New (Illegal) Attempt To Return To Silence: The Cellphone Jammer

[DeSwiss]

Devices Enforce Cellular Silence, Sweet but Illegal

New York Times
November 4, 2007
by Matt Richtel

SAN FRANCISCO - 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.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/technology/04jammer.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin">More

*** - I was wondering how long it would take for this to happen. And you can bet that the TeleCo's won't sit idly by and let this go on unchallenged either.

[Mojambo]

1. I want one SO BAD. n/t

[DeSwiss]

2. Well, it could result in the unintended consequence.....

....of forcing people to re-learn how to engage in face-to-face conversations. Or worse!!! Reading newspaper's again.....

[madokie]

25. that might not be so good if the other papers are like ours is

lots of fluff with very little flutter

[XemaSab]

3. Where can you get one?

:shrug:

And how much?

:shrug:

Finally, do they take credit cards?

:shrug: :evilgrin:

[DeSwiss]

6. The article said....

...from about $50 to hundred(s) of dollars. I guess it depends on how big a radius you want for your cone of silence. And I don't think anyone would take a credit card for it ---- since its illegal.

Of course they might pass it off as a garage door opener. So it'd probably be a good idea that you make sure you have a garage.

[charlie]

10. Japan

http://www.mobilewhack.com/reviews/portable_cell_phone_jammer_cx_200_director_ii.html

About $70. There were already cheaper ones on the market before I left the country 2 years ago.

[Snarkoleptic]

4. Worse yet is listening to BOTH sides of an inane conversation on a Nextel Walkie-Talkie phone

I loathe having my personal space invaded by loudly amplified discussion which is, by defintion, not significant enough to be private.
What did you have for lunch?....I had McNuggets...what about you?...I had sushi...
IMHO, these are self-important, vain, ignorant folks who are generally from red states.

[DeSwiss]

11. Next time....

...just join in on the convo.

"You had sushi? I had a limburger cheese sandwich. What's you sign? Did you see Michael Moore's new movie? Who's your friend you're talking to? They sound very interesting....."

- Hopefully, they'll get up and leave....

[TahitiNut]

7. I've done that. The person looked at ME like *I* was being rude.

All the world's a phone booth. :rofl:

[charlie]

8. I only want one for the idiots behind the wheel

I've lost count of the times I've been nearly wrecked by oblivious jackasses. Making their phones explode would be a plus I'd pay a premium for.

[DeSwiss]

13. Problem is....

...they can cut everyone off within the range of the device. And some, not many, but some cellphone calls are legit. Maybe even trying to save someone's life.

- Just a thought.....

[charlie]

16. True

But the radius is small for the Japanese gadgets - 10 to 20 feet. Just far enough for the moron who nearly merged with your wheel well and ran the next guy onto the shoulder. And if some canny engineer can turn his phone into plastic confetti, that's the model I'll get.

[brokensymmetry]

9. Here's a link...purely for information purposes.

http://gadget.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00493

Be aware that, technically, one can be fined up to $11,000
and do a year at club fed if one engages in jamming in the
U.S. So, don't do it.

No, no one has been prosecuted under the law, so far as I
can tell.

[DeSwiss]

14. I'm very fortunate.

I rarely drive in the rush, since I work mainly from home.

And as Richard Pryor once said, "I ain't doing no time in the big house. Because I AM NOT giving up the bootie! So no jammer for me baby!!!

[yewberry]

12. I think I remember reading that they're not uncommon in some countries

and are used (legally there) in restaurants and theatres.

Sounds pretty okay to me, as long as people are made aware that their phones may be jammed.

[DeSwiss]

15. Or, to paraphrase Matthew 18:20

"For where two or three are gathered together, your cellphone will be jammed!

[Swamp Rat]

17. GIMME GIMME GIMME!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!!

[DeSwiss]

18. Sure, Swampy....

...here just plug the thing up!

[Swamp Rat]

19. I think I could build one myself, but since it's against the law I won't.

:D

Antenna
Every jamming device has an antenna to send the signal. Some are contained within an electrical cabinet. On stronger devices, antennas are external to provide longer range and may be tuned for individual frequencies.

Circuitry
The main electronic components of a jammer are:

Voltage-controlled oscillator - Generates the radio signal that will interfere with the cell phone signal

Tuning circuit - Controls the frequency at which the jammer broadcasts its signal by sending a particular voltage to the oscillator

Noise generator - Produces random electronic output in a specified frequency range to jam the cell-phone network signal (part of the tuning circuit)

RF amplification (gain stage) - Boosts the power of the radio frequency output to high enough levels to jam a signal

Power supply
Smaller jamming devices are battery operated. Some look like cell phone and use cell-phone batteries. Stronger devices can be plugged into a standard outlet or wired into a vehicle's electrical system.

[Quantess]

20. Next time my signal gets cut off,

I will scan a suspicious glare to everyone in my presence!:rofl:

[wtmusic]

21. Or this monitoring device you can listen to on your cellphone:

http://gadget.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00455&dept_id=001&cat_id=024

[ecstatic]

22. Anyone who uses a jammer is just as arrogant or worse than an inconsiderate cell phone user

To disrupt all cell phone activity in the vicinity... how egotistical is that??? What if someone is calling 911 or taking a very important business related call?

And would a number of these devices used simultaneously have the potential to disrupt airplane equipment?

[Swamp Rat]

5. Well, as a cyclist I just want to stop people from talking on a a cell phone while driving.

I cannot count how many times I have almost been killed by people who drive and talk on hand-held cell phones, just this year alone.

I want to zap all their phones. :mad:

[pinniped]

23. Wow, an anonymous tough guy vigilante.

This assclown probably gets mad when people are talking to each other on the train.

[ecstatic]

24. They should invent a cigarette de-lighter lol

:evilgrin: Puts out all cigarettes within a 50 ft radius.

[MadHound]

26. Damn, I want one of these

Way too many places where it would come in handy. The classroom, the highway, the grocery store, the concert hall, etc. etc.

[flashl]

27. If there is a handheld there is a LARGER scale device. n/t