Posted on 11/03/2007 8:11:57 PM PDT by NCjim
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2 — One afternoon in early September, an architect boarded his commuter train and became a cellphone vigilante. He sat down next to a 20-something woman who he said was “blabbing away” into her phone.
“She was using the word ‘like’ all the time. She sounded like a Valley Girl,” said the architect, Andrew, who declined to give his last name because what he did next was illegal.
Andrew reached into his shirt pocket and pushed a button on a black device the size of a cigarette pack. It sent out a powerful radio signal that cut off the chatterer’s cellphone transmission — and any others in a 30-foot radius.
“She kept talking into her phone for about 30 seconds before she realized there was no one listening on the other end,” he said. His reaction when he first discovered he could wield such power? “Oh, holy moly! Deliverance.”
As cellphone use has skyrocketed, making it hard to avoid hearing half a conversation in many public places, a small but growing band of rebels is turning to a blunt countermeasure: the cellphone jammer, a gadget that renders nearby mobile devices impotent.
The technology is not new, but overseas exporters of jammers say demand is rising and they are sending hundreds of them a month into the United States — prompting scrutiny from federal regulators and new concern last week from the cellphone industry. The buyers include owners of cafes and hair salons, hoteliers, public speakers, theater operators, bus drivers and, increasingly, commuters on public transportation.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Cellphones have retarded the world. Time for the silent minority to fight back...
People are dumbfounded when I tell them I have no cell phone... cellphones are for slaves and sucka’s
I would rather that people regained the ability to use common sense and common courtesy.
I seldom carry my cell phone and it’s turned off when I’m in a doctors office, store, movie theatre etc.
Also, if one knows that someone is about to use this to prevent a 911 call (e.g. home invasion robbers use it to prevent victim from summoning aid) would it be legitimate to attack the user in self defense? This opens up a real can of worms.
I’d love to too. BUT:
” Federal Communications
Commission regulations prohibit you
from operating, owning, manufac-
turing,marketing,or offering for sale
any device that intentionally interferes with any RF
transmissions. These activities are punishable by an
$11,000 fine and as much as a year in prison”
I strongly disagree. I spend much of my time traveling on back roads in rural America and on many occasions I have been more that thankful for my cell phone.
While these devices are illegal in the USA, it is still perfectly legal to use passive mechanisms to block cell phone conversations. For example, a restaurant owner could line his walls with metal screening material and then paint over that. Such a setup will block most EM radiation from entering the property.
Really???
And for people like me, who, while standing in front of a burning house from which I had just escaped with my life, used mine to call the fire department since there were no land lines available in my remote location.
Slaves and suckas??
I love it. I usually rode the bus home to and from work and really got sick of hearing people on their phones. One woman used to be so loud discussing her real estate deals.
Sorry about your fire; but you should know we are not talking about responsible people such as yourself.
There are way too many self-absorbed right now.
Next step: cheap devices to detect and locate jammers.
exactly. they are great tools and have their place but it’s not the phones fault their idiot users have the need to loudly speak into them during church services or while they/we are viewing a movie that is in progress at the theater. some of these people were probably retarded before cell phones became popular. hard to believe these gomers sometimes huh?
My rural must be more rural, LOL. Quite often, even with an amplifier and 7db antenna all I get is "no service".
This cellphone vigilante is just as bad and annoying as the cellphone yakkers he is targeting.
So one idiot is blabbing away and another idiot zaps the entire bus or train car. What about the other people who might be quietly texting their friends or co-workers, reading email, or doing any number of things that use Internet access via cell phones these days?
Use of these jamming gadgets by vigilante enforcers is at the very best childish and selfish.
High School...Text this junior! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
I live in Ohio were it seems there is a cell phone tower ever few miles. Never had an occasion when I couldn’t dial out.
Good points, but I really do sympathize with this guy. If some @sshole on a bus or train wants to yak on a cell phone, then I want to listen to my ghetto blaster while I ride to work in the morning.
So how will they prove it is you or anyone? How?
The FCC is losing its steam by creating unenforceable regulations. Using cellphone jammers are illegal, but it mere possession? Using new model walkie-talkies, some with ranges in excess of 10 miles, is only legal with a license. Does anyone actually have such a license? But walkie-talkies are ubiquitous.
The FCC finds it hard to even police up pirate radio stations. Otherwise their efforts are less effective than was the federal efforts during prohibition to stop booze.
The device is specifically illegal because it blocks doctors, medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, and emergency management personnel from receiving emergency pages from dispatch.
These devices also block (analog and digital) pagers. Like the ones doctors carry with them all the time when they are on call.
People who carry these devices SHOULD be prosecuted, their comfort does not supersede public safety.
The phones work pretty well anywhere there is a sidewalk, though.
Andrew is in violation of FCC rules - to wit, broadcasting without a license. It might be fun or enjoyable to disrupt the conversations of others, but to do so is to act outside of ones' rights.
