Slashdot Mirror
Cell-Phone Wars
Makarand writes "According to this article in the Houston Chronicle people
fed up with cell phone chatter have declared
war against cell phones.
They are arming themselves with detectors, jammers and other gizmos to defend privacy,
security, sanity and blissful silence. Although jamming cell phones is not
legal in the US, pocket-sized jammers are available online and even on
eBay. Cell-phone jammers typically work by disrupting
the communication between handsets and cellular towers
by flooding an area with interference
or selectively blocking signals by broadcasting on frequencies
used by these phones. The FCC
has received very few complaints about jammed cell phones
and has never taken action against anyone for that violation."
They tried to call and complain, but ...
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
...just wait until someone blocks a 911 call.
Cellular Telephones aren't just used for idle chatter. Remember, a lot (not most, but not insignificant) of cellular traffic comes from telemetry systems. So, the next call you might jam could be some heart paitent's ECG telling his cardiologist that he's having a heart attack, or somebody's Saab saying that it's airbag has gone off in an accident, or perhaps it is just a cell call, and it's just the hospital trying to get their neurosurgeon in.
-twb
It is apparent that many people do use cell phones a lot. I mean, its convient then going to a payphone. Anyone can contact you anywhere in the world (if you have a good signal), but people use them too much. They should do more of a push to use SMS and it would solve the problem with people talking too much.
The FCC has received very few complaints about jammed cell phones and has never taken action against anyone for that violation.
How could they take action? The people with the jammers keep them in their pockets. And the only reason they're doing it is for the entertainment/proving a point aspect. It's not as if Wal*Mart is mass-installing jammers to stop shoppers talking while shopping, so how would the FCC catch anyone?
Besides, with the way people move around, service would only appear to be patchy, dropping out as you walk past someone with a jammer, then coming back again. Cellphones do this anyway , so how you would you know what to complain about?
This is pretty much a non story because it's hard to tell if you're being jammed or if you're just getting a crappy signal. Sure, you shouldn't be blocking cellphone signals, but I can't see how the FCC is going to catch you doing it.
Wow, they sell jammers? That is terrible, so disruptive and bad, it's just wrong. Where do you buy those by the way?
sig:
See the "..for smart people" banners Wired runs here? Look elsewhere guys.
> As a top IT executive for a fortune 50, I spend a lot of time on global conference calls. I would be extremely annoyed, and would consider it an attack on both me personally, and me professionally (and, by extension, my company) if someone were to jam my cellular during an important conference call.
As a normal person, I consider it an attack on me both personally and professionally, when someone use a cell phone in an inappropriate context.
I recommend you not do this.
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
I'm tired as fuck of all the self-righteous pricks running around who think their one-on-one conversations are more important than my conversation over the phone. If I'm at a restraunt dining alone (traveling for business or just a loser....) unless everyone can't talk then I'll talk on my phone till the cows come home. Ms. Manners can shove it... Never is it acceptable where no one should be talking, movies, churches, etc....but unless it's unacceptable for everyone to talk, then find something else to bitch about.
With a swift kick to the nuts!
While 'warfare' may not be the right answer, Its about time people are fighing back.
.. and thats why god made paint balls :)
About the only thing i can think of that is more rude, is a SUV driver
---- Booth was a patriot ----
...is just to learn some proper manners.
Don't shout loudly if it bothers people and don't jam other people's cell phones.
Real life is overrated.
Jamming sounds like a great solution at first. but wouldn't Faraday cages be simpler? I drive past a theater that overpowers my FM radio along a few hundred ft stretch of roadway. If they lined the theater with copper foil, it would stop the cell phones and the interference the theater itself is producing.
Tin foil may be an answer after all...
Ah, first the war on drugs, the war on poverty then the war on terror.
I see we've solved those issues to now have the time to wage war on those annoying annoying people on cellphones.
I think those people who are complaining must be the people who don't get enough cell calls and feel left out. Amusing as it would be I'll break the fingers of the first person cellphone jamming I see.
Why is it socially acceptable to talk to people but as soon as the person is separated by a bit of technology is it considered obnoxious and socially unacceptable?
