The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a power source of unknown quality.
On 08/09/2026 07:51, Tweed wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
I've never had any use for one.
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power >> bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >> thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >> power source of unknown quality.
Some people might want to use more power-hungry devices than a phone.
On 08/09/2026 07:51, Tweed wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels.
Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
˙I've never had any use for one.
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a
powerma
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a
few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I
would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone
to a
power source of unknown quality.
˙Some people might want to use more power-hungry devices than a phone.
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a power source of unknown quality.
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a power source of unknown quality.
On 08/09/2026 10:28, Nick Finnigan wrote:
On 08/09/2026 07:51, Tweed wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >>> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
˙˙I've never had any use for one.
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a powerma
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >>> thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >>> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >>> power source of unknown quality.
˙˙Some people might want to use more power-hungry devices than a phone.
My experience of the USB sockets on the GA flirts is many USB sockets are so worn from use that they are effectively non-functional.
I use one of these which is thin enough to sit comfortably in a pocket:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187529738943?var=695387088278
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
If you have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to
take a power bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card,
is only a few mm thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety
recharge my phone. I would also have reservations about connecting my >relatively expensive phone to a power source of unknown quality.
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done.
But primarily, and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
I would also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone
to a power source of unknown quality.
On 08/09/2026 07:51, Tweed wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power >> bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >> thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >> power source of unknown quality.
Maybe people are cautious about power banks? After all, on aircraft
there are limitations these days after a number of incidents: https://www.skyscanner.net/flights/advice/can-i-take-a-power-bank-on-a-plane
https://www.skyscanner.net/flights/advice/can-i-take-a-power-bank-on-a-plane
https://aviationnews.eu/news/2025/08/fire-on-klm-flight-caused-by-power-bank-sparks-in-flight-emergency/
I know this is off topic for railways, but still relevant.
In message <117ob8o$3ull0$1@dont-email.me>, at 06:51:04 on Tue, 8 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
Some of them, because now banned as luggage on planes.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <117ob8o$3ull0$1@dont-email.me>, at 06:51:04 on Tue, 8 SepI don?t think any airline currently bans them, but I?m willing to be corrected. There is a maximum capacity and they can?t go in the hold. As I mentioned elsewhere, where you keep them in the cabin is getting
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >>> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
Some of them, because now banned as luggage on planes.
increasingly restrictive.
I take a two-way USB charger on some trips, to charge my radio (!) batteries, and as an emergency power bank, even from dry cells: https://www.panasonic.com/global/energy/products/eneloop/en/lineup/ charger-bq-cc87.html
I fear they may have been discontinued in the UK though.
I take a two-way USB charger on some trips, to charge my radio (!)
batteries, and as an emergency power bank, even from dry cells:
https://www.panasonic.com/global/energy/products/eneloop/en/lineup/
charger-bq-cc87.html
I fear they may have been discontinued in the UK though.
I have a Panasonic mains powered charger for batteries and find it very good.
I also have one of these for checking batteries, it gives more
information than a simple voltmeter.
Ansmann Energy Check LCD 4000392 Battery Tester
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a power source of unknown quality.
On 8 Sep 2026 06:51, Tweed wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power >> bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >> thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >> power source of unknown quality.
The buses on the C10 bus route (Canada Water - Victoria) in London have
USB sockets and a nifty holder for the phone on the back of the seats.
Rupert Moss-Eccardt <news@moss-eccardt.com> wrote:
On 8 Sep 2026 06:51, Tweed wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >>> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power >>> bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >>> thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >>> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >>> power source of unknown quality.
The buses on the C10 bus route (Canada Water - Victoria) in London have
USB sockets and a nifty holder for the phone on the back of the seats.
I think most modern electric buses are similar.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Rupert Moss-Eccardt <news@moss-eccardt.com> wrote:
On 8 Sep 2026 06:51, Tweed wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>>> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >>>> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >>>> power source of unknown quality.
The buses on the C10 bus route (Canada Water - Victoria) in London have
USB sockets and a nifty holder for the phone on the back of the seats.
I think most modern electric buses are similar.
I?ve not seen one with a phone holder
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:The only ones I've ever seen are at the ends of the arms of the person
Rupert Moss-Eccardt <news@moss-eccardt.com> wrote:
On 8 Sep 2026 06:51, Tweed wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>>> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >>>> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >>>> power source of unknown quality.
The buses on the C10 bus route (Canada Water - Victoria) in London have
USB sockets and a nifty holder for the phone on the back of the seats.
I think most modern electric buses are similar.
I?ve not seen one with a phone holder
On 11/09/2026 15:24, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Rupert Moss-Eccardt <news@moss-eccardt.com> wrote:
On 8 Sep 2026 06:51, Tweed wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>>> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
The buses on the C10 bus route (Canada Water - Victoria) in London have >>> USB sockets and a nifty holder for the phone on the back of the seats. >>>
I think most modern electric buses are similar.
I?ve not seen one with a phone holderThe only ones I've ever seen are at the ends of the arms of the person
in the seat.
In message <117ob8o$3ull0$1@dont-email.me>, at 06:51:04 on Tue, 8 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >>journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
Some of them, because now banned as luggage on planes.
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 14:23:30 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>
wrote:
In message <117ob8o$3ull0$1@dont-email.me>, at 06:51:04 on Tue, 8 SepRyanair allow them but only under the seat in front, not overhead or
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>>USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >>>journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>>and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
Some of them, because now banned as luggage on planes.
checked in.
In message <8fqcal10tib3840pff0mvdqgg7geu4dbph@4ax.com>, at 10:17:05 on
Sun, 13 Sep 2026, Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> remarked:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 14:23:30 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>
wrote:
In message <117ob8o$3ull0$1@dont-email.me>, at 06:51:04 on Tue, 8 SepRyanair allow them but only under the seat in front, not overhead or
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
Some of them, because now banned as luggage on planes.
checked in.
Yes, they do, but I don't regard under-seat-bags as "luggage", that's
what goes in the hold or overhead bins.
Ryanair is silent about power banks in your jacket pockets.
In other news, Stansted now has security screening machines which don't require removing anything from your bags, but you do have to empty your jacket pockets into tray. Or I suppose take the jacket off, but then I'd
be 'topless' which might trigger all sorts of other things.
