Background tone on some Parliamentary interviews

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ajbw

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#168569 18-Mar-2015 17:47

I listen to Radio NZ news (in fact, I have two radios that only tune to RadioNZ, but that's another story).
When a politician is interviewed there is often (but not always) a continuous, slightly ragged tone in the background.
I've not put a spectrum analyser on it, but I would guess at a few hundred Hz.
Here is an example from yesterday's news:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20171284 at time 5:46
Note that there is an earlier interview with some other politician where the tone is absent.
It's been happening for years now, but I've never seen a comment on it.
Any ideas?

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#1261900 18-Mar-2015 19:03

I thought it was like a dog whistle, only the intelligent could hear it. That's why the politicians never seem to be bothered by or acknowledge it.

But seriously I always thought it was the bell for the kindergarten children to return to the mat for playtime, I mean for the members to return to the debating chamber. I may stand corrected

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

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#1261912 18-Mar-2015 19:24

... When a politician is interviewed there is often (but not always) a continuous, slightly ragged tone in the background. ..

The natives are restless

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kiwitrc

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#1261946 18-Mar-2015 20:43

Its from the remote control that is controlling them.

wally22

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#1261952 18-Mar-2015 20:48

ajbw: I listen to Radio NZ news (in fact, I have two radios that only tune to RadioNZ, but that's another story).
When a politician is interviewed there is often (but not always) a continuous, slightly ragged tone in the background.
I've not put a spectrum analyser on it, but I would guess at a few hundred Hz.
Here is an example from yesterday's news:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20171284 at time 5:46
Note that there is an earlier interview with some other politician where the tone is absent.
It's been happening for years now, but I've never seen a comment on it.
Any ideas?

Above link doesn't work for me.

This may be the answer...

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

Scroll down for NZ

Benjip

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#1262066 18-Mar-2015 23:37

I have always wondered this too!

I see it all the time on the news when politicians are interviewed in what looks like a lobby/foyer of the Beehive.

My best guess has always been that someone is holding a door open for too long (perhaps a smoke/fire door) in order to fit all the media scrum in there, and it's beeping like a fridge that's been left open.

TLD

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#1262069 19-Mar-2015 00:17

I can't think why I have not asked the same question here myself, because it has bugged me for ages. It happens when in the lobby area, or that corridor that goes off to the right. It's not always there, but is loud enough to be very annoying when it is. Is it only picked up by electronic tools like cameras and sound recorders perhaps, and can't be heard by humans? I did the Beehive tour once, and certainly never heard the noise then.

I just spent ten minutes on Google without success. From memory, I'd say it is a few hundred Hz. 300Hz to 400Hz perhaps?

http://plasticity.szynalski.com/tone-generator.htm

Could it be some sort of security device? Maybe it stops non accredited tape recording, and accredited media have to use some sort of dongle to 'partially' cancel it? Blimey, I'm getting all conspiracy theory looney tunes now. :-( But what the heck is it?

Mauricio is in Wellington. Perhaps we should send him on a mission to infiltrate and find out. Hmmm... He'll need a disguise, and he'll need to know how to take pebbles from the hands of bald monks And and an escape plan might be wise...

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

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BTR

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#1262093 19-Mar-2015 07:58

Its the Bull sh*t detector going off.

knoydart

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#1262136 19-Mar-2015 09:20

Has anyone got an alternative link to the media?
That URL hangs in multiple browsers on my computer and can't find a link off the Checkpoint page that relates to politicians talking at around the stated time on Tuesday. Thanks

heylinb4nz

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#1262148 19-Mar-2015 09:47

Government mind control !!!!

trig42

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#1262153 19-Mar-2015 09:50

I have heard it on the news etc.

I always assumed it was some sort of alarm calling them into the House. I'd like to know too.

dylanp

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#1262169 19-Mar-2015 10:16

You guys crack me up. I nearly don't want to spoil it by giving you the answer. ;)

http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/glossary/00CLOOCGlossary1/glossary
Bell / Bells
Electronic bell, also known as the division or House bell, that rings to call members to the Chamber. The bell ring for 5 minutes at the start of each day's sitting, when members need to make a personal vote, and when there is no Minister in the House. It also rings briefly when the House is suspended or adjourned.

Definitely recommend visiting parliament if you're in the neighbourhood. While the house is sitting you can watch from the gallery upstairs. They've been a bit stricter in recent years, can't take phones in etc but they check them for you. If you wear a jacket you can sit in the speaker's gallery where you can see both sides. There are also regular tours, like these art tours which would be pretty cool - https://twitter.com/NZParliament/status/578042210089730048

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Bung

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#1262189 19-Mar-2015 10:20

knoydart: Has anyone got an alternative link to the media?
That URL hangs in multiple browsers on my computer and can't find a link off the Checkpoint page that relates to politicians talking at around the stated time on Tuesday. Thanks

Try around 3.30 in here

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/20171456/checkpoint-top-stories-for-wednesday-18-march-2015

kodiaknz

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#1262227 19-Mar-2015 10:53

Last time I was there, they had signs at Bowen house reminding people not to use the lifts when the bells are operating to assist with getting members to the chamber quickly.

I guess it's similar to the tones they play at the end of intermission at the ballet/opera - to remind people to head to their seats.

knoydart

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#1262253 19-Mar-2015 11:32

Bung:
knoydart: Has anyone got an alternative link to the media?
That URL hangs in multiple browsers on my computer and can't find a link off the Checkpoint page that relates to politicians talking at around the stated time on Tuesday. Thanks

Try around 3.30 in here

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/20171456/checkpoint-top-stories-for-wednesday-18-march-2015

Thanks.

Yes they are the bells. Having worked in Parliament for a year, you get very familiar with them...

ajbw

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#1262294 19-Mar-2015 12:00

Mystery solved! Thank you everyone for the information and comments.
But I think they should invest in a tone generator that doesn't wobble around in frequency so much. It would cost
about a dollar to make.

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