Imagine this: you are in the mall, talking to the guy you like, and suddenly your phone dies. Not because the signal fell, but because someone else in the mall didn’t want to hear your phone call!
Recently, a guy from Philadelphia anonymously told the local TV station that he was using a “cell phone jammer” on public transportation so he could have some peace and quiet. Now the question on almost everyone’s lips was: What is a cell phone jammer?
A cell phone jammer is a device used to prevent mobile devices from receiving signals from their base stations. The military cellular jammer was originally designed for law enforcement and military use, so it could block communication between terrorists and criminals. They are also very common in prisons, where cell phones (obviously) are not allowed for inmates. Once the public learned about the technology, many people – especially employers – wanted to use it themselves, especially in big cities where it seems like everyone is still on the phone.
But how does a cell phone jammer work? I mean, it sounds like something from a bad science fiction movie, right? Well, they use antennas to send radio waves in the same frequencies that cell phones use. This causes sufficient interference to render cell phones in the immediate area of a cell phone jammer (which can be 12 feet to five miles, depending on the type). The new devices are tiny and often disguised as a pack of cigarettes. And they can be as bad for you as smoking! How?
On the one hand, cell phone jammers in everyday life may seem like a good idea: Who wants to sit next to someone on the train who sputters their coarse details of their last bowel movement to their doctor? Wouldn’t you get more work in the library or in your work if you stopped texting your best friend every two minutes? But when you stop and think about it, using a cell phone jammer is a dangerous idea.
Why? First, they are illegal in public places (although the FCC can waive the law for private use), as they can block emergency signals. The man on the Philly bus was probably not thinking what would happen if, God forbid, his bus should crash and someone should call for help. If your boss used a cell phone jammer at work and your store was stolen, this would not be a good situation!
How would you react if someone used a cell phone jammer on you? Do you think that using a cell phone jammer could be beneficial, or that they should always be illegal? Ring in the comments!