Airport Security X Rays... What's going to happen?

[isfahani]

I haven't done any flying with my MZ-M10 but I will be on Thursday morning, if people here tell me it's not going to harm the unit. Any experience you can relate as to the safety issues will be appreciated greatly, as I would just as soon leave it home than have it ruined. Thx.

[jaylen]

Try reading this: http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=2463

Good luck and have a safe trip.

[Darkflame]

Nothing is going to happen. I work at an airport as a X-Ray Technician and I send my MD player through the xray machines about 5-20 times a day depending on how often I need to proceed through the checkpoint.

With the exception of film, I've never had any problems with my cell phones, ipods, game equipment or any other electronics including MD equipment as of yet.

I've sent my MZ-R50 and 60GB ipod through the x-ray at least a thousand times over a 1 year period and they work just fine.

I can only assume that if you are USING the product or reading/writing to it while running it through then maybe you could run into problems but in a idle state...nothing to worry about.

[isfahani]

Great, thanks a bunch. Hmnn, then there's the digital camera... suppose I should go find a forum for that somewhere to ask tho

[danielbb90]

I've been through 2ce with my NH1 no harm was done!

And digi-cam - my dads been across with his about 8-9 times... no hard was done to his!

Just the analog cameras (with film) you should worry about...

Edited July 25, 2006 by danielbb90

[Richard]

* Moved to Technical Tips & Tricks

[Darkflame]

If you want to minimize your risk of damage to your electronics just make sure you take them with you in carry on and try to avoid sending them through checked bagage. The signs that say to remove all expensive electronics and film from your luggage and take them with you in carry on is there for specific reasons.

Baggage x-rays shower the bag with radiation where as passenger x-rays have a thin beam (like a scanner) that passes over the bag.

Baggage x-rays will damage film because the radiation is showered continiously over the bag to get better penetration.

Carry on x-rays also can damage film if you're jumping from terminal to terminal and sending your bag through 5-6 times. But for a 1 shot pass through the x-ray you're film is exposed to radiation for less then half a second. as opposed to 6-20 seconds in baggage. When the guy is sitting there for 4 minutes staring at your carry on bag in the x-ray, your bag is just sitting in the tunnel. there is no x-ray radiation present as the image is already built on the monitor.

In baggage, when they sit and stare...your bag is still being radiated until it leaves the unit.

Baggage x-rays despite showering your bag with radiaion will not affect your electronics. The reason some ask you to remove is because a number of reasons...a few which i'll explain.

1. When your bag goes through the x-ray the machine uses high velocity belts to flip and rotate the bag to get different angles. These high velocity flips and turns are rough to sensitive electronics and camers...even digital ones. If you ever watch the exit belt of a CTX or L3 they litterally eject your back onto the conveyor belt for transport to the aircraft.

2. Next is the sticky fingers station where your item is at risk for walking off.

3. Finally your 3,000 digital camera finds his resting place at the bottom of 600 pounds of bags transported on a trolly that contains no suspension or shock damapening prior to it being loaded into the aircraft.

So when someone tells you keep your valuables close to you at all times...you know why.

Hope this is of help.