I haven't posted in so long, my sig is out of date.
What we really need is a jammer that will only effect 13 to 17 year old girls.
There are tons of people in college that just yap away in the middle of class and everywhere you go their cell phone is their best buddy. As a student paying for my education I get tired of dealing with the constant interruption to MY EDUCATION. If people are going to be dumb about using their cell phones then others can go right ahead and jam calls. They should do the same thing in movie theatres and other "quiet" areas to keep the peace.
The 'Safe Haven' system by Iceberg is not a camera phone jammer.
It's basically a feature that needs to be built into the phone. When it receives a certain signal it disables the camera. Iceberg claim it could be used for laptops and PDA's but neglect to mention that disabling the technology would be trivial for any determined pervert.
The complaints over camera phones are pretty idiotic anyway. The determined pervert could just use a tiny camera if they really wanted to take photo's anywhere.
I'm not paying Nokia et al to integrate technology that selectively disables my phone. It reminds me the recent debacle about printers with built in mechanisms to defeat currency copying. I'd rather Nokia and HP spent their time working on useful new features than trying to nursemaid me.
If you are worried about someone taking your photo in the locker room, that is your problem.
who cares if it's vital or not. If you're sitting there conversing with your mates, then I have every right to talk to my friend/associate/whatever virtually... again, if it's a library, chrurch, theatre, where NO ONE should talk to anyone, fine....but to have a conversation with a person on the phone in a normal tone is no more distracting than listening to your annoying drivel to your table mates.... the logic is total BS: the first paragraph alone where some asshole is jamming conversation at a coffee house????? come the F*&^% on....tell the prick to go to a library...IF I caught someone doing this I wouldn't hesitate to take a swing at him... And you know the only people running around with these devices would be greasy little geeks without friends to bring in person or to call on the phone that you could wipe the floor with one hand..
I'm tired as fuck of all the self-righteous pricks running around who think their one-on-one conversations are more important than my conversation over the phone.
Those are my feelings EXACTLY. The only difference that I've thought of is the tendency for some morons to talk a lot more loudly on a cell call than during a one-on-one conversation. I've found that imitating them puts a stop to that, usually.
To ensure perfect aim, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target
when you have AT&T's GSM: its like having a legal cell phone jammer at all times!
My cell phone is on vibrate 24/7. Why should I get jammed? The only good solution is a bluetooth type technology that silences any phone in the area without disabling them.
Sure some people are inconsiderate jerks. People talk to people sitting next to them in movies all the time. We don't duct tape everyone's mouthes shut on the way in.
Actually they should have screened the line for Return of the King. If you didn't see the first two movies, you should not have been allowed in. There were people all around me having the first 6 hours of film described to them on the fly.
-B
While cell phone jamming in public spaces is illegal, my research suggests that jamming on private property is not illegal. It appears this has never been challenged in court. The big question though is, whether or not it's a good practice.
I finally relented and got a cell phone vary recently. I (like almsot every other slashdot reader) work in the tech sector 8 hours a day 5 days a week and have revused until recently to bring some of this technology into my home. I don't have cable TV, I don't have an answering machine and until a few weeks ago I didn't have a cell phone.
I for one, would be in favor of movie theaters jamming cell phones inside the theaters themselves, and any other private institution (museums perhaps) who wish to, being able to legally jam cell frequencies at their discression, within their own premisis. It should be considered no different than banning smoking in facilities on private property. The owners should have discression here, And if cell phone users don't like it they can take their business elsewhere. This will cause the business owners to carefully consider the practice before enguaging in it.
I do believe that signage should be requires when such jamming is in effect, so patrons would be aware they will be incomunicado while they are within the given facility, such that they can make an informed choice.
--CTh
--Got Lists? | Top 95 Star Wars Line
Oh, all the lawyers just got a woody. Another lawsuit in the making.
Poor people whine. Rich people call their lawyers.
bun-fhuinneog agam!
Jamming cellphones in an area greater than your personal space is incredibly fucking selfish. When you go out in public, you are subject to the social norms of the area you live in. If other people in your city think it is cool to be obnoxious on the cell phone, deal with it, try and change it through non passive-aggressive means or move.
