Aircraft bomb finds may spell end for in-flight Wi-Fi

New Scientist ^ | 11/2/10 | Paul Marks

[Hawthorn]

>> it wouldn’t be all that hard to Faraday shield the luggage holds <<

Definitely what needs to be done. Even if the planes had jammers on board to defeat both on-board and terrestrial cell phone signals, it’s hardly conceivable that they could jam ALL signals — e.g., from maritime radios, ham equipment, CB rigs, etc.

[6SJ7]

it’s hardly conceivable that they could jam ALL signals — e.g., from maritime radios, ham equipment, CB rigs, etc.

Not to mention devices requiring no inbound signal such as barometric sensors.

[Gapplega]

Sort of like with me and hospitals. (I’m a doctor.)

[saganite]

I could plausibly never set foot in an airport again but swearing to never set foot in a hospital again after retirement is subject to the whims of fate. ;^)

[CodeToad]

“A cellphone connected to a detonation circuit could have allowed a terrorist to trigger an explosion by calling or texting the phone. “

How retarded. Cell phones do not call directly to other cell phones.

[The_Reader_David]

How retarded. Cell phones do not call directly to other cell phones.

Well, yeah, unless it's one with Nextel's Direct Connect or an analogue from another carrier.

[PAR35]

This comes as the aviation industry is gearing up to provide broadband in-flight ... Wi-Fi connections for passengers. ...

Some airlines have offered wifi connections for a couple of years. I recall reading recently that Delta offers it on all of their planes. I've seen it on Airtran and AA as well.

[Leo Carpathian]

This is getting ridiculous. Bunch of 3rd world retards are holding rest of the normal world hostages.

Solution:
You plant bomb on our plane, we will vaporize your airport, town, country.
Next!

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Last week on a 5 hour transcon flight, the guy across the aisle from me kept his cell phone hidden between his legs the entire flight. He would turn it on occasionally and punch a few keys. This was not a gaming device — just a plain old cell phone. All I could think of was him phoning the bomb in the hold.

I reported it to the cabin attendants and they did a discreet walk-by. One of them engaged him in a 5 second conversation. When I talked to the attendant later on the flight, he said everything was ok. It didn’t help matters that the person with the phone used a photo of his kids as a bookmark in the novel he was reading. And it seemed he was looking around just a little too much. The entire thing looked highly suspicious to me, but no other passengers spotted it and the attendants were not alarmed at all. I’ve never been so happy to land as I was on that flight.

[Dilbert56]

Why not line the cargo compartment with aluminum foil to block any signal?

[ncfool]

I would be infavor of banning all Moslem from flying and from the USA.

Sorry but Juan Williams had it right.

[CodeToad]

“Well, yeah, unless it’s one with Nextel’s Direct Connect or an analogue from another carrier.”

I don’t think you understand how Direct Connect works, but it isn’t a “walkie-talkie” phone-to-phone system.

[The_Reader_David]

Odd, it’s advertised as not being network dependent.

[CodeToad]

They make the advertisements seems as though it is phone to phone, but real truth of the matter is that they bought an existing radio system and connected phones to it. Those phones needs repeaters, in radio lingo, (cell phone towers in cell phone lingo) to go phone to phone.

[Clint Williams]

F*** off with your perspective. On my way to Dubai right now and no reason I should not have WiFi just to avoid profiling.

I said nothing at all about WiFi, only cellphones, so you owe me an apology.

[Clint Williams]

“A cellphone connected to a detonation circuit could have allowed a terrorist to trigger an explosion by calling or texting the phone. “
How retarded. Cell phones do not call directly to other cell phones.

LOL, it is poorly written, isn't it?

[Clint Williams]

I recall reading recently that Delta offers it on all of their planes.

Not all yet but they're working on it. Pricey though.

[Publius6961]

Shockingly, we will continue to ban everything on aircraft except for the one thing that will be guaranteed to eliminate virtually every threat.

Don't be shy. Say it.
Focus on Muslim Mass Murderers exclusively.

Problem solved.

[Publius6961]

I had forgotten about that.
Self important dweeb loudmouths without a life.

[Publius6961]

We all know that you are so important that the world revolves around you.

Ask us if we care.

Deal with it.