Headphones plugged into iMac picking up someone else's phone call or two-way radio?

[Aesthetica]

Hi all

Just had the weirdest thing - my earphones (wired, plugged into iMac 2011) seem to have picked up someone else's phone call or two-way radio conversation! Anyone else had this before? Maybe the big metal frame can act as some kind of aerial?? Or the wifi / bluetooth aerials inside them machine? It was creepy as hell!

 

[bobcomer]

Hi all

Just had the weirdest thing - my earphones (wired, plugged into iMac 2011) seem to have picked up someone else's phone call or two-way radio conversation! Anyone else had this before? Maybe the big metal frame can act as some kind of aerial?? Or the wifi / bluetooth aerials inside them machine? It was creepy as hell!

I haven't seen it in a very long time, but it's just radio, either 2 way or AM radio. It's analog, not digital like everything these days.

 

[B S Magnet]

Hi all

Just had the weirdest thing - my earphones (wired, plugged into iMac 2011) seem to have picked up someone else's phone call or two-way radio conversation! Anyone else had this before? Maybe the big metal frame can act as some kind of aerial?? Or the wifi / bluetooth aerials inside them machine? It was creepy as hell!

It is possible, yes, although it may be just as likely that the cable for your wired headphones are not adequately shielded and are, per FCC/CRTC-type rules (i.e., that “Part 15” notice one often sees when buying any kind of routine electronics) a device which may, incidentally, may pick up errant radio waves under the right conditions.

If you have a pair of headphones whose cables are modular and can be upgraded (usually, by disconnecting from the ear drivers/speakers, as opposed to being attached permanently), look for well-shielded cabling.