When I lived in San Francisco I would be amazed when people would get pissed at others for talking in normal tones on cellphones while on the bus. As I told this one old guy who was yelling, "Why don't you yell at the couple in front of her who are talking even louder?!". Personally I don't use my cellphone in crowded places and always keep my ringer off. I don't see why so many people who have vitriol for those who conduct themselves with decent manners.
--- I do not moderate.
The first day I there with them, one of the hardware engineers pulled this thing that looks like a cell phone out of his pocket. He looked at me at said, "Watch this," and pointed toward a guy crossing the street, talking on a cell phone.
My coworker then pressed a button on his "cell phone" and a second or two later, the man on the street took the phone away from his ear and looked at the display as if to see if the call had been dropped. He put it back to his ear, appeared to say something, and then repeated this sequence a couple of times before giving up.
The device was a jammer that my coworker had built into a cell phone case to make it inconspicuous.
It was pretty funny to see hordes of people rushing around, all looking at their phones trying to figure out what's going on.
I could only imagine what they were saying: "Hello? Can you hear me now?"
Dr Superlove 300ml. I use my powers for awesome
What cafes and restaurants do you frequent that do not have a land line for emergencies?
I don't care if you use a cellphone in public, I just watch you intently and take notes! I only interrupt if I miss part of the conversation.
You lose your right to privacy when you talk in public. I take advantage of that to embarrass the obnoxious by being just as obnoxious.
In the theatre industry we have to think of other creative ways of stopping cellphones even from being switched on (even on silent - as most tech people know, digital cellphones can badly interfere with electronic equipment). Thus, a company does produce a "cellphone detector", picking up cellphone radiation. An automated message can inform people to turn their phones off - failing that, in cases where phones MUST be turned off (live recordings etc) you can refuse to start until all phones are off.
For most people on mobile phones (cell phones) they're used properly, no shouting and no louder than if you're talking with someone who's next to you. I use my mobile regularly and always try to make sure I'm not being disruptive, not in the wrong places (eg libraries) and no shouting. Just because a few people abuse them, does not mean most people do.
Someone carrying a jammer is being deliberately and obnoxiously selfish. They're worse than the ignorant fools who talk to loudly.
then this would not be a problem. Society has functioned for many years without cellular technology. If you have an area such as a movie theatre or a classy restaraunt you should be expected to use some judgement and turn it to vibrate or off to go to VM. This is the ideal, but people have shown time and again that this is not in line with reality. I am all for business owners jamming these devices. I think that there ought to be a large sign stating that the devices will not work and to use a land line if you need to make emergency calls. I have seen so many times that people will take calls anywhere and talk completely disregarding your feelings to have a peaceful dinner or watch a movie without hearing about somebodys personal crap. This could be a great niche market for people that want have a peaceful shopping or viewing experience that is uninterupted. I pay money to get away from pagers, cellphones and others screaming kids and I expect that this will not be a problem. If I want the noise of everyday life I will go home or to work. There ought to be a place to get away from this stuff.
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If YOU had a cell phone and YOU had something that you deemed important enough to talk to someone about wherever you were, who do you care about most? Your job, your success in business, or some nearby person who you'll never see again, and who has some kind of insane twisted fixation on someone else talking on a cell phone? Seriously...I don't mind when other people are talking on their cell phones. You guys are acting like nut cases here. Why don't you pick something else to notice about other people and hassle them about, like loud footsteps, breathing, blinking too much, not laughing the same way you do, or anything else that will send you into a blind rage? Psychos.
...
Scenario: You're a soccer-mom and your kids are at school. Their listed emergency # is mommy's cell phone. What then? Mommy can't go to the coffee shop because her phone might be jammed? That's a bit ridiculous. Same goes for a Doctor. Same goes for people who *need* to be able to receive calls for their jobs.
Cell phones are a fact of life. If you don't like, move to Elbonia.
Are you an open source warrior?
