Mobile data usage grows almost exponentially. With more and more Smartphone usage, Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile technology in general, how to handle growing mobile data usage is the focus of wireless companies. Wireless companies are spending billions each year to maximize capacity. As their research and development costs grow, so do our cell phones bills. Costly cell phone towers being built at alarming numbers not only push our wireless bills up, but are unsightly as well. A tiny little device the size of a Rubik’s cube is being developed by Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) that may be the answer to both cost and more cell phone towers.

Tiny lightRadio Cube Could Be a Cell Tower that Fits in Your Hands

lightRadio cube technology was introduced in February 2011. It takes all the parts of a cell tower and reduces it down to a 2.3 inch cube. It is easy to maintain, holds a lot of data and takes a small portion of energy unlike cell phone towers which are expensive to maintain, large and ugly, and inefficient in their use of energy. According to an article written by David Goldman, CNNMoney.com, the global wireless industry is spending over $210 billion per year to operate their networks and over $50 billion per year to keep upgrading these systems to keep up with the growing demands of mobile data usage. Mobile data usage is expected to grow 30 times in the next four to five years and 500 times in the next ten years, according to Alcatel-Lucent. The lightRadio cube could be effective in reducing costs and providing more data capacity.

With a combination of miniaturization and cloud technology, lightRadio cubes are more efficient. According to Goldman’s article, “Alcatel-Lucent’s engineers stripped out all the heavy power equipment that controls modern cell towers, and moved them to centralized stations.” This allows the lightRadio cubes to be placed just about anywhere. The can be attached to the top of bus station awnings, the sides of buildings or even on lamp posts. They are small and inconspicuous. Instead of those unsightly cell towers, these little cubes contain multi-generational antennas that can relay 2G, 3G and 4G network signals all from the same cube. It also reduces signal interference, as well as doubles the number of bits able to be sent. But probably the best news is that it will help cut the cost of service in half.

“We need to think differently about this, because no one wants limits,” said Tod Sizer, head of wireless research at Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Laboratories. “We hope to solve this problem so that the AT&Ts, Verizons and Sprints of the world will be able to provide the data capacity that is needed by the customer.”

lightRadio cubes are set to begin trial usage in September 2011. ALU expects to be mass producing them by 2012. Sprint Nextel is plans to start using the technology later this year.

“Sprint is talking to Alcatel Lucent about this technology and we will be working with them to test and evaluate it,” a Sprint spokeswoman said. “We have been aggressive in smaller factor cell sites to help us support the growth in data traffic.”

Size does matter. The wireless companies are finding that not only are cell phone towers expensive to build and maintain, but they are exhausting room to build these monstrosities as well. According to Goldman’s article, “Each 1.5-Watt lightRadio cube powers about a two-block radius, so in urban areas, they can be deployed throughout the city and stacked like Lego blocks in stadiums or other areas that need extra capacity. In rural areas, they can be deployed atop existing cell towers in arrays.”

Are you as excited as I am about this innovation? It would be nice to actually tear down a lot of the obsolete towers. They are unsightly and not all that efficient. I remember when Nextel created cell phone tower sheaths, coverings that disguised the tower to look like a native grown tree. It was some improvement in aesthetics, but not by much. They were actually pretty funny looking trees. Having little cubes instead is much better.

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RIM BlackBerry scored the worst in GoodGuide’s list of green cell phone manufacturers. According to an article by Wendy Koch, USA Today, BlackBerry only earned a 3.3 rating, mostly for the company’s environmental record. Nokia took top honors, with Samsung coming in second. Apple’s iPhone also scored in the lower half of the manufacturers, again not because the material in the iPhone is toxic, but because Apple itself has problems with its “ethical policies and performance.” Nokia scored as the top green manufacturer. 26 of 30 of the top cell phones scored were made by Nokia, each scoring 7.7 or 7.6 out of a possible 10 points. Nokia C6 scored best overall. This is pretty impressive.

Did Your Cell Phone Make the Green List?

“Our highest-rated cellphones have energy-efficient chargers and are made of environmentally preferable materials,” says a scorecard of 596 cellphones from 16 manufacturers by Good Guide, a company that rates products for their health, environmental and social impacts. The ranking says the top scorers are made by companies “implementing green production practices and takeback recycling programs.”

IDC (International Data Corporation) has its own list of good and bad manufacturers. The IDC study analyzes the sustainability efforts of 10 manufacturers. It ranks these manufacturers by their overall sustainability strategy, packaging, materials, energy, and end-of-life programs.

