My next toy, The Cellphone Jammer

**min0 lee** · 11-19-2007, 04:34 AM

Now I respect a cell phone users right to use his phone wherever he may desire, but....when they start talking 20 decibels higher then it gets real annoying.

When I make or take a call I whisper, I dont want no one else knowing my business and I also try to be considerate.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2 — One afternoon in early September, an architect boarded his commuter train and became a cell phone 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.

The development is creating a battle for control of the airspace within earshot. And the damage is collateral. Insensitive talkers impose their racket on the defenseless, while jammers punish not just the offender, but also more discreet chatterers.

“If anything characterizes the 21st century, it’s our inability to restrain ourselves for the benefit of other people,” said James Katz, director of the Center for Mobile Communication Studies at Rutgers University. “The cellphone talker thinks his rights go above that of people around him, and the jammer thinks his are the more important rights.”

The jamming technology works by sending out a radio signal so powerful that phones are overwhelmed and cannot communicate with cell towers. The range varies from several feet to several yards, and the devices cost from $50 to several hundred dollars. Larger models can be left on to create a no-call zone.

Using the jammers is illegal in the United States. The radio frequencies used by cellphone carriers are protected, just like those used by television and radio broadcasters.

The Federal Communication Commission says people who use cellphone jammers could be fined up to $11,000 for a first offense. Its enforcement bureau has prosecuted a handful of American companies for distributing the gadgets — and it also pursues their users.

Investigators from the F.C.C. and Verizon Wireless visited an upscale restaurant in Maryland over the last year, the restaurant owner said. The owner, who declined to be named, said he bought a powerful jammer for $1,000 because he was tired of his employees focusing on their phones rather than customers.

“I told them: put away your phones, put away your phones, put away your phones,” he said. They ignored him.

The owner said the F.C.C. investigator hung around for a week, using special equipment designed to detect jammers. But the owner had turned his off.

The Verizon investigator was similarly unsuccessful. “He went to everyone in town and gave them his number and said if they were having trouble, they should call him right away,” the owner said. He said he has since stopped using the jammer.

Of course, it would be harder to detect the use of smaller battery-operated jammers like those used by disgruntled commuters.
An F.C.C. spokesman, Clyde Ensslin, declined to comment on the issue or the case in Maryland.

Cellphone carriers pay tens of billions of dollars to lease frequencies from the government with an understanding that others will not interfere with their signals. And there are other costs on top of that. Verizon Wireless, for example, spends $6.5 billion a year to build and maintain its network.

“It’s counterintuitive that when the demand is clear and strong from wireless consumers for improved cell coverage, that these kinds of devices are finding a market,” said Jeffrey Nelson, a Verizon spokesman. The carriers also raise a public safety issue: jammers could be used by criminals to stop people from communicating in an emergency.

In evidence of the intensifying debate over the devices, CTIA, the main cellular phone industry association, asked the F.C.C. on Friday to maintain the illegality of jamming and to continue to pursue violators. It said the move was a response to requests by two companies for permission to use jammers in specific situations, like in jails.

Individuals using jammers express some guilt about their sabotage, but some clearly have a prankster side, along with some mean-spirited cellphone schadenfreude. “Just watching those dumb teens at the mall get their calls dropped is worth it. Can you hear me now? NO! Good,” the purchaser of a jammer wrote last month in a review on a Web site called DealExtreme.

Gary, a therapist in Ohio who also declined to give his last name, citing the illegality of the devices, says jamming is necessary to do his job effectively. He runs group therapy sessions for sufferers of eating disorders. In one session, a woman’s confession was rudely interrupted.

“She was talking about sexual abuse,” Gary said. “Someone’s cellphone went off and they carried on a conversation.”

“There’s no etiquette,” he said. “It’s a pandemic.”

Gary said phone calls interrupted therapy all the time, despite a no-phones policy. Four months ago, he paid $200 for a jammer, which he placed surreptitiously on one side of the room. He tells patients that if they are expecting an emergency call, they should give out the front desk’s number. He has not told them about the jammer.

Gary bought his jammer from a Web site based in London called PhoneJammer.com. Victor McCormack, the site’s operator, says he ships roughly 400 jammers a month into the United States, up from 300 a year ago. Orders for holiday gifts, he said, have exceeded 2,000.

Kumaar Thakkar, who lives in Mumbai, India, and sells jammers online, said he exported 20 a month to the United States, twice as many as a year ago. Clients, he said, include owners of cafes and hair salons, and a New York school bus driver named Dan.

“The kids think they are sneaky by hiding low in the seats and using their phones,” Dan wrote in an e-mail message to Mr. Thakkar thanking him for selling the jammer. “Now the kids can’t figure out why their phones don’t work, but can’t ask because they will get in trouble! It’s fun to watch them try to get a signal.”

