Using laptops on airplanes
ABE ROSS
on airplanes? The first time I ever travelled with the laptop the
stewardess told me that on some planes these tables were magnetized to keep
things from slipping around on them and that the magnetization might
affect the hard disk. Magntizing the table didn't make much sense
since most of the plates, etc. are plastic. But, I didn't want to
test her advice. Has anyone else ever heard of this?
4684446
I believe the use of laptops on airplanes is prohibited since the laptops
emit radio frequency radiation which may interfere with navigational,
as well as other, on-board instrumentation.
You would not that popular if you caused the plane to malfunction!
R. Steve Walker
I have never been told not to use a laptop on a airplane. I've flown with
most of the major carriers. I do know that some pilots prefer you not
use a laptop for the above reasons. I am not aware of any rules against
using laptops with any carrier. Please let me know if there are.
Richard S. Walker Georgia Tech Research Institute
GA Tech Box 35302 SWA...@gtri01.gatech.edu (vm)
Atlanta, GA 30332 swa...@vms62a.gatech.edu (vms)
[404] 874-1886[W] gt5...@prism.gatech.edu (unix)
[404] 607-0958[H] 71021...@compuserve.com (cis)
Joseph S. Brindley
In article <22...@abcom.ATT.COM> bct...@abcom.ATT.COM (4684446 ) writes:
>
This was an early fear expressed by ignorant airlines when laptops first came
out but it is not grounded in fact as most, if not all, laptops have a FCC
class b rating. I have used mine many times. No crashes yet! :-)
--
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<*>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
< jbri...@polyslo.Calpoly.EDU * "Try not...Do. Do or Do not, >
< Joe Brindley * there is not Try." >
< "North to Alaska" * Yoda. >
Barry Wolman
have used laptops ... I've never seen a steward(ess) ask anyone to stop
using a laptop. Nor have I seen anything in the seat back information
sheets that mentions laptops being outlawed. I seem to recall a ban
against using radios, but not laptops.
Barry
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Principal Technical Consultant | 500 Old Connecticut Path
Prime Computer | Framingham, MA 01701
| 508/620-2800, ext. 1100
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Patrick Wong
cannot be used only during takeoff and landing. There is no mention that
computers cannot be used during cruising. The funny thing is that the
announcement said no other electronic devices are allowed at all time.
This may be a reason for you to get a laptop to kill the time on a plane.
(Well, what about GameBoy?)
Patrick Wong
tre...@uwovax.uwo.ca
Sounds a bit like the proverbial Newfie joke - sure you were not travelling
on Air Canada?!! Joking apart, my experience has been varied. I have
been asked to cease and desist on some occasions so now ask the flight
attendant if the airline approves. Usually you will get the OK. The fear
is that the E-M radiation from the lap-top will affect the navigational
gear but the large majority of lap-tops are well within Canadian and
US limits for this sort of thing and no interference can be expected -
intereference of the navi-gear that is, not intereference by the ever
vigilant flight attendant!
--
Trevor Cradduck, | Phone: (519) 667-6574
Department of Nuclear Medicine, | FAX: (519) 667-6734
Victoria Hospital, | E-mail:
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Antonio Leal
Sounds right. Last time I flew, I had a CD player in my bag, at my
feet, and headphones on (long cord ...). The flight attendant checked
with me that it was _not_ a radio (tape or cd was ok).
My guess is that the FM decoding intermediate frequency puts out enough
noise in the bands they use. Or something ;-)
--
Antonio B. Leal Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Bell: [412] 268-2937 Carnegie Mellon University
Net: a...@ece.cmu.edu Pittsburgh, PA. 15213 U.S.A.
David L. Phillips
pw...@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Patrick Wong) says:
>
>Last time when I flew USAir, the taped announcement said that computers
>cannot be used only during takeoff and landing. There is no mention that
>computers cannot be used during cruising. The funny thing is that the
>announcement said no other electronic devices are allowed at all time.
>
IF (intermediate frequency) radiation used in radios and TV sets to modulate
the RF (radio frequencies) pulled in from the "ether." Tape players and
computers do NOT generate those frequencies, or any significant radiation, for
that matter.
Brandon Lovested
>emit radio frequency radiation which may interfere with navigational,
>as well as other, on-board instrumentation.