It's not legal to activly jam Cell phones because your not supposed to be broadcasting on that piece of spectrum. Now anybody that has ever had eletronics 101 should remember a faraday cage and how easy they are to build but let me elaborate:
Your a Movie Theater and you dont want cell phones or other wireless devices to work so as to not have people gabbing on them during the movie.
When you build or do any extensive renovation your prbably going to use a lot of drywall if you install a few layers of chicken fence or other suitable fine grid or wire. Make sure the doors are metal (fire code I would think) and that they maintain a good contact to the grid etc etc etc. When the doors are closed yours not going to see an increadable ammount of attenuation to any RF signals with a wavelength longer than the mesh pitch and a good attenuation to most everything else.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage Gives and overview and a link to tempest the DOD's solution to RF leakeage.
Now you have a movie theater that cell phones dont work in. It would be nice if we could clasify transmision types say via bluetooth since thats a hot new thing on cell phones and have the possibility to ask the phone to switch to silent mode while not affecting paging functions for doctors and other on call critical people that can be assumed to be more responcible than a 15 year old with and "emergency" call.
No sir I dont like it.
Jerks like this should go live in Colonial Williamsburg. Let the rest of us get on with the 21st Century, where we can talk to our friends and business associates anytime with just the push of a button. Not that it's a Utopia or anything, but...well, yeah, in at least this one aspect it kind of is.
> I recommend you grow the fuck up and realise that world does not revolve around you.
That's just about the ultimate in irony, in the context of a discussion of the annoying habits of cell phone users.
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
If it's illegal, there seems to be an exception when government institutions are doing it.
Though jamming a cell phone is illegal, it is legal to dampen the signal with certain materials. Strategies like this are already employed in some buildings such as theaters, and if this backlash continues we can expect to see damping in many more public places.
If it's that important, find a land line.
...but at least I'm not bitter.
It's people like you that cause huge traffic jams because you're talking on your cell phone and not paying attention to the road, then you cut off a tractor trailer who then in turn jacknifes, and runs over a bus full of nuns which catches fire, burning alive all those inside.
You're lucky that people only jam your cell phone calls, if it was up to me, I'd stab you in the face with a soldering iron.
It's about respect for your fellow person...starting with the one in front of you!!! I can understand the shopkeeper who deals with this 50 times a day. people come to your shop and you can't give good service because they interrupt your transaction with them for the phone....and OFTEN have the nerve to get mad at YOU "because you're taking too long!" Not to mention disrupting other customers patiently standing in line with loud disagreements, or lack of attention to what's going on around them. It's a menace!!!
That said, jamming or blocking phones isn't the answer, it just makes people ruder! Cell phones have spread the general problem of computers to the masses...computers have allowed businesses to micromanage and interrupt business plans on moment's notice...cell phones allow thoses same types of people to deal with everything NOW...instead of budgeting their time and attention to allow their responsibilites to be properly performed...And THAT is the bigger problem with "instant everything"!!
The main tool to fight this would be better voicemail/sms messages...allowing people to be notified of messages, but keep the phone off until they can give proper attention, those tools are available, but still don't work that well for every minute use. Businesses with "quiet, private places" for phone conversations would help too...they wiped out most phone booths about 10 years ago and didn't replace the "space" to make communications in.
I disagree there ought to be places that are cellphone free and if a person does not like this policy they can find some other place to shop or view movies etc... It's not about eliminating the technology it's about trying to make up for the judgement that others often lack. The only way to deal with some people that lack any social etiquite is to make some places cellular dead. If it's posted that this is the policy then you have the option to leave.
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Soccer mom can't figure out voice mail? I guess soccer mom can't go to the theater or to class because her kids are in school.
God help her if she works in a hospital! Or in this enlightened age, if she is a flagger on a construction crew. Her cellphone is off in blasting areas!
What happens to all those doctors who must turn off their phones when they are on the ward, or spending hours in the operating room?
I do some consulting at a university medical center, everyone has phones and everyone turns them off in certain areas. I carry a phone and a pager. I turn them both off - when I turn them on, I get alerted to missed calls and missed pages. It doesn't curtail my productivity, how can it hamper soccer-mom's?
