WOT - Moscow Cell Phone Service Shut down in Subways

St.Petersburg Times/AP ^ | 01-18-2007 | Milwaukee_Guy

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Security Stepped Up After Terrorist Threat

Excerpt

In Moscow, which was last hit by terrorist attacks in 2004, officials took the unusual step of ordering cell phone service shut off in the subway system. The measure appeared to be an effort to avert the possibility of explosives being detonated by the phones.

Full article: http://www.times.spb.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=20075

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Never heard of this being done anywhere before. Apparently they have "repeater" antennas in the subway to improve reception. Would be easy to turn off only subway cell phone service by turning off those underground relay antennas.

[highimpact]

This makes me believe the Rusko's have some specific knowledge of the threat. For all their faults, those old commies know how to gather intel.

[sine_nomine]

Torture works

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Given Russia's past, they may be a little more "flexible" when it comes to gathering information. :-O

[cripplecreek]

I'd like to see cell service shut down in a lot of places simply due to the lack of manners most people seem to have.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

"(MOSNEWS) — RUSSIA'S three leading mobile phone operators have suspended services in the the Moscow metro, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Wednesday.

The reason of suspending has not been stated yet but company representatives unofficially said the move was connected to a possible terrorist threat.

Earlier it was reported that Russian Federal Security Service had obtained a report from foreign sources of a possible terrorist plot to attack ground transport and one of the country’s subway systems.

Services in the metro are to be resumed 12 a.m. Thursday if there are no additional recommendations from authorities."

[neodad]

Jack Bauer is on the case.

[PistolPaknMama]

"repeater" antennas

I wondered about that. Thanks for the explanation.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Speculation on my part. But being an Amateur Radio Operator I would strongly suspect that a relay/repeater system would be employed to provide a decent signal while deep underground.

Doesn't explain how the security forces would communicate during an emergency while underground.

VHF/UHF handheld radios would be marginal in a subway.

[Tree of Liberty]

Couldn't/wouldn't there be separate repeaters for GSM frequencies and VHF/UHF frequencies?

[Milwaukee_Guy]

"I'd like to see cell service shut down in a lot of places simply due to the lack of manners most people seem to have."

You may need one of these.....

"The CX 200 Portable Director II Cell Phone Jammer. Take a good look, because you may see a lot more of these little babies arriving here in the West once laws get changed, and people reach the end of tethers with loud mouths. The strange translation from Japanese says something like – ‘secretly switch on – so it’s clearly covert. Uh-huh. Anyhoo, two modes, one gives 70 seconds jamming (i.e. peace) around you, the other fades out the call ‘with natural atmosphere’ presumably to help you end calls you’d rather not continue. Around $71.00.

* Effective area: Approximately 3 m * Correspondence: NTT_DOCOMO (800MHz), FOMA (2gHz), VodaFone (1. 5gHz), au (Cdmaone) * Use power source: Single 4 alkaline ×2 books * Electric battery life: With timer mode approximately 150 times, approximately with continual ON 4 hour"

[Milwaukee_Guy]

"Couldn't/wouldn't there be separate repeaters for GSM frequencies and VHF/UHF frequencies?"

You are correct. I was presuming that the emergency services would also be using cell phones while underground.

A seperate relay system for UHF/VHF is very likely.

[Ditto]

Moscow Cell Phone Service Shut down in Subways

Interesting. I know there are jammers that can be used to block cell phone service inside a building, but here, the FCC won't allow them. Frankly, in places like subways, I don't have a problem with blocking service since cell phone triggers are one of the Islamonazis favorite toys and even without a threat, it will save 95% of the passengers from the ultra rude 5% yacking away in their ears.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

School riots Milwaukee due to cell phones,

"...After a series of violent events at Bradley Tech High School where people used cell phones to get others involved in the fights, Milwaukee Public Schools is now heavily enforcing a ban on cell phones in schools.

MPS rules already tell students not to carry cell phones during the school day, but students often disregard those rules.

Superintendent William Andrekopolous also explained that if a student makes a call to someone outside the school and the situation threatens someone's safety, the student will be expelled.

Serious fights happened twice at Bradley Tech High School because people used cell phones to call in for help in those tussles.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm explains that if a similar incident happens again at an MPS school, those involved will receive felony charges...."

[rockrr]

I seem to recall reading of a Japanese firm that marketed a "jammer" (not in the US) that could kill signals inside restaurants, churches, movie theatres, etc.

If they can (jam), they certainly should!

[traviskicks]

bkarmk

[Milwaukee_Guy]

?

[rockrr]

And that's what I get for chiming in before I've read all the posts ;'}

[Ditto]

Superintendent William Andrekopolous also explained that if a student makes a call to someone outside the school and the situation threatens someone's safety, the student will be expelled.

I wonder what 'expelled' means anymore. When I was in high school, being expelled meant the end of your involvement with the public school system. It only happened to students age 16 and over (you could also drop out at age 16 under state law) and you were then on your own. I had several friends expelled (only one for taking a swing at a male teacher --- he missed) most often for truancy. If you were deemed 'incorrigible' under the age of 16, they sent you to "reform school" -- junior prison -- until you were 16.

I don't know how they handle this stuff today.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Im Milwaukee "expelled" means you get moved to another MPS school.