>
There is no FAA regulation to prohibit the use of laptop computers onboard
passenger aircraft, as long as they comply with basic FCC standards (Minimally
Class A, and definitely Class B devices). Read the inserts in airline magazines
that nobody reads....personal stereos, calculators, and portable computers are
permitted to be used. Cellular phones, or communication products of any kind
are not.
I read this just a month ago on America West.
On the other hand, unless you really have work to do, perhaps you shouldn't
use a computer on plane....
Sometimes a small green light appears flashing over your seat. A stewardess
will arrive, and ask you to refrain from nerd-like activities because it's
promoting nausea in other passengers.... ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)
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BRANDON G. LOVESTED ::::=:::==::===:==== FOR EVERY VISION,
Software Design Engineer ::::=:::==::===:==== THERE IS AN
Grass Valley Group ::::=:::==::===:==== EQUAL AND OPPOSITE
bran...@gold.gvg.tek.com ::::=:::==::===:==== REVISION.
==============================================================================
Brian L. Kahn
On a few recent flights, the stewardess announced a restriction
against use of any electronic gadgets during takeoff or landing.
Sounds quite reasonable to me.
--
B< Brian Kahn b...@security.mitre.org "may the farce be with you"
Anthony J Stieber
>In article <22...@abcom.ATT.COM> bct...@abcom.ATT.COM (4684446 ) writes:
>>
>>I believe the use of laptops on airplanes is prohibited since the laptops
>>emit radio frequency radiation which may interfere with navigational,
>>as well as other, on-board instrumentation.
>>
>>You would not that popular if you caused the plane to malfunction!
At one time there was a lot of hysteria about problems with RFI from
laptops on aircraft, but that was several years ago. Before I flew it
was suggested that laptop users talk to the pilot about using a laptop
on board. The only two times I have flown, I asked the pilots if I
could use my laptop in flight. Basicly they were pretty unconcerned
about it. It was like they were thinking "Why are you asking me? I
don't care." I did use my machine, and wasn't aware of any problems.
I would still ask the pilot about using any kind of electronics that I
bring on board the plane.
Going through airport security was interesting. I asked to have my
machine hand checked rather than go through the x-ray machine. They
wanted me to turn the machine on, it's a Toshiba T1000 which boot from
a ROM disk, the guard remarked on how quickly the machine came up.
That was a bit scary, especially when they didn't ask to look in the
large zippered pocket or the largish disk cases. The thing that most
excited them were the cables and my shaver in my backpack which they
saw as it went through the x-ray machine. They did ask to look in
there, but lost interest after a quick look.
I'm sure security will vary alot depending on which airport it is,
where you're going, and whether there have been threats or problems
recently.
--
<-:(= Anthony Stieber asti...@csd4.csd.uwm.edu uwm!uwmcsd4!astieber
Renee Linda Roberts
trouble at all on the airplanes, but WOW! talk about trouble on the ground. I
travel frequently, and my computer ALWAYS goes with me.
I have it hand checked (One guy wanted to run the wand on it. Glad I caught
him in time!). I normally leave through San Jose, CA airport. Now, you would
think that >>THEY<< of all airports would have a decent method for checking
laptops, considering the number of them that go through there. NOOOO! Each
time, I have to take EVERYTHING out of the case, turn the computer on, wait
until it shows signs of life (Any printing on the screen), have the bag
scanned separately, and get harrassed about any peripherals (i.e., my 2496
modem, LPT port adapter for my scanner, etc). I have been TOLD, not asked, to
take my modem apart on two occasions, and been held up as long as 30 minutes
while this whole thing transpires. Putting everything back takes some of this
time.
I have learned a few ways around this. Like making sure that I am positioned
so it is difficult for others to go through the detector. Then the security
people aren't so harrassing. But I don't like doing this. The other people
have nothing to do with my computer.
Los Angeles International on the other hand, has a nice approach that I wish
San Jose would use. Turn on the computer, and look through the bag. Much
easier, much quicker, and doesn't tie up the tables.
I have suggested to San Jose Airport that they modify their approch to the
one used at LAX, but in 4 months, I have not received a reply.
Regards,
Renee Roberts
Henry Thompson
> ...
> I have it hand checked (One guy wanted to run the wand on it. Glad I caught
> ...
> I have suggested to San Jose Airport that they modify their approch to the
> one used at LAX, but in 4 months, I have not received a reply.
With respect, and I realise you probably have no reason to know about
this, you don't know how lucky you are. Hand checked only?
Impossible in any European airport I've been through in two years.
