The Spice-Box of Earth

This item was described to me as a box. However from its description, I believe it to be a radio. Some who claim to have seen it say they heard a 'cryer', who gave them details of magical rituals. Others say that it spoke as if giving news, but that it spoke of events months or years in the future. Whether the events the spirit fortold came to pass is unknown. Others say they heard nothing but "a hissing sound, like an army of snakes and mosquitoes." It is unclear whether this was static, or an alien language.