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 14:23:30 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>
wrote:
In message <117ob8o$3ull0$1@dont-email.me>, at 06:51:04 on Tue, 8 SepRyanair allow them but only under the seat in front, not overhead or
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >>> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
Some of them, because now banned as luggage on planes.
checked in.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <8fqcal10tib3840pff0mvdqgg7geu4dbph@4ax.com>, at 10:17:05 on
Sun, 13 Sep 2026, Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> remarked:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 14:23:30 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>
wrote:
In message <117ob8o$3ull0$1@dont-email.me>, at 06:51:04 on Tue, 8 SepRyanair allow them but only under the seat in front, not overhead or
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>>>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. >>>>>Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But >>>>>primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
Some of them, because now banned as luggage on planes.
checked in.
Yes, they do, but I don't regard under-seat-bags as "luggage", that's
what goes in the hold or overhead bins.
Ryanair is silent about power banks in your jacket pockets.
In other news, Stansted now has security screening machines which don't
require removing anything from your bags, but you do have to empty your
jacket pockets into tray. Or I suppose take the jacket off, but then I'd
be 'topless' which might trigger all sorts of other things.
Well the airlines regard underseat bags as luggage. It?s the distinction >between the free small bag you can put under the seat or the, increasingly >paid for, bag you put in the overhead.
The logic being that everyone (except for some emergency seats) has >underseat space in front of them, but overhead space is more limited.
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
It?s the newish mm wave body scanners that have replaced the metal detector >arches that require you to empty your pockets, even down to a crumpled >tissue.
The new baggage scanners are a curate?s egg. Some installations have such a >high reject rate that the time saved not having to remove your iPad and >plastic bag of liquids before the scanner is more than made up for having
to wait for your rejected bag being searched.
I had to replace my iPad?s posh Apple shop provided case with a cheap
one because that case triggered the scanner each and every time. Same
goes for certain types of sunscreen.
Ob rail: I?ve never seen a bag rejected at any of Eurostar?s stations. >Presumably it does happen occasionally because you do read about some of
the continental stations being evacuated when a munition is found.
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <8fqcal10tib3840pff0mvdqgg7geu4dbph@4ax.com>, at 10:17:05 on
Sun, 13 Sep 2026, Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> remarked:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 14:23:30 +0100, Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk>
wrote:
In message <117ob8o$3ull0$1@dont-email.me>, at 06:51:04 on Tue, 8 Sep >>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:Ryanair allow them but only under the seat in front, not overhead or
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels.
Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But
primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks?
Some of them, because now banned as luggage on planes.
checked in.
Yes, they do, but I don't regard under-seat-bags as "luggage", that's
what goes in the hold or overhead bins.
Ryanair is silent about power banks in your jacket pockets.
In other news, Stansted now has security screening machines which don't
require removing anything from your bags, but you do have to empty your
jacket pockets into tray. Or I suppose take the jacket off, but then I'd >>> be 'topless' which might trigger all sorts of other things.
Well the airlines regard underseat bags as luggage. It?s the distinction
between the free small bag you can put under the seat or the, increasingly >> paid for, bag you put in the overhead.
Except the thing I put under the seat in front is precisely one of those "free small bags".
The logic being that everyone (except for some emergency seats) has
underseat space in front of them, but overhead space is more limited.
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for >> a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a bigger than average battery.
It?s the newish mm wave body scanners that have replaced the metal detector >> arches that require you to empty your pockets, even down to a crumpled
tissue.
Some pax also required to take off their shoes.
The new baggage scanners are a curate?s egg. Some installations have such a >> high reject rate that the time saved not having to remove your iPad and
plastic bag of liquids before the scanner is more than made up for having
to wait for your rejected bag being searched.
My travelling companion's bag was rejected, and we had to wait for about fifteen minutes for it to be hand-searched and swabbed. They didn't say (probably banned from commenting) what it was which had triggered the rejection. Nothing found.
I had to replace my iPad?s posh Apple shop provided case with a cheap
one because that case triggered the scanner each and every time. Same
goes for certain types of sunscreen.
My sunscreen is in my overhead-bag.
Ob rail: I?ve never seen a bag rejected at any of Eurostar?s stations.
Presumably it does happen occasionally because you do read about some of
the continental stations being evacuated when a munition is found.
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry >>> is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for >>> a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
bigger than average battery.
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry >>>> is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for >>>> a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a >>> bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power bank in emergencies.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep >>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry >>>>> is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a >>>> bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their >phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an >expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal >world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but >that?s never going to happen.
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep >>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a >>>>> bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power >>> bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their
phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms >> of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an >> expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight,
but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal >> world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but
that?s never going to happen.
Yes
At Stansted passengers are ?randomly? required to remove their shoes. >Happened to me. I asked why and the security chap said I?d picked the wrong >tray. How wrong is defined I don?t know, but the trays did have various >coloured stickers on them.
Why is putting sunscreen in your overhead bag relevant?
It still has to go through the scanner. A phone with a larger
than average battery isn?t a power bank.
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry >>>> is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for >>>> a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a
power bank? Some phones with large batteries, including mine, can
reverse charge, so they can act as a small power bank in emergencies.
At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and >it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my
power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power >bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >power source of unknown quality.
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power >> bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >> thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >> power source of unknown quality.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all
ScotRail stations'.
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >>> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power >>> bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >>> thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >>> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >>> power source of unknown quality.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all
ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power >> bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >> thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >> power source of unknown quality.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all
ScotRail stations'.
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the >>> journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power >>> bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm >>> thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >>> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >>> power source of unknown quality.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all
ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>>> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >>>> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >>>> power source of unknown quality.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all
ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
I wondered that too. I think the argument on airlines is that the
battery in a phone is smaller and better contained but I think SR need
to say what they mean.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep >>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a >>>>>> bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power >>>> bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power
bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their
phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms >>> of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an >>> expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced. >>> The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight,
but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal >>> world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but
that?s never going to happen.
Yes
power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>>>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >>>>> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>>>> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or been lost.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all
ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
I wondered that too. I think the argument on airlines is that the
battery in a phone is smaller and better contained but I think SR need
to say what they mean.
