gnarly

Given the need to show that mobile phones, mp3 players etc. power-on when asked at UK airport security, what is the story with items that you plug-in?

I want to transfer a satellite receiver to my holiday home in Gozo and think it would be safer in my hand luggage.

Is an item that needs plugging-in allowed under the new restrictions?

BearX220

One assumes anything with an electrical cord is eligible for the authenticity check, and a satellite TV box might be especially interesting to the checkers as it's comparatively big and you could pack a lot of C4 in there. But how they'd satisfy themselves it's really what is purports to be I haven't the slightest, as presumably all that happens when you power it up by itself is a power-on light illuminates and perhaps some LED numerals.

I might ship separately if you don't want the checkpoint hassle precipitated by the rarity of the device you're wanting to carry. They're used to endless laptops and Kindles but not this.

lhrsfo

It shouldn't be too expensive to ship - you'll get hit by volumetric weights, but that's an opportunity to pack it with other, heavier, items which you want to take to your holiday home.

gnarly

I've just sent a 20ft container and deliberately kept this out (although the satellite dish went).
I've included HDMI and scart leads in the case they want to plug it in to their back-scatter machines!
It will show a power light, channel numbers. It will change when you use the remote control.

Maybe I should call Gatport Airwick in advance.

Mizter T

The recent scare concerned batteries, particularly in smartphones, being substituted for explosives - hence the focus on battery powered devices being shown to operate normally (and not just show a single static screen, which could be easily spoofed with a backlit picture).

gnarly

Thank you. Although I guess I still need to plug it in to show the battery-powered remote control working!

David-A

Well then take the batteries out of remote control, that sat box itself has no batteries (beyond maybe a small coin cell).

It will be clear on an xray. No problem.

I'm sorry but that is daft.

They don't give a hoot what it is. Nor does the size matter. It will be clear it does not have batteries (or anything else) in it - end of.
[The only problem with batteries is that some explosives can be made to look like some batteries, so they want to check they are real batteries. (Although real batteries can be used dangerously themselves....).]

gnarly

OP here. Everything was fine.
We used premium security at Gatwick South.

My backpack contained 2 laptops, an ipad, an ipod, an iphone, a wireless mouse as well as the satellite box. I had removed the batteries from the remote control as I didn't want the cramped conditions of my bag to push on the buttons and drain the batteries.

They didn't want to see anything. Just laptops and tablets out!
I was through quicker than any of my recent trips.

Thanks for the advice.

BearX220

Are you a transport security professional?

David-A

Well your analysis was flawed, with a daft comment in it - the idea that the volume of the sat box had any relevance, along with the nature of the device. Especially since most non-personal electronics boxes are air by volume, but it is irrelevant.

The purpose of the power up is to test the battery. (I will not comment about where this test sits on the theatrical-to-real scale as a security measure, although the threat from batteries is real).

If you are asking whether I have experience of security matters, then yes - in terms of true risk and threat assessments and thinking.

However, far more importantly, I simply have a brain and am good at thinking things through, thinking outside the box, and thinking without being bound by convention. I'm not suggesting you don't have a brain, I'm just saying that once you get used to thinking the right way, rationally and proportionally but without convention, virtually anyone sensible can do the vast majority of true quality security thinking - without much if any specialist knowledge required. (Beyond knowing how good searching and screening instances are).

I've cut a lot from the post, happy to continue by PM if you wish.

marlborobell

To be clear, this search is separate from the standard search at security and occurs at the gate (and only on flights to the US).

When we flew on Saturday, they appeared to be 'randomly' picking people out of line after the escalator between the gate and the jetbridge. I don't think they searched very many people (we didn't get searched) but the search definitely happened.

stut

A little cleanup here, and a friendly reminder to keep the discussion on topic, please!

stut
Moderator
UK & Ireland