usswood
Member
me either!!!! numerous time I might add!
Scanner on a Plane
- Thread starter snowbird
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me either!!!! numerous time I might add!
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- Nov 19, 2008
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I have had my 996xt and all of the cords and fixings and my 436hp in my back pack and ran it thru security check and boarded many of planes without a hitch.
My suggestion. Just keep it on the down low. Keep it in your bag and just don't make it obvious to anyone. Put some nice earbuds or bose headsets on and away you go.
My suggestion. Just keep it on the down low. Keep it in your bag and just don't make it obvious to anyone. Put some nice earbuds or bose headsets on and away you go.
I travel regularly with scanners, ham radio HT's and HF equipment (FT-817D). I have never had a problem with TSA. I have had more problems with my camera equipment. I've had all my lenses x-rayed and cables wiped down looking for explosive residue. The TSA actually has no say about the use of radio equipment on planes. It is up to the individual airline to set their own standards. I would strongly advise against using scanners on planes without specific permission. The reason is that most airlines have a zero tolerance for what they perceive as violations of rules. I know rules regarding bluetooth and Wi-Fi are changing, but don't push the envelope. They"re used to tablets, computers and headphones, but a scanner may provoke a reaction. Also, if there is even the slightest chance of causing interference, don't mess around. Remember, you're on the plane too.
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Can't remember when the last time a scanner interfered with an airplanes avionics or radio communication equipment. Duh.
Dont let these people on this site scare you from taking a scanner on board an airplane and listening. Airwaves are free to absorb into your scanner. A scanner can't transmit anyways. Just keep a low profile. Keep it at your side. Don't wave it around and show passengers what you are doing. Its none of their business. You would be surprised how many people text on their phones and use the cellular features while in the air. Plus all of the bluetooth going on and all of the avionics. You are good to go... Its just a receiver not a transmitter.
Dont let these people on this site scare you from taking a scanner on board an airplane and listening. Airwaves are free to absorb into your scanner. A scanner can't transmit anyways. Just keep a low profile. Keep it at your side. Don't wave it around and show passengers what you are doing. Its none of their business. You would be surprised how many people text on their phones and use the cellular features while in the air. Plus all of the bluetooth going on and all of the avionics. You are good to go... Its just a receiver not a transmitter.
The only thing I've ever had an issue with were the old Uniden battery packs from the BC245XLT era. (you know - four AAs wrapped in plastic with two wires sticking out of them). That's one reason I'm glad Uniden went with standard AAs.
As for interference, I've never seen a scanner that can hold a candle to a PC with respect to RF emissions.
As for interference, I've never seen a scanner that can hold a candle to a PC with respect to RF emissions.
Don't do it.
Here is an excerpt from Alaska Airlines in flight rules:
Prohibited Devices
The following electronic items are prohibited from use after aircraft door closure, must remain stowed for take-off and landing, and may not be used until the aircraft door opens at destination:
Radios - AM, FM, VHF, CB
Televisions
Hand-held computers or electronic devices receiving a non-wifi signal
Handheld game consoles using non-bluetooth communications
Of course if you read "prohibited" as "this doesn't apply to me" you will do what ever you want anyway.
The rules carry the force of law if an airline employee tells you not to use the device.
A final thought. How would you know if an electronic device was interfering with navigation until it was too late. Case in point. A commuter plane in New Zealand crashed because of interference with its glide slope indicator. The pilot thought he was higher than he really was and hit a hillside. Everyone died.
Don't be sitting next to me. It is my business - I'm on the plane too.
Here is an excerpt from Alaska Airlines in flight rules:
Prohibited Devices
The following electronic items are prohibited from use after aircraft door closure, must remain stowed for take-off and landing, and may not be used until the aircraft door opens at destination:
Radios - AM, FM, VHF, CB
Televisions
Hand-held computers or electronic devices receiving a non-wifi signal
Handheld game consoles using non-bluetooth communications
Of course if you read "prohibited" as "this doesn't apply to me" you will do what ever you want anyway.
The rules carry the force of law if an airline employee tells you not to use the device.
A final thought. How would you know if an electronic device was interfering with navigation until it was too late. Case in point. A commuter plane in New Zealand crashed because of interference with its glide slope indicator. The pilot thought he was higher than he really was and hit a hillside. Everyone died.
Don't be sitting next to me. It is my business - I'm on the plane too.
the last time i was on a plane i was sitting next to someone using an ipad the whole time, not trying to hide it. i doubt that or my gre psr 800 encased in metal would give off enough rf to interfere with the electronics in the cockpit a 100 feet away. got a 27 inch television, can only pick up interference from that with my am radio from 3 feet away. airlines are not consistent on which devices are banned and which are not.
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Well the pilot was probably an idiot. The majority of air crashes are always pilot error. If it was mechanical then there is nothing nobody could do about it.
What does a scanner radio have to do with a aircraft crashing in New Zealand? There was interference with the glide slope indicator on the aircraft. I guarantee it was not a scanner radio that took that aircraft down. I bet to say it was pilot error.
What does a scanner radio have to do with a aircraft crashing in New Zealand? There was interference with the glide slope indicator on the aircraft. I guarantee it was not a scanner radio that took that aircraft down. I bet to say it was pilot error.
The antennas are not in the cockpit - they are all along the body.
That said, I agree the iPad likely gave off more RFI.
VERY poorly written...
Radios could mean transceivers. If they meant receivers, they should have said so. I guess UHF radios are OK...
Televisions is ambiguous these days since streaming via WiFi could qualify.
electronic devices receiving a non-wifi signal would apply to any electronic devices since they all receive non-WiFi signals such as keyboards and USB devices.
Handheld game consoles using non-bluetooth communications - they all have local input for communications to the micro.
