Why do speakers pick up cell phone rings?

[monkeybomb]

Every time my cell rings my speakers make a da..da..da..da..da... sound.  I'm sure most know what I mean.  Anyway why does it do that? 

[ChadTower]

The unshielded speaker wires are acting as an antenna and picking up the electromagnetic data bursts as your phone communicates with the tower.

[monkeybomb]

  Thanks Mr. Wizard, now I know 

[shmokes]

God....why can't I resist.  I know it's what he wants me to do and still.....I.....


And knowing is half the battle!

[missioncontrol]

hmmmmmmmmm I was wondering that myself....

And now I know.........

[Stingray]

The speakers in my MAME cab actually pick up voice. Often very faintly you can hear people talking. Don't know if it's cell phones or CB radio, but it really freaked me out the first time it happened before I realised where it was coming from.

-S

[ChadTower]

The speakers in my MAME cab actually pick up voice. Often very faintly you can hear people talking. Don't know if it's cell phones or CB radio, but it really freaked me out the first time it happened before I realised where it was coming from.

That has to be radio, probably CB or someone's baby monitor.  Actual sustained communication between the phone and the tower are done via different frequencies than the short data bursts that normal speakers pick up.  If this were not the case you'd interfere with your speakers the whole time you're on the phone.

[Stingray]

Yeah, I've suspected CB radio myself. I live a couple miles from an interstate, with no hills or tall buildings between. It's probably truckers. I don't have any neighbors that are close enough for it to be a baby monitor.

-S