November 25, 2005 10:00 AM PST

Fifth-generation iPod (with video) [#11]: Cell phone interference causing problems with add-on devices

by CNET staff

We continue coverage of an issue where fifth-generation iPods (with video), apparently suffer from erratic functioning due to interference from cellular phones and potentially other radio-emitting handheld devices.

Speculation now holds that these issues are directly or indirectly related to the touch sensitive portion of the fifth-generation iPod, and possibly the iPod nano.

We're now receiving reports from readers who are experiencing issues with third-party add-ons resulting from phone interference.

MacFixIt reader Rick Cummins describes an issue where his LG vx7000 phone caused problems with output to a Sony Cassette Adapter.

He writes:

"I also think I may be having cell phone interference issues. I have been having issues with my iPod G5 60 gig locking up at the beginning of a song on a playlist when I go to play in my car using a Sony cassette adapter. At first I thought it may have been something to do with the Sony adapter, even though it was new, something I had bought with the new iPod. Then I feared it was my new iPod, because it would not play, even though I was able to navigate to other playlists, songs, etc. Then, when I read about cell phone interference on MacFixIt, I tried removing the one variable I had not thought of removing - my cell phone. Upon removing my cell phone from my car, both the Sony cassette adapter and, more importantly, my iPod are working perfectly."

It should also be noted that incoming cell phone calls and data transfer can cause inevitable audio interference on certain devices, including the iPod.

One reader writes:

"Similar interference happened ALL the time in my car when the Motorola phone auto-updated the time. It also happens in our church over the sound system when someone has his cellphone near the AV equipment."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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