TV Times...

Gato_Solo

Gato_Solo

Out-freaking-standing OTC member
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — It's the case of the TV that was calling for help.

An Air Force search and rescue alert was triggered by Chris van Rossman's flatscreen Toshiba TV. It has a built-in VCR, DVD and CD player. And an undocumented feature that has authorities scratching their heads.

Some sort of electric glitch was causing van Rossman's TV to transmit on the international distress frequency. The signal was picked up by a satellite and relayed to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (search) in Virginia.

Van Rossman had no idea until airmen, deputies and Corvallis police were knocking on the door of his apartment. The errant signal was traced to his TV set.

Van Rossman was warned to keep the TV off or face a $10,000 fine for sending a false distress signal.

A spokeswoman for Toshiba says they've never heard of this sort of problem before. But the company is promising to give van Rossman a new TV.
Click to expand...

No need for more words on this one... :D
 
They do. That's why the guy got told not to use the TV anymore, and why Toshiba is promising to replace it.
 
I dont know. I think id wanna keep it. I mean its the perfect burglar alarm. Some guy breaks into your house and tries to hold you up and instead of trying to dial 911 all you gotta do is turn on Barney and in 5 minutes youll have the police, the FBI, every fire station for 30 square miles, and a couple of coast guard helicopters at your front door.
 
Thulsa Doom said:
I dont know. I think id wanna keep it. I mean its the perfect burglar alarm. Some guy breaks into your house and tries to hold you up and instead of trying to dial 911 all you gotta do is turn on Barney and in 5 minutes youll have the police, the FBI, every fire station for 30 square miles, and a couple of coast guard helicopters at your front door.
Click to expand...

Hmmm...Most burglars don't break into occupied houses. They watch, and break in when the house is empty. Much less risk...;)
 
So was this thing supposed to be sending an ELT signal or making like a transponder?
Inquiring 15 year old minds want to know!!!
Perhaps it was goin’ Mayday Mayday Mayday on freq. 121.5?
Sorry this 15 year-old got his Pilots License 07/09/1983 “whatever”

no wait I found the link to the story and it was a ELT signal on 121.5

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2002065971_distress18m.html

now if it could have "...— — —..." that would have rocked?

http://www.hamradioindia.com/HRI-RULES/distress.htm
 
What if it had transmitted:


.#- / .--.#....#---#-.#. / ....#---#--#.

(#=space, /=new word)

Edit: added separators for clarity
 
. - .--. .... --- -. . .... --- -- .

ET PHONE HOME

Good one!

hows this:


.... --- ..- ... - --- -. .-- . .... .- ...- . .- .--. .-. --- -... .-.. . --
 
icon10.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top