For many years I myself have been angry about the FCC rules being relaxed about 20 years ago with regard to Part 15 Interference between devices.
The relaxed rules simply are no rules or standards that a device must be able to withstand some amount of RF energy before acting improperly.
This was to allow manufactures to not have to pass any tests and remove shielding in a cost cutting move.

This was not such a big deal when it happened as there were not 1/1000 the RF transmitters and not near as many potential receivers to interfere with but still I seen this at the time to just change the argument pitting neighbor against neighbor as if either one would really know why they could not watch their soap-opera when one of them was using a 2-way radio.

Times have changed and most devices that could cause interference and receive interference have increased and show no sign of not doubling every 2 years. Just watch and see how many iPads are sold in the first week when they are released to have a clue. Yes these devices just like the Kindle have a GSM cell phone embedded in them.

Now with 2 new problems to mention:
1 – Many of these devices are digital in nature
2 – Many of the new electronics have our lives in their control. i.e. cars and other transportation systems like Aircraft and Subways/Trains

Now take into account that the Toyota’s that are in the most hot water for doing things that they just should not be doing on their own. These cars are a FLY-BY-WIRE. Meaning that many of them do not have a direct mechanical control but the steering along with the accelerator and brakes are completely under computer actuation with computer controlled servo motors.

While I will take Toyota’s at their word that the computer systems on board function 100% correct, this would be without any outside influence of RF signals getting into the computer or its other on-board micro-controller systems that communicate with it.

All of this brings us to a new chapter in what type of rules we need going forward as the FCC is currently making new plans for mobile broadband including frequency & modulation standards for whole new groups of digital signals including Video for mobile broadband.
What is needed of the FCC here is at the same time they are making these plans, To Renew And Revise Part 15 and set some level of a standard of RFI resistance for devices that could have a life or death impact if a interference issue arise.

I’m sorry, I just don’t trust a company to ensure this on their own or we would not be speaking of it in the first place as this issue has been out there for at least 10 years.

How am I to feel safe knowing one of these steer by wire cars is driving down the lane towards me and some trucker with a CB radio using a illegal power amplifier and a improperly tuned antenna starts yakking on it and that car could steer into me when the driver looses control at no fault of his own!

OR

As happens from time to time, a amplifier in a cell tower or paging transmitter begins to breakdown and becomes spuratic  (sending many unwanted signals) that does commonly happen and there are rules against this but how would anyone know it caused your car or plane to crash. What about a Cable TV system becomes leaky near its in line amplifiers used to keep signal levels up as the line gets longer.

Yes there must be new rules to govern any digital electronic systems with regard to Radio Frequency Interference ( RFI ) resistance when lives are at risk. I am sure this has happened 100’s of times and the real cause was never found.

So here is a set of YouTube Videos from TheMidnightEngineer in a rather boring but informative explanation of how this is happening with the Toyota’s in question.

Part 1 – Background FCC/Digital Radio Electronics/Anatomy of Car Electronics Control


Part 2 – Digital Interference In On-Board Systems

Some Congressman are calling on accountability,  I plan to help them out !
As there is much footage and information now in digital form on the web, we can now dig up video footage to show where current events problems came from in their root and what politicians were promoting them.
So for my first task,  the [...]

Some after thoughts on several post ago…
So we had pointed out the fact that the High Courts decision leaves a national security hole in our constitutional government as now any multinational company may sway a election with as many millions of dollars they see fit.
Not having proper time to totally digest the implications of this, [...]

This has a pretty simple answer.
He should take lessons from Ronald Reagan. Take your case to the people and ask for their help to achieve specifically crafted legislation like Bank Reform, Health Care Reform, Lobby Reform.
He is going to have to get a backbone and not worry about who he is going to politically offend, [...]

The Supreme Court has not only re affirmed a 2003 decision that money some how equates to free speech, they took the limits off how much money can be free speech.
At the root of the debate is how much money a Corporations can spend on election campaigns of political officials.
Now first keeping mind that it [...]

I am surprised the greenest state in the union has not yet learned anything from these events in the past.
As it has been their history the mud slides get started after a large wildfire clears out major areas of forest and brush and with nothing to absorb a major rainfall and nothing holding the ground [...]

So the Republicans putting their spin on the surprise win and loss of Democratic control of Ted Kennedy’s former seat in a special election are telling everyone it is about Obama Health care that the public is rejecting.
Well, They are right, it is about health care but that is because the state of Massachusetts passed [...]

First, it must be said, I find it insulting that with as much turmoil in the world and in this country that a golfer can be the most news worthy event for more than a week.

So, instead of switching the TV off and the WEB ON to get the news I was looking for, I watch with curiosity and the above point in mind.

Result:

It is because it is cheap news (if news at all). How did I draw that conclusion?

This Clip is several months old. It just did not make its way through the media.

We are all so sick of hearing these mega mergers and acquisitions and the few that believe in them are folks that have a vested interest.  They will do a very good job selling this to you but you will regret it in latter years.
Lets try to put some perspective on this.
Why should content be [...]