"lithium-ion powered micro devices" sounds like 'smart' watches and maybe anything else that's smaller than a phone.
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and >> it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep >>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power >>>>> bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their >>>> phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms >>>> of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an >>>> expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced. >>>> The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight, >>> but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal >>>> world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but >>>> that?s never going to happen.
Yes
power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant
thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the
website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging
personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed
under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or been lost.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all
ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
I wondered that too. I think the argument on airlines is that the
battery in a phone is smaller and better contained but I think SR need
to say what they mean.
"lithium-ion powered micro devices" sounds like 'smart' watches and maybe anything else that's smaller than a phone.
Scotrail?s use of the term micro devices is not the best, but their listing of the types of banned devices makes the intent clear. I wonder if what?s behind this isn?t just battery safety (they allow e-bikes) but perhaps
people trying to use these things within stations and even trains.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and >>> it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep >>>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power >>>>>> bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their >>>>> phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced. >>>>> The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight, >>>> but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but >>>>> that?s never going to happen.
Yes
power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant
thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the
website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging
personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed
under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and >>> it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep >>>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it.
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power >>>>>> bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their >>>>> phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced. >>>>> The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight, >>>> but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but >>>>> that?s never going to happen.
Yes
power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant
thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the
website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging
personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed
under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep >>>>>>>>> 2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank.
I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their >>>>>> phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced. >>>>>> The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight, >>>>> but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but >>>>>> that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging
personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed
under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many
places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some
of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this
may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't
mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap
shit we don't want onboard planes.
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those
have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you
can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger
was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:As far as I can tell there is no enforcement. The only realistic place to check is at security, and they don?t know which bag you are going to put
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank. >>>>>>>>I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their >>>>>>> phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight, >>>>>> but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but >>>>>>> that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging
personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed >>>> under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many
places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before
Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not
putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some
of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this
may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't
mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap
shit we don't want onboard planes.
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those
have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you
can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger
was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
your power bank in post security. I wager that most people who have put a powerbank in an overhead locker aren?t going to be bothered to repack it after the in cabin announcement. Gate staff aren?t going to perform bag searches. Judging by a colleague?s experience, lots of people don?t put
their phones in flight mode either. He was on an internal UK flight when
the first test of the emergency cell alert system was performed. He
reported that lots of phones were sounding the alert in the cabin.
On 14/09/2026 13:19, Tweed wrote:
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:As far as I can tell there is no enforcement. The only realistic place to
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information. >>>
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank. >>>>>>>>>I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their
phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight,
but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but
that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging >>>>> personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed >>>>> under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before
Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not
putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some >>> of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this
may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't
mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap
shit we don't want onboard planes.
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those
have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you
can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger >>> was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
check is at security, and they don?t know which bag you are going to put
your power bank in post security. I wager that most people who have put a
powerbank in an overhead locker aren?t going to be bothered to repack it
after the in cabin announcement. Gate staff aren?t going to perform bag
searches. Judging by a colleague?s experience, lots of people don?t put
their phones in flight mode either. He was on an internal UK flight when
the first test of the emergency cell alert system was performed. He
reported that lots of phones were sounding the alert in the cabin.
Enforcement of the capacity limits in Asia is *strict*, and has been for years. If you try to fly through a Chinese airport with that unmarked powerbank, you absolutely *will* lose it. (And Chinese security people
are fucking amazing at finding one hidden (or forgotten/lost) anywhere
in your bags. I have often hoped they are even half as good at finding bombs as they are at finding batteries or cigarette lighters (also prohibited onboard in much of Asia) because they are fucking demons at it.)
It's also notable that in Asia you'll often not be allowed to leave the checkin desk until after your checked-luggage has been scanned (they'll
move on to the next passenger, but hold your passport+boarding pass
until it's confirmed there are no batteries or the like in your hold baggage.) In general, they just take the security more seriously as a
thing to actually do and less as a piece of theatre than Europe.
How the "not in overhead lockers" will be enforced remains to be seen,
of course. But "more rigorously on AirAsia than Ryanair" will go
without saying...
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 13:19, Tweed wrote:
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:As far as I can tell there is no enforcement. The only realistic place to >>> check is at security, and they don?t know which bag you are going to put >>> your power bank in post security. I wager that most people who have put a >>> powerbank in an overhead locker aren?t going to be bothered to repack it >>> after the in cabin announcement. Gate staff aren?t going to perform bag
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information. >>>>
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank. >>>>>>>>>>I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their
phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight,
but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but
that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>>>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>>>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>>>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging >>>>>> personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed >>>>>> under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before >>>> Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not
putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some >>>> of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this >>>> may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't >>>> mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap
shit we don't want onboard planes.
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those >>>> have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you
can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger >>>> was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
searches. Judging by a colleague?s experience, lots of people don?t put
their phones in flight mode either. He was on an internal UK flight when >>> the first test of the emergency cell alert system was performed. He
reported that lots of phones were sounding the alert in the cabin.
Enforcement of the capacity limits in Asia is *strict*, and has been for
years. If you try to fly through a Chinese airport with that unmarked
powerbank, you absolutely *will* lose it. (And Chinese security people
are fucking amazing at finding one hidden (or forgotten/lost) anywhere
in your bags. I have often hoped they are even half as good at finding
bombs as they are at finding batteries or cigarette lighters (also
prohibited onboard in much of Asia) because they are fucking demons at it.) >>
It's also notable that in Asia you'll often not be allowed to leave the
checkin desk until after your checked-luggage has been scanned (they'll
move on to the next passenger, but hold your passport+boarding pass
until it's confirmed there are no batteries or the like in your hold
baggage.) In general, they just take the security more seriously as a
thing to actually do and less as a piece of theatre than Europe.
How the "not in overhead lockers" will be enforced remains to be seen,
of course. But "more rigorously on AirAsia than Ryanair" will go
without saying...
Well you?ve done me a favour in as much as I?ve just been to inspect my
power banks. They are indeed marked, but in a colour that?s a slightly different shade of black to the body. 37 Whr for the bigger one and 3 Whr
for the little credit card sized one.
