"Simon" wrote in message
...
Hello -

I'm writng some software to run on a PocketPC with a built-in GPRS phone,
and I need to test the software when the GPRS signal is weak, intermittent
or non-existent. The cheapest way to do this seems to be to build a
Faraday
cage with adjustable leakiness. It needs to have some holes in it so that
I
can see the screen and tap it with a stylus. Unfortunately I'm working at
a
location that has excellent GPRS coverage.

I've already confirmed that a metal tin that previously contained Marks
and
Spencers chocolate biscuits is 100% effective, but I can't see through it
or
operate the PocketPC. I've also tried making a cage out of a single sheet
of
galvanized chicken wire with 12mm square holes, held together with plastic
cable ties, with overlapped joints. This only caused a small amount of
attenuation, the PocketPC hardly noticed. I'm guessing that it failed
because the diagonals of the holes are larger than 10% of the wavelength
that GPRS uses (1800MHz ?) or because the plastic cable ties don't provide
good conductivity at the joints.

Before I go out and buy some expensive perforated copper sheet, can anyone
offer advice on improvements?

How about putting it in a microwave oven (with the microwave off,
obviously!)

You could control it with PocketVNC with a cable connected to it if you need
to operate it with the door closed.
You could just open the door a bit the get the required signal strength.

Sparks...