“Mobile operators play an important role in handset sustainability,” says Stephen Drake, program VP, Mobility and Telecom. “While they do not produce mobile phones, they are instrumental in driving the design, packaging, and materials used in handsets and are in the forefront in device lifecycle management from procurement to takeback. As the connection to the end customers, they can also influence end-user purchasing and are therefore critical players in the sustainable handset ecosystem.” IDC had this to say about the top 5 manufacturers on their list (alphabetically):

AT&T, for its broad focus on trying to pick sustainable handsets
Deutsche Telekom, for is focus on the raw materials in the mobile phones on its network
Sprint Nextel, for its efforts to develop eco-criteria that have been used to develop a specific line of green mobile phones
Telefonica, which has developed an eco-rating system for handset being sold in the United Kingdom
Vodafone, which is focused on materials sourcing for mobile phones on its network

How important is it to you that you support “green” manufacturers? Do you recycle your old cell phones? According IDC, only 10% of cell phones are recycled. In a world that is filling up with e-waste, it is important to consider alternatives. See my blog Give Your Gadgets a Green Burial. Perhaps you will decide to donate your cell phone to a charitable cause. Working together, we can make a difference.

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A team of scientists at the University of Illinois has possibly discovered a way to make cell phone batteries that don’t need charging for months at a time. The team believes their method will enable mobile phone and laptop batteries to last up to 100 times longer. According to Stephen Adams, The Telegraph, it focuses on changing the way a device’s digital memory works, as this consumes much of the charge. Feng Xiong, a graduate student on the team who was lead author on a paper, to be published in the journal Science, explained: “The energy consumption is essentially scaled with the volume of the memory bit. By using nanoscale contacts, we are able to achieve much smaller power consumption.”

Carbon Nanotubes Make Lighter, More Powerful Cell Phone Batteries

Another team at MIT is doing similar research. The discovery could lead to a new way of producing electricity, the researchers say. The main factor is again carbon nanotubes, submicroscopic hollow tubes made of a honeycomb lattice of carbon atoms. According to an article by David L. Chandler, MIT News Office, “Like a collection of flotsam propelled along the surface by waves traveling across the ocean, it turns out that a thermal wave — a moving pulse of heat — traveling along a microscopic wire can drive electrons along, creating an electrical current. The phenomenon, described as thermopower waves, “opens up a new area of energy research, which is rare,” says Michael Strano, MIT’s Charles and Hilda Roddey Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, who was the senior author of a paper describing the new findings that appeared in Nature Materials on March 7. The lead author was Wonjoon Choi, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering.”

Carbon nanotubes? It sounds like something out of a science fiction novel. The applications for this technology are mind boggling as well. Tiny devices the size of a grain of rice could be injected into the body for medical treatment and monitoring. Environmental sensors could be scattered through the planet like crop dusting. Before you know it, the cell phone batteries will be the size of a grain of rice as well, enabling the phones themselves to be much lighter and thinner. Imagine how light a laptop could become. I could go on and on. The important thing is that look at all the ramifications of this technology before we set it loose. There are quite a few research projects being done in the medical field because apparently these little carbon nanotubes also lodge in the body and create cancer. While having an extended battery life seems pretty great, we need to step carefully.

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There are over 500 million cell phone users worldwide. This is according to research by the GSMA, the international association of mobile operators. The problem with all those cell phones isn’t access to a network. The problem is that most of the users in 3rd world countries live off the grid and can’t charge the darn things. ReadySet, manufactured by Fenix International, San Francisco, California, may be the solution.

ReadySet Battery Charger Could Change Rural Africa

ReadySet may provide new businesses for entrepreneurs. Right now people have adapted cell phone car chargers to work directly connected to a car battery and are charging 25 cents a charge. The problem is that car batteries are dangerous. When used outside of a car, they often leak causing burns on users from the battery acid. The new ReadySet is designed to be rugged, as well as user friendly. According to an article written by Rob Goodier, InnovationNewsDaily, Fenix’s lab testers dropped the battery onto concrete from three feet above, sprayed it with salt water, blasted it UV rays, ran it through thousands of cycles — and it still stayed intact and leak free. ReadySet comes with USB and car charger ports. Although the cost of a new ReadySet is somewhat pricey ($150) for people who typically only earn an average of $4 per day, Fenix International is hoping that businesses will see this as an opportunity to expand their business. Some entrepreneurs may start new businesses. At 25 cents per charge, it wouldn’t take long to pay for the device.

