May 1993 - cypherpunks-legacy

Navigation Prblems and Laptops...
by Craig Nottingham 14 May '93

14 May '93

There are NO documented reports of malfunction of navigational or other instruments on aircraft due to personal electronic devices. The FAA has done studies and conducted investigations and they do not have a singledocumented case of interfence. (Lovely what you can learn from TV thses days) ----- Craig Nottingham <cnotting(a)cosmos.gmu.edu>-Reality is for people who lack imagination NeXTmail<cnotting(a)gravity.gmu.edu>-I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. <=> Hunter S ThompsonZ

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RE: Banning Laptops!
by DrZaphod 14 May '93

14 May '93

In Message Thu, 13 May 93 23:20:59 PDT, netcom!jas(a)netcomsv.netcom.com writes: >banning laptops and cd players on airplanes. Maybe we should invest in some TEMPEST bags for our stuff.. better yet.. maybe there's a market for selling these at airports.. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - DrZaphod #Don't Come Any Closer Or I'll Encrypt! - - [AC/DC] / [DnA][HP] #Xcitement thru Technology and Creativity - - [drzaphod(a)ncselxsi.uucp]# [MindPolice Censored This Bit] - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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Re: Banning Laptops!
by wtap＠mindvox.phantom.com 14 May '93

14 May '93

When I was flying overseas a year ago I was told to keep my paltry laptop off during takeoff. I questioned why and was told that it causes instruments only used in takeoff and landing to fluctuate, but it rarely happened, if at all. So were someone to sneak a flip of the power switch on a laptop during takeoff, most likely the pilots would never know. But hey, this IS airplanes we are talking about. Even a little flucuation is too much for me. Piloting a plane is a precision art, and I would hate to be the one to throw the wrench in the works. One of the more interesting things dealing with this is even getting them on the plane. I had to unpack my carry case, power it up, give the fed type guy a dir listing (he said he had to see words), pull out the battery (I suppose to prove it wasn't a really small battery and a stick of dynamite stuffed in there), etc. Joking about a bomb when boarding a plane is a federal offense too. wtap(a)mindvox.phantom.com PGP key available upon request.

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Re: Banning Laptops!
by George A. Gleason 14 May '93

14 May '93

Here's what's up: some alarming malfunctions of navigational instruments were traced to consumer electronics in use by passengers. The worst offenders were CD players, but laptops etc were also found to cause trouble. Eventually, aircraft will be retrofitted for greater immunity to this, and of course laptops will probably be developed with reduced RF emissions so that business travellers can use them in flight. (In case it isn't clear, all of these devices emit radio frequency energy which can seriously fuck up radio frequency navigational equipment and onboard computers.) Anyway, until the tech upgrades come down the line, leave your laptop and CD player in the overhead luggage rack. The small increment of pleasure or convenience gained by using these things in the air can't begin to compare with the risk of causing a fatal accident. -gg

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Re: Banning Laptops!
by karn＠qualcomm.com 14 May '93

14 May '93

You may be referring to the clip that appeared on CNN today that said American Airlines had banned the use of laptop computers and CD players *during takeoff and landing*. Use during cruise is OK. I think this policy has been in effect for a while. I've been flying American lately and have heard it mentioned. Phil

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Banning Laptops!
by jas＠netcom.com 14 May '93

14 May '93

I was just siting at home watching a local newscast while reading my favorite alt. newsgroup when the news on the t.v mentioned something about banning laptops and cd players on airplanes. The story did not mention any reason behind this ban on our favourite machines except quote " something is causing problems to our intsruments and we can't figure out what " What else are they gonna ban on flights? My freq jammer. Anyway I'm just wondering what will happen to those new planes that have ports on the seats. So that we can download our e-mail. ( Would we still call it downloading even if we were flying over the site we were downloading the e-mail from ) ^^^^ -jas

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CLIP: CNN
by Matthew J Miszewski 13 May '93

13 May '93

Cypherpunks, Rumor has it CNN is carrying a clip on the Wiretap Chip Today. (I, Being the poor Law Student that I am, have neither cable nor the time to waatch it). Could someone type up an extract so we can gage our effectiveness? Thanx, Matt

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Re: CALLER ID?
by markh＠wimsey.bc.ca 13 May '93

13 May '93

> Well, gee. If I can avoid caller ID and 800 number ANI by simply using > any old cellular carrier for $0.40/minute (cheaper off peak), then why > should I pay $1.95/minute for the same service to 1-900-STOPPER? > > Yeah, I know, that $1.95 probably includes the long distance portion too, > but I doubt there are any ordinary domestic calls that cost as much as > $1.55/minute... > > Phil Of course, for Canadians, the services which allow one to dial U.S. 800 numbers (for a fee) work really nicely to defeat ANI. 1-800-235-1414 reports my phone number is 1-206-441-8364 (somewhere in Western Washington state). Mark -- Mark Henderson markh(a)wimsey.bc.ca RIPEM key available by key server/finger/E-mail MD5OfPublicKey: F1F5F0C3984CBEAF3889ADAFA2437433

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Caller ID
by gone, like tears in the rain. 13-May-1993 0910 13 May '93

13 May '93

> You can avoid ANIs for $0.00 in most areas by dialing your local >operator and saying "Could you please dial this 800 number, I am having >problems getting through to it." The ANI returns a bogus number, and >toll free operator assistance costs nothing here (C&P bell). Well, that would be the truth here! I haven't been able to complete the call to the 800 number *yet*. My home phone gets a couple of clicks, and then a fast busy, my work phone goes immediately to fast busy. *sigh* -Bill

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Re: CALLER ID?
by karn＠qualcomm.com 13 May '93

13 May '93

Well, gee. If I can avoid caller ID and 800 number ANI by simply using any old cellular carrier for $0.40/minute (cheaper off peak), then why should I pay $1.95/minute for the same service to 1-900-STOPPER? Yeah, I know, that $1.95 probably includes the long distance portion too, but I doubt there are any ordinary domestic calls that cost as much as $1.55/minute... Phil

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