On 14/09/2026 13:19, Tweed wrote:
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:As far as I can tell there is no enforcement. The only realistic place to
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information. >>>
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank. >>>>>>>>>I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their
phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight,
but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but
that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging >>>>> personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed >>>>> under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before
Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not
putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some >>> of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this
may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't
mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap
shit we don't want onboard planes.
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those
have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you
can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger >>> was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
check is at security, and they don?t know which bag you are going to put
your power bank in post security. I wager that most people who have put a
powerbank in an overhead locker aren?t going to be bothered to repack it
after the in cabin announcement. Gate staff aren?t going to perform bag
searches. Judging by a colleague?s experience, lots of people don?t put
their phones in flight mode either. He was on an internal UK flight when
the first test of the emergency cell alert system was performed. He
reported that lots of phones were sounding the alert in the cabin.
Enforcement of the capacity limits in Asia is *strict*, and has been for years. If you try to fly through a Chinese airport with that unmarked powerbank, you absolutely *will* lose it. (And Chinese security people
are fucking amazing at finding one hidden (or forgotten/lost) anywhere
in your bags. I have often hoped they are even half as good at finding bombs as they are at finding batteries or cigarette lighters (also prohibited onboard in much of Asia) because they are fucking demons at it.)
It's also notable that in Asia you'll often not be allowed to leave the checkin desk until after your checked-luggage has been scanned (they'll
move on to the next passenger, but hold your passport+boarding pass
until it's confirmed there are no batteries or the like in your hold baggage.) In general, they just take the security more seriously as a
thing to actually do and less as a piece of theatre than Europe.
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 13:19, Tweed wrote:
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:As far as I can tell there is no enforcement. The only realistic place to >>>> check is at security, and they don?t know which bag you are going to put >>>> your power bank in post security. I wager that most people who have put a >>>> powerbank in an overhead locker aren?t going to be bothered to repack it >>>> after the in cabin announcement. Gate staff aren?t going to perform bag >>>> searches. Judging by a colleague?s experience, lots of people don?t put >>>> their phones in flight mode either. He was on an internal UK flight when >>>> the first test of the emergency cell alert system was performed. He
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many >>>>> places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before >>>>> Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not >>>>> putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some >>>>> of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this >>>>> may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't >>>>> mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap >>>>> shit we don't want onboard planes.
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information. >>>>>
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank. >>>>>>>>>>>I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power
bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their
phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight,
but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but
that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>>>>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>>>>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>>>>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging >>>>>>> personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed >>>>>>> under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those >>>>> have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you >>>>> can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger >>>>> was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
reported that lots of phones were sounding the alert in the cabin.
Enforcement of the capacity limits in Asia is *strict*, and has been for >>> years. If you try to fly through a Chinese airport with that unmarked
powerbank, you absolutely *will* lose it. (And Chinese security people >>> are fucking amazing at finding one hidden (or forgotten/lost) anywhere
in your bags. I have often hoped they are even half as good at finding >>> bombs as they are at finding batteries or cigarette lighters (also
prohibited onboard in much of Asia) because they are fucking demons at it.) >>>
It's also notable that in Asia you'll often not be allowed to leave the >>> checkin desk until after your checked-luggage has been scanned (they'll >>> move on to the next passenger, but hold your passport+boarding pass
until it's confirmed there are no batteries or the like in your hold
baggage.) In general, they just take the security more seriously as a
thing to actually do and less as a piece of theatre than Europe.
How the "not in overhead lockers" will be enforced remains to be seen,
of course. But "more rigorously on AirAsia than Ryanair" will go
without saying...
Well you?ve done me a favour in as much as I?ve just been to inspect my
power banks. They are indeed marked, but in a colour that?s a slightly
different shade of black to the body. 37 Whr for the bigger one and 3 Whr
for the little credit card sized one.
That latter one sounds effectively useless.
Scott <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily, >> and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would >> also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a >> power source of unknown quality.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all ScotRail stations'.
You?ve misinterpreted the ban, that is not nearly as draconian as you
think. The ScotRail ban applies to small, unregulated electric *transport* items, including:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points.
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are >>>>> USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly >the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But >primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a >power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few >mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or >been lost.
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>>>>> have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or >> been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new phone or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information.
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wallprimarily,
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly >> the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But
powerand this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you >>
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few >> mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or >> been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new phone or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it.
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> posted:
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or >>> been lost.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all >>>>>> ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
I wondered that too. I think the argument on airlines is that the
battery in a phone is smaller and better contained but I think SR need >>>> to say what they mean.
"lithium-ion powered micro devices" sounds like 'smart' watches and maybe >>> anything else that's smaller than a phone.
Scotrail?s use of the term micro devices is not the best, but their listing >> of the types of banned devices makes the intent clear. I wonder if what?s
behind this isn?t just battery safety (they allow e-bikes) but perhaps
people trying to use these things within stations and even trains.
Decades ago there were bans on using mobile phones
on German local transport...
On 14/09/2026 08:20, Ulf Kutzner wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> posted:
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or
been lost.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all >>>>>> ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
I wondered that too. I think the argument on airlines is that the
battery in a phone is smaller and better contained but I think SR need >>>> to say what they mean.
"lithium-ion powered micro devices" sounds like 'smart' watches and maybe >>> anything else that's smaller than a phone.
Scotrail?s use of the term micro devices is not the best, but their listing
of the types of banned devices makes the intent clear. I wonder if what?s >> behind this isn?t just battery safety (they allow e-bikes) but perhaps
people trying to use these things within stations and even trains.
Decades ago there were bans on using mobile phones
on German local transport...
Why?
I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information.
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
hounslow3 <hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk> posted:
On 14/09/2026 08:20, Ulf Kutzner wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> posted:
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or
been lost.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all >> >>>>>> ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
I wondered that too. I think the argument on airlines is that the
battery in a phone is smaller and better contained but I think SR need >> >>>> to say what they mean.
"lithium-ion powered micro devices" sounds like 'smart' watches and maybe
anything else that's smaller than a phone.
Scotrail?s use of the term micro devices is not the best, but their listing
of the types of banned devices makes the intent clear. I wonder if what?s >> >> behind this isn?t just battery safety (they allow e-bikes) but perhaps
people trying to use these things within stations and even trains.
