4 ms·

Kinda surprised the FCC/Wireless providers didn't help. Usually when there's 911 connectivity issues they take it pretty seriously. I remember a story a while

Kinda surprised the FCC/Wireless providers didn't help. Usually when there's 911 connectivity issues they take it pretty seriously. I remember a story a while back where someone was driving around with a cellphone jammer since he was sick of people talking and driving. They caught him by noticing his commute pattern as connectivity dropped along the freeway he took each day. [edit] Also another great example of hams helping the local community. Quite a few clubs run communication for remote events(think large bike races/etc) often free of charge and it always great to see technology used in this way.

mmagin 10y ago
Funding for the enforcement branch of the FCC has been seriously cut in recent years.
- vvanders 10y ago
  Ah, that would help explain it. Shame though, the number of wireless things is only going to grow. The amount of stuff I pick up just driving around on 2m is pretty incredible.
  - wyager 10y ago
    I just drove 3000 miles listening on 144.39, 146.46, 146.52, 446.0, and all CB frequencies. There's a fair amount of garbage on the calling frequencies, but CB is really bad. I get horrible noise driving past power lines especially. Also, I was surprised with the level of activity on APRS. Lots of tracking and weather data.
- kawfey 10y ago
  But to their credit, they're planning on doing a comprehensive study of the RF noise floor. However, they actually have no idea how to do this, and are calling on amateur radio ops and the general public for advice. http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016/db0615/DA-16-676A1.pdf http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016...
- akira2501 10y ago
  > Funding for the enforcement branch of the FCC has been seriously cut in recent years. Do you have a source for this? FY2005 FCC spent $41m[1], in FY2009 they spent $46m[2], in FY2014 they spent $44m[3]. The worst you can say is that it has stagnated slightly, but then again, so have total FM/AM license holders and the associated license fees they pay. [1] https://transition.fcc.gov/Reports/fcc2007budget.pdf https://transition.fcc.gov/Reports/fcc2007budget.pdf [2] https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-290641A1.pdf https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-290641A1.p... [3] https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-331817A1.pdf https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-331817A1.p...
Jtsummers 10y ago
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2149501/florida-commuters-illegal-jammer-blocked-more-than-cell-talkers.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/2149501/florida-commuters-ill... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3488793/Pictured-Chicago-man-using-signal-jammer-stop-chatty-cell-phone-talkers-commute-home.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3488793/Pictured-Chi... A few of these cases apparently.

mmagin 10y ago

Funding for the enforcement branch of the FCC has been seriously cut in recent years.

vvanders 10y ago
Ah, that would help explain it. Shame though, the number of wireless things is only going to grow. The amount of stuff I pick up just driving around on 2m is pretty incredible.
- wyager 10y ago
  I just drove 3000 miles listening on 144.39, 146.46, 146.52, 446.0, and all CB frequencies. There's a fair amount of garbage on the calling frequencies, but CB is really bad. I get horrible noise driving past power lines especially. Also, I was surprised with the level of activity on APRS. Lots of tracking and weather data.
kawfey 10y ago
But to their credit, they're planning on doing a comprehensive study of the RF noise floor. However, they actually have no idea how to do this, and are calling on amateur radio ops and the general public for advice. http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016/db0615/DA-16-676A1.pdf http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016...
akira2501 10y ago
> Funding for the enforcement branch of the FCC has been seriously cut in recent years. Do you have a source for this? FY2005 FCC spent $41m[1], in FY2009 they spent $46m[2], in FY2014 they spent $44m[3]. The worst you can say is that it has stagnated slightly, but then again, so have total FM/AM license holders and the associated license fees they pay. [1] https://transition.fcc.gov/Reports/fcc2007budget.pdf https://transition.fcc.gov/Reports/fcc2007budget.pdf [2] https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-290641A1.pdf https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-290641A1.p... [3] https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-331817A1.pdf https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-331817A1.p...

Jtsummers 10y ago

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2149501/florida-commuters-illegal-jammer-blocked-more-than-cell-talkers.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/2149501/florida-commuters-ill... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3488793/Pictured-Chicago-man-using-signal-jammer-stop-chatty-cell-phone-talkers-commute-home.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3488793/Pictured-Chi... A few of these cases apparently.