Buzz
Static is a common frustration for those who still tune into traditional radio. You reach for the dial, and just as your hand touches the knob or button, the signal improves. You sit back down, and within moments, the crackling returns. If you're like me with radio reception, the signal likely drops out right when Neil Young launches into his solo on 'Like a Hurricane' or when Ira Glass is about to make his point.
Why does human touch seem to momentarily fix radio signals?
To truly grasp the reason behind this, it's crucial to first understand what causes static, explains Davin Huston, a clinical assistant professor at Purdue Polytechnic Institute's School of Engineering Technology. 'Your radio is a dimwit. It doesn't know the difference between music or talk and the background [electronic] noise around it.'
Radio receivers are always picking up on nearby electronic activity, such as microwaves and lightbulbs, interpreting it as a signal and causing interference. A human body can block out these competing signals, allowing the receiver to focus on the radio signal it’s supposed to capture, according to Huston. However, when a person moves away, the background noise returns and the static reappears.
To block out distracting electronics and improve your reception, Huston suggests a charmingly old-fashioned list of tips from WERU, a community radio station in Hancock County, Maine. These include: placing your radio on a high surface like a bookshelf; using a rotorized antenna to point at the signal's source instead of a fixed one; or connecting your radio to a set of TV bunny ears (if you can find them in a Goodwill store or attic) and placing them in a tree or attic.
If these sound tricky, they’re still much easier than keeping your hand on the dial all night long.