Decades ago there were bans on using mobile phones
on German local transport...
Why?
There were not sure about interactions with their
electronics.
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wallprimarily,
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly >>> the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But
mmand this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a >>> power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or >>> been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new phone >> or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it.
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate
you through a day walk in the hills. Before Komoot supported 'Dark
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:As far as I can tell there is no enforcement. The only realistic place to >check is at security, and they don?t know which bag you are going to put
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information.
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank. >>>>>>>>I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their >>>>>>> phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight, >>>>>> but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but >>>>>>> that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging
personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed >>>> under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many
places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before
Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not
putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some
of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this
may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't
mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap
shit we don't want onboard planes.
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those
have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you
can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger
was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
your power bank in post security. I wager that most people who have put a >powerbank in an overhead locker aren?t going to be bothered to repack it >after the in cabin announcement. Gate staff aren?t going to perform bag >searches. Judging by a colleague?s experience, lots of people don?t put
their phones in flight mode either. He was on an internal UK flight when
the first test of the emergency cell alert system was performed. He
reported that lots of phones were sounding the alert in the cabin.
On Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:19:28 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:As far as I can tell there is no enforcement. The only realistic place to
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information. >>>
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank. >>>>>>>>>I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their
phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight,
but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but
that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging >>>>> personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed >>>>> under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before >>> Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not
putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some >>> of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this >>> may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't
mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap
shit we don't want onboard planes.
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those >>> have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you
can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger >>> was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
check is at security, and they don?t know which bag you are going to put
your power bank in post security. I wager that most people who have put a
powerbank in an overhead locker aren?t going to be bothered to repack it
after the in cabin announcement. Gate staff aren?t going to perform bag
searches. Judging by a colleague?s experience, lots of people don?t put
their phones in flight mode either. He was on an internal UK flight when
the first test of the emergency cell alert system was performed. He
reported that lots of phones were sounding the alert in the cabin.
I assumed emergency alerts were designed to overcome flight mode?
Scott <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
On Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:19:28 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:As far as I can tell there is no enforcement. The only realistic place to >>> check is at security, and they don?t know which bag you are going to put >>> your power bank in post security. I wager that most people who have put a >>> powerbank in an overhead locker aren?t going to be bothered to repack it >>> after the in cabin announcement. Gate staff aren?t going to perform bag
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many >>>> places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before >>>> Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not >>>> putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some >>>> of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this >>>> may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't >>>> mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap >>>> shit we don't want onboard planes.
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information. >>>>
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank. >>>>>>>>>>I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their
phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight,
but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but
that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>>>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>>>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>>>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging >>>>>> personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed >>>>>> under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those >>>> have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you >>>> can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger >>>> was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
searches. Judging by a colleague?s experience, lots of people don?t put
their phones in flight mode either. He was on an internal UK flight when >>> the first test of the emergency cell alert system was performed. He
reported that lots of phones were sounding the alert in the cabin.
I assumed emergency alerts were designed to overcome flight mode?
How could they?
On Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:45:30 +0200, Rolf Mantel
<news@hartig-mantel.de> wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wallthe
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly
primarily,journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But
mmand this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a >>>> power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or >>>> been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new phone >>> or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it.
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate
you through a day walk in the hills. Before Komoot supported 'Dark
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
I want to climb a mountain in the Lake District next week. Are you
saying my iPhone won't last for the whole climb :-)
On Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:49:13 GMT, Ulf Kutzner <user2991@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
hounslow3 <hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk> posted:
On 14/09/2026 08:20, Ulf Kutzner wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> posted:
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank >>>>>> specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both died or
been lost.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all
lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and in all >>>>>>>>> ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
I wondered that too. I think the argument on airlines is that the >>>>>>> battery in a phone is smaller and better contained but I think SR need >>>>>>> to say what they mean.
"lithium-ion powered micro devices" sounds like 'smart' watches and maybe
anything else that's smaller than a phone.
Scotrail?s use of the term micro devices is not the best, but their listing
of the types of banned devices makes the intent clear. I wonder if what?s >>>>> behind this isn?t just battery safety (they allow e-bikes) but perhaps >>>>> people trying to use these things within stations and even trains.
Decades ago there were bans on using mobile phones
on German local transport...
Why?
There were not sure about interactions with their
electronics.
As in the NHS, but I remember a doctor telling me that mobile phones
did not interfere with medical equipment and this was merely a
fabrication to avoid disruption caused by persons talking on phones.
Cynics would say it was to force patients to use expensive hospital
phones that were wheeled round on a trolley.
On 14/09/2026 17:37, Scott wrote:The switch to 07 numbers happened in 1997/1998, some time after GSM was
On Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:49:13 GMT, Ulf Kutzner
<user2991@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:
hounslow3 <hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk> posted:
On 14/09/2026 08:20, Ulf Kutzner wrote:
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> posted:
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:55, Scott wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:50:55 +0100, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
On 13/09/2026 16:04, Scott wrote:
On Tue, 8 Sep 2026 06:51:04 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
The article about the reintroduction of DLR stock mentions >>>>>>>>>>> that there are
USB charging points. This I find curious on a number of >>>>>>>>>>> levels. Firstly the
journey time is short so you won?t get much charging done. >>>>>>>>>>> But primarily,
and this applies to all trains, why don?t people use power >>>>>>>>>>> banks? If you
have to remember to carry a charging cable you can remember >>>>>>>>>>> to take a power
bank. I have one that is barely bigger than a credit card, is >>>>>>>>>>> only a few mm
thick, has an integrated lead, and can entirety recharge my >>>>>>>>>>> phone. I would
also have reservations about connecting my relatively
expensive phone to a
power source of unknown quality.
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank >>>>>>> specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've
both died or
been lost.
Are power banks allowed on trains? ScotRail has banned 'all >>>>>>>>>> lithium-ion powered micro devices on all ScotRail trains and >>>>>>>>>> in all
ScotRail stations'.
So no mobile phones to display one's e-tickets?
I wondered that too. I think the argument on airlines is that the >>>>>>>> battery in a phone is smaller and better contained but I think >>>>>>>> SR need
to say what they mean.
