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High pitched noise on O Connell street

  • 02-08-2017 09:01PM
    #1
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,957 ✭✭✭


    Howdy,

    Being having an annoying issue with a place on O Connell street

    It's either Funland Palace or the Londis next door to it or the cafe on the other side

    But the issue is one of these places has installed one of those high pitched noise frequency devices to keep people away, only thing is most people I talk to can hear it (all above 25)

    Its very annoying when walking past and having ears hurt from it.

    Are these illegal to have ? Is there anything that can be done about it ?

    I shot of an Email to Dublin city council under noise pollution but i don't know how that will go

    Any opinions / advice appreciated !


Comments

  • #2
    RosieJoe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,464 ✭✭✭RosieJoe


    Walked past there the other day and never noticed. Only high pitched noise I heard was some one selling "straaawbreeeeezzzzzzzz!!"


  • #3
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    Stood waiting for a bus there today and heard nothing. And I'm above 25


  • #4
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,712 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    RosieJoe wrote: »
    Walked past there the other day and never noticed. Only high pitched noise I heard was some one selling "straaawbreeeeezzzzzzzz!!"

    "Eeeeeeehhhh, ya got fifty cents, Bud?"

    Not your ornery onager



  • #5
    me_irl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,400 ✭✭✭me_irl


    Ah, the "mosquito noise"?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mosquito#Legal_status
    Under Ireland's Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, anyone who "directly or indirectly applies force to or causes an impact on the body of another... without the consent of the other" (force including "application of [any] form of energy"), is guilty of committing assault. This issue has been raised in relation to the Mosquito device by Ireland's Ombudsman for Children following legal advice provided by Youth Work Ireland,[38] but has yet to be tested in the Irish courts.

    I suppose the same argument could be applied to ambulance sirens, that are quite sore on the ears but pass by fast (thanks Doppler Effect!). So, in essence you are the object that's moving in this scenario.


  • #6
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,957 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    Strange not all can hear it, like i say I'm above 25 and can hear it and it's fierce annoying. Very irritating on the ear.

    I got a response from DCC earlier asking for the exact address so they can send an eviromental officer to investigate the issue. Hopefully they find it and something will come of it.

    Without piss taking about junkies etc I think this is a serious enough issue, I work in Dublin city and walk past here and even stand here for a period of time waiting for vehicles etc and it's very bad in the head so would like to see some action taken.


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  • #7
    Peregrine
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 26,403 Mod ✭✭✭✭Peregrine


    Yeah, I heard it near Funderland. I was wondering what it was. It's very annoying.


  • #8
    me_irl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,400 ✭✭✭me_irl


    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »
    Strange not all can hear it, like i say I'm above 25 and can hear it and it's fierce annoying. Very irritating on the ear.

    http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2011/06/mosquito-ringtones/

    ^ I'm under 35 and I can't hear the "39 and younger" 15kHz frequency! I blame my lack of foresight (well, now hindsight) to wear earplugs at all the metal gigs I've attended.

    I actually use the 8kHz frequency as my alarm tone... because I hate myself. :pac:


  • #9
    Arcade_Tryer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,021 ✭✭✭Arcade_Tryer


    Have heard a similar type of noise in a housing estate before. Sounds like coins rattling in your pocket, except more high pitched. Not only incredibly annoying, but quite unsettling too. Still regret not phoning the Guards to report the owner of the property.


  • #10
    Dramatik
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 923 ✭✭✭Dramatik


    It's been going off for ages, thought it was just some dodgy alarm that was broken but soon realised it was an device to stop people hanging around there. Some people seem oblivious to it but I have sensitive hearing (have done sine wave tests in professional environment) and have to block my ears when walking past, it is extremely uncomfortable to me. For anyone wondering what it sounds like:



  • #11
    JaMarcusHustle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,719 ✭✭✭JaMarcusHustle


    me_irl wrote:
    ^ I'm under 35 and I can't hear the "39 and younger" 15kHz frequency! I blame my lack of foresight (well, now hindsight) to wear earplugs at all the metal gigs I've attended.

    I just turned 30 and I can't hear the 50 and Younger on.

    Should this be a cause for concern?


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  • #12
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,352 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    JaMarcusHustle wrote: »
    I just turned 30 and I can't hear the 50 and Younger on.

    Should this be a cause for concern?

    At 30, I would get that checked, yes.
    A proper test will be much more accurate than an internet page.
    Is there any reason you might have lost some hearing? Loud headphones, working with loud machinery etc.?


