Block Cell Phones In Theaters?

Dave Head wrote:
> On 18 Dec 2005 19:44:19 -0800, "John S." > wrote:
>
> >
> wrote:
> >> John S. wrote:
> >> > Dave Head wrote:
> >> > > One group wants to do this - theater owners.
> >> > >
> >> > > http://upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?St...7-074635-6362r
> >> > >
> >> > > The FCC almost certainly will never allow this.
> >> > >
> >> > > Of course, the theaters could do it without FCC permission, passively, by
> >> > > covering theater walls with wire mesh (underneath a suitable decorative facade,
> >> > > of course) so that _no_ radio or TV signals penetrate. Of course, if the place
> >> > > catches fire, the police and fire 2-way radios won't work to any outside radios
> >> > > either.
> >> > >
> >> > > What to do about this? I talk to people that cite people blabbing on cell
> >> > > phones as one reason they don't come to the theater. Is it the real reason, or
> >> > > is it a case of "Any excuse is a good excuse" for something they don't want to
> >> > > do any more anyway, for some other reason like price.
> >> > >
> >> > > Its been a long time since anyone actually bothered me by _talking_ on a cell
> >> > > phone, but they do bother me quite regularly by opening it up and creating a
> >> > > distracting light from its display. I can ignore it, but would rather that
> >> > > this doesn't happen.
> >> > >
> >> > > People blabbing to _each other_ are a _much_ bigger distraction for me, but the
> >> > > theaters _will_ throw these people out if you report it.
> >> > >
> >> > > Dave Head
> >> >
> >> > The technology is already available and in use. Cell signals can and
> >> > are electronically blocked - you can buy the device on the net. Why do
> >> > you think cell signals disappear the moment you walk in the hospital
> >> > front door.
> >> >
> >> > Actually I think it is unfortunately necessary since some people are
> >> > rude enough to not turn their cell phones and blackberries off during a
> >> > movie.
> >>
> >> These things may be available, but they are absolutely illegal to use
> >> within the USA.
> >>
> >> If the cell signal goes away in a hospital ER, its likely because of
> >> the shielding created by the "concrete and steel" construction of the
> >> building itself.
> >>
> >
> >There are three regional hospitals within 30 miles that I've been to
> >more than once as a visitor. Full length glass windows that are easily
> >12 feet high are not eliminating the signal. When you walk through the
> >glass doors the signal is gone within 3 feet. It's being phased out by
> >something. The concrete and steel construction has an effect, but it
> >isn't consistent. My 12 story large office building made of concrete
> >and steel allows cell reception in it's center, with no windows
> >visible.
>
> Interesting.
>
> If they're jamming, they are playing with fire. The FCC _will_ go after them
> and the fines _start_ at $10,000.
>

Since it is fairly common practice I have to think there is an
exception for hospitals.

On Sun, 18 Dec 2005 17:52:12 -0500, "JohnH" >
wrote:

>> Ours shows 20 minutes of various stuff, mostly ads, that they call
>> "the 20", before the previews start.
>
>They even have a cutesy name for them? Golly, how nice.
>
>> Here, they're avoidable. OTOH, they're _better_ than a blank screen
>> before the previews start, as the ads are often fairly clever.
>
>It's the damn "previews" which I'm speaking of in regards to advertisements.
>So now they're showing advertisements before advertisements???
>
>People are turning to class A sheep. Eff theatres.

If you think you can avoid the ads by waiting until the movie comes
out on DVD, think again.

Some discs - 2 Fast, 2 Furious is one example - show advertisements
the moment you pop the disc into the player... AND LOCK OUT ALL THE
CONTROL BUTTONS SO THAT YOU CANNOT SKIP PAST THE CRAP. Of course, one
could argue that the entire 2 Fast, 2 Furious disc is crap, but that's
beside the point. The arrogance of Hollywood knows no bounds.

Makes me glad that programs like DVDShrink exist. For those who don't
know, DVDShrink is a program that will allow you to decrypt and
re-author DVDs and REMOVE obnoxious "features" such as advertisements,
button lockouts, and region codes.

