Ped reported to cause problems with communication radio ACARS system.

Attributes
ACN	495128
Time
Date	200012
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ztl.artcc
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 8500
ASRS Report	495128
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe cabin event : passenger electronic device non adherence : company policies non adherence : far
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : acars other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance

Narrative:

Our dispatch uses a selective calling system. The system uses 2 distinctive ringing methods -- one for specific aircraft, the other for all aircraft on frequency. Our call began as a series of irregular frequencys and length 'chirps.' we tried to receive company dispatch on the 2 closest frequencys to our pathway -- no luck. Finally achieved patch through jacksonville county station. Dispatch was not trying to call us. I asked 'a' flight attendant to report all ped's in use in cabin. He reported no computers or other entertainment aids in use, but that when he questioned a man who was stowing his cell phone (it was off) a passenger in the next row admitted that his was on and he had just received a voice mail. He then turned it off. We had no further anomalies. Suspect electronic interference from cell phone.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PED RPTED TO CAUSE PROBS WITH COM RADIO ACARS SYS.

Narrative: OUR DISPATCH USES A SELECTIVE CALLING SYS. THE SYS USES 2 DISTINCTIVE RINGING METHODS -- ONE FOR SPECIFIC ACFT, THE OTHER FOR ALL ACFT ON FREQ. OUR CALL BEGAN AS A SERIES OF IRREGULAR FREQS AND LENGTH 'CHIRPS.' WE TRIED TO RECEIVE COMPANY DISPATCH ON THE 2 CLOSEST FREQS TO OUR PATHWAY -- NO LUCK. FINALLY ACHIEVED PATCH THROUGH JACKSONVILLE COUNTY STATION. DISPATCH WAS NOT TRYING TO CALL US. I ASKED 'A' FLT ATTENDANT TO RPT ALL PED'S IN USE IN CABIN. HE RPTED NO COMPUTERS OR OTHER ENTERTAINMENT AIDS IN USE, BUT THAT WHEN HE QUESTIONED A MAN WHO WAS STOWING HIS CELL PHONE (IT WAS OFF) A PAX IN THE NEXT ROW ADMITTED THAT HIS WAS ON AND HE HAD JUST RECEIVED A VOICE MAIL. HE THEN TURNED IT OFF. WE HAD NO FURTHER ANOMALIES. SUSPECT ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE FROM CELL PHONE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.