Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Two questions: Are notebooks and PDAs still OK on planes? And, what to do in Chicago?

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Community » Film-Yak » Two questions: Are notebooks and PDAs still OK on planes? And, what to do in Chicago? (Page 2)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Author

Topic: Two questions: Are notebooks and PDAs still OK on planes? And, what to do in Chicago?

Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 04-18-2007 12:13 PM

That explanation I can understand. However why do they make a big deal about turning off the wi-fi on your laptop when at 30,000 feet?

| IP: Logged

Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 04-18-2007 12:33 PM

quote: Tim Reed
Won't that erase the hard drive? I've had credit cards blanked by airport x-rays before.

No, x-rays do not affect magnetic devices.

quote: Brad Miller
That explanation I can understand. However why do they make a big deal about turning off the wi-fi on your laptop when at 30,000 feet?

The official reason is that there is a risk of radio transmitters interfering with navigation equipment.

I have a problem with my Apple Macbook; I have never taken it on a plane, indeed I didn't have it when I made what will probably be my last one in May last year, but there is no facility to disable hardware in BIOS, as there is with a normal pc, I can switch off the wireless in both Windows and MAC OS X, but what happens is that as the machine starts up, the wireless is enabled, and sometimes even makes a connection, but it is then disabled again at some point in the operating system start up, and by the time this is complete, and the machine is ready to use, the wireless is turned off. I seldom use wireless, and normally keep it turned off in both systems, but I haven't found any way to start the machine without it being enabled for a few seconds. There is nothing about this in the Apple documentation.

| IP: Logged

Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!

Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 04-18-2007 01:59 PM

It's mostly a matter of RF interference with navigation equipment, especially GPS receivers. Many consumer devices, especially those that use microprocessors, are inadequately shielded and emit RF spurs.

Each airline's engineering department sets the guidelines for use of personal electronic equipment on that airline's aircraft, based on that company's experience and history of interference problems. So the restrictions vary with each airline. And of course the aircraft's captain has the final say - s/he can order devices turned off at any time if s/he determines continued use is a safety-of-flight issue. But sometimes just changing seat assignments may fix the problem - moving the emitter away from an aircraft antenna for example.

The only device that the FAA and/or FCC have outright banned for in-flight customer use (as opposed to flight crew use) is the cellphone, mostly due to the overloads caused within the ground cell tower network when an airborne cellphone hits hundreds of towers at a time. But even that rule may be relaxed fairly soon in the US - the FAA (or was it the FCC?) had a NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rule Making) out recently soliciting comments from the public about allowing cell phone use in-flight. The overwhelming opinion was to continue the ban - apparently many people feel that the inside of an airliner is one of the last bastions of freedom from having to hear other people's one-sided conversations.

Flight crews can and do routinely use cell phones in-flight, as they are the one's in position to immediately detect any interference issues. At my company a cell phone is part of each aircraft's required equipment list.

As for liquids and gels on US flights, since last September the TSA permits personal quantities in carry-on baggage, but they must be packaged in 3-oz or smaller containers, and all of the containers must fit into a single 1-quart clear ziplock-style bag.

Current TSA Permitted and Prohibited Items

| IP: Logged

Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 04-18-2007 05:03 PM

quote: Stephen Furley
No, x-rays do not affect magnetic devices.

Thanks, Stephen. My mistake, it must've been the metal detector that erased my cards...

| IP: Logged

Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 04-18-2007 05:17 PM

That would seem more likely, though I've never taken a card through one. I doubt if they would normally erase a card, but if one was marginal anyway it might be just enough to finally stop it working. I haven't had problems with taking film through hand-baggage x-ray machines either, but I've only taken 100 iso colour and 125 black and white 35mm in metal cassettes. I think higher speed film, or roll or sheet film might be more of a problem.

| IP: Logged

Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 청주시, 경북도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 04-18-2007 05:26 PM

Your credit cards would get demagnetized fairly easily by all sorts of things; roughly anything with a decent magnetic field. There's no shielding on your credit card.