Really? So what. Unless they force-ably grab you (battery or worse) how will they prove it is in your pocket let alone take it from you?
How? Jammer vigilantes? LOL
How is that not a great thing? For you maybe, but when you and I are eating Teriyaki, in that small place by the strip mall, don’t care to hear about what you and “ma” have to talk about.... I left the office for lunch, some relaxation, not to sit in a phone booth.
I’m sure you’re not like that, but you get the point?
Cellphones are wasted on the unimportant people. Everyone thinks they have to be connected 24 hours a day. Do you really have to talk to people while you’re driving? Do you really have to talk to all of your friends and family while you grocery shop? Guys, can you go grocery shopping and not call the wife to make a decision about what brand of ketchup to get (oh, but the other one’s on sale, sweetie - what do I do?)?
The fact is 98% of people who have cell phones are not important enough to need to be gotten a hold of at a moment’s notice. They abuse it.
Since you are emitting a strong RF signal it should be easy enough to locate it. If you are willing to risk the fine and jail time go for it....
Does anyone get a license to set up a home wifi network? Where can I see that? What about garage door openers.. is there a test for that license?
What about a pacemaker?
Dang, you too huh?
The grocery store for cyring out loud...
On the freeway, literally every driver is yakking away. Always wonder what the heck could be so interesting, that you’d feel like you have to talk non stop, all day? Had a buddy that would call me five times a day, never had anything to say, finally asked him to get a life.
“People are dumbfounded when I tell them I have no cell phone... cellphones are for slaves and sucka’s”
That is just stupid.
Cell phones let parents stay in touch with their kids.
They let older people like my dad have a phone with them at all times in case they are alone and get hurt.
They let people like me get out of the house to do things like go get a haircut or go grocery shopping. Sound silly? I run a consulting business, and usually work at home. I live on the phone. Without it and email thru it, I’d be stuck here from 6 am to 7 pm.
They let me stay in touch with my high-paid employees who are neither slaves or suckers.
People always insult that which they don’t understand.
For a couple years, had to have one. 8 yrs later without one, have never had an emergency where I “wished” I had one. The world made it a long time without them, this idea that even little children must have them, nauseates me. I’ve saved enough money not paying for one, to probably buy something really nice. Maybe not a house, but a nice used car for sure.
That's FRS that does not require any license.
"The FCC finds it hard to even police up pirate radio stations."
In most cases, they simply choose not to prosecute morons. If the person is setting up serious broadcasts, or interfering with ligitimate comms, they'll shut them down immediately.
“I love it. I usually rode the bus home to and from work and really got sick of hearing people on their phones. One woman used to be so loud discussing her real estate deals.”
Get some headphones. You’re in a public place. People have every right to use their phone. Sorry to disappoint.
LOL, see 31. More power to those who block wasted annoyances like those who chat (usually LOUDLY) about last Friday night at the local pub while in line at a grocery store or in the waiting room at a doctors office.
The jammer is probably not the rude one. In fact the opposite.
Remember the days when it used to be "long distance" to call one mile to the North, but not long distance to call 15 miles to the south?
It’s a phone man....
What next, just implant the sucker right in your head, with a fake tooth as the talking piece?
I’m sure that is coming. Yes, I do think it is a form of slavery, someone always being able to get you, do something for them...
Whatever happened to the random life, let what happens, happen?
To each his own, I’ll let others enjoy being a phone...
And trust me, I know I’m in the minority, but that is fine...
Personal Cell Phone Signal Blocker Device *Brand New*
“Does anyone get a license to set up a home wifi network? Where can I see that? What about garage door openers.. is there a test for that license?”
They work on frequencies that are unregulated for low power transmission.
A Friend was working on his roof when he momentarily lost his footing, catching himself before he fell. At that time, he decided he better put his cell phone in his pocket so that in case he fell, he'd at least be able to call someone for help as he lay in a heap in his driveway........
Recall you were responding to the poster's comment, "cellphones are for slaves and sucka’s” I guess you know your category.
$100 for a little peace and quiet at the risk of jail and fines? No thanks.
Those bands are exempt and set aside for use for limited purposes. The cell bands are set aside for cell phone use only. THe users are exempt, but the providers must obtain a license.
Anyone who broadcasts on frequencies within a licenced, or forbidden band, commits a fed crime. Anyone who specifically does so for the purposes of interfering with licenced operation will have stiffer penalties applied. The forbidden bands are generally for mil, gov and LE operation. Broadcasting, or interfering with those would generate the largest penalty.
Don’t quote law unless you can provide a source. Generally it is legal to transmit a signal of less than 100 milliwatts. On any frequency....
Are your high-paid workers talking loudly in church about what restaurant they want to meet at tonight? If so they deserve to be jammed. Big difference between that type and the few who are doing serious business.
What right do others have to inflict their discussion about their new car (again usually loudly) on me while I am in line at a convenience store?
Think: gun control before you answer........
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