Showing posts with label mobile phone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mobile phone. Show all posts

19 May 2021

OFCOM and mobile phone repeaters

OFCOM is to allow more type approved mobile phone repeaters to be licence-free to get more reliable coverage indoors. See the OFCOM website for details.

11 Oct 2019

Non-scientific research - NOT amateur radio

As I was in Cambridge today, I felt compelled to carry out some research.

As I stood outside a shop in Cambridge today I observed the use of mobile phones by young people. Older people tend not to use mobile phones as much. My method was to observe male and females who were walking alone. My highly scientific methodology was to count the number of males and females using mobile phones. Some were listening to music, some were texting and some were surfing. I guess some were even using it as a phone!

In the time I counted 16 males and 13 females on their mobile phones.

Conclusions? My feeling is that as many males as females were using their mobile phones. The sample size was really far too small.  A year ago, there were far more females than males using mobile phones. A year ago I concluded the females were saying, "go away as I am not available". Today I guess younger people are using them to connect, although I have no evidence.

13 May 2019

Mobile phones and driving - NOT amateur radio

Some of you may remember that one of my sons lost a brother-in-law in 2017 when he was ploughed down by a driver who went through a red light in Australia. It took him 5 weeks to die. He was in his late 20s.

Never, ever use your mobile phone whilst driving. Even hands-free can be distracting. If you can, put the phone in a glove compartment! I was appalled to see this video. I hope he was banned from driving for years and was sacked by the owners of the lorry. Stay safe.

18 Oct 2018

Grumpy old man! - NOT amateur radio

Yes, don't tell me as I already know - I have definitely become a grumpy old man!

When I was waiting for my Park and Ride bus earlier, it seemed that everyone under 25 was on their smart phone.

21 Feb 2018

More "Grumpy Old Man" - NOT amateur radio

Today, I continued my very unscientific survey of mobile device usage by young people in Cambridge. I did 2 very unscientific surveys about 90 minutes apart counting the usage of mobile devices by unattached young people in Cambridge.

All users, I guess, are under 30 years of age. Firstly, by a considerable number, young users outnumber older users and young, single women outnumber men. In the first survey I counted 13 female users and 11 male. In the second survey I counted 9 female users and 4 male. My conclusion is still that mobile devices are used more by young women (leave me alone) than men, although the ratios are much lower than I'd previously seen. I would guess that mobile devices were used by less than 20% of young people. Although "face to face" talking is down, perhaps I should be charitable as at least some of these people were texting their friends, like.

Now for a moan: seen in the T.K.Maxx window "Always up to 60% less". What the heck does that mean? Nothing! It could mean a 1% reduction compared with the most expensive shop in 2000 or 60% reductions on John Lewis prices today. Basically it is marketing drivel and meaningless.

Moaning over.

24 Jan 2018

Mobile phones and young women - NOT amateur radio

About a year ago I posted something similar.

Every Wednesday I go to my University of the Third Age lecture on Samuel Pepys in Cambridge. If I have time I buy a coffee on the way. It usually gives me 15-20 minutes of "people watching" in central Cambridge. Last winter and this I have observed the same thing. This is not a scientific experiment, more of an observation.

Young, single women seem to use smart phones more than men. Most smart phone users are alone. To a casual observer it looks like these young women are using the phone to say, "keep away from me", "I am not available" or similar.

It is quite possible that I am entirely wrong and these young girls are using valuable time between lectures to catch up with social media. I am making no judgements, just relaying what I see.

21 Oct 2017

Driving and mobile phones - NOT amateur radio

Whilst driving along yesterday I narrowly missed being hit by a car driven by a young girl who seemed to be texting.

My son's 28 year old brother-in-law was struck by a car several weeks ago. He has a brain injury, many broken bones and is still unconscious in an Australian hospital. He is fighting for his life. At the time he was a pedestrian crossing on green. The driver (busy on her phone I think) went through a red light and just ploughed him down. His family, his girlfriend and her will be affected for life.

So, PUT YOUR MOBILE PHONE AWAY WHEN DRIVING. People can wait. Concentrate on driving!!

26 May 2017

Mobile phones on aircraft - NOT amateur radio

So, OFCOM has changed the rules to allow mobile phones on aircraft. I objected. In my view this is stupid idea. Imagine phones ringing all the time on a long flight. People managed in the past.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/B17ECEB3D452F524/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C