Ivor Jones wrote:
In ,
Michael Coslo typed, for some strange, unexplained reason:

Har! love it!


[snip]

: Is is then a possibility that emergency comms might shift to a system
: similar to cell phones? It seems to me that trunking is kind of an old
: fashioned idea, and is ripe for replacement.
:
: Even in our area we have a 10 year old trunking system that is going
: to have to be replaced because it isn't working properly. One that was
: supposed to last for 20 years.
:
: But a cellular type approach might just work well for them. Before
: anyone thinks I'm bonkers, I'm not talking about using cell phones,
: just the type of compression/time sharing.


"Tetra" - the UK police have been using it for some time. It operates on
around 420-430 MHz.

The handportable radios can call one another, a central control room or a
normal phone number.

Sounds just about right.



Some links:

http://www.tetra-association.com/

http://www.airwavesolutions.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx


Of course all the scaremongers are now claiming the system causes cancer
in the same way that mobile phones are supposed to, but that's another
issue ;-)

http://www.tetrawatch.net/main/index.php

http://www.lessradiation.co.uk/?page_id=6


Always interesting! I wonder why the fearmongers picked cancer as the
fear agent for Cell phones and RF.

I do believe that cell phones have an effect upon humans. But not in the
sensationalist way so often given. It isn't ionizing radion, so while it
may have heating effects, or perhaps some other obscure effects, runaway
cell growth isn't likely.

There is no question the user of the device will put themselves in the
near field of a RF emitter that pouts out around a watt, up to 4 or so
watts.

The far field, is not so big of a deal, but the near field is something
else.


It is my own premise, based on some RF knowledge, some common sense, and
personal experience, that overuse of a cell phone causes a person to
become stupid. I have been nearly killed by cell phone using drivers
enough times to know that something is going on. And I don't completely
buy that they are simply distracted. My favorite example is when I was
driving out a local road, in a semi rural area. A person in a big SUV
comes racing behind me and nearly rear ends me (I was doing 45 in a 40
mph zone) He backs off, and then slows down to maybe 25 mph. I got about
a half mile ahead of him. Then he accelerates again, and nearly rear
ends me a second time. Then slows again. I then slowed foe a red light,
and he gets in the lane to turn. He stops, and yup, there it is - the
cell phone. Then he proceeds to drive through the red light. Lots of
other cell phone stories, especially on our own failed road, Atherton
Street. Suffice it to say, just as it isn't too hard to spot a drunk
driver, you can easily id someone using a cell while driving.

I'm not sure if the effects are permanent, but given that I've seen
people text messaging while driving, I can't help but wonder. Would
anyone ever start out thinking that it might be a good idea to look at a
tiny phone and punch keys while driving a 3000 pound machine? But I digress.

- 73 de Mike N3LI -