Frazzled Urbanites Turn to Personal Cellular Jammers
Sun Nov 4, 2007 3:07PM EST
See Comments (17)
It's a common enough feeling. The girl on the bus or that guy in the back of the movie theater just will not shut up and get off the phone. How many times have you wished you could push a button and silence that cell phone, if only for a moment of peace? Well, it's not so tough to get it.
Cell phone jammers are one of the worst-kept secrets in the world of technology. They've been around, available on the gray market and from overseas importers for years now. But the technology is improving, prices are falling, and people seem to have had it with Chatty Cathys, all of which is driving them to new heights of popularity.
The latest jammers, as the New York Times reminds us, are about the size of a pack of cigarettes and can jam any cell phone in a 30-foot radius, essentially ending all nearby calls at the push of a button. "Deliverance!" is the comment from one San Francisco architect who shut down a "Valley Girl" conversation during his morning commute.
Jammers are of course illegal; using one can subject you to an $11,000 fine. This may seem harsh, but the rationale is that jamming can interfere with emergency calls; someone may be sick, or criminals might use one while robbing a bank. That said, it appears no one has yet to actually be caught or punished for using such a device, even a restaurant owner who installed one semi-permanently to keep his employees from yapping away during business hours.
A little web searching (or reading the second page of the linked article) will turn up numerous sites selling jammers. Fpr $150, you can get a model that jams all American cell phone technologies. Legal or not, I have to say the technology is awfully tempting. What do you think?
Comments on Frazzled Urbanites Turn to Personal Cellular Jammers
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2 Posted by reggie_six on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:35PM EDT Report Abuse
Given the rudeness of most cell phone users in public places, and their unwillingness to take polite criticism, these little gems will soon become commonplace, legal or not. And if the government ever allows cell phone use on airline flights (shudder), I will be purchase one, use it, and take my chances.
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3 Posted by hatsnapper@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:17PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with reggie six, I travel every week via airline and it seems like the guy that talks the loudest is the VIP of the moment. Cell phones are a wonder, but this no manners world will force many to purchase the jammers to exist without nonsense noise in public. NO PHONES ON AIRLINE FLIGHTS. Mollydod
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4 Posted by wade948 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:38PM EDT Report Abuse
I love the idea especially when someone is in a check out line and holding up everyone by talking on the phone instead of completing their transaction. They should be standard issue for movie theaters.
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5 Posted by brozenec on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse
I wonder if used on airplanes would they interfer with cockpit transmissions? If so, Kinda dangerous.
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6 Posted by muscogeekid on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse
I think people who are intolerant of cell phone users are probably guilty of being obnoxious in other ways, not related to cell phones. And I doubt they would like it if their own calls were jammed. This is an unethical use of technology that people are justifying with selfish reasons. If you use a jammer, don't be irritated if you need to make a call yourself someday and can't because someone is jamming you.
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7 Posted by darktruth06 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:36PM EDT Report Abuse
I wouldn't have the guts to use one, but kudos to anyone who does.
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8 Posted by ba2jazzed on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse
Personnally I believe everyone using a cell phone in inappropiate places like, theaters, restuarants etc should be firmly removed from the premises and encouraged to finish their talk outside. Why does everyone need to talk so loud? I've actually seen and know people who talk low and most don't even know they are speaking on a phone! That is how it should be.
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9 Posted by kmmassa@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:52PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with muscogeekid. We are going to see major abuse of these jammers in a very short time. Although I rarely use my cell phone, I don't want to find it jammed someday when I do need to make a call because I happen to be in the vicinity of some Chatty Cathy someone else is jamming.
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10 Posted by royale_18 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:53PM EDT Report Abuse
This all seems a little dangerous. It shuoldn't be up to some random person to determine whether your cell phone conversation is "worthy." People that are on trains and busses with others for long periods of time could leave their jammers on all the time and really cause trouble for people. Where's the line? What's stopping some jerk, who's equally as callous as rude chatters, from deciding that he shouldn't EVER have to be subject to other people's cell conversations?
1 Posted by spotandmolly on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:37PM EDT Report Abuse
very tempting esp in restaurants and on public transportaion, and any other close proximity public place. its easier then teaching these sorts manners!