Fenix International believes the ReadySet could change Africa’s rural economy. According to Goodier’s article, “The device, its designers believe, could put more electricity in off-the-grid homes, create jobs, reduce indoor air pollution by replacing kerosene lanterns with LEDs, and eliminate car battery acid leaks. Plus, the telecom industry is hooked on it. Network carriers can make 10 to 14 percent more money from users who can keep their phones charged.” Fenix International is testing the ReadySet in 10 African markets. Retail sales are set to begin in June, with the device coming to the developed countries within a year. If sales really take off, Lin predicts the price of the ReadySet will drop. It is not new for people to be paying to charge their cell phones in 3rd world countries. For the past several years people have congregated at the local battery charger, paying that precious 25 cents per phone charge. Now they will be able to charge other devices as well.

“Building upon the existing culture was the inspiration for this solution,” said Michael Lin, founder of Fenix. “People in developing communities have a variety of needs, of course, but access to electricity is exciting in that it empowers people to improve their lives in a number of areas.” Lin went on to say, “There’s a lot of interest from people who want a green, carbon-neutral digital lifestyle. It might be a trickle-up innovation. You can hop on the bicycle and power all of your electronics.”

Have you lost power because of the winter storms this year? Were you caught with low cell phone batteries? Wouldn’t it have been great to be able to recharge your cell phone without electricity? I think this new device could change a lot of lives, both in 3rd world countries as well as here in the States. With devastating storms, floods and other natural disasters, this device could really help. I can even see people taking their ReadySet with them camping. Kudos to Fenix International!

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Solar powered cell phones are not new. UMEOX Mobile, a Chinese manufacturer, featured their solar charged “Apollo” Smartphone at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona earlier this year. Samsung has 3 models of solar-powered cell phones. There are a variety of solar-powered cell phone chargers on the market. But the newest innovation is the thin, transparent film that turns your phone’s screen into a solar charger.

Turn Your Cell Phone Screen into a Solar Charger

Wysips, a small, French technology company, has developed a new thin film that charges your cell phones using solar power. The photovoltaic film is placed on the screen of the cell phone, creating a continuous trickle charge from the UV rays. The photovoltaic cells capture energy from the sun to power your phone. The company claims that by using direct sunlight, you can fully charge your cell phone in about 6 hours, taking a bit longer in indoor light. Of course this film only works with light, so it isn’t charging while it’s in your pocket or purse, and not at night. But this new innovation could mean the end of the traditional chargers.

Wysips claims the film won’t interfere with 3D screens. It also isn’t supposed to affect the touch screens on Smartphones. And the film isn’t limited to just cell phones. Wysips says the film can be tailored for other devices, such as mp3 players, GPS devices, tablets, and e-readers. By simply placing the device in direct sunlight on your window sill, you can be charging your device. The company demonstrated the film at CTIA 2011 this month, with plans for it to be on the market within 12 months. According to an article by Amanda Hinksi, InventorSpot.com, “the company is currently working on a second generation model which would allow 30 to 60 minutes of talk time from just one hour of solar charging.” There was no mention of the pricing on this film, but it may just be worth it, whatever the cost.

What will this mean to the cell phone industry? Well for one thing, it means that cell phone manufacturers can stop concentrating on putting bigger capacity batteries in phones. (Those Smartphones really use up battery juice.) This means that the phones will become thinner and lighter. You won’t need to have an extended battery because you will constantly be charging your phone. Right now I have a Droid X and it is certainly a power sucker! I have a Droid X Extended Battery in it from batteries4less, which is really nice, but it does make the phone thicker and heavier. It would be awesome to be able to have a thin battery and use this film to keep it charged.

Don’t you just love inventors? With these amazing minds working towards such great innovations, things are looking up for the planet as well. If there are thinner batteries, and fewer chargers, we will have less e-waste as well. Do you have a favorite new invention that you’d like to share? Let us know and we’ll share it too.

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A new technology may change the battery industry. According to article published by John Timmer, Ars Technica, this new technology uses a whole new approach and can work with both lithium- and nickel-based batteries. Imagine being able to charge your cell phone 90% capacity within 2 minutes. Charging a NiMH battery to 90% takes only 20 seconds.

