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Just been looking at an Owner's Handbook for a Rover 45, and noticed that they warn one to "Refrain from operating a telephone fitted with its own aerial inside the car", because it may affect the electronics. Is this a real danger, or is it just one of those catch-all phrases, giving Rover the opportunity to say "We did warn you!" if something happens to go wrong? Has anyone out there EVER come across any effect from (their passenger) using a mobile phone whilst travelling?
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Apart from text message alerts making the radio flutter, no problems at all. Sounds like Rovers lack of confidence in the quality of their product. After all, if jet fighters with the most sophisticated electronics available can happily use high powered two way radios and radar systems without ill effect, I don't see why a car should have anything to fear from a poxy little cellphone.
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Gives a similar warning in the Vectra handbook.
Although I don't think many take much notice of it.
alvin
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I guess (and I am no scientist) that we are talking small but possible risks here. A cellphone transmits digital pulses at up to 1w, bouncing around inside a steel box and interfacing with wiring and digital information within the vehicle control systems "problems" cannot be eliminated. The Civil Aviation Authority have recently issued guidance about the use of portable electronic devices including cellphones on board aircraft. There are regular reports of cellphones causing degraded communications and false warnings.
The difference with installed radars and nav/comms kit is that these are designed and certificated for use in particular installations. Passenger Smith seated in row 34 and using a mobile phone is not.
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If I was in a new 7 series I'd be worried if it was a non-BM approved phone :o)
With the diesels you lot drive, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it .
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Any electronic device fitted to a aircraft will undergo strict testing before being approved.
Did you know that any additional electronic hardware fitted to emergency vehicles (radio's,lights,medical equipment) is subject to new EU regulations from Jan 2002 (must be CE approved). Funny thing is nobody in the UK was aware of this new requirement until about november 2001 so they had to extend the deadline otherwise we would have no 'legal' emergency vehicles. The local news had a field day on this debacle.
BTW all ambulances from next year will have to painted yellow (another EU rule).
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Steve G wrote:
> BTW all ambulances from next year will have to painted yellow
> (another EU rule).
Does this mean the kids will want to go to school on them?
Ian
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I've been through this before in a posting a good while ago.
I think it's time the makers got real and recognised that, for good or ill, the average human being will have a mobile phone on their person.
It's a bit like the rusting cars, if the public catch on that a maker can't produce something that meet their needs that maker needn't make any plans for the future. Cars don't rust prematurely any more.
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Isn't it amazing how every piece of modern technology which makes life simpler and a bit more pleasurable for the masses will eventually be found to cause cancer, brain damage, accidents, social disintergration, the exclusion from meaningful life for those who can't afford them etc etc.
The same has been said of cars, radio, television, flying, computers, double glazing and most other things you care to mention. Some people would have us lead a very sorry life indeed.
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I'm getting worried, Tom, should I not be sitting too close to the double glazing?
<@O¬
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On a similar vein, is there actually any real reason why mobile phones are banned in petrol stations? Or is it one of these cases where there was a single occurrence of an explosion/fire & the only thing they could think that might have caused it was a mobile phone? Surely the waves are in the air anyway? Is the whole thing an urban myth?
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Mike
Nothing to do with the radio emissions.
A petrol station potentially contains an explosive atmosphere, and in industry such areas are designated a explosion risks. Any electrical equipment used within them must be designed to have a maximum electrical energy which it may release under fault conditions - designed to be too litle to generate a fire risk. This minimises the chance of an explosion, and depending on the risk in the area, the equipment is designed for more or less stringent standards.
Now, a mobile phone has a sizeable battery, and under fault conditions could release a substantial electrical discharge. They are not rated for hazardous areas. Ideally, they would probably be banned from such areas - they are in industry - but pragmatically, in the real world, the risk is minimised by insisting they are switched off. This minimises the risk of any electricl discharge from the circuitry.
Regards
John
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1. Petrol Stations. When some people had CB radios (remember them?) their use could foul up the readings on the petrol pump read-outs, although I don't quite see how unless they are to some degree electronic - this problem is long gone.
2. Mobiles in cars - I think there have been cases of airbags being set off, possibly by emissions from mobile phones.
It is all part of the Nanny State we live in; 1lb bags of peanuts labelled "Caution, may contain nuts", packets of razor blades saying "Caution - sharp contents" and so on ad infinitum.
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As a bumper sticker proclaims on a car in my street: "The No#1 Cause of Death is Life".....
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Or, "The only certainties are death and taxes".
Anyway, I'm sure mobile 'phones don't blow up petrol stations, but I'm more sure I wish I could be a lawyer.
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.....and it's been proved that research causes cancer in rats
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