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From: "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: Exploding pagers
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:42:19 +0200
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On 2024-09-19 17:59, Crash Gordon wrote:
> On 9/17/2024 1:18 PM, Crash Gordon wrote:
>> Posting is on-topic for s.e.d because these things had to be *designed*. 
> 
> I expected there'd be politics, but I was hoping for more discussion of 
> *how* this was accomplished.  So I'll answer my own question.
> 
> Apparently "somebody" built batteries containing PETN which would 
> detonate when the battery exceeded some temperature.  Then installed 
> these batteries into ordinary pagers; the only clue that something was 
> wrong would be that battery life would likely not be what the spec sheet 
> said it should be.
> 
> Then by repeatedly triggering the pagers, caused the batteries to heat 
> up resulting in detonation of the PETN.  I wouldn't be surprised to find 
> a piece of nichrome inside the battery; it would heat a little when the 
> pager activated and then cool off, but repeated activation would push it 
> over the threshold.  Maybe a schottky involved somehow, to prevent 
> heating when the battery is being charged.

But it appears that they exploded simultaneously or nearly so. Hard to 
achieve that synchronicity by heating. I rather think they sent some 
type of code, maybe a string.

Methinks that now the factories are a legitimate target for the 
"receiving side", unless they can convincingly prove that they are 
totally innocent.

I wonder if the entire batch was deployed, whether there are intact 
pagers in storage that they can investigate.

> The radios on the next day would have been fitted with similar batteries 
> but I'm not sure how they would have triggered the heating.
> 

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.