- Wednesday, 2 December 2009
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Communism doesn't work because people like to own stuff - Frank Zappa
Mobile phones OK on flights thanks to jammers
DESPITE the possibility that a plane was grounded by a passenger's computer last week, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has come up with a cunning plan to allow mobile phones on board aircraft.
The ACMA called for public submissions on its plan to install in-flight mobile phone systems for domestic and international flights.
The system it wants to allow involves installing a "jammer" to block passengers' mobile phones from picking up multiple signals from numerous base stations on the ground.
Jammers were banned in the airline world because it was thought they would interfere with other on-board communications systems.
However after 18 months testing, it seems that the jammers don’t harm airline navigation systems at all and the ACMA has proposed amending legislation to allow them.
L'Inq
AP
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... what if the plan crashes?

People stuck in a plane, perhaps cabin crew dead, door locked to avoid entry to terrorists, and not a single mobile signal for any of the passengers.
and what exactly would be so bad about a phone picking up multiple signals from several ground based stations?

Nothing.. except of course that then they can't charge you $8.99/minute to make/receive a call... so they just jam the signal to force you to use their high priced repeater service... easiest money ever.. oh and suddenly radio signals (jamming signals no less) are no longer a safety concern.. yay
In my limited knowledge on the matter, my understanding is that jammers usually work by throwing large amounts of garbage signal into the spectrum to disrupt normal radio communications. Maybe I'm a ninny, but wouldn't that be the exact type of interference airlines would be worried about harming avionics?

And worried a person's computer took down a plane? Please. Lightning can strike an aircraft and it stays aloft but a source of nearly negligible electric draw and electromagnetic interference and a wifi card are the source of an airliner's near doom?

They must think the kool-aid is really strong in Australia or something.