> In article
news.albasani.net>, "TomTom" invalid.com>
> wrote:
>>>> In article <48d1016e$0$31805$afc38c87@
news.optusnet.com.au>,
>>> B J Foster
yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Paul Saccani wrote:
>>>>> On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:38:45 +1000, B J Foster
>>>>>
yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> Mobile phones use UHF frequencies and do *not* interfere with
>>>>>> aircraft navigation systems. The issue is that whilst the
>>>>>> interference is infinitesmally small it cannot be entirely
>>>>>> dismissed - so the rule remains. In practice it is ridiculous.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've actually seen mobile phones interfere with VOR, the needle
>>>>> swinging from side to side until they are turned off.
>>>>
>>>> I find this very hard to believe.
>>>>
>>>> The VOR band is 108MHz to 118Mhz (VHF). The lowest mobile band
>>>> (UHF) is 900Mhz. If the VOR system has such a poor filter then it
>>>> is going to be affected by *every* *other* system between VOR and
>>>> GSM.
>>>
>>> I've also seen it, albeit with a 1970's era VOR receiver in an even
>>> older Arrow, where the OBS needle deflected hard right (IIRC) as
>>> soon as my passenger used his phone on the ground as we were
>>> taxiing to the ramp. As someone with RF design experience, I don't
>>> find it all that hard to believe, especially given expectations
>>> when the avionics in question were originally designed...
>>>
>>> Hamish
>>
>> The law apparently making it a serious criminal offence to use a
>> mobile phone in flight because it endangers the plane, is not based
>> on 1970's era gear, is it?
>
> I've no idea, but given the amount of 60's and 70's gear still around,
> it might not be such a bad thing. "The law" where I am on these things
> is actually mostly based on ground-based telecommunications issues
> rather than avionics issues...
>
> Hamish
Sure. I really couldn't care less about people using their mobile phones in
planes. I would prefer it if they couldn't, just as a matter of personal
convenience to me.
But I do get concerned about claptrap from government, and strict laws
against using mobile phones on planes, where the factual basis for the ban
is, to say the least, somewhat dubious, given the views offered here.
It's part of a philosophy that says that, if government wants to stop you or
me or anyone from doing something, then they always need a damn good reason
for it, and a reason that is testable or verifiable in the real world.