"lithium-ion powered micro devices" sounds like 'smart' watches >>>>>>> and maybe
anything else that's smaller than a phone.
Scotrail?s use of the term micro devices is not the best, but
their listing
of the types of banned devices makes the intent clear. I wonder if >>>>>> what?s
behind this isn?t just battery safety (they allow e-bikes) but
perhaps
people trying to use these things within stations and even trains.
Decades ago there were bans on using mobile phones
on German local transport...
Why?
There were not sure about interactions with their
electronics.
As in the NHS, but I remember a doctor telling me that mobile phones
did not interfere with medical equipment and this was merely a
fabrication to avoid disruption caused by persons talking on phones.
Cynics would say it was to force patients to use expensive hospital
phones that were wheeled round on a trolley.
I thought it was true for the original analogue mobiles (mine started
with an 04 number) but not the case for the lower powered digital phones (start with 07 numbers).
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hours
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both
died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new
phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it.
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate
you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'Dark
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
On 14/09/2026 17:45, Rolf Mantel wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hoursI don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both
died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new
phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it.
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate
you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'Dark
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
hiking in the mountains, train back, with extensive use of the phone for navigation, as well as listening to audio through my headphones
throughout. 2 year old phone. When I got on the "big" train (after the
meter gauge Appenzellerbahn out of the hills), my phone was reporting a little over 60% battery, plenty to enable me to show my ticket on the
return journey. But I am repeatedly berated for paying the "apple tax"
or being some sort of splash the cash moneybags for not buying a cheap
low end Android phone. Perhaps people with those low end Android phones
have different experiences.
Robin
Bob <nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 17:45, Rolf Mantel wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hours
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both
died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new
phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it.
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate
you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'Dark
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
hiking in the mountains, train back, with extensive use of the phone for
navigation, as well as listening to audio through my headphones
throughout. 2 year old phone. When I got on the "big" train (after the
meter gauge Appenzellerbahn out of the hills), my phone was reporting a
little over 60% battery, plenty to enable me to show my ticket on the
return journey. But I am repeatedly berated for paying the "apple tax"
or being some sort of splash the cash moneybags for not buying a cheap
low end Android phone. Perhaps people with those low end Android phones
have different experiences.
Robin
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that aren?t Faraday cages.
Scott <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
On Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:19:28 -0000 (UTC), Tweed
<usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 09:16, Tweed wrote:As far as I can tell there is no enforcement. The only realistic place to >>> check is at security, and they don?t know which bag you are going to put >>> your power bank in post security. I wager that most people who have put a >>> powerbank in an overhead locker aren?t going to be bothered to repack it >>> after the in cabin announcement. Gate staff aren?t going to perform bag
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:That would be a little surprising - limits have been in place in many
Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:I don?t think any of my power banks display capacity rating information. >>>>
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:21:02 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:At least on BA it came in as a rule around June. I was flying with them and
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:56:53 -0000 (UTC), Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
In message <1185v22$ho3n$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:48:34 on Sun, 13 Sep
2026, Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> remarked:
My power-bank looks just like a phone. In fact *is* a phone, but with a
There?s no need for Ryanair to have a jacket power bank policy. The worry
is that a power bank on fire in the overhead locker will go unobserved for
a while. If your jacket catches fire you ought to notice it. >>>>>>>>>>>>
bigger than average battery.
...
A phone with a larger than average battery isn?t a power bank. >>>>>>>>>>I wonder what size battery is large enough for Roland to call it a power
bank? Some phones with large batteries,
including mine, can reverse charge, so they can act as a small power >>>>>>>>>> bank in emergencies.
The realistic expectation of the airline is that people don?t put their
phones in the overhead locker. Also phones tend to be better made in terms
of battery safety than some of the more dodgy power banks. Perhaps it?s an
expectation too far and a phone ban in the overhead might be introduced.
The powerbank ban in the overheads is relatively new.
Yes, when did it come in? I don't recall hearing that rule on a flight,
but, unusually, it's been several months since
my last international flight.
Airlines are still
probably feeling their way on the whole lithium battery issue. In an ideal
world there would be no passenger lithium batteries inside a plane, but
that?s never going to happen.
Yes
it was announced over the cabin PA, which caused me to have to fish my >>>>>>> power bank out of my already stowed overhead bag. The flight attendant >>>>>>> thanked me and when I said I didn?t know about it and it wasn?t on the >>>>>>> website she said it was new and the website hadn?t caught up.
It has now:
Power bank limits:
Up to 2 power banks per person
Power banks must display capacity rating information.
Aircraft seat power supplies are to be used exclusively for charging >>>>>> personal electronic devices (PEDs), not power banks.
Power banks must be stored either in the seat pocket or in a bag placed >>>>>> under the seat in front.
Power banks must not exceed 100Wh
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions
places around the world for years (China was enforcing them long before >>>> Covid (just to put a timeline in) for example). Any manufacturer not
putting a capacity marking somewhere has known for a long time that some >>>> of their customers may end up seeing them confiscated. That said, this >>>> may be a self-rectifying problem - the sort of manufacturer that won't >>>> mark their products is also probably the sort who are producing cheap
shit we don't want onboard planes.
What's changed recently is not that there are limits on capacity, those >>>> have been around forever. The recent change is dictating whether you
can or cannot use them in flight, or can or cannot leave them in an
overhead locker.
Again, Asia led the way on introducing and enforcing these new
restrictions, but the rest of world is now falling in line. The trigger >>>> was the fire onboard a JetBlue flight to Nassau early last year:
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-airbus-a320-lands-safely-nassau-portable-charger-fire/
searches. Judging by a colleague?s experience, lots of people don?t put
their phones in flight mode either. He was on an internal UK flight when >>> the first test of the emergency cell alert system was performed. He
reported that lots of phones were sounding the alert in the cabin.
I assumed emergency alerts were designed to overcome flight mode?
How could they?