Andrew, the San Francisco-area architect, said using his jammer was initially fun, and then became a practical way to get some quiet on the train. Now he uses it more judiciously.

“At this point, just knowing I have the power to cut somebody off is satisfaction enough,” he said.

**min0 lee** · 11-19-2007, 04:59 AM

DealExtreme: $48.21 Personal Cell Phone Signal Blocker Device

**KelJu** · 11-19-2007, 07:09 AM

I'm buying one! $50.00 to shut motherfuckers up in restaurants is a bargain. Now if they could only invent a "loud crying baby" jammer, I would be all set.

**BoneCrusher** · 11-19-2007, 08:58 AM

Or you can get a scanner that allows you to listen in on/record anyone's cell phone calls.

**vortrit** · 11-19-2007, 09:32 AM

I was out with my brother the other day and he started talking on his phone. It was really annoying. Don't hang out with someone if your going to talk to someone else on the phone.

**Twigz** · 11-19-2007, 02:48 PM

Then again someone could be on a really important call and you just disconnected them because you have determined that they are being to loud.

I talk loud, my wife constantly tells me to quiet down. Now it hasn't happened yet, but I wait for the day that someone starts to bitch that i am talking to loud, then I will calmly explain that if they would like to find a way to reverse my hearing loss, and pay for it, that i would be more than happy to help them with their problem of having to hear me.

Don't get me wrong I know and have seen people that are to loud, but don't be to quick to judge. After all who gave you the power to decide what is right and wrong??

**min0 lee** · 11-19-2007, 02:56 PM

I was on a bus and all this lady was talking about was her welfare check not arriving...that's info that no one should care to hear.

Some people almost reach the point of yelling, it's really wierd.
I talk low for the simple reason I don't want anyone knowing my business.

**min0 lee** · 11-19-2007, 02:58 PM

Oh...I forgot about those driving using cellphones, most of the time you see someone drive slow or erractically you'll also see them on the phone.

**maniclion** · 11-19-2007, 03:12 PM

So a company could spend thousands to paint their walls with signal blocking paint and special film on their windows, but they can't use a device to interrupt the signal....I don't see a difference...I think movie theaters and restaurants should be allowed to use them....

The omni directional antenna is cool but that fucks with everyone, I think having a semi directional patch antenna would be more fun so you could just fuck with the main asshole...

**goob** · 11-19-2007, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by vortrit

I was out with my brother the other day and he started talking on his phone. It was really annoying. Don't hang out with someone if your going to talk to someone else on the phone.

That can be pretty annoy.......

***Ring*** Ring***

"What? Not much, just speaking to some people on the net. No, not really, no-one important. Yeah, get a keg or something. Did you hear about Joanne the other night? To think she used to lap dan........"

**KelJu** · 11-19-2007, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by Twigz

After all who gave you the power to decide what is right and wrong??

I gave myself the power to decided what is right and wrong when I just purchased a cellphone jammer 20 minutes ago.

**KelJu** · 11-19-2007, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by KelJu

I gave myself the power to decided what is right and wrong when I just purchased a cellphone jammer 20 minutes ago.

Merry Christmas to me!

Ho ho ho!

**min0 lee** · 11-19-2007, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by KelJu

I gave myself the power to decided what is right and wrong when I just purchased a cellphone jammer 20 minutes ago.

Cool!

**AKIRA** · 11-19-2007, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Twigz

Then again someone could be on a really important call and you just disconnected them because you have determined that they are being to loud.

I talk loud, my wife constantly tells me to quiet down. Now it hasn't happened yet, but I wait for the day that someone starts to bitch that i am talking to loud, then I will calmly explain that if they would like to find a way to reverse my hearing loss, and pay for it, that i would be more than happy to help them with their problem of having to hear me.

Don't get me wrong I know and have seen people that are to loud, but don't be to quick to judge. After all who gave you the power to decide what is right and wrong??

See, I dont understand how YOUR hearing loss renders your ability to use proper delivery volume.

When I have an mp3 player on that is full blast, Ill still talk to people normally if need be. I never speak louder than I do, even if I cant hear.

**MCx2** · 11-19-2007, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by KelJu

I gave myself the power to decided what is right and wrong when I just purchased a cellphone jammer 20 minutes ago.

I want one too.

**Dale Mabry** · 11-19-2007, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by KelJu

I'm buying one! $50.00 to shut motherfuckers up in restaurants is a bargain. Now if they could only invent a "loud crying baby" jammer, I would be all set.

They actually make those, I just picked one up...