  • #13
    JaMarcusHustle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,719 ✭✭✭JaMarcusHustle


    spurious wrote:
    At 30, I would get that checked, yes. A proper test will be much more accurate than an internet page. Is there any reason you might have lost some hearing? Loud headphones, working with loud machinery etc.?

    No machinery, but I do listen to music on my headphones a lot on full volume. Though the volume on my phone is never usually that high anyway, which is why I turn it up to the last. I often fall asleep with headphones on, but not full volume at night.


  • #14
    2Mad2BeMad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,792 ✭✭✭2Mad2BeMad


    I can hear it, but honestly can say I probably wouldn't notice it unless I forced myself too.
    Hell I probably have noticed it before but didn't think about it and just continued on with what I was doing.

    I have a feeling its to stop anti social behavior and to stop homeless and junkies camping outside


  • #15
    Ben D Bus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,167 ✭✭✭Ben D Bus


    I've just walked past and I can hear it when I'm right outside the door.

    And I'm almost 50!


  • #16
    GLaDOS
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 23,241 Mod ✭✭✭✭GLaDOS


    I noticed it myself while waiting for the 40 bus recently. It's pretty piercing!

    Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test



  • #17
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    My daughter has Sensory Processing disorder and we had a recent visit to Temple St, afterwards I brought her to the McD's on O'Connell st for a treat for being good and she was going crazy (fidgetting, covering her ears, couldn't stay still), she said her ears were hurting her. Forgot all about it until reading this again.


  • #18
    Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,957 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    Just went past it again myself 5 mins ago

    Clearly still an issue, how do people about complaining further or getting action taken.

    Sorry to hear about your daughter suffering with that, definitely not on !


  • #19
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 72,412 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    I'd imagine that there could be grounds to claim assault or injury from these things. They are likely over legal limits for sound and you can clearly detect high frequencies on professional sound measuring gear

    Many years ago I dumped a transaction at the counter in a shop when it became clear they used one of these. Got too old to hear them now


  • #20
    r93kaey5p2izun
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,962 ✭✭✭r93kaey5p2izun


    I walked past here on Saturday evening and found this very irritating. I'm in my 30s so assume it's even worse for younger people. I was going to buy a drink in the Londis there but went elsewhere because of this noise.


  • #21
    hatrickpatrick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,798 ✭✭✭✭hatrickpatrick


    I've always had ridiculously strong hearing and this drives me absolutely insane every time I've to walk up O'Connell St. Wonderful solution to their antisocial behaviour problem - inflicting antisocial behaviour themselves on every pedestrian who has to walk past. Scumbags the lot of them IMO.

    Can confirm that they're probably over the threshhold for damage as well, I had tinnitus for the rest of the evening the first time I encountered this yoke. How do we go about making an allegation of assault? Just drop in to Store St Gardai?


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  • #22
    BeerNut
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 12,034 Mod ✭✭✭✭BeerNut


    hatrickpatrick wrote: »
    How do we go about making an allegation of assault? Just drop in to Store St Gardai?
    Start with your solicitor.

    My beer blog | Bluesky | My other beer blog



  • #23
    hatrickpatrick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,798 ✭✭✭✭hatrickpatrick


    BeerNut wrote: »
    Start with your solicitor.

    I'm not looking for civil compensation or anything though, I'm more interested in getting them on the wrong side of the law such that somebody forces them to remove the feckin' thing


  • #24
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    I'd say the council would be the people to make a complaint too.


  • #25
    BeerNut
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 12,034 Mod ✭✭✭✭BeerNut


    The Council's noise pollution page is here.

    My beer blog | Bluesky | My other beer blog



  • #26
    me_irl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,400 ✭✭✭me_irl


    hatrickpatrick wrote: »
    I've always had ridiculously strong hearing and this drives me absolutely insane every time I've to walk up O'Connell St. Wonderful solution to their antisocial behaviour problem - inflicting antisocial behaviour themselves on every pedestrian who has to walk past. Scumbags the lot of them IMO.

    Can confirm that they're probably over the threshhold for damage as well, I had tinnitus for the rest of the evening the first time I encountered this yoke. How do we go about making an allegation of assault? Just drop in to Store St Gardai?

    I found some info on the "legal status" of these devices (granted it's from wikipedia).

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=104277893&postcount=5

    Wiki references this article from 2007: http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2007/0530/ireland/using-mosquito-devices-on-children-could-constitute-assault-says-ombudsman-33884.html


  • #27
    papu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,357 ✭✭✭papu


    Which owner has had it installed?
    My guessing would be the Casino, does anyone know for sure?


