Airplanes plus gadgets, do they mix?

J2D2

Not sure if this is the right forum for this, but what devices are allowed on planes.

We're heading on hols this weekend and we're probably going to bring or nintendo DS' and PSP for a bit of inflight entertainment. Is it ok to use these things? They are wifi enabled for multiplayer gaming but I reckon airlines might be a bit fussy about this kind of thing.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Run_to_da_hills

I have no probs using my DS lite with Ryanair, they do tell you to switch it off on departure and on landing again.

J2D2

Cool, but does that include playing multiplayer over wifi?

Run_to_da_hills

J2D2 wrote: »

Cool, but does that include playing multiplayer over wifi?

I don't know about WIFI, you might be better enquiring about that on the aviation forum.

lord lucan

J2D2 wrote: »

Cool, but does that include playing multiplayer over wifi?

Anything that has a wifi capability has to be switched off or put into 'flight mode' if it's available.

highlydebased

One or two such devices operating through the flight would not cause harm. 189 of them might.

Only reason that must be switched off for takeoff/landing given they are most critical phases of flight- both that you dont want a failure during those times and passengers should be alert in case of emergency

snappieT

Wifi will be fine. Sure there's in-flight wifi on tonnes of US flights.
The only reason they say not to do X is that X hadn't been specifically certified as safe on an aircraft, but that certainly doesn't mean it's unsafe.

Capt'n Midnight

snappieT wrote: »

but that certainly doesn't mean it's unsafe.

Try telling that to the other 168 passengers

the risk is small but the consequences are unthinkable, and unless the plane is hardened against radiation who knows what might happen, remember 30 year old planes are not uncommon, and they weren't designed to resist wifi or bluetooth


just use cables if you can

Cookie_Monster

so how come you can use your mobile on most Ryanair flights these days. What fantastic piece of kit do the aircraft have that all other don't that protects them from all the phone and wi-fi signals and dangerous CD lasers:rolleyes:?

its all a load of crap, just like all the other security procedures with liquids and the like :mad:

Capt'n Midnight

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

so how come you can use your mobile on most Ryanair flights these days. What fantastic piece of kit do the aircraft have that all other don't that protects them from all the phone and wi-fi signals and dangerous CD lasers:rolleyes:?

its all a load of crap, just like all the other security procedures with liquids and the like :mad:

a RyanAir actually have newer planes than most. some planes now have on board GSM on some so they can rape you on call charges if you use it

b mobile phones operate at different wavelengths than wifi, the photons have less energy,

highlydebased

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

so how come you can use your mobile on most Ryanair flights these days. What fantastic piece of kit do the aircraft have that all other don't that protects them from all the phone and wi-fi signals and dangerous CD lasers:rolleyes:?

its all a load of crap, just like all the other security procedures with liquids and the like :mad:

Some aircraft had that technology- apparently they have ended their contract with the company however and the service is no longer provided.

snappieT

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

b mobile phones operate at different wavelengths than wifi, the photons have less energy,

And so do all aircraft communications, nowhere near 2.4Ghz

I've flown enough times, I don't need to listen to the safety demo again. I have my earphones in one ear during takeoff and landing, music playing away, without even the slightest issue.

In any case, aircraft radios don't just suddenly stop working. You can be sure that if any interference caused by passenger equipment was picked up on the aircraft radios, a call would be put out to shut it all off, long before it ever presented a communications issue.

Third_Echelon

It is ok to use them. The plane wont crash if you use GSM, WiFi or bluetooth. They don't possess some sort of mega-death waves that kill planes as one poster seems to suggest.

I did my thesis a few years ago on WiFi and internet technology usage during flight. The service at the time that was being developed was Connexion by Boeing. It was in testing phase, but the division was closed before it went fully into operation outside of the few participating trial airlines (BA, Lufthansa, Singapore i think they were). I would imagine in the next few years the service will be looked at again as it came at a bad time for the airline industry with costs etc..