New Battery Technology Charges Lithium Battery in Just 2 Minutes

The new technology has a whole new approach to battery make-up, and is being developed at the University of Illinois. Instead of focusing on speeding up the lithium ions in the battery, the developers worked on reducing the distance to the battery’s electrode. According to Timmer’s article, “the process by which they do this is fairly simple, and lends itself to mass production. They started with a collection of spherical polystyrene pellets. By adjusting the size of these pellets (they used 1.8µm and 466nm pellets), they could adjust the spacing of the electrode features. Once the spheres were packed in place, a layer of opal (a form of silica) was formed on top of them, locking the pattern in place with a more robust material. After that, a layer of nickel was electrodeposited on the opal, which was then etched away. The porosity of the nickel layer was then increased using electropolishing.”

Empty space is the key. After the process, the porosity (empty space) was 94 percent, falling below the limit of 96 percent thought to be the limit previously. Into this empty space went the battery component (either nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) or a lithium-treated manganese dioxide.) The new process creates a battery that more like a supercapacitor in respects to battery charging and discharging. Sound too technical to you? Me too!

This new technology can be adapted to mass production. It isn’t limited to just nickel-metal hydride or lithium materials. The possibilities are really endless. The one down side to the technology is the amount of energy it uses to fast charge the batteries. While charging a cell phone battery wouldn’t take too much, imagine the juice it would take to charge an electric car.

Our society is becoming more and more battery oriented. Although it is nice to see developers working on more efficient ways to charge batteries, we are still going to have to think about how to recycle all these batteries. Perhaps while they are changing the structure of the batteries to speed up charging, they can also research and develop batteries that don’t pollute the planet when discarded. What do you think? Are you clamoring for a fast charge battery?

Support for CellPlaza.org is provided by batteries4less.com, the leading online retailer of camera replacement batteries, cell phone batteries, chargers, mobile accessories and cordless phone batteries. Buy a HTC Incredible Battery online at www.batteries4less.com.

With hands-free driving laws in 9 states, Bluetooth enabled headsets are becoming a necessity. As more states come on board with hands-free driving laws, it is inevitable that more Bluetooth mobile headsets will be manufactured and sold. There are also a plethora of mobile headsets already being sold. How can you navigate the market and find the best Bluetooth for you? Only you can choose what works for you. Several notable sites, like CNET and PCMagazine, have recently put together a review of the top rated Bluetooth mobile headsets. I have compiled their lists to give you a best of best list to check before you purchase a new Bluetooth mobile headset.

There are really 4 categories of Bluetooth headsets. For comparisons, we have to relate apples to apples. The 4 categories are: mono Bluetooth headsets, stereo Bluetooth headsets, speakerphone Bluetooth devices (usually clipped to your car visor), and then those most compatible with the iPhone (naturally not all Bluetooth headsets are compatible with Apple devices.)

Mono Bluetooth Headsets

PCMagazine lists its top 6 mono Bluetooth headsets with pricing and comments. In order of their ratings, below is their list:
Aliph Jawbone Era – $129 – 4 ½ stars.
Aliph Jawbone Icon – $99 – 4 stars.
BlueAnt Q2 – $129 – 4 stars.
Plantronics Discovery 975 – $129 – 4stars.
Plantronics Voyager Pro+ – $99 – 4 stars.
Sound ID 510 – $129 – 4 stars.

CNET’s list for mono Bluetooth headsets is almost exactly like PCMagazine’s list. The exception is the Motorola Finiti ($99). CNET’s initial review gave it 4 stars, but it has dropped the rating to 2 1/2 stars due to disconnection problems.

Stereo Bluetooth Headsets

PCMagazine lists 2 in its favorite review for stereo Bluetooth headsets. CNET didn’t offer a review of stereo Bluetooth headsets.
Motorola MotoROKR S9-HD – $129 – 3 1/2 stars.
Samsung Modus HM3500 – $59 – 3 1/2 stars.

HubSpot has also given a good review of stereo Bluetooth headsets. Their favorite list includes:
Sony Ericsson HBH Bluetooth Headset – $149 – 4 1/2 stars.
Motorola MOTOROKR S305 – $39 – 4 stars.
Plantronics Backbeat – $69 – 3 1/2 stars.
Nokia BH-905i Bluetooth Headset – $188 – 4 1/2 stars.