  • #28
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,567 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    The council over here plays classical music in places to drive of the undesirables, much more pleasant than that kind of incessant whine.


  • #29
    4068ac1elhodqr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭4068ac1elhodqr


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    The council over here plays classical music in places to drive of the undesirables, much more pleasant than that kind of incessant whine.

    Classical music has shown in various tests to deter antisocial behaviour. Some theories also express 'general well-being is improved' when concert A pitch is re-tuned down slightly from the 440 to the 432Hz, (another extensive subject matter altogether).

    The issue with this aggravating street noise is its delivery (often by stealth). It has a whiff of the 'Cuban sonic weaponry incident' about it. Exposure may not be realised and thus risk of injury increased. Without public signage presenting this risk (if db is excessive) could easily envisage a legal challenge to it.

    Other experiments have shown slightly subsonic noise <35Hz can quickly create physical symptoms and queasiness. So the opposite may well be true e.g. 40Mhz will disrupt breading cycles in the common dustmite, and quickly deter moles or rodents. Your typical HiFi tweeter will only just manage 20Mhz, but specialist products are available to reach 40Mhz.


  • #30
    LionelNashe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,961 ✭✭✭LionelNashe


    I was in town the other day and walked by that doorway to check it out - I can hear it quite easily when I'm within 4 or 5 feet of it, and I'm 45 years old. I think it's calibrated to be heard by anyone, and just in the immediate vicinity of the doorway, which means it's probably not as high pitched enough to be as annoying as it could be.


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  • #31
    papu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,357 ✭✭✭papu


    LionelNashe wrote: »
    I was in town the other day and walked by that doorway to check it out - I can hear it quite easily when I'm within 4 or 5 feet of it, and I'm 45 years old. I think it's calibrated to be heard by anyone, and just in the immediate vicinity of the doorway, which means it's probably not as high pitched enough to be as annoying as it could be.

    26, I can hear it loudly from across the road.

    Annoys me every time I walk by it


  • #32
    LionelNashe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,961 ✭✭✭LionelNashe


    papu wrote: »
    26, I can hear it loudly from across the road.

    Annoys me every time I walk by it

    Across O'Connell Street, with buses, taxis etc going by?


  • #33
    papu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,357 ✭✭✭papu


    LionelNashe wrote: »
    Across O'Connell Street, with buses, taxis etc going by?

    Yup, its a much higher frequency than all those sounds.
    High and low frequencies vibrations are detected by different part of the ears. Higher frequency waves also have more power, but less directional, sure if a bus or tree gets in the way I can't hear it, but I always walk on the opposite side of the street as I cant stand to walk on the side with the emitter. I wish they would get rid of it.


  • #34
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,438 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    me_irl wrote: »
    http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2011/06/mosquito-ringtones/

    ^ I'm under 35 and I can't hear the "39 and younger" 15kHz frequency! I blame my lack of foresight (well, now hindsight) to wear earplugs at all the metal gigs I've attended.

    I actually use the 8kHz frequency as my alarm tone... because I hate myself. :pac:
    I'm still hearing 17kHz (24 & Younger can hear). 44 next month. And metal gigs? These ol' ears survived everything McGonagle's could throw at them in the late 80s!
    Dramatik wrote: »
    I can clearly hear the sound in that video. must try it in real life next time I'm in the vicinity. I can also hear those ultrasonic anti-vermin alarms people plug in in their kitchens.

    Do I have a superpower? Am I High-Pitched Hearing Man?

    :D


  • #35
    4068ac1elhodqr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭4068ac1elhodqr


    endacl wrote: »
    I can clearly hear the sound in that video. must try it in real life next time I'm in the vicinity. I can also hear those ultrasonic anti-vermin alarms people plug in in their kitchens.

    Do I have a superpower? Am I High-Pitched Hearing Man?
    :D

    If they're the 40kHz (40,000hz) that stop dustmites from replicating, then yes.

    Some of the mole repellents appear to go from 3-400hz and upwards which is normal range.

    Lower end bass sounds are more desired and mistakenly advertised on many (passive radiator) portable speakers as having 'great bass'. But will often fail to get below 80hz on these and max uppers at 20khz.

    I've studio monitors will say hello to 35hz and 22khz. Used to have woofer with 'subsonic' 30hz reflex switch. The Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano has special low black keys with F0 22hz, proper bass.

    Even deaf people enjoy bass through floor/air vibrations, whereas the mosquito device is likely only to cause pain and annoyance.


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