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From: jharkins@sagpd1.UUCP (Jim Harkins)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Phantom 911 Dialer??
Message-ID: <675@sagpd1.UUCP>
Date: 20 Mar 90 02:31:41 GMT
References: <38723@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu> <4832@vice.ICO.TEK.COM>
Reply-To: jharkins@sagpd1.UUCP (Jim Harkins)
Organization: Scientific Atlanta, Government Products Div, San Diego, CA
Lines: 25

In article <4832@vice.ICO.TEK.COM> georgep@vice.ICO.TEK.COM (George Pell) writes:
> <stuff about cordless phone with low batteries calling 911 deleted>
>Likely they just got the wrong number.

These stories started showing up in the local papers a few years ago.  I would
assume that a common failure mode for these is that their internal prom has
a line like 

	if(battery_low && random(1000) == 1)
		call (cops);    /* teach the fool a lesson */

Obviously the cops are on to the problem and deal with it the best they can.
I wonder when the crooks will catch on?  Possible (scary) scenario:  Bad
guy breaks into house, woman calls 911.  Bad guy hangs up before
woman can say anything.  Take phone off hook, tie up woman.  Wait for
cops to show up and mention "that damn cordless phone again".  Voila!

I think I'll clean my gun tonight.....



-- 
jim		jharkins@sagpd1

"My son beat up the Citizen of the Month at Gage elementry school."