Top Bluetooth Speakerphones

PCMagazine only rates one Bluetooth speakerphone.
BlueAnt S4 – $99 – 4 stars. The BlueAnt S4 is an excellent-sounding, voice-enabled, hands-free speakerphone that’s a must buy for anyone sick of wearing a Bluetooth headset in the car.

Top iPhone Bluetooth Headsets

Only HubSpot gave us a list of headsets especially good for the iPhone. Briefly, here is their list:
Plantronics Discovery 975 – $59 – 5 stars.
Plantronics Voyager 510 – $117 – 5 stars.
Plantronics Voyager Pro – $42 – 5 stars.
Plantronics Discovery 95 – $149 – 4 1/2 stars.
Aliph Jawbone Icon – $59 – 4 1/2 stars.
Jawbone III – $49 – 4 1/2 stars.

How do you choose a Bluetooth headset? PCMagazine lists 9 criteria for choosing just the right headset for your tastes. The 9 things to consider are: call quality, noise cancellation, battery life, comfort, style, range, mono v.s stereo sound, bonus features (texting via the headset), and price. No matter which one you choose, getting a Bluetooth headset is a great idea. I love using my Bluetooth any time I use my Droid X Smartphone, not just when I drive. I don’t like having to hold my phone crook’d in my neck to make calls. I personally use what I consider to be a great headset. It’s the NoiseHush N500—light weight and great sound. It comes in a variety of colors. You can get it for only $25 at batteries4less. The best thing about getting at batteries4less is that they offer a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee (in case you don’t like it or it doesn’t work well with your cell phone), and a 1 Year Warranty.

Support for CellPlaza.org is provided by batteries4less.com, the leading online retailer of camera replacement batteries, cell phone batteries, chargers, Motorola RAZR v3 Battery, mobile accessories and cordless phone batteries.

An iPhone 64GB prototype has surfaced in the ‘grey’ market in Hong Kong. According to an article by Sara Yin, PCMagazine.com, the rumor was first announced on Chinese-language blog Unwire.hk and later ‘confirmed’ by MIC Gadget. The 64GB model appears to be unlocked and running iOS 4.1. MIC Gadget’s photos of the model found are much like the iPhone 4 model that Gizmodo found last spring in a bar. The model shows lots of XX’s on its case. The model number states ‘XXXXX’, FCC ID number is ‘BCG- XXXXXX,’ and printed capacity is ‘XXGB.’

iPhone 64GB Prototype Found in China

Macrumors reported that the model found in China was produced in early 2010. They had analyzed the serial number from MIC Gadget’s photos and determined the phone was produced well before the launch of the iPhone 4 in June 2010. It is also running an older version the iOS.

Evidence suggests that Apple produced and then discarded the iPhone 64GB model. In June 2010, Apple came out with just 2 versions of the iPhone 4, with 16GB and 32GB capacities. Apple may still be planning to come out with the 64GB version, as it isn’t unlike them to come out with a third generation after the first release. According to PCMagazine, “the original iPhone debuted in 2007 with 4GB and 8GB of space, but in February 2008, Apple released another 16GB model. Then in July 2009 Apple launched the iPhone 3GS in 16GB and 32GB versions, but later added an 8GB model after recession-stricken consumers complained that the phones were priced too high.” When the iPhone 4 was released last year, many criticized Apple for not releasing a version with higher storage capacity.

Perhaps Apple will include a 64GB version of the iPhone 5. With Verizon now selling the iPhone, Apple will need to make the iPhone 5 something extra special in order to get iPhone 4 users willing to upgrade. Just as the iPad 2 isn’t all that much different than the iPad, Apple will need to put a lot of pizzazz into the iPad 3 to get people to upgrade.

Beware of buying a ‘grey’ market iPhone. Obviously Apple won’t be honoring any kind of warranty on these phones. With the battery life kind of lacking on the iPhone, you can’t send it back to get a new battery installed by Apple. Of course one solution to the short battery life is to buy a cool gadget that actually has a backup battery in it. There’s a new Apple approved aftermarket iPhone 4 case with an external battery built in. It takes over when your internal battery gets low and gives you another 3 1/2 hours of talk time. You can buy this rechargeable battery case for iPhone4 at batteries4less.

Support for CellPlaza.org is provided by batteries4less.com, the leading online retailer of camera replacement batteries, cell phone batteries, chargers, mobile accessories and cordless phone batteries. Buy a LG Vu cu920 Battery online at batteries4less.