Your laptop, though, isn't nearly as likely to have this happen as one might think. Modern hard disks are magnetically shielded and strength of magnetic fields drops pretty rapidly as well. In fact, when I was in a computer security class a couple years ago the teacher said in a previous quarter one student (instead of doing a paper) did an experiment where he took a hard disk and placed it on an electromagnet. This magnet was powerful enough that the HD couldn't be pulled away; he pushed the thing parallel to the magnet until it came off. One would expect the magnetic field to wipe the disk. But the disk booted and had no data missing. Essentially, nothing happened to the disk.

| IP: Logged

Michael Schaffer
"Where is the
Boardwalk Hotel?"

Posts: 4143
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 04-19-2007 03:31 AM

Well, I got my first impression of Chicago today - really bad traffic. Took me more than 1h to propel myself 20 miles south from Midway airport. Of course, it happened to be 4:30pm, probably one of the worst times. Once I cleared the metropolitan area, there was amazingly little traffic. Looks like IL is mostly farmland. I headed straight to Peoria in central IL because that's where the first customer is. But I will be passing through the Chicago area probably twice in the next weeks, and if I can spare a little time, I will try some of the tips. It will definitely not be a problem to find interesting things to do.

| IP: Logged

Anslem Rayburn
Master Film Handler

Posts: 476
From: Yuma, AZ, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 04-19-2007 06:03 AM

Shouldn't we all be concerned if a simple wi-fi device or cell phone can fuck with navigation equipment? How delicate is that?

| IP: Logged

Joshua Waaland
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 800
From: Cleveland, Ohio
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-19-2007 07:46 AM

Michael,

I was passing through again the same time you were yesterday. Isn't Chicago traffic f-ing great?! I could never live there just because of the traffic. No to mention all of the construction going on right now and all of the tolls. I usually spend 9-10 dollars going through Chicago to Milwaukee in tolls. It's also a hassle cutting across all the lanes of traffic to get to the cash toll booths every 5 miles. I finally went online last night to buy one of those prepaid automatic tolling units for my windshield. This way I don't have to keep getting off the freeway to pay the tolls with cash. [thumbsup]

Okay enough ranting....

quote: Michael Schaffer
Is that a gay place?

No but it sure sounds like it doesn't it?

quote: Michael Schaffer
I thought "liquids and gels" were totally outlawed these days. Don't they make you drink and taste everything you want to carry on? But that's not a problem either. You can pick up toothpaste and shampoo and all that virtually everywhere. I guess it should still be OK to put it into the bag/suitcase that you check? I don't think I really need toothpaste on a 4h flight anyway (thankfully it's a dirct connection).

Liquids and gels need to fit into one sandwich bag and be less than three ounces each. If you check them then there are no restrictions. This is to keep terrorists from mixing explosives on airplanes. [Frown]

| IP: Logged

Mike Schindler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1039
From: Oak Park, IL, USA
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 04-19-2007 08:45 AM

quote: Joshua Waaland
Isn't Chicago traffic f-ing great?! I could never live there just because of the traffic.

But the beautiful thing about Chicago is that the public transportation is so great that you don't even need a car.

That, and the no-hitters. [thumbsup]

| IP: Logged

Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 04-19-2007 08:25 PM

quote: Chris Slycord
Your credit cards would get demagnetized fairly easily by all sorts of things; roughly anything with a decent magnetic field. There's no shielding on your credit card.

This was about 20 years ago, and airport security was the only explanation that made sense; the cards worked before going to the airport, but not afterward. Since then, I've always put my wallet in the tray with my keys and change.

quote: Michael Schaffer
I headed straight to Peoria in central IL because that's where the first customer is.

Let me guess... Rave?

| IP: Logged

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-19-2007 10:44 PM

quote: Paul Mayer
are inadequately shielded and emit RF spurs.

I think its the harmonics that are the prime concern. RF Harmonics are not all that well comntroled in inexpensive consumer devices....

quote: Mike Schindler
But the beautiful thing about Chicago is that the public transportation is so great that you don't even need a car.

In Chicago yes... but there is no way to Peoria without a car. Peoria has got to be the least exciting place to ever have to go!

Mark

| IP: Logged

Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 04-20-2007 01:36 AM

If you're there on the weekend, check out the Princess II in Watseka IL. It's only about 70 miles outside of Chicago.

| IP: Logged

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-20-2007 12:36 PM

Yes, we need updated pictures on that place.

| IP: Logged

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-20-2007 03:25 PM

Yea Mike.... Go for it! An update is badly needed around here and you can give that new Canon of yours a work out [thumbsup]

.

Mark

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.