There is no excuse for antisocial behavior, unless you are an immigrant from Elbonia
They're in a public place, if they want to talk on a cell phone, it's their right. Hell, if they want to sit there whistling "It's a small world, after all" while banging on pans, they can do that too.
What makes people think that one person's silence is worth trampling on everyone else's rights to do the things they want to do? If they don't want to hear people talking, they can get earplugs.
Well, now at least we have a good lead on who this "Anonymous Coward" guy is.
Dude. You're a top IT exec for a Fortune 50 company. You have to have something better to do with your time. And I thought I posted too much.
You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!
First of all, I should say that I don't actually use my cell phone in restaurants or close to other people just because it is so disapproved of.
But, frankly, I think this dislike of cell phones is irrational and itself annoying. People talk to other people everywhere, often in loud or annoying voices. It makes no difference to me whether someone talks into a cell phone or to someone across from them; at least, when they talk into a cell phone, I don't need to hear the responses.
I'm beginning to suspect that what really annoys people about public cell phone usage is that they are missing out on half of conversation that they would really like to listen in on in its entirety.
The problem is not talking on the phone. It's that most people talk WAY TOO LOUD on a cellphone, way above the appropriate level. Personally, I keep my voice down, but most people don't.
So, yes you have a right to talk where talking is appropriate. No, you don't have a right to SHOUT FOR AN HOUR because you're too stupid to realize that people naturally talk louder on the phone.
Not a concern for me. People managed just fine before the cell phone, and if soccer mom has to wait until she gets home to get the message, its unlikely to have had any affect whatsoever on junior's health. Stay out of the way and let the medical staff at the hospital or clinic do their jobs. The doctor who is there is fully qualified to handle the situation, and the on-call guy can stay near a reliable (landline) phone if he is really serious about being on call.
Even the 911 caller would likely not distinguish a blocked/jammed call from a normal "no service" area.
This would be in America, right? In much of the rest of the world there is no concept of "a normal no-service area". Somewhere you can't get service is abnormal.
If you want to have dinner in peace, I recomend you eat at home.
Restaurants are noisy places by nature anyway, with the restaurant's music system playing, couples chatting with eachother, co-workers laughing and joking, single guys hitting on the waitresses, people at the bar cheering or booing at whatever sports thing is on the TV sets, etc.
Where does this notion that restaurants are innapropriate places for cell-phones come from?
Who the hell decided talking to someone on a cellphone while in a restaurant is any different than talking to a person physically there?
That's my own criteria for using a cell phone. That is, if I'm in a situation where I feel it's appropriate to talk to a "real" person, it's fine to talk on a cellphone, as long as it can be done at a "normal" volume level (normal for the context.)
So, movie theaters are definitely out. Museums? Why not, as long as you're not disturbing a tour, and other people are talking freely to companions.
Yes, there are inappropriate situations in which to use a cell phone, but what makes me mad is all the self-righteous people who glare at you if they see you with a cellphone to your ear ANYWHERE, even in totally "appropriate" situations. (Yes, there are quite a few such people.)
assert(birth_date<time-86400)
It's do what you want nation, but no loud talking.
In the rest of the world, where cell phones adoption is way higher, this issue is so 1995. Cope and move on, it's progress sucker.
It's not the every day chatter that annoys people. A large majority of the people with cell phones know how to use them respectfully. But some people don't. Don't answer your phone in a movie, and if you really need to at least step outside or towards the back. Don't think that when the pickup is less then an inch from your mouth you have to project your voice 50 feet away in a quiet room. Don't think you can hold up lines, lanes of traffic, or elevators just because your not through with your conversation when your time has come. Cell phones aren't inherently rude, but the way some people choose to use them certainly is.
The darkness... controls the music. The music... controls the soul.
Er, what's the point of asking people to turn off cell phones in a government office waiting room? Do they think the spectacle of one of them working and four of them dozing is so fascinating that no one will want to have it rudely interrupted?
/. If the government wants us to respect the law, it should set a better example.
Need is a pretty strong word. We need food, water and shelter. We don't need cell phones.
Cell phones have only existed for the last 15-20 years... people got along just fine before that.
