Cellular signal blockers

Author
Discussion

CAPP0

Original Poster:

19,843 posts

209 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
quotequote all
I know little, if anything, about these. Do they work by blasting out a counter-signal so that mobiles won't work?

What I'd like to know, and the response to the point above may cancel this question out, is, is there such a thing as a cellular blocker where you could block all phones/devices except for a small number which are business-critical? Had a quick Google but didn't find anything, but may not be using the correct search terms.

TIA.

Mr Pointy

11,692 posts

165 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
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They are illegal in the UK. Certainly to use, maybe to possess.

CAPP0

Original Poster:

19,843 posts

209 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
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Oh right, thanks, didn't know that - that rather settles it then!

tribbles

4,016 posts

228 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
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If you need to block a mobile signal - big metal cage is nice and legal.

Assuming there's enough ways to get out for 'elfnsafety.

anonymous-user

60 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
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Yep, such a product exists. Possibly the worst kept secret in law enforcement. Particularly after the sun bought one off eBay and wrote an article about it! But as has been stated, illegal to use. What is it you’re trying to achieve? There’s almost certainly another way to achieve what you want.

CAPP0

Original Poster:

19,843 posts

209 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
quotequote all
It is, quite genuinely, not me, but a good friend was talking to me yesterday about how to stop his staff from spending using their phones during working hours when there is work to be done. Apparently quite an issue for him. The staff have been told not to use their personal phones during work hours but they don't seem to be able to process that instruction. Discipline is the obvious answer, but we were chatting about it and wondered whether the blocker option would work, not being aware that they are illegal.

anonymous-user

60 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
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Blimy, that’s a harsh boss!

In fairness then I’m not sure there’s another option that’d allow them to still get business calls. You’ve got to think of the repercussions of them not being able to contact emergency services on their mobiles should they need to and it being the bosses fault. I’ve been in coroners court before for similar. Not a nice experience.

CoolHands

19,261 posts

201 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
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Verbal warning, written warning, final written warning, sacked!

CAPP0

Original Poster:

19,843 posts

209 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
quotequote all
sebdangerfield said:
Blimy, that’s a harsh boss!

In fairness then I’m not sure there’s another option that’d allow them to still get business calls. You’ve got to think of the repercussions of them not being able to contact emergency services on their mobiles should they need to and it being the bosses fault. I’ve been in coroners court before for similar. Not a nice experience.
I hear you, on all points, but he says that the office landlines, many of which generate sales calls, are not being answered because people are watching Facebook videos on their personal (not company) phones. I think that if it were me, and I'd told them not to and they still openly did it, I'd be a tad annoyed too!

QJumper

2,709 posts

32 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
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Even if you could block thier phones they'd just use their office PCs for videos, and landlines for personal calls.

NMNeil

5,860 posts

56 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
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CAPP0 said:
I hear you, on all points, but he says that the office landlines, many of which generate sales calls, are not being answered because people are watching Facebook videos on their personal (not company) phones. I think that if it were me, and I'd told them not to and they still openly did it, I'd be a tad annoyed too!
Worked at a courier company in the 80's, where the telephonists were spending more time on private calls than answering customers calls.
It was fixed by blocking all outgoing numbers that were not in the customer database. Incoming calls that were not from a customer were automatically redirected to the office manager.
To appease any "What if I had an emergency call" questions a landline phone was placed on a table in the middle of the floor and anyone was free to use it and give out that number as emergency contact.
Never saw it used once. biggrin


egomeister

6,841 posts

269 months

Sunday 4th December 2022
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CoolHands said:
Verbal warning, written warning, final written warning, sacked!
This.

I've worked at a place with a strict mobile policy (albeit more concerned about cameras). All personal devices were banned from sensitive areas and phone lockers provided at the entrances. Don't expect it to go down well!


eeLee

837 posts

86 months

Monday 5th December 2022
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CAPP0 said:
It is, quite genuinely, not me, but a good friend was talking to me yesterday about how to stop his staff from spending using their phones during working hours when there is work to be done. Apparently quite an issue for him. The staff have been told not to use their personal phones during work hours but they don't seem to be able to process that instruction. Discipline is the obvious answer, but we were chatting about it and wondered whether the blocker option would work, not being aware that they are illegal.
it seems easy, set performance goals for these people and reward those that meet those goals. Let the non-performers go as they repeatedly fail to meet the goals.

he's approaching the problem from the surface rather than going after the roots.

if he gets a jammer and is caught, the punishment will be greater than the problem he's facing now.

dhutch

15,067 posts

203 months

Monday 5th December 2022
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CoolHands said:
Verbal warning, written warning, final written warning, sacked!
Before even getting to this post, I wondered what his staff turnover rate was! Might have issues retaining staff already.

dhutch

15,067 posts

203 months

Monday 5th December 2022
quotequote all
eeLee said:
It seems easy, set performance goals for these people and reward those that meet those goals. Let the non-performers go as they repeatedly fail to meet the goals.

he's approaching the problem from the surface rather than going after the roots.
Agree. I'm not an expert, but if it where my company I would be trying to work out why people didn't want to answer the phone, and felt happy to gaze into their phones.

You can't make people work for you, you have to set it up so that they want to. As well as ensuring there is a atmosphere that supports work. Wages are at low, unemployed is also low, plenty of other jobs out there and the grass always looks greener.

Speak to them, get to know them.

What's the company doing for a Christmas party?