What causes a computer speaker to pick up radio signals?

[Dullstar]

I do not want the solution. I find this "issue" quite cool.

I find that the speakers on one of the computers in the basement can pick up radio signals! I recall finding it when my brother and I were in the basement. We heard some strange voices or something. To our astonishment, this computer was picking up foreign radio signals! What causes this to occur?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yf_be0JQ6c

My brother did this demonstration here.

[keplerspeed]

I have never witnessed this in person, but I have heard of it happening to others before. Bit spooky if your the spooked type.

If you know some physics, and you know what EMR is, and how it interacts with an 'antenna', then you probably wont get spooked out. Still cool though.

Though, you did name the thread "What causes a computer speaker to pick up radio signals?", that is sort of asking for a solution....

[Whiffle]

Sounds like something you'd hear on shortwave, which is pretty easy to pickup worldwide.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortwave

Here's some more info on how it gets into your speakers:
http://www.stevelarkins.freeuk.com/computer_interference.htm

[Dullstar]

"What causes" is contained in it. To me, it seems like the reader would think the person just wanted to know the cause...

[keplerspeed]

Apparently wifi has been observed to interfere with speakers too, but you wouldnt hear voices in that case!

[Exodist]

I do not want the solution. I find this "issue" quite cool.

I find that the speakers on one of the computers in the basement can pick up radio signals! I recall finding it when my brother and I were in the basement. We heard some strange voices or something. To our astonishment, this computer was picking up foreign radio signals! What causes this to occur?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yf_be0JQ6c

My brother did this demonstration here.

Radio waves are just energy waves. Its easy to setup a speaker with a large antenna and put the 2nd wire on the speaker to a deep grounding rod and pick up static noise, some radio signals and also other electro magnetic disturbances in the air. I did this for my 5th or 6th grade science project when my science teach said it wasnt possible.. /stupid teacher..

[Paqman]

All a speaker is is a device for turning an electrical signal into sound. Where that signal comes from, the speaker cares not. Just listen to the racket your average cheap PC speaker makes if you leave your cellphone next to it and receive a text.