As for the "need to receive calls for your job" argument, if you need to receive calls you should be at the office, not at the local cafe.
Most people I know do pull over to use the cell phone when driving. But, there are those idiots out there who think that multi-tasking while driving is a good thing. They should have to commute through the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky bridges on a daily basis, see all the accidents that happen. Maybe witnessing a few deaths will help instill the true meaning of distracted driver.
Beyond the drivers who use them at the wrong time, the rest are just irritating jerks. I always take my conversation away from those who might be interrupted by it. That is outside, down the hall, private room. It is called being polite. That aside though, I would be pissed if someone were jamming my cell phone. I think the appropriate action is to ask politely (first time) for a rude cell phone owner to take it elsewhere. If that does not work, we have done everything from turning our own volume up to the point where said arse had to leave to hear to pointedly telling the individual we were not going to put up with their rude interruptions anymore (to which we have actually received applause from those around us). Honestly, such drastic measures are rarely needed, as almost everyone once asked has been polite.
InnerWeb
Freud might say that Intelligent Design is religion's ID.
Uh, the whole point of the article is that with these jamming devices being sold to private, unlicensed individuals, he can't be sure of that.
Every time I leave my house, I have to listen to: *BLEEEP* HEY! WHAT ARE YOU UP TO? *BLEEEP* SHIT. YOU? *BLEEEP* COOL. YOU HEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT AT SO-AND-SO'S? *BLEEEP* NAW. WHAT HAPPENED? ON and on it goes. Now jamming is not the answer, but being forced to be a part of every self-important assh*le's personal life it NOT something I have to tolerate. A regular cell conversation at a normal tone is fine. NEXTEL megaphone conversations are NOT. If I must listen to you banter endlessly over that loud-ass walkie-talkie, then you must listen to me shout the Star Wars theme. It's only fair.
itadakimasu
So if the kid's arm gets torn off by a paper shredder, the parent shouldn't be notifiied? Just take the kid to the hospital and let mom wonder why little Johnny isn't home at 3?
Sure people got along fine without cell phones but life is a lot better in many ways having them.
As for your ridiculous job retort -- there are those of us that are on call for our jobs morning 'til late evneing 6 days of the week. I'm not about to move into my office, jerk.
Focus on using your limited intellect to get yourself food and water. Let the rest of us have our phones.
Are you an open source warrior?
A couple of years ago I was visiting the North rim of the Grand Canyon, when I encountered some prick sitting on a bench in one of the little tourist areas. He was telling some poor gullible woman on the other end of the conversation that he was sitting alone on top of one of those spires in the canyon which he had just finished climbing (not remotely true.)
He proceeded to tell the woman (I assume it was a woman from his lothario manner, tone, etc,) that the view of the canyon was so beautiful from where he had climbed, that he just had to call and share the experience with her.
Myself , and others around me heard this bald-faced lie, and we all looked at him and then each other - keep in mind that none of us there knew each other, then we all spontaniously started making background sounds to illustrate to the woman on the other end that this loser was not where he claimed he was. I said something like: "Sir, you're gonna haveta move your car!" Others made similar noise.
The look he gave us was wonderful. Then he started to explain to the woman that there must be cellphone interference happening.
I don't know if everyone has just decided they are more important than everyone else or if they just don't care, but it seems to get a little worse every year. From people talking on a cell phone in a theather to road rage.
I'm not drunk, I just have a speech impediment. And a stomach virus. And an inner ear infection.
Maybe because nobody has reported problems to the FCC yet because (as all the other posts pointed out) it just looks like a no signal area?
Wait until some geek with a spectrum analyzer and nothing better to do starts trying to figure out why his cell phone no longer works at his favorite cafe/movie theater. All the FCC needs is to be told where to look. If you think they won't come down on you like a ton of bricks for this you are sadly mistaken.
