Posted by RMskater
I was just watching (31 Jan 2004, 8:53pm GMT -6:00) AMW (America's Most Wanted, don't think it shows outside of the US). They were talking about how people using their cell phone takes up the airwaves, and interferes with police's radio's so that they cannot contact their dispatchers.
They said that Nextel is the company that is closest to the 800 Mega Hertz band, which is closest to police's band. There is some "Consensus Plan" (which can be found here which is trying to move Nextel's part of the band. You can read about by going to "www.amw.com" and then clicking (at the top) on "Help John Walsh with the Interference Emergency". However, I was having trouble accessing the site, so I copied and pasted what they say below, in italics. What do you think about this?
Ethan
From "www.amw.com"
As host of America's Most Wanted, I talk to police officers, firefighters and emergency response personnel every day. Reliable communication is critical to these public safety professionals. They can’t do their jobs without it. That's why I was shocked when I learned that every day, across America, those who have vowed to protect us are hindered by inadequate communications.
Interference from cell phones operating – completely legally – on adjacent space in the communications spectrum results in dropped calls and garbled communications. It jeopardizes first responders and the communities they protect. We need a solution now.
Cellular interference is growing worse every year, and it’s not going to go away on its own. Major law enforcement and public safety groups such as International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriff’s Association, and International Association of Fire Chiefs are backing a proposed solution called The Consensus Plan. It calls for reorganizing the communications spectrum so that there are separate blocks of spectrum for public safety and wireless carriers. It’s the only solution that truly solves the problem, and puts an end to public safety interference.
The Consensus Plan was presented to the FCC in August 2002, but FCC commissioners have not acted on it yet. That's why we need you to voice your concern for the men and women in public safety and encourage the FCC to adopt the Consensus Plan.
The form below allows you to contact your representatives and the FCC and express your support for the safety of America's first responders. Please take a few seconds to fill it out; tell the FCC you're on public safety's side!
I appreciate your support of this critical effort,
John Walsh
Also From "www.amw.com". This is the message that John Walsh wants you to send"
Emergency response communications have never been more critical, or more difficult.
That's because of a common problem on police, fire and EMS radios: interference. Interference, garbled or dropped communications, inhibits first responders from doing their jobs safely and effectively. Essentially, if first responders can't communicate, they can't help and may themselves be in danger.
There is a solution before the FCC: the Consensus Plan. Over 300 public safety organizations, local governments, and congressional officials support this Plan because it eliminates interference before it occurs and at no additional cost to federal, state or local budgets - or the American taxpayer.
The 300 Consensus Plan supporters that have filed with the FCC, along with John Walsh, host of America's Most Wanted, recognize the importance of communications for America's police, fire and EMS workers. This problem has existed long enough, and our first responders deserve better. I am asking you to help.
Please listen to the voices of public safety. Our neighborhoods, families and fellow public safety professionals cannot afford to wait any longer.
Ethan
Posted by Deanlambert
Well if it interfers with emergency communications then something needs to be done. How would you like it if, say your house was on fire and they couldn't radio the nearest fire engine because bob was talking to his mate about how many times he screwed tracy last night.
Posted by Ayush
Do ya hav to give ur ph away by law?
Posted by eric2004ut
It would take a VERY LONG time to have everyone give up their cellphone
Posted by Deanlambert
It would take a long time. Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to move the emergency services frequency?
Posted by RMskater
It would be illegal to take our phones away. We don't need a handling license to have phones, like you do when you have a gun. We are not misusing our phones. Basically, they would just take down towers, or change our frequencies. They wouldn't make us give up our phones.
Ethan
Posted by Deanlambert
But if they had to take your phones off you to replace, wouldn't the mobile company have to compensate you in some way?
Posted by RMskater
They wouldn't compensate you, but if they had to adjust the amount of money that you had to pay, then they would have to let you end your service plan without charging you a cancellation fee, or to let you switch carriers for free.
Ethan
Posted by Deanlambert
But what about the phones that will have been bought? They would need to compensate for them surely?
Posted by Ayush
It looks like this is only for the us :-?
Posted by RMskater
Yeah, probably only the US. Damn!
