Article

2004-10-20 -Short Attention Span Theater-

"USAF, sir. Did someone call for a rescue?"

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Posted by Bob 2004-10-20 15:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I think the TV willfully sent that signal after seeing van Rossman's apartment. "Look at this dump--I gotta get outta here!"

Posted by Dar 2004-10-20 8:47:21 AM|| 2004-10-20 8:47:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 I wonder . . . was he watching Lost or Gilligan's Island when the TV started emitting its signal?

Posted by Mike 2004-10-20 9:38:40 AM|| 2004-10-20 9:38:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 What's rather stupid is that the FCC threatened to fine HIM $10K a day for something that really isn't his fault.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-10-20 10:51:55 AM|| 2004-10-20 10:51:55 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 It's not his fault it happened the first time. After he knows the TV is emitting a errant signal, it is his fault if he doesn't get it fixed and keeps using it. $10K is the standard fine to keep people from being careless with the ELTs on their boats and planes. Think of it as a attention getter.

Posted by Steve 2004-10-20 3:55:05 PM|| 2004-10-20 3:55:05 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I still think the feds are overreacting in this case. It's not like it's an actual transmitter that's being used to intentionally interfere with bona fide distress signals. That having been said, maybe the FCC and other similar foreign bodies should look into requiring a standardized coded signal instead of a simple beep. Seems to me an asymmetrical signal would be difficult for rogue TVs to duplicate.....

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-10-20 5:50:55 PM|| 2004-10-20 5:50:55 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 This was circulated at my work by QC, with a note saying "This is why we test."

Posted by Dishman 2004-10-20 7:24:10 PM|| 2004-10-20 7:24:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 I have a built-in ELT (emergency locator transmitter) in my plane, as well as a portable one (EPIRB) in case I go in the drink. They transmit on 121.5 mhz. The tone is sorta a siren going from high pitch to low, then high pitch to low, etc. like a sawtooth wave. IIRC, that system will be completely phased out in 2006. The new 400+ mhz systems will be on line. Each one is registered, so you know who has the distress. Location will be pinpoint within minutes, due to a new waveform, instead of a half hour to hours with the old system.

Posted by Alaska Paul In Nikolaevsk, Alaska 2004-10-20 7:39:42 PM|| 2004-10-20 7:39:42 PM|| Front Page Top

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