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
Bob <nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 17:45, Rolf Mantel wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hours
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate >>>> you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'DarkI don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank >>>>>> specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both >>>>>> died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new >>>>> phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it. >>>>
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
hiking in the mountains, train back, with extensive use of the phone for >>> navigation, as well as listening to audio through my headphones
throughout. 2 year old phone. When I got on the "big" train (after the
meter gauge Appenzellerbahn out of the hills), my phone was reporting a
little over 60% battery, plenty to enable me to show my ticket on the
return journey. But I am repeatedly berated for paying the "apple tax"
or being some sort of splash the cash moneybags for not buying a cheap
low end Android phone. Perhaps people with those low end Android phones
have different experiences.
Robin
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that aren?t >> Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this. My phone battery runs down twice as
fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still
be in coverage from a practical point of view (making calls (does anyone still do that?), using data etc.) but wasting battery on far more
transmit power. Constantly swapping between marginal cells and falling
back to older, less efficient protocols (I forget EDGE is even still a
thing until I get on a train in the UK and discover protocol icons I
didn't realise modern phones still even had...) doesn't help either.
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
Bob <nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 17:45, Rolf Mantel wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hours
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate >>>>> you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'DarkI don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank >>>>>>> specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both >>>>>>> died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new >>>>>> phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it. >>>>>
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
hiking in the mountains, train back, with extensive use of the phone for >>>> navigation, as well as listening to audio through my headphones
throughout. 2 year old phone. When I got on the "big" train (after the >>>> meter gauge Appenzellerbahn out of the hills), my phone was reporting a >>>> little over 60% battery, plenty to enable me to show my ticket on the
return journey. But I am repeatedly berated for paying the "apple tax" >>>> or being some sort of splash the cash moneybags for not buying a cheap >>>> low end Android phone. Perhaps people with those low end Android phones >>>> have different experiences.
Robin
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that aren?t >>> Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this. My phone battery runs down twice as
fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I frequently visit. >>
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile
infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still
be in coverage from a practical point of view (making calls (does anyone
still do that?), using data etc.) but wasting battery on far more
transmit power. Constantly swapping between marginal cells and falling
back to older, less efficient protocols (I forget EDGE is even still a
thing until I get on a train in the UK and discover protocol icons I
didn't realise modern phones still even had...) doesn't help either.
All down to the dead hand of the Treasury. They saw cellular spectrum auctions as a wonderful wheeze to extract millions (lots of) from the operators. This has had the inevitable effect of reducing capital
investment. In my limited European travels I?ve found Iceland, Norway and Switzerland to have the best networks. Probably related to their no
nonsense attitude to their sometimes difficult/dangerous geography.
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that aren?t >> Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this. My phone battery runs down twice as
fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile >infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still
On 14/09/2026 17:45, Rolf Mantel wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hoursI don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both
died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new
phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it.
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate
you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'Dark
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
hiking in the mountains, train back, with extensive use of the phone for navigation, as well as listening to audio through my headphones
throughout. 2 year old phone. When I got on the "big" train (after the
meter gauge Appenzellerbahn out of the hills), my phone was reporting a little over 60% battery, plenty to enable me to show my ticket on the
return journey. But I am repeatedly berated for paying the "apple tax"
or being some sort of splash the cash moneybags for not buying a cheap
low end Android phone. Perhaps people with those low end Android phones
have different experiences.
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:57:05 +0300
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that
aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down twice
as fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I
frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile
infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still
Can't disagree there. The amount of outdoor dead spots within the M25 for example is ridiculous.˙ You'd think it was some remote mountain range,
not the capital city.
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:57:05 +0300
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that
aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down twice
as fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I
frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile
infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still
Can't disagree there. The amount of outdoor dead spots within the M25 for example is ridiculous.˙ You'd think it was some remote mountain range,
not the capital city.
On 15/09/2026 10:19, boltar@caprica.universe wrote:
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:57:05 +0300
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that
aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down twice
as fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I
frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile
infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still
Can't disagree there. The amount of outdoor dead spots within the M25 for
example is ridiculous.˙ You'd think it was some remote mountain range,
not the capital city.
And here in rural-land if the power goes off so do some of the mobile
masts - no UPS or back-up gennies!
On 15/09/2026 10:51, ColinR wrote:
On 15/09/2026 10:19, boltar@caprica.universe wrote:What is UPS?
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:57:05 +0300
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:Can't disagree there. The amount of outdoor dead spots within the M25
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that >>>>> aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down twice
as fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I
frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile
infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still >>>
for
example is ridiculous.˙ You'd think it was some remote mountain
range, not the capital city.
And here in rural-land if the power goes off so do some of the mobile
masts - no UPS or back-up gennies!
I also thought that many of the masts would be able to operate for a
while on batteries in the event of a power failure.
On 15/09/2026 10:51, ColinR wrote:
On 15/09/2026 10:19, boltar@caprica.universe wrote:What is UPS?
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:57:05 +0300
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:Can't disagree there. The amount of outdoor dead spots within the M25
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that >>>>> aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down twice
as fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I
frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile
infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still >>>
for
example is ridiculous.˙ You'd think it was some remote mountain
range, not the capital city.
And here in rural-land if the power goes off so do some of the mobile
masts - no UPS or back-up gennies!
I also thought that many of the masts would be able to operate for a
while on batteries in the event of a power failure.
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
Bob <nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 17:45, Rolf Mantel wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hours
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate >>>> you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'DarkI don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank >>>>>> specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both >>>>>> died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new >>>>> phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it. >>>>
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
hiking in the mountains, train back, with extensive use of the phone for >>> navigation, as well as listening to audio through my headphones
throughout. 2 year old phone. When I got on the "big" train (after the
meter gauge Appenzellerbahn out of the hills), my phone was reporting a
little over 60% battery, plenty to enable me to show my ticket on the
return journey. But I am repeatedly berated for paying the "apple tax"
or being some sort of splash the cash moneybags for not buying a cheap
low end Android phone. Perhaps people with those low end Android phones
have different experiences.
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that
aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down twice as
fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I frequently
visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still
be in coverage from a practical point of view (making calls (does anyone still do that?), using data etc.) but wasting battery on far more
transmit power.˙ Constantly swapping between marginal cells and falling
back to older, less efficient protocols (I forget EDGE is even still a
thing until I get on a train in the UK and discover protocol icons I
didn't realise modern phones still even had...) doesn't help either.