Around 12/18/2005 7:44 PM, John S. wrote:

> wrote:
>
>>These things may be available, but they are absolutely illegal to use
>>within the USA.
>>
>>If the cell signal goes away in a hospital ER, its likely because of
>>the shielding created by the "concrete and steel" construction of the
>>building itself.
>>
>
>
> There are three regional hospitals within 30 miles that I've been to
> more than once as a visitor. Full length glass windows that are easily
> 12 feet high are not eliminating the signal. When you walk through the
> glass doors the signal is gone within 3 feet. It's being phased out by
> something. The concrete and steel construction has an effect, but it
> isn't consistent. My 12 story large office building made of concrete
> and steel allows cell reception in it's center, with no windows
> visible.

I currently work as a contractor in my area's largest medical center,
and the only time I lose a signal inside any of the buildings is when
I'm on an elevator and the doors close. Even three levels underground, I
still get a decent cell signal.

Maybe there just isn't a tower near enough to provide good coverage?


--
~/Garth |"I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie.
Almgren | I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave.
******* | And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant."
for secure mail info) --H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

On 18 Dec 2005 20:51:24 -0800, "John S." > wrote:

>
>Dave Head wrote:
>> On 18 Dec 2005 19:44:19 -0800, "John S." > wrote:
>>
>> >
>> wrote:
>> >> John S. wrote:
>> >> > Dave Head wrote:
>> >> > > One group wants to do this - theater owners.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > http://upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?St...7-074635-6362r
>> >> > >
>> >> > > The FCC almost certainly will never allow this.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Of course, the theaters could do it without FCC permission, passively, by
>> >> > > covering theater walls with wire mesh (underneath a suitable decorative facade,
>> >> > > of course) so that _no_ radio or TV signals penetrate. Of course, if the place
>> >> > > catches fire, the police and fire 2-way radios won't work to any outside radios
>> >> > > either.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > What to do about this? I talk to people that cite people blabbing on cell
>> >> > > phones as one reason they don't come to the theater. Is it the real reason, or
>> >> > > is it a case of "Any excuse is a good excuse" for something they don't want to
>> >> > > do any more anyway, for some other reason like price.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Its been a long time since anyone actually bothered me by _talking_ on a cell
>> >> > > phone, but they do bother me quite regularly by opening it up and creating a
>> >> > > distracting light from its display. I can ignore it, but would rather that
>> >> > > this doesn't happen.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > People blabbing to _each other_ are a _much_ bigger distraction for me, but the
>> >> > > theaters _will_ throw these people out if you report it.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Dave Head
>> >> >
>> >> > The technology is already available and in use. Cell signals can and
>> >> > are electronically blocked - you can buy the device on the net. Why do
>> >> > you think cell signals disappear the moment you walk in the hospital
>> >> > front door.
>> >> >
>> >> > Actually I think it is unfortunately necessary since some people are
>> >> > rude enough to not turn their cell phones and blackberries off during a
>> >> > movie.
>> >>
>> >> These things may be available, but they are absolutely illegal to use
>> >> within the USA.
>> >>
>> >> If the cell signal goes away in a hospital ER, its likely because of
>> >> the shielding created by the "concrete and steel" construction of the
>> >> building itself.
>> >>
>> >
>> >There are three regional hospitals within 30 miles that I've been to
>> >more than once as a visitor. Full length glass windows that are easily
>> >12 feet high are not eliminating the signal. When you walk through the
>> >glass doors the signal is gone within 3 feet. It's being phased out by
>> >something. The concrete and steel construction has an effect, but it
>> >isn't consistent. My 12 story large office building made of concrete
>> >and steel allows cell reception in it's center, with no windows
>> >visible.
>>
>> Interesting.
>>
>> If they're jamming, they are playing with fire. The FCC _will_ go after them
>> and the fines _start_ at $10,000.
>>
>
>Since it is fairly common practice I have to think there is an
>exception for hospitals.

Trust me, there are _no_ exceptions - not even for the military within our
borders. The FCC has a real "thing" for this law.

Dave Head

Garth Almgren, > was motivated to say this in
rec.autos.driving on Sun, 18 Dec 2005 21:24:14 -0800:
> Maybe there just isn't a tower near enough to provide good coverage?
>

Couple that with alot of interference from the equipment they use in
hospitals...

