AT&T DSL modem, get rid of high pitch noise?

[John Doe]

I have an AT&T DSL modem that they sent to me. SPEEDSTREAM 5100
ethernet ADSL modem.

It emits a high pitch squealing noise. It's barely audible, but
it's unpleasant. Can anybody guess what that sound might be and
tell me if there is something that can be done to stop it.

I seriously don't want to use it, so I do not at all mind risking
its destruction. Soldering is no problem here. Or maybe somebody
knows of an effective physical shielding from the noise.

I can ask AT&T, but... Nowadays, can you just go to the store and
pick up a new similar modem to use with AT&T DSL Internet service?

Thanks.

 

[Sjouke Burry]

I have an AT&T DSL modem that they sent to me. SPEEDSTREAM 5100
ethernet ADSL modem.

It emits a high pitch squealing noise. It's barely audible, but
it's unpleasant. Can anybody guess what that sound might be and
tell me if there is something that can be done to stop it.

I seriously don't want to use it, so I do not at all mind risking
its destruction. Soldering is no problem here. Or maybe somebody
knows of an effective physical shielding from the noise.

I can ask AT&T, but... Nowadays, can you just go to the store and
pick up a new similar modem to use with AT&T DSL Internet service?

Thanks.

A piece of switching power supply working at an audible
frequency.
Get a piece of tubing to act as a stethoscope, and move
that around the components, to find out what produces the sound.
Probably one of the coils involved.
Then try to decrease the sound(glue or wax covering it?).

 

[Tim]

A piece of switching power supply working at an audible
frequency.
Get a piece of tubing to act as a stethoscope, and move
that around the components, to find out what produces the sound.
Probably one of the coils involved.
Then try to decrease the sound(glue or wax covering it?).

Yes definitely the SMPS. It will run that way for years. The sudden
appearance of that noise, though, can indicate pending failure, as
something may have gone out of tolerance. The sealing method mentioned
earlier may solve the issue if it is a mechanical ringing of the coil.

I haved a network hub that suddenly started singing years ago after a
long power disruption, and that unit still running with no problems.

Not everyone can hear that high a pitch sometimes, and I can identify
with the OP hearing the squeal. I often hear CRT horizontal squeal and
it can be very irritating indeed. Of course no one else in the room can
hear it. The extended hearing range is an asset when I am diagnosing PSU
in the PCs I service. I can hear the PSU loading down or oscillating
prior to failure.

- Tim -