Cell phone eqittie/911 arguments aside -- think about the money in politics and the amount of cash that the cell carriers pay for their licenses. If you think they aren't going to defend those licenses then you are naive. I wouldn't touch one of these jammers with a ten foot poll and I consider myself a polite cell phone user that get's annoyed at all the teenieboppers talking about how cute that guy is while I'm trying to eat. I keep my cell phone on vibrate at all times unless I'm at home and it's not hooked to my waist (I only have the cell -- no landline). I talk into it at a normal tone of voice. I don't use it while driving except in emergencies.
And what about the liability exposure? What if somebody in your location has a heart attack and sues you after the fact because their cell phone wouldn't work? What if a doctor is on-call and sitting in your cafe getting a cup of coffee and his pager is disabled by your jammer? Your insurance isn't cover you for an illegal device (and they are all illegal in the US) -- you'll be put out of business and forced into bankruptcy if sued. Not to mention the criminal ramifications of violating the FCC reqs and state laws.
Like it or not these jammers will also have a negative effect beyond their intended area -- if only because of all the headsets in the jammed area that are now broadcasting at maximum power trying to get out. Those transmissions will radiate for several miles and could potently interfere with cell phone (or other usage of the freqs in question) usage outside of the affected area.
If you don't like what somebody is doing on their cell phone then complain to them about it. If they tell you to go pound salt then talk to the management of the business you are at (theater or restaurant). If management refuses to do anything then take your business elsewhere. You don't have the right to interfere with the public airwaves.
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
... Yes, there are annoying people who speak very loudly on their cell-phones in restaurants and the like. There are people who answer them in theaters, classes and other "non-talking" environments. There are people who talk on the phone (or to passengers) while driving, and give their talking process a higher attention priority than the driving process.
However, these are the ones that get noticed. The ones who speak quietly while dining alone in a restaurant or on the subway; the ones who speak on a phone or to other passengers safely while driving; the ones who set the phone to vibe and then surreptitiosly look at the caller ID during a film, class, meeting, etc... these people are not noticed and probably outnumber the annoying ones by far.
If you jam cellular frequencies, not only are you screwing with all the safety devices already mentioned, but you're screwing with people who are behaving politely and reasonably.
Would you start spraying febreeze at everyone entering a store because occaisonal patrons come in without having bathed recently? It might help with them, while pissing off people who do behave properly. Jamming makes You the nuisance who should be removed.
600+ comments on this story and not a single one mentioning that you can't jam CDMA, which is what SprintPCS and Verizon are. TDMA systems like GSM and AT&T and Cingular? Sure they can be jammed, but not CDMA, and not any of the 3G systems, which are ALL CDMA based.
CDMA was originally researched and refined by the military for precisely this reason. Because it uses a spread spectrum, a single carrier (or several) can't jam it. You'd need to jam the entire BAND, at a high enough power level, and that is physically impossible. Well, it might be possible with military grade gear, but we're talking huge amounts of power here. You'd need an entire destroyer to carry and power it.
One simple rule for its versus it's
[/sarcasm]
Come play Moral Decay!
Private property owners are well within their rights...and/or jammers
While you see it that way, me, the FCC, and Johnny Law see it another.
You jam my cellphone, or my pager, or my cell-modem, and I'm going to see you get a nice fat fine from the FCC. I'll even come down there with a camera and a frequency analyzer to give my FCC submission some teeth. And if I missed something important? You'll be hearing from a company lawyer before the FCC even knocks on the door. Wasting my time is wasting company time, and company time can run thousands of dollars an hour in an outage.
Remember, some of us carry these accursed things for a reason, and when the boss calls you to let you know half the west coast fiber has gone dead, or the hospital staff calls you to get you to come in and save a car accident victim, "Some bar owner decided I shouldn't be able to use my cellphone because he's too much of a wussy to tell people to turn them to silent" doesn't cut it to save my job or the dying persons life.
.sig: Now legally binding!
Face it, if I went around banging on a bell or making all sorts of annoying noises demanding attention from someone before I would shut up, in normal society, I would expect my face smashed in to shut me up.
But let a machine do it, and people will not only ignore other people in their presence, they will grant the machine priority. A ringing phone seems to have top priority with most people. I find it extremely annoying to make time to meet with someone, only to be usurped by someone else using the phone.
It shouldn't bother me, but it does.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]