Dave Head > wrote in
:

> On Sun, 18 Dec 2005 21:33:31 -0500, necromancer
> > wrote:
>
>>Dave Head, > was motivated to say this in
>>rec.autos.driving on Sun, 18 Dec 2005 16:38:28 GMT:
>>> I talk to people that cite people blabbing on cell
>>> phones as one reason they don't come to the theater.
>>> Is it the real reason, or is it a case of "Any excuse
>>> is a good excuse" for something they don't want to
>>> do any more anyway, for some other reason like price.
>>
>>
>>The main reason I stay out of theatres is the blatent price gouging
>>they do once you get into the theater at the concession stand. That
>>and that (IMO) most movies are either trailer trash garbage or leftist
>>propaganda. Idiots on cellphones is usually not a consideration since
>>I'm not in he theater anyways. For the few and far between movie worth
>>my time, there is always PPV or DVD.
>
> Hmmm... leftist propaganda I think I'd notice.
>
> The last big leftist propaganda that I recall was the blatant bashing
> of the NRA and therefore the 2nd Amendment in the Lethal Weapon
> series,

You forget Michael Moore's movies.

(although I can understand wanting to forget about them...8-) )

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 05:32:50 -0500, necromancer
> wrote:

>Couple that with alot of interference from the equipment they use in
>hospitals...

Actually, most of the wireless equipment used in hospitals operates in
the protected WMTS (Wireless Medical Telemetry Service) band, 608 -
614MHz. They operate in this band precisely because it is protected
from things such as nearby TV stations, pager towers, cell towers, and
other forms of interference.

It's virtually guaranteed that none of it is going to interfere with
your cellular phone (and vice-versa).

wrote:

> These things may be available, but they are absolutely illegal to use
> within the USA.

Who cares? This is Bush and Cheney's America, where the Constitution is
"just a goddamn piece of paper", spying on Americans is legal by fiat, and
torture is OK as long as it's only perpetrated on people we know are bad
guys. If I were a theatre or restaurant owner, I'd buy, install and hide a
cellphone jammer and not flap my mouth about having done so. If Biff and
Muffy and their little offspring Chipper can't receive or make celphone
calls during dinner or the movie, that's just too damn bad for Biff, Muffy
and Chipper.

Dave Head wrote:
> On Sun, 18 Dec 2005 21:33:31 -0500, necromancer > wrote:
>
> >Dave Head, > was motivated to say this in
> >rec.autos.driving on Sun, 18 Dec 2005 16:38:28 GMT:
> >> I talk to people that cite people blabbing on cell
> >> phones as one reason they don't come to the theater.
> >> Is it the real reason, or is it a case of "Any excuse
> >> is a good excuse" for something they don't want to
> >> do any more anyway, for some other reason like price.
> >
> >
> >The main reason I stay out of theatres is the blatent price gouging they
> >do once you get into the theater at the concession stand. That and that
> >(IMO) most movies are either trailer trash garbage or leftist
> >propaganda. Idiots on cellphones is usually not a consideration since
> >I'm not in he theater anyways. For the few and far between movie worth
> >my time, there is always PPV or DVD.
>
> Hmmm... leftist propaganda I think I'd notice.
>
> The last big leftist propaganda that I recall was the blatant bashing of the
> NRA and therefore the 2nd Amendment in the Lethal Weapon series, although the
> injection of gay everything into the movies lately, The Family Stone being the
> latest excursion, seems to be some propaganda, too. I won't be seeing
> Brokeback Mountain, I think, as I want to see mostly some action flick if its a
> western, like maybe "Open Range", and not a love story of _any_ kind.
>
> Dave Head

Well, there was that Michael Moore thing, but the sad thing is it rang
more true than most of the jingoistic crap that you see on Faux News on
a daily basis.

Both the left and the right are nothing but propaganda machines these
days, the right is just better at it.

nate

> Interesting.
>
> If they're jamming, they are playing with fire. The FCC _will_ go
> after them and the fines _start_ at $10,000.

I can't imagine why a hospital would *not* want a common form of
communications used by physicians to work either.