Why do people want to jam cell phone signals?

Imagine a perfectly quiet movie theater with no whispered conversations or clicking of keyboards…
Leave alone movie theatres, consider TMI in the grocery store! TMI meaning, "too much information". We have all had those moments of desperation, whether it was in a movie theater, in line at the DMV, in our favorite aisle of the library, or even at a grocery store, when you're forced to overhear a conversation that really would have been best suited to remain behind closed doors, and all we can think is how much better it would be if we could block cell phone reception in a 10 foot radius around us. How glorious would that be?

 

We have seen signal jammer being made and sold from China, and used in plenty of movies and television shows, so it stands to reason that the technology is available. And if it really is just as simple as pushing a button, then why aren't movie theaters and libraries utilizing these products to ensure peace and quiet and an overall enjoyable experience for anyone looking to read a book in silence, or watch a movie without that one person who refuses to get off their cell phone?

It seems like a no-brainer for anyone in those industries. But the idea of cell phone jammers is actually a very serious matter, and one that could land you in loads of trouble if you don't pay attention to the legal consequences of disrupting cellular reception.

Are cell phone jammers legal or illegal? If illegal, how can they be used without breaking the law?
Intrigued by some of the buzz that this topic has generated online, it seems as good of a time as any, to burrow deep into this rabbit hole and attempt to piece together the puzzle of why cell phone jammers exist, why people might want to use them, and why some countries, such as United States, have made them illegal to use, own, or even sell. However, later in this blog, we will look into some passive and legal ways to legitimately and safely block cell phone service, without bringing a whole host of authorities to our doors. To fully understand how, let us examine and establish a few basic facts and concepts regarding this topic.

Use scenarios for signal jammers
Seriously? I could probably name over a hundred times when I've thought to myself, "I so wish that there was no cell phone reception here!" Whether it is someone interrupting a movie that I have been dying to see since it was released in the theater, someone getting a little too friendly with their significant other over the phone as they're walking through the grocery store, airport, etc., or someone talking away on their cell phone in the bathroom stall next to me, there seems to be no end to the discomfort and irritation that cell phone reception can cause on a regular basis.

But these are the more common scenarios that might lead one to wish for that magical button that would simultaneously cause all cell phone reception in a nearby area to miraculously drop. Let us look at some slightly more creative situations.

• Hello? The light is "green"! But the driver is calmly texting on the phone. Or worse - texting while driving, phew!
• Disrupting a bus full of people while arguing over the phone.
• Using your phone in a hospital where it is specifically posted not to talk on cell phone.
• Trying to write your first award winning novel at your favorite coffee shop while the person in the booth behind you won't stop gossiping about the girl trying to hit on her boyfriend.
• When you're actually trying to pay attention to your professor and learn something instead of texting away on your phone like 40% of your classmates.

The list goes on and on. There are so many times when it seems like it would be a good idea for some cell phone jammers to be brought in so that everyone can learn, drive, study, or relax in peace. It has occurred to me on one or more occasions that it might be nice to actually eat dinner in a restaurant where cell phones aren't allowed, or go to a show that won't let you in if you have a cell phone in your pocket or purse.