Making a Linux laptop flight-safe; disabling wireless/radio

Posted by SpoonMeiser on Super User See other posts from Super User or by SpoonMeiser
Published on 2009-07-31T18:39:50Z Indexed on 2012/10/21 11:06 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 135

Filed under:

linux

|

wireless-networking

|

laptop

I'm going on a long flight tomorrow, and would like to be able to use my laptop during the journey.

Wireless devices like WiFi and bluetooth interfere with airplanes instruments, and shouldn't be used on flights.

If my laptop does not have a physical rf-kill switch, is it sufficient to just ensure that the relevant modules do not get loaded?

If so, is that always safe, or does it vary between different hardware?

My particular situation, is a Samsung NC10 netbook. Atheros 5k wireless hardware. Debian sid with kernel 2.6.30-1-686. However, I think it'd be interesting to know the answer to this question for the general case; not just my specific case.

© Super User or respective owner

Related posts about linux

apt-get install and update fail

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I've got a problem with apt-get update and apt-get install ... commands . every time update or installing fails and errors are : Get:1 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [198B] Ign http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable/main Translation-en_US Get:2 http://dl… >>> More
kernel module compiling error

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
sh@ubuntu:/home/ccpp/helloworld$ make gcc-4.6 -O2 -DMODULE -D_KERNEL_ -W -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes -Wmissing-prototypes -isystem /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build/include -c -o hello-1.o hello-1.c hello-1.c:4:0: warning: "MODULE" redefined [enabled by default] <command-line>:0:0: note: this is… >>> More
Build-Essentials installation failing

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I am having trouble accessing the several critical header files that show to be a part of the build process. The "Ubuntu Software Center" shows "Build Essentials" as installed: Next I did the following two commands, which did not improve the problem: ~$ sudo apt-get install build-essential [sudo]… >>> More
Updating Debian kernel

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I'm trying to update my Debian machine to 2.6.32-46 (which is the new stable). However, after doing apt-get update my apt-cache search linux-image shows me: linux-headers-2.6.32-5-486 - Header files for Linux 2.6.32-5-486 linux-headers-2.6.32-5-686-bigmem - Header files for Linux 2.6.32-5-686-bigmem linux-headers-2… >>> More
Serial connection over a single USB cable (Windows to linux, or linux to linux)

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I'm helping out with a project for an embedded device that only has USB and no serial. This device is running Linux. These days, when we need to connect to a serial port on a device we typically use a USB to serial adapter (on something like a phone system or a load balancing device, etc). I would… >>> More

Related posts about wireless-networking

Wireless Networking for a Small Business at Home

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
Cisco's designed its latest wireless networking router for the home, which could work nicely for home-based entrepreneurs looking for a simplified way to cut the Ethernet cord. >>> More
ZigBee, Wi-Fi Team Up for Wireless Networking

as seen on Dr Dobbs - Search for 'Dr Dobbs'
Goal is interoperable wireless technology in smart homes ZigBee - Wireless - Data Communications - Business - Telecommunications >>> More
Wireless Networking 802.11n

as seen on Article City - Search for 'Article City'
It';s been years in development but this September it looks like 802.11n Wi-Fi will finally become a standard... well, an official standard anyway. Presently the majority of the wireless hardware you... [Author: Chris Holgate - Computers and Internet - April 08, 2010] >>> More
Wireless Networking Advice for Small Business

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
Our resident Wi-Fi expert answers questions and offers his take on wireless networks for home and small business. This month: Linksys router firmware and public hotspot configuration. >>> More
Wireless Networking Advice for Small Business

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
Our resident Wi-Fi expert answers questions and offers his take on wireless networks for home and small business. This month: Linksys router firmware and public hotspot configuration. >>> More