On Thu, 18 Mar 2004 05:39:21 +0000, Tim Auton
tim.auton@uton.[groupSexWithoutTheY] wrote:


Do you all think that tangos are dumb enough to trigger the bomb
with the ringer or would the detonator answer first and listen for a
DTMF sequence. Hmmm? Achmed the bomb maker gets a wrong number just
as he's connecting the thing.

I very much doubt they bother with DTMF decoders. I mean, how often do
you get a wrong number? I've had about 4 in my life. They'll just
connect the ringer (or vibrate function) to the detonator (with
whatever minimal circuitry in between is required - I've never used a
detonator!) and then only turn the phone on at the last minute.

It's not dumb to design a remote detonation system that requires the
absolute minimum of specialist knowledge and equipment to construct.



To use the unique cellphone ID to detonate a remote bomb is actually
a very ingenious innovation. No timers to mess with. The terrorist
has full and instant control of the time and place to set off the
bomb.

As Tim says its relatively easy to connect the ringer wires to a
simple circuit to output enough juice to trigger the detonator. Frist
year student project - like using a battery to keep a capacitor
charged and the ringer closes the discharge switch. Boom.

The countermeasure I think, is fairly simple. Every vulnerable public
place which may be targeted by terrorist bomb attacks, should install
cellphone signal blockers.

I believe these are already available and smart dining places and
concert halls have them so that their patrons won't be interrupted by
cellphones. I'll skip the arguments, mostly from cellphone service
providers, against signal blockers that may cause doctors and
emergency workers to miss their calls. Until some better solution
comes along I think this is a good solution. (Hint. Buy shares in
signal blocker companies.) If this suggestion is taken up perhaps
we'll get some peace from those incurable cellphone yakkers who think
the world wants to hear every word they say anywhere.