Ethan
Posted by Deanlambert
Makes you wonder how it's been able to happen
Posted by prodjsxb
I believe what they are trying to say is that they want to set aside a specific block of available frequencies for emergency use out of the 800 mhz band, which is Nextels band. It would certainly limit the number of available frequencies but not take it all away. No one said anything about giving up your phone either.
Posted by Deanlambert
I'm not the one that said that. As far as i was aware, some users in the us would have to change their phone. Thats how i read what was posted anyway.
Posted by RMskater
But what kind of carrier is Nextel? I know that SprintPCS and Verizon are CDMA and don't use SIM cards, while AT&T, T-Mobile, and Cingular are GSM, so what kind is Nextel? If they were SIM, then the users could unlock their phones, then just switch to another GSM carrier.
Ethan
Posted by Deanlambert
Don't know. Someone on here will know.
Posted by slamEVIL
cingular uses 1900 or 850mhz (pretty sure it's 1900.) i think at&t and tmob use 900mhz. if anything, they can make nextel switch to a different band. and if you have a shitty phone (and since you're with nextel, you probably do,) you'll have to trade it in for a phone with a different band. or they might be able to do it by flashing the phone. nextel sucks ass anyways.
Posted by boto43
Hey us guys . Pls solve ur specific us problems on ur own wap pages. We are from EU that means no sheriffs, no problems with GSM.
Posted by slamEVIL
police don't use radios in the UK?
Posted by RMskater
Hey Boto43,
We, "US" guys have just as much a right to be here as you do. You shouldn't get all cocky and act as if this is your forum. Sides, it's not like it's hurting you. If you didn't like it, why'd you bother to even post on this topic? Sides, you might learn something every once and a while by reading things even if they don't pertain to you.
Ethan
Posted by Deanlambert
@boto, don't know what your problem is mate but that sort of attitude won't get you anywhere in here.
Posted by boto43
Ok Ethan, u r right. US guys have right2 use Esato forum. It seems to me it would be better to have us thread to discuss ur problems. I AM VERY SORRY TO ALL US ESATO USERS .
Posted by Deanlambert
@boto, don't worry about it mate. You've apologised so that should be good enough for them. I'm not from the us, in fact i'm from the uk, but I've been here long enough to work out what annoy's them in here :-D
Posted by CrackerJack
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I used to have a Nextel phone. For those who have not tried or seen their phone, it's like having a phone and a two way radio at the same time in the the same handset.
Nextel users not only use their alloted frequency for making phone calls, but also to directly communicate to other Nextel users via two-way radio. This is why they are interfering with the emergency services (police, fire & emergency medical services) communications.
This shouldn't be a concern to us, GSM users. We are currently using 850Mhz, 900Mhz, 1.8Ghz and 1.9Ghz for our phones. It would be easier and cheaper for our service providers to switch between these frequencies, rather than having to replace our phones or compensating us in some way.
Posted by RMskater
Boto,
Thank you, you are right, there should be a separate forum, but this seems to work out pretty well. And CrackerJack, thanks for reminding me about "DirectConnect". I totally forgot about that. I noticed that other companies are trying to copy that.
SprintPCS has PCS ReadyLink, and Verizon has something called "Push To Talk". The funny thing about Verizon is that only one phone (the Motorola V60p supports this service.
Ethan
_________________
You don't really love your phone unless you don't have anymore memory to store stuff.
If you REALLY DO love your phone, you need to join my club!!! I've got lots of free stuff there, like ringers, games, wallpapers, themes, and more!!!
[ This Message was edited by: RMskater on 2004-02-02 03:51 ]
Posted by BOSSHOGG
LoL, does that mean you can still use a cheap analogue scanner to listen in on shoe calls over there? They stopped using those frequencies over here(uk) years ago. In fact i think the police are supposed to be moving to the 800s as well over here.
Posted by prodjsxb
@ crackerjack, yes I was aware of the two way radio feature. I agree with your statement.
Makes you wonder though, there are a lot less users on the emergency frequency than the regular cell user, wouldnt it be cheaper to make a whole new emergency only channel?
Posted by ewap8
