This topic

Noise transmission

OZ76 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:24:51 GMT

I have an open reach telecoms pole outside house with box and various wires coming to connect several houses.

Openreach were doing some work few weeks ago and several weeks before that as well. Since then I have had nothing but a constant whining humming sound that is evidently more noticeable at night. It is affecting my sleep and health.

I did the usual checks in house re switching my electric mains and water but the noise is still present.

Obviously more noticeable at front of house and the front bedroom..noise veryevery at night

Neighbour has also noticed it

Please advice

Re: Noise transmission

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:38:27 GMT

@OZ76

Welcome to this user forum for BT Retail phone and broadband customers and has nothing to do with Openreach. It may be the cooling fans in a fibre cabinet, one might be noisy.

Try contacting Openreach.

https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support

Re: Noise transmission

iniltous — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 12:37:59 GMT

There are no powered devices at the top of the pole , if you live in a particularly windy area , it could be wind noise , but it should be noted , many operators now fix their passive ( not powered ) infrastructure to poles , if a new attachment is causing a noise because of the air passing over it , there is nothing Openreach can do about that , even if it’s Openreach equipment, BT are not responsible.

Re: Noise transmission

Nightbuz — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 08:12:58 GMT

Hi, I have experienced an intermittent base hum , lasting several seconds, noticeable at night since my WiFi was changed from the old copper wire system to the new system. My new system comes to the back of my house via a cable from the telegraph pole at the end of the garden. At the point it enters the house there is a small white box inside my home. I do not hear the noise when I leave the house or on holiday elsewhere. Two nights ago I put my ear next to the white box and it was emitting a sound. For the last two nights I have unplugged the internet before going to bed. This so to have helped, though of course, I can’t do the same with my neighbour’s, which enters his house right next to mine. I should add that whether it is windy or not makes no difference to the noise!

Re: Noise transmission

Christopher_G — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:27:50 GMT

Hi @Nightbuz

Welcome to the community.

Has this gotten ay better since you posted? Could you post a picture of the box please?

Chris

Re: Noise transmission

Nightbuz — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:58:03 GMT

Re: Noise transmission

Nightbuz — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:03:17 GMT

Hi, I’m trying to send a photo but won’t load.

Since unplugging WiFi overnight it does seem to have improved somewhat.

Re: Noise transmission

Nightbuz — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:32:04 GMT

Re: Noise transmission

Nightbuz — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:32:34 GMT

Re: Noise transmission

Nightbuz — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:32:58 GMT

Re: Noise transmission

iniltous — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:51:27 GMT

That’s an ONT , and they don’t make any noise , there is nothing inside to make a noise , obviously if there were a fault , a solid state device breaking down , like a resistor, capacitor, ( that type of thing ) it could potentially make a noise but it likely would also smell of burning , and not actually work for long before failing.

TBH, considering the somewhat overloaded extension lead with the ONT power adapter and other devices connected, that’s a more likely source of any ‘ electrical ’ noise , you probably should start with a ‘clean’ power supply to the ONT adapter ( disconnecting everything else ) to see if that helps , also it’s can’t possibly be you can also ‘hear’ your neighbours ONT on the other side of a house wall , that’s also accepting the incredibly unlikely possibility that both your and your neighbours ONT are making a noise in the first place .

As stated previously, if the ‘noise’ is external and its wind noise as air passes over the cable , not much can be done about that , although the cable attaches quite close to the gutter, it may ‘drum’ on the gutter , but that would be if it moves around significantly in high winds , and you say the noise is not weather dependent

Re: Noise transmission

Nightbuz — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:51:30 GMT

It’s 10.45am. All plugs are as shown in the picture. No noise from plugs, sockets or white box.
No intermittent base hum and it’s a windy day BUT it is AM.

Re: Noise transmission

iniltous — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:54:02 GMT

There is no difference in the ONT operation during the daytime or night time, although small noises may seem louder at nighttime, they aren’t louder at all .

Re: Noise transmission

Tomsed — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:59:00 GMT

Did this get resolved? I’ve been having a similar issue and it is driving us mad. Our internet provider don’t believe us when we have explained it to them.

Re: Noise transmission

Peter_W — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:35:27 GMT

Hi there @Tomsed.

Welcome to the BT Community 😊

These forums are primarily for support with BT Consumer products, so if you're with a different provider then it's always best flagging issues with them.

Whilst they're part of the wider BT Group, it's Openreach that oversee the installation and maintenance of the wider infrastructure for your broadband, and they operate independently from us here in BT Consumer.

They may not be able to hep unless there's specific damage or evidence of potential hazards, but you can find more information on the support they have available here:

Help & Support | Openreach

Peter

Re: Noise transmission

Nightbuz — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:51:38 GMT

Hi Tomsed, good to hear from you. No, it’s not resolved. Trying to cover all bases, I got in touch with SP energy Networks. We have a very small “substation “ near our house. I’ve lived here for 35 years and it only emits a gentle noise, not like the intermittent “hum” I hear overnight. Anyway, they came out to check it and found nothing wrong. They suggested I get in touch with the council who have a street lighting box on their sub station wall. Before I got round to it workmen had been seen opening the box( I was away). We have LED streetlights.For a few weeks it seemed to improve but then returned. I don’t hear it when I’m staying elsewhere. If you find a solution, please let me know.

Re: Noise transmission

Tomsed — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:13:26 GMT

Hi, thanks for your reply. It sounds like the exact same issue I’ve been having. We’ve also had the electricity board out and the highways team to check lighting around us. I also don’t hear the noise when I work away and sleep with no issues so I know I’m not going crazy as everyone thinks! I’ll update you if I find a solution

Re: Noise transmission

GrayGittins — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:55:00 GMT

Hi I have exactly the same issue with a pole put outside my house that was put up a year ago. Its a wooden pole with fiber and approx 6 wires coming from it. It makes a high pitched hum noise that modulates up and down. It is there all the time come wind or still days. It almost sounds like a motor running. I am a qualified electrical engineer with over 40 years experience , I can tell you now I have done exactly the same Isolated all the house power gas and water, Noise still there. I walked round outside in the night when it is quietest and discovered it was coming from the pole. As I pressed my ear to it the sound was clearly audible. I can explain it like a tuning fork tap it you wont hear it until you put it on a table top then the sound is amplified. it rings day and night throughout our house it drives us crazy at night. we are going to record the sound and try to send this along with a complaint letter to Openreach first to see what comes of that not very hopeful to be honest.

Re: Noise transmission

Nightbuz — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:05:42 GMT

Hi thanks for replying. As you say the problem sounds the same as mine and others. It seems to me that these boxes should not be placed near to people’s houses or they should be altered so that there is no noise disturbance.
As far as I’m aware Open Reach aren’t very “ reachable “. It’s great that you have engineering expertise, good luck.

Re: Noise transmission

JLhol — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:43:13 GMT

Hi Gray, could i possibly ask how you have got on? any progress, I think we have a similar issue here.