I do a lot of travel, and would like to get an iPod for flying. On my apple supplier's website, it says that the iPods work up to 10,000 ft. However, most airplanes fly at around 36,000 ft. My question is do nanos work in-flight at that level? Does the cabin pressure change anything? I am also somewhat confused because on one flight there was someone who I think was using an iPod? Does anyone know the answer. Also, do they interfere with the radio frequencies?
14 replies
I can't really answer for a Nano, but I have used my iPod on flights and it worked just fine. They did say before the flight to have all laptops, cd players, and iPods to be turned off and put away during takeoff and landing. Guess the iPod is pretty big when they start saying that on flights. I'd imagine a Nano would work normal too though seeing how my iPod worked without any effects.
IPods work absolutly fine in aircraft. I believe that when Apple say it will work at 10,000 feet, thats 10,000 up a mountain above sea level, where pressure is different. Because aircraft are pressurized, iPod will work just like on the ground.
And iPod will not interfere with systems during flight.
*nathan
And iPod will not interfere with systems during flight.
*nathan
Nicola--
Aircraft cabin pressure for commercial flight in the U.S. is at or below the equivalent of 8,000 ft. so you should be fine. I don't about other countries, but I'd imagine they'd be similar. Above that, I think airlines would find that too many people would start to experience physical discomfort.
charlie
Aircraft cabin pressure for commercial flight in the U.S. is at or below the equivalent of 8,000 ft. so you should be fine. I don't about other countries, but I'd imagine they'd be similar. Above that, I think airlines would find that too many people would start to experience physical discomfort.
charlie
Ipod 4g and ibook worked fine for me
Umm if you fly a lot then you should be aware the cabin is pressurized, so that the air pressure is about sea level. You can barely breath without help at the top of Mt. Everest let alone 37,000 feet up. Being in a plane is like being at sea level, you just have a different view.
I know that the cabin is pressurized! My dad is a freakin pilot. There's no need to get snooty about it. I was just curious as to whether the iPod would recognize that I was really at 35,000 feet or at 10,000.
I don't remember an Altimeter being included in the iPods features so no it can't tell how high up it is Nicola.
I use a 2nd Generation iPod on flights and it works fine.
The reason they say don't use them on takeoff and landing is so that incase of any emergency, instructions given to you will be heard clearly.
I use a 2nd Generation iPod on flights and it works fine.
The reason they say don't use them on takeoff and landing is so that incase of any emergency, instructions given to you will be heard clearly.
I'd expect the Nano to be fine. The hard drive based ones need the denser air to ensure that the heads float over the platters. Microdrive Compact Flash cards have a similar restriction.
I take a trip a lot by airline. I bring my ipod photo 30GB. it is fine, no problem. ipod nano has the same mechanism as general ipod is. so don't worry about it.
Of Course Drives are assembled in a Vacuum so outside air doesn't even get inside them and also dust which could clog up on the scanning head.
What do u mean "ipod nano has the same mechanism as general ipod is"
ipod Nano is flash technology and the ipod is hard disk technology,
I don't know how they could have teh same mechanism?
ipod Nano is flash technology and the ipod is hard disk technology,
I don't know how they could have teh same mechanism?
So does anyone have the answer regarding the altitude limits of the Nano. I've taken my mini climbing and the harddrive on my mini did start acting funny above 10K ft. What's the scoop on Nano since its flash?
They are probably referring to the PortalPlayer chip.
Even if the nano had an altimeter, it wouldn't show anything (inside the plane) other than sea-level (or there abouts)......
As for how high can you carry the nano yourself? The documentation lists no altitude restrictions only temperature restrictions: "Operate your iPod nano in a place where the temperature is always between 0o and 35o C (32o to 95o F). iPod nano play time might temporarily shorten in low-temperature conditions."
Also, several sources indicate that LCDs do not have "altitude issues".
...which should mean that, while you probably can take your nano to the top of Everest (8,850 M - 29,035 feet), to the Bentley Subglacial Trench (2,555 m below sea level) in Antarctica, or to the bottom of the Mariana Trench (-10,924 m) and the nano should work as long as you keep it "warm" or "cool" enough (Perhaps the iPod Armpit(c) ::-). oh ya, don't forget the water thing in the Mariana.... ::-/
As for how high can you carry the nano yourself? The documentation lists no altitude restrictions only temperature restrictions: "Operate your iPod nano in a place where the temperature is always between 0o and 35o C (32o to 95o F). iPod nano play time might temporarily shorten in low-temperature conditions."
Also, several sources indicate that LCDs do not have "altitude issues".
...which should mean that, while you probably can take your nano to the top of Everest (8,850 M - 29,035 feet), to the Bentley Subglacial Trench (2,555 m below sea level) in Antarctica, or to the bottom of the Mariana Trench (-10,924 m) and the nano should work as long as you keep it "warm" or "cool" enough (Perhaps the iPod Armpit(c) ::-). oh ya, don't forget the water thing in the Mariana.... ::-/
Air Travel