4 ms·

This is a press release, the actual law / regulation is slightly more nuanced. It is perfectly OK to operate a jammer in your premises, given that it doesn't in

by fcclaw 12y ago

This is a press release, the actual law / regulation is slightly more nuanced. It is perfectly OK to operate a jammer in your premises, given that it doesn't interfere with authorized radio communications outside your premises. For example, every time you operate your microwave oven, you operate a 1kW RF jammer in 2.4GHz band, but because of the Faraday cage built around it (in theory: infinite attenuation; in practice: 30dB attenuation), it doesn't interfere with authorized communications outside your premises.

alricb 12y ago
Are you sure about that? The FCC seems to think otherwise: > 17. I don’t use my cell jammer in public. Can I use it in my own home, business, or vehicle? > No. Jamming devices may not be used regardless of whether the device is operated on public or private property. If you own a jammer, do not continue to operate it. You risk substantial fines (of up to $16,000 for each violation or each day of a continuing violation, or up to $112,000 for a single act); seizure of the device by the government; and criminal imprisonment. Signal jammers do not respect property lines, and federal law provides no exception that allows for the private or commercial use of a jammer. [1] A Microwave oven isn't a jammer. It's an authorized device that has to comply with certain regulations, essentially the same as for other devices using the 2.4 GHz ISM band. [1]: http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/jammerenforcement/jamfaq.pdf http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/jammerenforcement/jamfaq.pdf
- waps 12y ago
  Exactly property rights explicitly do not apply to radio waves. You must not interfere with radio signals on your property, except through static structures (you're perfectly at liberty to build a faraday cage on your property). Property rights have big exceptions. Property rights don't include : radio waves mineral rights air space (include "space" space above your property) Space is even a bigger exception in that it has been agreed that the airspace above a country > 100km up is no longer considered that nation's territory. You can't buy it, from anyone.
ajcarpy2005 12y ago
No. The microwave has passed FCC testing and has been approved. Devices with radios have to be approved before they are commercially sold.
Kadin 12y ago
That is not correct. You cannot legally build something that interferes with FCC-licensed devices. Various devices fall under different FCC licensing categories, which basically define a hierarchy of who-gets-to-interfere-with-whom. "Part 15" devices, basically home and office equipment, is basically at the bottom of the stack (must not interfere, must accept interference received). Moving up the pecking order, Amateur Radio, under "Part 97", can under some circumstances interfere with Part 15. There are other sections for microwave ovens (Part 1030?), commercial broadcasting, medical equipment, military / government use, radionavigation... anything that uses the RF spectrum basically. The FCC regs apply everywhere in the US, all the time. With certain exceptions (very low power applications, amateur radio equipment operated according to regs), you can't build and operate random RF-emitting gear legally. (Much of it you're not even allowed to legally modify. If you run a microwave with the cover off, that's a violation.) Constructing a cellphone jammer is much like constructing a machinegun: it's technically not that hard, and you can probably get away with it too if you're careful, but it was illegal from the moment you brought it into existence without the proper procedure. (Less prison time associated with it, though, and the rules governing simple possession aren't quite as strict, admittedly.)
A1kmm 12y ago
Intent matters. Microwave ovens generate RF radiation to heat food, not to stop radio devices inside the microwave from operating correctly.
- uxp 12y ago
  They've also been tested and licensed to do that. If GE, LG, et al. decide to come out with a new Microwave oven that leaks so badly it effectively is a jamming device then it won't be licensed and it can't be legally sold.

by fcclaw 12y ago

alricb 12y ago

Are you sure about that? The FCC seems to think otherwise: > 17. I don’t use my cell jammer in public. Can I use it in my own home, business, or vehicle? > No. Jamming devices may not be used regardless of whether the device is operated on public or private property. If you own a jammer, do not continue to operate it. You risk substantial fines (of up to $16,000 for each violation or each day of a continuing violation, or up to $112,000 for a single act); seizure of the device by the government; and criminal imprisonment. Signal jammers do not respect property lines, and federal law provides no exception that allows for the private or commercial use of a jammer. [1] A Microwave oven isn't a jammer. It's an authorized device that has to comply with certain regulations, essentially the same as for other devices using the 2.4 GHz ISM band. [1]: http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/jammerenforcement/jamfaq.pdf http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/jammerenforcement/jamfaq.pdf

waps 12y ago
Exactly property rights explicitly do not apply to radio waves. You must not interfere with radio signals on your property, except through static structures (you're perfectly at liberty to build a faraday cage on your property). Property rights have big exceptions. Property rights don't include : radio waves mineral rights air space (include "space" space above your property) Space is even a bigger exception in that it has been agreed that the airspace above a country > 100km up is no longer considered that nation's territory. You can't buy it, from anyone.

ajcarpy2005 12y ago

No. The microwave has passed FCC testing and has been approved. Devices with radios have to be approved before they are commercially sold.

Kadin 12y ago

That is not correct. You cannot legally build something that interferes with FCC-licensed devices. Various devices fall under different FCC licensing categories, which basically define a hierarchy of who-gets-to-interfere-with-whom. "Part 15" devices, basically home and office equipment, is basically at the bottom of the stack (must not interfere, must accept interference received). Moving up the pecking order, Amateur Radio, under "Part 97", can under some circumstances interfere with Part 15. There are other sections for microwave ovens (Part 1030?), commercial broadcasting, medical equipment, military / government use, radionavigation... anything that uses the RF spectrum basically. The FCC regs apply everywhere in the US, all the time. With certain exceptions (very low power applications, amateur radio equipment operated according to regs), you can't build and operate random RF-emitting gear legally. (Much of it you're not even allowed to legally modify. If you run a microwave with the cover off, that's a violation.) Constructing a cellphone jammer is much like constructing a machinegun: it's technically not that hard, and you can probably get away with it too if you're careful, but it was illegal from the moment you brought it into existence without the proper procedure. (Less prison time associated with it, though, and the rules governing simple possession aren't quite as strict, admittedly.)

A1kmm 12y ago

Intent matters. Microwave ovens generate RF radiation to heat food, not to stop radio devices inside the microwave from operating correctly.

uxp 12y ago
They've also been tested and licensed to do that. If GE, LG, et al. decide to come out with a new Microwave oven that leaks so badly it effectively is a jamming device then it won't be licensed and it can't be legally sold.