Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cell Phone Jammers

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Topic: Cell Phone Jammers

Don Anderson
Master Film Handler

Posts: 312
From: West Bend, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 10-02-2001 12:16 AM

Any theatres out there using this type of cell phone signal blocking system?? Our local High School uses it, and I was wondering about the cost and if it actually works well. I am sooooo tired of peoples phones going off in the auditoriums. Plus, we have probs with teens using their phones to get their friends into the theatre using the back doors of the auditoriums. Used to be that you would just plan ahead and sneak your friend(s) in once the show starts. Now, they phone up their friends and have them meet them as they walk back to open the door. Door alarms don't seem to phase them. And yes, the majority of all sneak ins at our theatre are teens or kids that are not 17 that try to sneak in to an R rated film.

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Dennis Atkinson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 129
From: Birch Run Michigan
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 10-02-2001 05:37 AM

Last I knew, cell phone jammers were not allowed to be used in the U.S. according to the F.C.C.
Has that changed?

Dennis

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 10-02-2001 01:18 PM

Don, you might want to talk to the Board of Education about the cell phone jammers. As far as I know, they are illegal.

Probably a call to FCC will clear that up very fast.

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 10-03-2001 12:09 AM

I was told they are illegal. It applies to part 15 of the FCC rules:
"1. Device may not cause any harmful interference and (but) 2. ...device must accept any harmful interference received."

I checked out the back of my sony discman for that one.

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http://www.mullerfamilytheatres.com

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 10-15-2001 01:50 PM

The September 2001 issue of BKSTS Cinema Technology has an article about a cell phone transmission detector and alarm system made by Zetron in Redmond, Washington. It doesn't transmit or jam signals, but sets off an alarm if a cell phone within range is not turned off (by detecting the normal "handshake" auto-registration signals). The unit was developed for critical areas such as hospitals and aircraft, but could be used in theatres.
http://www.zetron.com/pages/english/products/m510.html
http://www.zetron.com/pages/english/specpdf/cellpspc.pdf

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Don Anderson
Master Film Handler

Posts: 312
From: West Bend, WI, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 10-15-2001 02:23 PM

John, thanks for the link. I'll check it out. I also ran across some unit that's suppose to turn down the ringer on cellphones or put it in a vibrator mode. I find that kind of hard to believe.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 10-16-2001 08:52 AM

I can think of a highly effective unit for dealing with the owners of mobile 'phones that ring during a show. It's called an electric chair.

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Colin Wiseley
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 123
From: Blacksburg, VA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 10-16-2001 10:41 AM

I think one way to make everybody happy on this topic would be to create a transmitter that sends a signal to the phone to switch to silent or vibrate mode while it’s receiving the signal. Then when the person leaves the building and goes out of range of the signal, it will switch back to ring mode.

Of course this won't stop the problem of people answering the phone and having their conversation in the middle of a show, but at least it would stop the potential complaint of people saying they will miss emergency phone calls because the signal was jammed.

Just me 2 cents.

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Colin Wiseley
Lyric Theatre
Blacksburg, VA
www.thelyric.com

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 10-16-2001 10:51 AM

Colin said: "I think one way to make everybody happy on this topic would be to create a transmitter that sends a signal to the phone to switch to silent or vibrate mode while it’s receiving the signal."

Do any cell phones offer remote control of their functions like "ring" and "vibrate"? I don't know of any.

Detection units like the Zetron could be very effective, in that they can actually be programmed to verbally remind users to turn off their cell phones as they enter the theatre, or notify the floor staff with an alarm. It's technology that already exists.

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Colin Wiseley
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 123
From: Blacksburg, VA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 10-16-2001 12:18 PM

I don't think it is a feature that is available on most current phones. Maybe it's something they can include in the future. It doesn't seem like it would be too hard.

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Colin Wiseley
Lyric Theatre
Blacksburg, VA
www.thelyric.com

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Jeffry L. Johnson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 809
From: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 12-22-2002 02:18 PM

Bump

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Jason Black
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1723
From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 12-22-2002 08:00 PM

Brad, Joe,
Perhaps one of these topics should be closed... they're the same...(as in yak)

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 12-23-2002 11:43 AM

Indeed. Since the other topic found here in Yak has more responses, we'll keep that one open. This one is closed. To reply on this subject, click the link in this above.

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