Frankly, airport security in the US is a joke. If anybody ever
manages to get some Semtex into the US, they could knock down planes
at will. You can certainly fit enough Semtex into a modem to do fatal
damage to an aircraft. On this side of the atlantic, you have to put
your machine through the X-ray, AND turn it on, AND usually plug in
and if possible demonstrate any peripherals. And the idea that any
security personnel over here would pay any attention at all to the
size of the queue behind you is laughable. Furthermore, all you have
to do is watch the rejection rate on the personal scanner and you'll
realise how different security is in the US from anywhere else. In
the UK, I usually remove floppies, keys, asthma inhaler and pocket
knife from my pocket and hand them around the frame. This USUALLY
means I don't set off the alarm, but at times of high tension it's
clear the sensitivity is cranked way out, and you end up being patted
down. I never bother with anything but the floppies in the US,
because I have NEVER had the alarm go off. It's all a pain in the
neck, it means that you have to allow up to half-an-hour for security
clearance at Heathrow or Frankfurt at busy times, and even more at
small airports for big flights, but NOBODY I know
complains. Everybody knows the rules, and nobody wants to be dusted
over Lockerbie for Christmas.
On a related point comparing US with European security, I note that
Pan Am is being slugged in the media and the courts over here for
putting transfer bags on planes without checking that the owner was on
board. I've never seen any evidence that this stringent a test is
applied in the US, particular with bags which have missed a connection
(where presumably the test would be whether the passenger travelled on
an earlier flight), but I'd be interested to hear if anybody knows
details (follow-up to where?).
--
Henry Thompson, Human Communication Research Centre, University of Edinburgh
2 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh EH8 9LW, SCOTLAND -- (44) 31 667-1011 x6517
Fax: (44) 31 662-4912 ARPA: h...@cogsci.ed.ac.uk JANET: h...@uk.ac.ed.cogsci
UUCP: ...!uunet!mcvax!ukc!its63b!cogsci!ht
Timo Kiravuo
>With respect, and I realise you probably have no reason to know about
>this, you don't know how lucky you are. Hand checked only?
>Impossible in any European airport I've been through in two years.
Try Finland some day. We don't really have any airport security
at all. Of course we don't have any terrorists in the first place
anyway... 1/2 :-)
About X-ray machines. Just keep in mind that the problem usually
is not the X-rays, but the big magnets used to control those
rays.
I got my Toshiba 1000 LE laptop yesterday. So far I have not
found anything bad with it, maybe in week or two I will notice
the dark sides, too. Then I'll try to report here. Currently it
is 0.50 o'clock, I am sitting in bed drinking beer after sauna,
with my Toshiba in lap and with a 9600 bps modem connection. I
don't know if this is the reason why the university bought me
this machine, but I like this.
--
Timo Kiravuo, kir...@hut.fi
Helsinki University of Technology, Computer Center, Finland
Prabha Gopinath
>was a TWA 747 Captain (not the one flying at that moment, by the way
>:-). Sitting on his lap was a Toshiba 3100. He was editing his column
>
>Any questions? :-)
Actually yes. Where was the 3100 plugged in? Just curious.
prabha
--
Prabha Gopinath (914)-945-6539 (m/c)
Philips Research Laboratories email: p...@philabs.philips.com
345 Scarborough Road FAX: (914)-945-6375
Briarcliff Manor,NY 10510
tre...@uwovax.uwo.ca
> About X-ray machines. Just keep in mind that the problem usually
> is not the X-rays, but the big magnets used to control those
> rays.
>
be confusing X-rays with magnetic resonance imaging or, perhaps, the
magnetic loops used to detect ferous materials. There are no magnets in
X-ray generators.
Jordan Hayes
I believe the use of laptops on airplanes is prohibited since
the laptops emit radio frequency radiation which may interfere
with navigational, as well as other, on-board instrumentation.
I was using my laptop recently on a TWA 747 flight. Sitting next to me
was a TWA 747 Captain (not the one flying at that moment, by the way
:-). Sitting on his lap was a Toshiba 3100. He was editing his column
for some (APOA-sponsored?) newsletter that talks about laptops for
pilots. He was trying to tell me how to jerry-rig my Toshiba 1200
battery to get it to last 7 hours.
Any questions? :-)
/jordan
Jordan Hayes
Last time when I flew USAir, the taped announcement said that
computers cannot be used only during takeoff and landing.
