how to eliminate audio hiss and interference from ethernet and usb

[darko]

Im having a problem with my speakers hissing and picking up a faint radio signal from my Airport Express. I've isolated the issue down to the USB cable I use to hook up my printer to the Airport Express, and also the ethernet cable which supplies it with the WAN connection.

The ethernet cable is the culprit behind the faint radio transmissions, and the USB cable is to blame for the hissing.

Are there ways to get rid of this interference? Or should I be looking to buy another airport express to use as a dedicated airtunes station and leave the other one to receive WAN and work the printer?

Any ideas guys? Thanks

 

[GlocksRock]

Have you tried using a shielded ethernet cable?

 

[darko]

I haven't tried anything, I just isolated the issue earlier today. I wanted to ask here before spending money on stuff that probably won't help

The 5' ethernet cable plugs into my RJ45 wall plug which then routes at least 40 feet through my walls and into my basement where the cable modem resides. I suspect its picking up the interference somewhere along the line there, so would a shielded end cable help? I assume not, because that's only shielding the last 5 feet of a 40+ foot run.

How bout the USB?

 

[Rickster71]

Do you know what type of cable is in the walls? If it's anything less than CAT-5 it could be picking up noise.
How is the long run routed, does it run parallel to any AC lines?

 

[darko]

The run is about 40 feet give or take, and yes it runs parallel to lots of other cables including AC. When I first built this addition onto the house it never occured to me that this would be a future problem. The cable is your garden variety Cat5-E, if I remember correctly. It's definitely at least Cat5 that's for sure.

Sounds like I may just be better off spending another $100 on a secondary airport express to use for music only.