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We're Jammin', Hope You Like Jammin' Too

theodp writes "Slate ponders whether a climate where anything can be photographed or surreptitiously recorded means the once-esoteric world of cell-phone jamming will become mainstream. Sites now offer portable cell-phone jammers that can provide you with the same kind of security bubbles used to thwart industrial spies, hostage-takers and bomb detonators. While actively jamming a cell-phone signal is illegal in the US, a distributor reports most of his sales go to US customers, including universities which use the technology to stop students from diddling away on phones during lectures."

12 of 422 comments (clear)

  1. Signal Jamming? by l3prador · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What? Wouldn't blocking the cell phone signal only prevent the person from sending the picture off? The photograph could still be taken and simply sent later, once the cell phone is away from the jamming signal, right?

  2. Aw man... by OtakuHawk · · Score: 5, Funny

    At first I thought this post had something to do with music!

  3. Nice. by The_Unforgiven · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wouldn't mind being able to jam phones within, say, 10 feet of me. One of my biggest pet peeves is people on their cell phones. Because, you know, the further away they are, the louder you have to yell into the phone for them to hear you...

    --
    http://wsulug.org
  4. Jammer locator... by ericspinder · · Score: 5, Interesting
    so you can leave it out on a restaurant table and no one will know you're the source of the blissful silence in the room
    Great so now not only will I need to be sure that I only go to (or even pass through) places which don't jam, but I have to worry about random people as well. I suspect next they'll sell, jammer tracking locators, so that I can find out which jerk thought blocking me from my responsabilities was within their rights. I can only imagine what that type of fight will be called... maybe Jamming Rage?
    --
    The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.
  5. Jamming= Illegal by pvt_medic · · Score: 5, Informative

    The operation of transmitters designed to jam or block wireless communications is a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended ("Act"). See 47 U.S.C. Sections 301, 302a, 333. The Act prohibits any person from willfully or maliciously interfering with the radio communications of any station licensed or authorized under the Act or operated by the U.S. government. 47 U.S.C. Section 333. The manufacture, importation, sale or offer for sale, including advertising, of devices designed to block or jam wireless transmissions is prohibited. 47 U.S.C. Section 302a(b). Parties in violation of these provisions may be subject to the penalties set out in 47 U.S.C. Sections 501-510. Fines for a first offense can range as high as $11,000 for each violation or imprisonment for up to one year, and the device used may also be seized and forfeited to the U.S. government

    From
    http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/cellular/operatio ns/blockingjamming.html

    --
    30% Troll, 50% Underrated, 10% Interesting
    Score:5, Troll
  6. I'm glad... by Throat+constant · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't have a cell phone. There's too much drama involved.

  7. Legal Jamming by pvt_medic · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While it is clearly illegal to jam the signal their is nothing against constructing buildings that jams the signal by just the nature of how the radio signal travels through the building.

    HEre an article on home to legal jam cell phones.

    --
    30% Troll, 50% Underrated, 10% Interesting
    Score:5, Troll
  8. Re:Yes! by Txiasaeia · · Score: 5, Insightful
    That kind of attitude is pretty lame - "I'm too lazy to remember to turn my cell off; can somebody else do it for me?"

    If people like you actually turned off your freaking phones in theatres and at school, maybe jammers as described in the article wouldn't need to exist...

    --
    Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
  9. Re:mixed bag to be sure by Brandon30X · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well that's not exactly a great idea, now you would be transmitting a signal, just like a cell phone, as well. And the other persons phone will still try to keep in contact with the tower, so it will transmit periodically, so now you have two devices transmitting RF radiation near the medical equipment. Jamming is like screaming in someone's ear in order to keep them from hearing someone else talk.

    --
    Quitters never win, Winners never quit, But those who never win and never quit are idiots.
  10. Re:Cellphones are the Anti-Christ, Cameras in Clas by kgbkgb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I will use my psychic mind reading powers to say that you must be atleast 35.

    How come every generation of old people feels the need to criticize every new technology that comes around by mis-characterizing it?

    I have no interest in being on an electronic leash, forced to be accountable to someone - somewhere

    If you put yourself in a situation where you're "on an electronic leash", then that's your fault. Do you realize that you don't have to answer a cell phone whenever it rings? It's pretty nifty technology, you have to press a button to answer it.

    If you say that the advantages of having a cell phone aren't worth it for you, that's fine. But the only real disadvantage is how much it costs and having to carry it in your pocket. The whole leash thing simply tells me something about your relationship with the would-be leash-holder.

    I imagine some older folks didn't like the telephone when it came out - I refuse to be on a leash when I'm at home, forced to be accountable to someone - somewhere.

  11. Re:Cellphones are the Anti-Christ, Cameras in Clas by BigBlockMopar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I will use my psychic mind reading powers to say that you must be atleast 35.

    Heheh... Nope, but I'm old beyond my years.

    How come every generation of old people feels the need to criticize every new technology that comes around by mis-characterizing it?

    Actually, I love technology; my career choices undoubtedly reflect that.

    If you put yourself in a situation where you're "on an electronic leash", then that's your fault. Do you realize that you don't have to answer a cell phone whenever it rings? It's pretty nifty technology, you have to press a button to answer it.

    I know. But the reality is that when the phone rings, you feel obliged to answer it. Then, pretty soon, it's a nuisance and makes you feel guilty.

    Of course, you can turn off the ringer. Then, the problem becomes, "Huh-NEEEEEEE... Why didn't you answer the phone when I called? What were you doing?"

    People become accustomed to being able to reach you and talk to you about every stupid little thing that happens in their lives.

    For the very same reason I eschew land-line telephones or ICQ and other messaging systems, and like e-mail: It's a constant interruption. With e-mail, on the other hand, the sender can send the message when it's convenient for them. I can then read it and reply when it's convenient for me. Telephones, in particular cellphones, require it to be convenient for both parties to talk at the same time.

    If you say that the advantages of having a cell phone aren't worth it for you, that's fine. But the only real disadvantage is how much it costs and having to carry it in your pocket. The whole leash thing simply tells me something about your relationship with the would-be leash-holder.

    Okay. Try this. Turn off your cellphone for a week. Tell me what you get from your friends. "I tried to call you, but you didn't answer." Endlessly. You've built up the expectation that you will be available to discuss all sorts of stupid things, including the weather, any time they're feeling bored in the lineup at the grocery store.

    My friends know how I feel about cellphones, and telephones in general. We communicate by e-mail. We arrange to get together to drink beer by e-mail.

    I imagine some older folks didn't like the telephone when it came out - I refuse to be on a leash when I'm at home, forced to be accountable to someone - somewhere.

    For sure. But there's still the escape with a regular telephone. If you don't answer your land line, they assume that you're out. If you don't answer your cellphone - which, by tradition, is always with you - then they assume that you're ignoring them.

    --
    Fire and Meat. Yummy.
  12. Re:Cellphones are the Anti-Christ, Cameras in Clas by kgbkgb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not terrible arguments, but I still maintain you're putting yourself in that situation. Tell your wife and friends:
    "Look... I don't feel like answering my phone all the time, and I don't always have it on me anyway. Leave a message."

    I know when I call someone's cell phone and they don't answer, I assume they don't have it on them or they're in an area where they don't get service.