So, the policy is largely meaningless, as it bans everything and says nothing. I wonder if it was written by a politician.
Radios could mean transceivers. If they meant receivers, they should have said so. I guess UHF radios are OK...
Televisions is ambiguous these days since streaming via WiFi could qualify.
electronic devices receiving a non-wifi signal would apply to any electronic devices since they all receive non-WiFi signals such as keyboards and USB devices.
Handheld game consoles using non-bluetooth communications - they all have local input for communications to the micro.
So, the policy is largely meaningless, as it bans everything and says nothing. I wonder if it was written by a politician.
snowbird
Member
All VERY Intresting comments.There are always 2 sides to every story. I'm sure there would be no trouble with TSA. I have seen alot of divces on the plane being used and all seems well. I will have to decide that day. Scan On !!! Snowbird.
Radio does not mean radio. Prohibited means do as you please. Red is gray and yellow white - we decide which is right.
If you read the news you will see that airlines have no sense of humor about this stuff and debating semantics with a flight attendant will get you thrown off the plane. It is a federal offense to disregard the orders of the flight crew. They will, quite probably, take away your "radio" or whatever you want to call it. Why take the risk. Listen to music, read a book, play a computer game or talk to the person next you.
The antennas are outside, but the cabling runs above your head. Who says interference is only picked up by antennas?
If you read the news you will see that airlines have no sense of humor about this stuff and debating semantics with a flight attendant will get you thrown off the plane. It is a federal offense to disregard the orders of the flight crew. They will, quite probably, take away your "radio" or whatever you want to call it. Why take the risk. Listen to music, read a book, play a computer game or talk to the person next you.
The antennas are outside, but the cabling runs above your head. Who says interference is only picked up by antennas?
You're right. It's so well written there is no room for more than one interpretation. Clear as a bell. :roll:
Who said anything about arguing with anyone? I just said it was very poorly written, and it is. Maybe you're an offended politician...
Now I'm gonna type some more posts on my radio, and watch some shows on my scanner.
Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
About 15 years ago, a scanner that was running at the boys ranch near Amarillo started interfering with air traffic communications. Aircraft in a 400 mile radius reported hearing it... The faa and FCC were quick to find the problem (within 4 hours of the noise starting) and the ranch owner was extremely cooperative on unplugging the device.
It's rare, but it does happen.
Snowbird-you can legally stow a scanner in your carry-on luggage (just don't operate it once you board the flight). Not sure which airport your departing from. If you're going through Chicago-Midway, keep in mind that some of the airport smurfs there are ignorant about what's legal and what's not. I've been hassled at Midway checkpoints a few times for carrying a scanner in my laptop bag. If they give you any grief, request to speak with a supervisor immediately. That usually settles any debate, and they'll let you go on your merry way.
Never had any issues at O'Hare, though. They might ask you to power it on to verify that it's a legit/working device. Depends on the screener. Some won't even say anything.
AZScanner
Member
Really surprised no one has thrown in a Samuel L Jackson reference yet... the thread title lends itself so well to it. :lol:
-AZ
-AZ
The power on thing just went into effect last summer. I'm traveling in about 3 weeks and expect to come up against it. I'll have a scanner and at least one HT. I think as long as the batteries are charged all should be well.
The key thing is to know what the TSA says you can and cannot bring on a plane. There are no prohibitions against any kind of electronic equipment as long as you can power it on for them. Don't expect the drones who work for the TSA to know that. I've never had a problem - yet.
What seems to not be clear in this thread is that it is the airlines that have the final say on what you can do on the plane. No politicians or bureaucrats involved. Not all airlines are the same.
Yes, you could transmit with the permission of the pilot and I've done it on private aircraft, but on a commercial flight the chances of being allowed to do it are zero. It's a liability issue not a technical issue. The private pilots I was flying with had me do tests while they watched the instruments and then cleared me to go ahead when it seemed that nothing was happening. A commercial pilot would never do that.
Three years ago I was flying on Christmas Day. There was about a 10 year old boy across from me with an iPad he had just gotten for Christmas. The stewardess told him to turn it off and power it down. He threw a temper tantrum and his mother tried to argue with the stewardess. She was given the choice of turning off the device and giving it to the stewardess for the duration of the flight or the plane would return to the gate to be met by the airport police and the entire family would be put off the plane. The boy gave up his iPad. This was an extremely short flight (20 minutes) so it would have never been above 10,000 feet and, therefore, all devices had to stay powered off.
The key thing is to know what the TSA says you can and cannot bring on a plane. There are no prohibitions against any kind of electronic equipment as long as you can power it on for them. Don't expect the drones who work for the TSA to know that. I've never had a problem - yet.
What seems to not be clear in this thread is that it is the airlines that have the final say on what you can do on the plane. No politicians or bureaucrats involved. Not all airlines are the same.
Yes, you could transmit with the permission of the pilot and I've done it on private aircraft, but on a commercial flight the chances of being allowed to do it are zero. It's a liability issue not a technical issue. The private pilots I was flying with had me do tests while they watched the instruments and then cleared me to go ahead when it seemed that nothing was happening. A commercial pilot would never do that.
Three years ago I was flying on Christmas Day. There was about a 10 year old boy across from me with an iPad he had just gotten for Christmas. The stewardess told him to turn it off and power it down. He threw a temper tantrum and his mother tried to argue with the stewardess. She was given the choice of turning off the device and giving it to the stewardess for the duration of the flight or the plane would return to the gate to be met by the airport police and the entire family would be put off the plane. The boy gave up his iPad. This was an extremely short flight (20 minutes) so it would have never been above 10,000 feet and, therefore, all devices had to stay powered off.
ecps92
Member
AZScanner
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