Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!lll-winken!telecom-request From: steves@aerobat.labs.tek.com (Steve Shellans) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Cellular Phone Use in Aircraft ... It Worked For Me! Message-ID: Date: 13 May 91 22:07:51 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Reply-To: Steve Shellans Organization: Computer Research Laboratory, Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton OR Lines: 30 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 356, Message 8 of 12 In article reb@ingres.com (Phydeaux) writes: > Hi! During a recent flight, I had my phone turned on and noticed the > 'roam' light was on. I tried to place a call but it didn't go > through. We were at about 39,000 feet, and I didn't expect it to. It > would stay on 'roam' for a few seconds and then go to 'NoSvc'. But, > when we were down to about 15,000 feet I noticed the 'roam' light was > on continuously. I tried to dial again and it worked like a charm. I > was using a .6 watt Motorola "Ultra Classic" portable with the small > (1/8 wave?) antenna, and I wasn't even in a window seat! > I realize that you're "not supposed to" do things like this, but if > anything had happened I could always have called 911 ;-) I don't think this is funny. The reason you're not supposed to do things like this is that stray signals from transmitters and other kinds of electronic equipment can interfere with the navigation instruments. Steve Shellans Tektronix, Beaverton OR [Moderator's Note: I did not think it was funny either ... maybe next time he decides to flex the rules a little in his experiments he will try the one which says 'keep all radios, including cell phones, turned off in areas where dynamite and other explosive powders are being used.' If anything goes wrong, someone will always call 911 :( PAT]