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Help What would cause static when on a voice call?

JohnJSal

Android Expert
Jun 17, 2010
952
72
This seems to happen mostly when I'm talking to one person, but every now and then I'll hear static on the line when I start to talk. Sometimes when I sniff it happens, or if we talk over each other. It doesn't happen on other calls, so is it the other phone perhaps?
 
Is it true "static" where you always hear them speak but there is a crackling noise along with it, or does their voice sound like it's run through a synthesizer and/or blank spots throughout the conversation?

If it's the first, then it's usually caused by an analog device -- either bad wiring on their voice service or an analog cordless phone or loose RJ11 jack it's plugged into. Ask them to try a different, corded phone.

If it's the second, then it's probably a digital problem. If it's happening at the same time, there may be a bandwidth issue if they're using VoIP service instead of analog. The problem is it could be a number of things depending their equipment.

1. Ask if they have regular (analog/POTS) or digital VoIP (Vonage, Skype) home voice service

2. Ask if their cordless phone is digital (most made in the last 10+ years are). They could also have a frequency clash with another device -- primary suspect being WiFi (800MHz?).
 
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Is it true "static" where you always hear them speak but there is a crackling noise along with it, or does their voice sound like it's run through a synthesizer and/or blank spots throughout the conversation?

If it's the first, then it's usually caused by an analog device -- either bad wiring on their voice service or an analog cordless phone or loose RJ11 jack it's plugged into. Ask them to try a different, corded phone.

If it's the second, then it's probably a digital problem. If it's happening at the same time, there may be a bandwidth issue if they're using VoIP service instead of analog. The problem is it could be a number of things depending their equipment.

1. Ask if they have regular (analog/POTS) or digital VoIP (Vonage, Skype) home voice service

2. Ask if their cordless phone is digital (most made in the last 10+ years are). They could also have a frequency clash with another device -- primary suspect being WiFi (800MHz?).

Maybe static isn't the right word. It's basically a quick "crinkle" sound that occurs when I say something while they're still talking. Their device is a cordless handset using AT&T service, and it's definitely been less than 10 years since they got it.

I do have WiFi here in my house and I have WiFi turned on my Evo while on these calls. Could that be a part of the problem? Perhaps it's a 2G issue, since I assume 3G is turned off at those times?
 
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No, WiFi shouldn't interfere with your cellular phone. I believe some cordless phones use some of the same frequencies as some (older?) WiFi channel frequencies.

If the problem is consistent with calls to this one number all the time, then logically the problem is on their end. Do they have WiFi in their house?

No, they don't. It definitely always happens with that phone. I haven't noticed it otherwise, but hopefully it is something on their end instead of mine. I'll pay more attention next time I'm talking to other people to see if it does it elsewhere.
 
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Yeah, that sounds just like it. It's like a quick "burst" of static.

I was thinking it was just me or my phone. I work in sales and I am always on the road, so I call mobile phones and land lines, but I cannot put a finger on when/why this happens. Since I spend hours a day on a mobile phone, I have learned not to ask too much, the EVO has been leaps and bounds over any other phone.
 
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I was thinking it was just me or my phone. I work in sales and I am always on the road, so I call mobile phones and land lines, but I cannot put a finger on when/why this happens. Since I spend hours a day on a mobile phone, I have learned not to ask too much, the EVO has been leaps and bounds over any other phone.

I don't know. I'd rather know what the issue is than not. And hopefully find out it's not the Evo but the other line. :)
 
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Well now that it's happening on calls to other people, that changes things. But since most people, including myself, haven't experienced any static, then I would think it's either your phone or possibly a tower in your area that's causing it. Have you updated your PRL lately?

I believe I'm up-to-date, but I'll try again. It could be my 3G coverage too. Even though I sometimes I have full bars, when I run a speed test it comes out less than 100kbps! :(
 
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I get the same static on my phone. My boss went through 9 EVO's trying to find one that didnt have this problem and all of them had the same static. Its generally when both parties talk at the same time and then there is a short static burst. It doesnt seem to happen on all calls, but it happens on a lot of them.

If you google search HTC EVO Static you will find several references to people having this issue. My guess is its a hardware problem and happens on most phones.
 
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