What is this sound coming from our electonics?

Question

Okay, my husband and I have been hearing this noise coming from our computer. What's odd about it, is we hear it even when the sound is turned all the way down. We then figured it had something to do with the itunes, because, yesterday, my hubs heard it in the car from the ipod.

It's a digital sounding "be dip bedipa be-e-e-ep bip deppe dep"

It happens every hour or so. Anyone know what this is?

Answer 1

It sounds like cell phone interference.  Your cell phone will periodically transmit to keep in touch with the local cell tower whether you are using it or not.

Answer 2

Is it coming from the refrig, toaster, micro, or just the computer and the ipod, both with the volume down? Your be dips don't really relate to sound unless you might  be trying to type what may be dots and dashes or Morris code. Then it could be RFI from a radio transmitter that sends a code ID at a periodical time. Are you near an airport or other source for such transmission? Does it also come in on the car radio or just the ipod when it is in the car? The ipod being portable may be a help as you could walk around your area and see if the signal gets stronger or weaker at some point.

Feel fre to contact me via my profile email if I can be of further help. I have several years in the field of locating and solving RFI problems.