Got it at Target...It's real nice.

**maniclion** · 11-19-2007, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by KelJu

I'm buying one! $50.00 to shut motherfuckers up in restaurants is a bargain. Now if they could only invent a "loud crying baby" jammer, I would be all set.

BigDyl came equipped with 2 of them....

**Twigz** · 11-19-2007, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by AKIRA

See, I dont understand how YOUR hearing loss renders your ability to use proper delivery volume.

When I have an mp3 player on that is full blast, Ill still talk to people normally if need be. I never speak louder than I do, even if I cant hear.

I woulnd't expect you to understand. It supposedly is due to the fact that I can't hear myself talking so I talk louder that a normal person that is capable of normal hearing. Much like I have to have the tv, cell phone, radio etc. at a louder volume to be able to hear it as you would.

**Little Wing** · 11-19-2007, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

BigDyl came equipped with 2 of them....

these actually work on some loud crying men too.

**Mudge** · 11-20-2007, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by BoneCrusher

Or you can get a scanner that allows you to listen in on/record anyone's cell phone calls.

Scanning a call doesn't stop them from talking, which is the point of a jammer. So far as I know, beyond the age of 900MHz radio scanners, such a device does not exist in the public domain. Old Radio Shack scanners, modded or otherwise, are pretty much worthless for attempting such a feat since those cell phones died out almost 10 years ago.

**maniclion** · 11-20-2007, 02:33 AM

I can't wait until they come up with a cell scanner that can analyze the voices and then allow you to hijack one of the lines and pretend to be one of the callers....

By the way any one know if there exists software for cellphones that would allow a person to modify their voice? I know they have add on microphone gadgets...

**min0 lee** · 11-20-2007, 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by Mudge

Scanning a call doesn't stop them from talking, which is the point of a jammer. So far as I know, beyond the age of 900MHz radio scanners, such a device does not exist in the public domain. Old Radio Shack scanners, modded or otherwise, are pretty much worthless for attempting such a feat since those cell phones died out almost 10 years ago.

Mudge is right, todays cellphone signals are scrambled.

We had a monitor at work that was capable of hearing cellphones, another problem with that is the signal used to jump around...

Now some of those old cordless phones are real easy to listen in on.

**Mudge** · 11-20-2007, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by maniclion

I can't wait until they come up with a cell scanner that can analyze the voices and then allow you to hijack one of the lines and pretend to be one of the callers....

People used to do this with RF broadcast.

**Gazhole** · 11-20-2007, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by vortrit

I was out with my brother the other day and he started talking on his phone. It was really annoying. Don't hang out with someone if your going to talk to someone else on the phone.

A mate of mine came round of an evening once, gaming and pizza night as usual. His girlfriend calls mid-conversation, and he's on the phone speaking to her for FORTY-FIVE minutes while im sitting there in my own damned room in silence.

Jesus, just have some cahoneys and say you're busy or at least leave the room so i can switch the game back on. Really annoys me when people do that.

**maniclion** · 11-20-2007, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Mudge is right, todays cellphone signals are scrambled.

We had a monitor at work that was capable of hearing cellphones, another problem with that is the signal used to jump around...

Now some of those old cordless phones are real easy to listen in on.

I had a toy set of GI JOE walkie talkies and I stripped the plastic off of the antenna's and then touched them together and then to a radio antenna, I was suddenly picking up police signals....

**min0 lee** · 11-20-2007, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

I had a toy set of GI JOE walkie talkies and I stripped the plastic off of the antenna's and then touched them together and then to a radio antenna, I was suddenly picking up police signals....

That's Mcguyver there.

**min0 lee** · 11-20-2007, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by Gazhole

A mate of mine came round of an evening once, gaming and pizza night as usual. His girlfriend calls mid-conversation, and he's on the phone speaking to her for FORTY-FIVE minutes while im sitting there in my own damned room in silence.

Jesus, just have some cahoneys and say you're busy or at least leave the room so i can switch the game back on. Really annoys me when people do that.

Can you keep it down, I'm on the phone.

**ALBOB** · 11-21-2007, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by KelJu

I gave myself the power to decided what is right and wrong when I just purchased a cellphone jammer 20 minutes ago.

Did you read the reviews before dropping your $$$? Supposedly it won't work in the US, only the UK and Asia.

**squanto** · 11-22-2007, 12:31 AM

Let us know how it works out Kjew.

**KelJu** · 11-22-2007, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by ALBOB

Did you read the reviews before dropping your $$$? Supposedly it won't work in the US, only the UK and Asia.

GSM is the transfer protocol in US and Europe. I can't imagine the thing not working here. We will see when it arrives.

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