Ever had to dig in your bag to silence your ringing cell phone? Now you can just tap your wristwatch twice and it will silence your phone. According to Martyn Williams, IDG News, Casio has developed a prototype system that can mute a phone with a couple of taps to a wristwatch. The wristwatch works with Bluetooth Low Power technology (BLE-technology) and an app that enables it to link with your cell phone. The watch is scheduled to be out to consumers by the end of the year.

New Casio Wristwatch Links to Your Cell Phone

Casio debuted its new wristwatch at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The watch does all kinds of cool things. In addition to being able to link with your cell phone or Smartphone to silence the ringing, it informs you of new email and incoming calls with caller ID, and can even show GPS information from the phone or GPS device. Sports enthusiasts can also use it as a sports heart beat monitor. The watch can also help you locate a misplaced cell phone by sounding an alarm on the phone. Of course the phone must be within a certain range or it can’t find the phone. For watches that are connected to a phone for 12 hours per day, the watch battery will last about 2 years before needing a replacement battery.

The watch-cell phone two way communication. According to the article by Martyn Williams, “information flows both ways. With the push of a button, the watch can request the current time from the cell phone and update itself. This could be especially useful when traveling, because cell phones generally take local time from the mobile network, and automatically adjust to time zone changes.”

What is the new Bluetooth Low Power technology? Bluetooth Low Power (BLP) is a new version of the wireless technology that uses much less power than current Bluetooth. Expect to see quite a few new devices running this new technology by the end of the year or the beginning of next year.

Casio’s biggest challenge? Getting people to wear wristwatches again. Apparently a recent poll in the UK found that 1 in 7 people feel no need for a watch and a cell phone. This new Casio wristwatch may change their attitudes. Of course, the next thing will be a cell phone that you wear on your wrist. It could be Bluetooth connected to a pad and keyboard for larger viewing when needed. Otherwise it could just connect to your Bluetooth wireless headset for calls. What do you think? Good idea? Inquiring minds want to know…

Despite warnings and concerns by the FAA and the Defense Department, LightSquared was given conditional approval. The plan is for LightSquared to install up to 40,000 terrestrial cell phone base stations across the U.S. to augment its mobile satellite communications service. The FAA is concerned with test results involving the Garmin International GPS system that was jammed by the LightSquared transmitter. Not only does this affect GPS systems in vehicles, but also in airplanes. This can’t be good.

LightSquared’s Open 4G Network May Jam GPS

The conditional approval took the GPS community by surprise. According to an article by Graham Warwick, AviationWeek, “Experiments conducted by leading GPS manufacturer Garmin International, using two of its most popular aviation and consumer receivers and simulating LightSquared base station transmissions, indicated ‘disastrous interference,’ according to documentation filed with the FCC.”

“We are concerned about the possibility of interference with GPS services and looking forward to further testing,” says the FAA. Conditional approval of LightSquared’s plan came as a surprise to the GPS community. “We are at a loss to know why [it was approved],” says an official close to the issue.

The simulated base station began to jam Garmin’s GNS 430W aviation GPS receiver at 13.8 miles away. Total loss of signal was at 5.6 miles. The GNS 430W is FAA-approved for NextGen air traffic operations, such as RNAV and RNP approaches. Does anyone else besides me see a problem? According to the article in AviationWeek, “as a condition of its waiver to LightSquared’s existing authority, to allow it to deploy terrestrial base stations, the FCC requires the company to work with the GPS community to study the potential for interference and identify ways to prevent jamming.”

Thank goodness LightSquared only received conditional approval. AviationWeek reports that “LightSquared will present its plan on Feb. 25 and submit a final report by June 15,” says Jeff Carlisle, Executive VP-Regulatory Affairs. With the U.S. GPS Industry Council (USGIC), the company is establishing the working group to test representative GPS receivers and determine the scope of the problem. “The base station meets already agreed limits of out-of-band emissions, incorporating a filter that “puts a wall between it and GPS,” says Carlisle, but the concern is with GPS receivers sensitive to “down-band” transmissions. “Testing is needed to find out which systems are susceptible,” he says.

Why is the FCC playing fast and easy with our security? It seems to me that we can’t afford to let a system that causes such wide spread jamming be put in place. They won’t let us use cell phones on planes, but are willing to let something like this be installed that could affect nationwide GPS systems. It doesn’t make sense to me. How about you?