Electronics at Hogwarts

[Jordan Abel]

No: HPFGUIDX 158348

I will try to summarize the various theories on why electronic devices
don't work at hogwarts. There are several aspects to this

First, the reason itself:
A. One theory i've heard is that it is a deliberate effort to block
them from working (a privacy charm or anti-electricity ward of some
kind) - I don't think that wizards are competent enough in muggle
technology to manage this, and even if they were, why not also block
the magical equivalent (Rita's quills, Colin's cameras, etc)?
B. It is an inevitable consequence of there being so much "magic in
the air", such as the wards, etc.
C. It is a result of magic, but only because the spells used have not
been "tuned" to limit their interference to specific frequency bands,
therefore spewing all over the spectrum. Or perhaps certain types of
wards _have_ to in effect jam certain frequencies in order to, say,
block apparation.

Second: what it works on.
A. It acts as electromagnetic interference. If you have a walkman, you
can't listen to the radio, but you can listen to a tape.
B. It interferes with the passage of electrons through wire. Nothing will work.

Third: how it affects things
A. It "radiates" from open air within Hogwarts and its grounds - a
shielded device like a computer would work, but radio receivers of any
kind are beyond hope. Or perhaps a special (but nonmagical) shielding
design other than a faraday cage would be necessary
B. It radiates from whatever point or object a spell is anchored to -
shielding will work and moving or reorienting a receiver may help.
C. It permeates space. Any device will be affected as if it is not
shielded. It may or may not be possible to use magic to block the
interference.
D. It does not interfere with anything, but somehow otherwise prevents
reception. For example, perhaps being unplottable (is Hogwarts
unplottable?) causes radio waves to "bend" around the grounds.
Transmitter/receiver systems (like walkie-talkies, a wi-fi system, a
pirate radio station) would work within hogwarts, but not across the
borders of the grounds. electronic devices are not in any way
affected.

Does anyone have canon evidence for or against any of these
hypotheses? Anyone have any other theories?

How much do you want to bet that Hermione simply tried a radio once,
found it didn't work, and drew an elaborate conclusion with no other
evidence?

Hmm. Maybe there just aren't any transmitting towers near Hogwarts.
How common are "gaps" in radio coverage (i.e. places you could go,
turn on an ordinary AM or FM radio, and only hear static no matter
what you set the dial to) in britain, anyone know?

-- 
Random832