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Build Your Own Cell tower

Posted by Hemos on from the beam-with-joy dept.

BlakeCaldwell writes "If you're the type who dreads being dragged kicking and screaming into the use of a cell phone, Samsung sells their Long Range Cordless Phone. With an incredible (for landlines) 30-mile range, the set includes a caller ID-capable LCD and is able to communicate with the base-station, acting as an intercom."

7 of 377 comments (clear)

  1. Sweet! by IO+ERROR · · Score: 5, Interesting
    This is just exactly what I've been looking for. I just have to wonder if the sort of power output this thing needs is entirely legal. Oh well, who cares until the FCC shows up. According to this page though, the range is 130km (80 miles) at sea level! Who needs a cell phone anymore unless you're going waaaay out of town. I suspect that's a typo though.

    It's not so much that I don't want a cell phone, it's more that I don't see any use paying $40-50 a month for something I don't use more than 100 minutes a month. Even if I only got five miles of range out of it, it would easily cover 99% of my needs.

    --
    How am I supposed to fit a pithy, relevant quote into 120 characters?
    1. Re:Sweet! by garcia · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Please note the "Update:" under the blurb that is linked to from Slashdot...

      The phone might not adhere to FCC regulations. If you can't use a FRS radio for more than a couple miles w/o a license why would you be able to use this cordless phone?

    2. Re:Sweet! by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I've joked about building something like this with friends before (probably using 2.4ghz cordless phones and external antennas meant for Wi-Fi) but they actually released a product?

      If the security is up to par (I'm thinking FHSS and maybe encryption) screw the cell phone! Why should I pay for both the cell phone and the landline? Ditching the landline isn't an option anymore because I need it for ADSL.

      With Verizon's freedom packages the landline is cheaper anyway (at least with the way I use the phone). And think of the possibilities if you attached it to a VoIP box....

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
    3. Re:Sweet! by Dr+Reducto · · Score: 5, Interesting

      ...And pair it with VOIP, and you should be able to save the cost of the phone over time, assuming the phone works as advertised. A cell phone that you can call all over the world for "free".

  2. High-power RF interference by powdered+toast+dude · · Score: 5, Interesting
    In a neighboorhood where I once lived, someone had a very high-powered (and likely illegal) phone of which this reminds me. It was so powerful, and perhaps poorly designed, that I'd hear his conversations inducted into my own landline as he drove by. Weird but kind of cool.

    $0.02,
    ptd

    --
    I'm an animal lover -- they're delicious!
    1. Re:High-power RF interference by shaitand · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Yup, the HAM is licensed your not. In fact, if your TV interferes with his transmission he can contact the FCC to have YOU shut down.

  3. Wonderful.. by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Interesting
    So it's basically a long range phone, not an actual cell phone. Fine if you live on a ranch, but with all the structures and interference in town, I wonder how effective it really is.

    FWIW I avoid cell phones because the cost is just too damn high for what little I need one for. I'd consider pay-as-you-go without some stupid limit placed upon how soon I need to use up my time or artificial wallet robbing schemes

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar