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Bluetooth on aeroplanes – Safe? |
Fletche
Joined: Sep 16, 2003
Posts: 53
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Hi, does anyone know whether it is safe to use Bluetooth on aeroplanes e.g. does it cause interference with aircraft equipment?
Also what is the policy of the airlines?
I got into trouble on a BA flight to New Delhi a while back using bluetooth! I was bluetoothing a document to a fellow passenger.
I didn’t help myself though. Just before, I'd asked the cabin staff what would happen if I had a cigarette in the toilet. They said that they would arrest me.
So I had a cigarette and yes the captain asked to have a conversation with me and issued me with a ‘bad boy’ certificate (I’ve framed it!) and explained that if he chose he could have me thrown in jail upon arriving in New Delhi (it was a Friday) to appear in front of a magistrate on the Monday morning. This scenario had a certain wallet appeal (reduced hotel bills) but on balance I decided to behave.
BA are a great carrier. Upon my return I was bumped up to first class (£2500 ticket versus my £600 I paid) so some sexy chick (sorry, cabin person) could keep an eye on me and ply me with copious amounts of free booze.
Anyway back to the question.
Bluetooth OK or not OK.
[ This Message was edited by: Fletche on 2003-09-24 20:25 ] |
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o44wen
Joined: Dec 11, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Coleraine (NI) and Dundee
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what were you using the bluetooth on?
if it was you mobile phone then ALL mobile phones should be switched off even if there is no recept in the just incase fact it may affect the planes computers.
edit>> infact, i do not think you are allowed to used ANY electronic equipment on a plane
edit2> sorry i didn't notice this was in the P800 section. Stupid me
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[ This Message was edited by: o44wen on 2003-09-24 20:27 ]
[ This Message was edited by: o44wen on 2003-09-24 20:28 ] |
Sage
Joined: Apr 17, 2003
Posts: 233
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dont forget about flight mode... |
Fletche
Joined: Sep 16, 2003
Posts: 53
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I was trying to use my P800 in the flight mode to bluetooth, which didn't work, it's disabled.
We used laptops in the end.
I did not turn my mobile on, though this took some convincing the cabin staff of.
Fletche |
o44wen
Joined: Dec 11, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Coleraine (NI) and Dundee
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perhaps the P800 is new to them and they never heard of anything like flight mode before
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Fletche
Joined: Sep 16, 2003
Posts: 53
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Oh, I think it would help if there was something on the display showing clearly that the phone is in PDA (flight) mode.
If you try to dial it is obvious that it is in flight mode, a message appears 'you must turn phone on....'
I got into a right fraca with the cabin staff.
Fletche |
wapchimp
Joined: Jun 09, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Land of the chimps
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It doesn't matter. Mobiles are a big no-no.
It interfers with the pilots headsets (my missus is cabin crew).
U can use laptops & minidisc players etc
[addsig] |
Fletche
Joined: Sep 16, 2003
Posts: 53
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Thanks Orangeman, I know that having a mobile phone turned on is not allowed on a plane!
Is what you are saying that you may not use a piece of kit that looks like a mobile phone but is in fact an MP3 player or organiser, which happens to have Bluetooth capability?
Does anyone know what the flight mode really does?
Why would SE build in a flight mode function?
Fletche
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dantec
Joined: Mar 02, 2003
Posts: 264
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But how did they know that you sent a file over bluetooth ? |
Jools
Joined: May 21, 2003
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[ This Message was edited by: JoolsG3 on 2003-09-24 21:07 ] |
Fletche
Joined: Sep 16, 2003
Posts: 53
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@dantec
Hi, I'm not sure that they did know.
All they saw was the bad boy (hard to break smoking in the toilets habit) using what appeared to be a mobile phone!
Perhaps this is an idea for a new product, a case that makes our P800 look like a blow up doll, so that when we are fiddling with it on aeroplanes, no one will think anything of it!
Fletche
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santa
Joined: Feb 19, 2003
Posts: 16
From: Colorado, USA
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I don't know about bluetooth, but I know Wi-Fi messes with the plane's systems. The US air marshalls started using palms with wi-fi to communicate with each other inside a plane, and they had to stop using it because it was it was messing up one of the plane's systems.
Using my Siemens S46 till I finish saving my pennies for a P800 (or maybe a Treo 600)! |
Fletche
Joined: Sep 16, 2003
Posts: 53
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@o44wen
Sorry about the delay. I've been busy getting abuse thrown at me at 'Howard Blue Spoon Forum'.
I wonder what consultation and acceptance process SE went through when developing the flight mode?
I bounce this off SE!
Fletche |
jevel
Joined: Sep 09, 2003
Posts: 49
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@ Fletche
Flight mode turns off all radio emitters in the phone. That kills both the GSM and the BT part, as both are based on radio waves.
And, yes, _all_ radio emitters are banned on commercial flights.
-KJ
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[ This Message was edited by: jevel on 2003-09-24 21:38 ] |
thirionremi
Joined: Jan 29, 2003
Posts: 5
From: Belgium
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http://www.newswireless.net/articles/030430-pinkerton.html
this is an article about bluetooth and airplanes
[ This Message was edited by: thirionremi on 2003-09-24 22:00 ] |
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Posted: 2003-09-24 21:22
