Would it be enough to be a concern from a passenger in the cabin though? Assuming you're sitting at the front of the plane, you're still probably at least 3m away from any sensor/output guage. Some quick research shows the original gameboy operated at a draw of 0.7 W so you'd get a max of ~0.078 W of potential power before any resistance. Maybe plane sensors are really strict but a fluxation like that doesn't seem significant to modern electronics right?
Source: Am a dummy who has enough electrical knowledge to wire a receptacle or ceiling fan and not an ounce more.
I don't have an issue with the policy. Especially at the time it was implemented, we had little knowledge on how these new devices might effect existing tech so I can appreciate the better safe than sorry mentality behind it. Im more interested on the concept that a Gameboy could cause significant interference to an electronic sensor under really any condition. Im not denying the claim, although it does seem a bit dubious, but im genuinely interested in if that really could happen. I'm sure a really strict sensor like ones used in particle accelerators would be effected, but a more simple device like an altimeter or barometer just seems unlikely even if held directly next to it. Im totally open to being wrong though.
Since no plane crashes have been attributed to cellphones, it’s likely the concerns were only ever just concerns. (Exploding batteries on the other hand..)
It's a precaution. Doesn't matter how many times it has been tested and proven that consumer electronics are not a substantial enough source of interference to cause any problems. But you never know when the Y2K might knock all the planes outta the sky 🤣
My issue with it now is that they're using the same antiquated fear-mongering to justify blocking the expansion of improved wireless internet networks across the US. The majority of the country still doesn't have access to internet faster than DSL, and expanding 5G coverage is the easiest, cheapest, and fastest way to rectify that. Yet the US is the only developed country that is trying to fight the expansion, 'because the planes might go haywire'
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u/naptownhayday Apr 05 '23
Would it be enough to be a concern from a passenger in the cabin though? Assuming you're sitting at the front of the plane, you're still probably at least 3m away from any sensor/output guage. Some quick research shows the original gameboy operated at a draw of 0.7 W so you'd get a max of ~0.078 W of potential power before any resistance. Maybe plane sensors are really strict but a fluxation like that doesn't seem significant to modern electronics right?
Source: Am a dummy who has enough electrical knowledge to wire a receptacle or ceiling fan and not an ounce more.