During takeoff and landing you should have things like that stowed away
under your seat *anyway* ...
/jordan
Brandon Lovested
>was a TWA 747 Captain (not the one flying at that moment, by the way
>:-). Sitting on his lap was a Toshiba 3100. He was editing his column
>for some (APOA-sponsored?) newsletter that talks about laptops for
>pilots. He was trying to tell me how to jerry-rig my Toshiba 1200
>battery to get it to last 7 hours.
>
>Any questions? :-)
Yeah....How do yo jerry-rig the battery to get 7 hours...?
Richard Reich
Re bag-matching in the US. About 18 months ago I was on a TWA flight to
Paris from JFK. Pushback was delayed a little over an hour. They unpacked
the baggage to retrieve two bags that were identified with connecting
passengers who never came aboard. I don't know how common such checks are
but I know from expereince that they occured at least once!
James M Golden
>battery to get it to last 7 hours.
>
>Any questions? :-)
Yes! Do you remember anything the pilot said about extending the
battery life??
Mike Golden
Electrical Engineering Undergrad.
Michigan State University
Ge' Weijers
I've tried this with my shortwave receiver. Portables definitely emit
RFI in HF and VHF bands. This is not surprising with the 8-16 MHz square
waves used as clocks. The signals are not very strong though. If airplanes
can't handle those signal levels they are intrinsically unsafe.
You can't use computer on takeoff because they don't want them flying around
and hitting things in an emergency.
Ge'
--
Ge' Weijers Internet/UUCP: g...@cs.kun.nl
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, (uunet.uu.net!cs.kun.nl!ge)
University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1
6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands tel. +3180652483 (UTC-2)
A.S. Chamove
No one commented on its use and I certainly was not secretive
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Arnold Chamove
Massey University Psychology
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Adam David
>You can't use computer on takeoff because they don't want them flying around
>and hitting things in an emergency.
And you shouldn't want to anyway, if you have a hard disk of the standard type
or floppies inserted.
Adam David. ad...@rhi.hi.is
i've got a photograph says you ruined a perfect day
Speaking of laptops, Anyone know what one has to go through to
use a made-for-USA laptop in the UK? my charger is 110/240volt
switchable, but as far as telephone connections (dialing back to USA,
I dunno....) What would I have to go through?
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508-588-8555 or j...@geech.ai.mit.edu
"Strange Angels; Singing just for me; old stories haunting me...
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Guy Saffold
>
> Personally, I'd be more concerned about a flying laptop than a flying snack
> tray that's bolted to the seat, but what do I know. The airline was American,
> if it makes any difference.
The snack tray regulation is to ensure you can exit to the aisle in an
emergency situation not to keep it from flying about (ditto the seat backs in
upright position). Of course, if a flying laptop knocks you out on your way to
the aisle I suppose you're no better off!
--
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Voice 604-888-7511 Fax 604-888-5336
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Bill Rubin
Actually, I have an interesting story about this. I was on a plane, using
my laptop, and I had it resting on the tray in front of the seat. Well,
it came time to prepare for landing, and the flight attendant was quite
insistent that I put the tray back in its upright position (as they say),
but she did not care that I continued to use it by putting it on my lap.
I was travelling with someone else who had a laptop, and she said she
routinely uses it during takeoff and landing with no complaints.
Personally, I'd be more concerned about a flying laptop than a flying snack
tray that's bolted to the seat, but what do I know. The airline was American,
if it makes any difference.
Bill Rubin
ru...@ibm.com
R...@psuvm.psu.edu
don't recall details. Get a Tandy Null Modem Adapter.
Bob M.
Turgut Kalfaoglu
and have been using it in Turkey with 220V, 50Hz. I simply went and bought
a 2.2 amps 12V adapter for it, and it's purring happily.
Does anyone know if it's possible to change the diskette drive of this
machine to 1.44? (it's a 3 1/2 720K drive now) Thanks! -turgut
Turgut Kalfaoglu
I use its built-in RS-232 port for the connection, and neither machine
seems to receive any information from each other. I have built the
cable about six times, with different combinations each time. Also,
the ports work, since serial mouses verify that.
Is there something different about Tandy's port that I should know about?
Thanks, -turgut
Turgut Kalfaoglu
Shack in Istanbul a few years ago, but it was terrible - they had
nothing, it looked like they had just moved there. So, I don't know
if I can buy a null modem cable from them :( -turgut