a grounded chassis OR a lack of grounding for the chassis on these amplifiers. I'm inclined to suspect your ground circumstances on your home wiring.

[loudthud]

First question: What country are you in ?

You didn't answer the question. I looked at your profile and there is no info there on your location. It may come as a complete surprise to you, but not all countries use the same cell phone system. We can't possibly help you because the cell phone service in use now in the USA doesn't cause this type problem. Call your cell phone company and complain to them. Maybe someone from the same country as you has encountered and solved the problem.

[eschertron]

Thanks for the replies. The noise is present in every amp WITHOUT a cable or guitar attached. The noise is virtually gone in the basement. If I take a battery powered amp outside and point it at the cell tower it’s much louder. Gotta be the cell tower, not cell phone. The phone isn’t in proximity.

You didn't answer the question. I looked at your profile and there is no info there on your location. It may come as a complete surprise to you, but not all countries use the same cell phone system. We can't possibly help you because the cell phone service in use now in the USA doesn't cause this type problem. Call your cell phone company and complain to them. Maybe someone from the same country as you has encountered and solved the problem.

I second that. If the tower has a misdirected or faulty antenna and is beaming microwaves directly into your property, that's not just a nuisance, it could be a health hazard. Complain to all available health or regulatory agencies in addition to the owner of the cell tower until you get some answers.

[mozz]

File a FCC complaint.

[Tom Phillips]

Thanks for the replies. The noise is present in every amp WITHOUT a cable or guitar attached. The noise is virtually gone in the basement. If I take a battery powered amp outside and point it at the cell tower it's much louder. Gotta be the cell tower, not cell phone. The phone isn't in proximity.

If I was in this situation, I would take the battery powered guitar amp to other cell towers in the local area to determine if the problem is unique to the cell tower near your home. If it only happens at your cell tower, that fact would give you more clout for a complaint that would hopefully get your cell tower fixed.

[Chuck H]

As far as I can tell from IP location Yreva is in the US. I don't suspect a proxy server because all locals connected to the IP are close together. I won't say more than that since Yreva has chosen not to disclose their location.

[Chuck H]

And I still think the home ground circumstances should be inspected.

Another (slim) possibility could be FET regulation for the home wiring. I've never experienced it for myself and I've only heard about it once (ergo "slim") but I knew a guy who lived in a tract development that had FET regulated AC to all the mains. He reported rhythmic static noises and sometimes a ticking sort of oscillation in his audio gear.

[loudthud]

As far as I can tell from IP location Yreva is in the US. I don't suspect a proxy server because all locals connected to the IP are close together. I won't say more than that since Yreva has chosen not to disclose their location.

My next question would be: Does the noise interfere with AM, FM radio or Television reception ? AM radio is especially sensitive to noise. I know that there are a couple of places around town where I can hear noise from my AM car radio.

[eschertron]

My next question would be: Does the noise interfere with AM, FM radio or Television reception ? AM radio is especially sensitive to noise. I know that there are a couple of places around town where I can hear noise from my AM car radio.

Do you get the noise between stations, or intruding over a local station's carrier signal?

[loudthud]

Do you get the noise between stations, or intruding over a local station's carrier signal?

It's over the top of the station I'm listening to. Not a really strong station, there are places where I can tell the signal is weak. I'm still trying to remember where exactly it occurs. Car is 2018 Chevy with antenna in the rear window defroster kind of thing. IIRC only 5KW station that drops to 1KW at night. A guy I know drives a BMW that doesn't get AM, only FM radio.