Read-only archive of the All About Symbian forum (2001–2013) · About this archive

N95 - Flight Safe Mode

10 replies · 7,445 views · Started 27 September 2008

I've seen a few posts from others that use their N95 in flight but have a few questions regarding this.

Do I just need to turn on 'off line' mode or is there anything else I need to turn off as well?

Also can the GPS be used in flight?

TIA

Wombler

Offline mode should be fine, but it will still allow you to use a wifi connection in this mode, if you explicitly request it (you get a warning about using wifi in offline mode).

GPS should be fine, as it just receives signals and doesn't transmit anything (unless using assisted GPS, which shouldn't be available in offline mode).

If you use the map loader in nokia phone suite you can load the maps of the places you are going on vacation so they are resident in the phone. If you do not do this then the GPS will work great on a blank map since there is no internet connection to get the map.

I just went on a cruise and I caught taxi drivers in nova scotia and boston trying to screw me. Instead of a tip they got my GPS in their face and me telling them not to drive the tourists all the way around the city.

Seriously, if you are going somewhere you will not be able to use the internet make sure you load the maps onto the phone first.

Wombler wrote:I've seen a few posts from others that use their N95 in flight but have a few questions regarding this.

Do I just need to turn on 'off line' mode or is there anything else I need to turn off as well?

Also can the GPS be used in flight?

TIA

Wombler

But try getting the cruddy N95 GPS to get a fix inside that tube you call an aeroplane, i've only ever got a fix with a Bluetooth held up against the window. Granted you need bluetooth on for this, but its not going to take down a frigging aeroplane.

The whole point of "Flight Safe" mode is to turn off what is apparently unsafe, if you do anything that needs that on (ie try to use something with bluetooth), it will ask you if you want to turn it on first. I can understand why GSM etc is a worry, but worrying about wifi and bluetooth is silly, even GSM most likely wouldn't cause any problems... if it did, we would have planes falling out the sky everywhere.

This has always been a load of &*[[*<�$. Ryanair for example has just decided it's perfectly safe for everyone to have their phones on (now that they have their 3.50Euro/min. on board mast up and running).

I seem to remember reading that it was more of an issue for the networks, as they weren't designed for so many cells to be able to see the handset at once.

At the same time, the aircraft manufacturers don't really want to say that it's safe to use equipment like that, as it requires them to do more testing.

Anyone one watch mythbusters? they did a test on mobile phone usage in airplanes. I think 1 frequency on an analogue phone caused a slight disturbance. However as all the cabling was well shielded.....

wacits wrote:Anyone one watch mythbusters? they did a test on mobile phone usage in airplanes. I think 1 frequency on an analogue phone caused a slight disturbance. However as all the cabling was well shielded.....

Wasn't they testing on instruments from light aircraft though on that?

And who uses analogue these days anyway.

Isn't the main "issue" when a mobile cannot find a GSM(etc) mast that it keeps searching at a higher power? Not that I would agree it would drop a 747 any moment soon.

i have always kept my phone on and used bluetooth ,wifi ,sending texts or trying to ,one i sent went but that was near landing, and the plane never crashed it must be ok as they have started charging to use the phones now and the phone was in normal mode and not offline

Back again guys.

Unfortunately it all turned out to be a bit academic in the end.

Flew with Jet2, had everything ready then they announced on the plane that you weren't allowed to use any phones 'even those with flight safe mode'. :con?

All I wanted primarily was to play a few games to keep me occupied.

Oh well maybe I'll get to try it some other time.

Some interesting stuff in the thread though so hopefully it'll be of some use to others.

Wombler