On 15/09/2026 15:11, hounslow3 wrote:
On 15/09/2026 10:51, ColinR wrote:The Vodaphone mast near my family in Somerset goes straight off.
On 15/09/2026 10:19, boltar@caprica.universe wrote:What is UPS?
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:57:05 +0300
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:Can't disagree there. The amount of outdoor dead spots within the M25 >>>> for
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that >>>>>> aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down twice >>>>> as fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I
frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile
infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still >>>>
example is ridiculous.˙ You'd think it was some remote mountain
range, not the capital city.
And here in rural-land if the power goes off so do some of the mobile
masts - no UPS or back-up gennies!
I also thought that many of the masts would be able to operate for a
while on batteries in the event of a power failure.
Bob <nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 17:45, Rolf Mantel wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hours
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank
specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both
died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new >>>> phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it.
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate >>> you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'Dark
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
hiking in the mountains, train back, with extensive use of the phone for
navigation, as well as listening to audio through my headphones
throughout. 2 year old phone. When I got on the "big" train (after the
meter gauge Appenzellerbahn out of the hills), my phone was reporting a
little over 60% battery, plenty to enable me to show my ticket on the
return journey. But I am repeatedly berated for paying the "apple tax"
or being some sort of splash the cash moneybags for not buying a cheap
low end Android phone. Perhaps people with those low end Android phones
have different experiences.
It?s not that simple. You can buy reasonably high end, high quality Android >phones at half the price of an equivalent iPhone, with a larger battery
than any iPhone.
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 15:49:11 +0100
Martin <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 15:11, hounslow3 wrote:
On 15/09/2026 10:51, ColinR wrote:The Vodaphone mast near my family in Somerset goes straight off.
On 15/09/2026 10:19, boltar@caprica.universe wrote:What is UPS?
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:57:05 +0300
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains
that aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down
twice as fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else >>>>>> I frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile >>>>>> infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can
still
Can't disagree there. The amount of outdoor dead spots within the
M25 for
example is ridiculous.˙ You'd think it was some remote mountain
range, not the capital city.
And here in rural-land if the power goes off so do some of the
mobile masts - no UPS or back-up gennies!
I also thought that many of the masts would be able to operate for a
while on batteries in the event of a power failure.
Meanwhile BT is slowly forcing any remaining customers onto its IP phone system that requires the phones to be plugged into a broadband router so when the power goes.... They just don't give a shit.
But then this is the company that "improved" - their words, not mine -
the phone service here in london by removing the ability to dial local numbers.
You now need to prepend 020 onto everything. There is zero excuse for this other than fuck-you-lot-we-dont-care cut price lazy network programming.
On 2026-09-15 16:50, boltar@caprica.universe wrote:
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 15:49:11 +0100
Martin <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 15:11, hounslow3 wrote:
On 15/09/2026 10:51, ColinR wrote:The Vodaphone mast near my family in Somerset goes straight off.
On 15/09/2026 10:19, boltar@caprica.universe wrote:What is UPS?
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:57:05 +0300
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains >>>>>>>> that aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down
twice as fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else >>>>>>> I frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful
mobile infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate >>>>>>> you can still
Can't disagree there. The amount of outdoor dead spots within the >>>>>> M25 for
example is ridiculous.˙ You'd think it was some remote mountain
range, not the capital city.
And here in rural-land if the power goes off so do some of the
mobile masts - no UPS or back-up gennies!
I also thought that many of the masts would be able to operate for a
while on batteries in the event of a power failure.
Meanwhile BT is slowly forcing any remaining customers onto its IP
phone system that requires the phones to be plugged into a broadband
router so when the power goes.... They just don't give a shit.
But then this is the company that "improved" - their words, not mine -
the phone service here in london by removing the ability to dial local
numbers.
You now need to prepend 020 onto everything. There is zero excuse for
this
other than fuck-you-lot-we-dont-care cut price lazy network programming.
I don't live in London so I don't know, but when they all went back onto
the same 020 code I thought that you could then dial the 8-digit local number without the code. Not that it's much shorter.
Google AI says: From a landline inside London: You can usually dial just
the 8-digit local number without the 020 code.
Does it not work now from BT landlines?
On 15/09/2026 17:07, nib wrote:
On 2026-09-15 16:50, boltar@caprica.universe wrote:
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 15:49:11 +0100
Martin <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 15:11, hounslow3 wrote:
On 15/09/2026 10:51, ColinR wrote:The Vodaphone mast near my family in Somerset goes straight off.
On 15/09/2026 10:19, boltar@caprica.universe wrote:What is UPS?
On Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:57:05 +0300
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> gabbled:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains >>>>>>>>> that aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down >>>>>>>> twice as fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere
else I frequently visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful
mobile infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate >>>>>>>> you can still
Can't disagree there. The amount of outdoor dead spots within the >>>>>>> M25 for
example is ridiculous.˙ You'd think it was some remote mountain >>>>>>> range, not the capital city.
And here in rural-land if the power goes off so do some of the
mobile masts - no UPS or back-up gennies!
I also thought that many of the masts would be able to operate for
a while on batteries in the event of a power failure.
Meanwhile BT is slowly forcing any remaining customers onto its IP
phone system that requires the phones to be plugged into a broadband
router so when the power goes.... They just don't give a shit.
But then this is the company that "improved" - their words, not mine
- the phone service here in london by removing the ability to dial
local numbers.
You now need to prepend 020 onto everything. There is zero excuse for
this
other than fuck-you-lot-we-dont-care cut price lazy network programming.
I don't live in London so I don't know, but when they all went back
onto the same 020 code I thought that you could then dial the 8-digit
local number without the code. Not that it's much shorter.
Google AI says: From a landline inside London: You can usually dial
just the 8-digit local number without the 020 code.
Does it not work now from BT landlines?
If it didn't, that would be an Ofcom decision rather than BT's.˙ They
have made that crazy choice in a few places like Bournemouth, so they
can give out local numbers beginning with 0 and 1 rather than taking the sensible route of lengthening the number and allocating a shorter area
code, but I doubt they would dare try it in London.
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
Bob <nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 17:45, Rolf Mantel wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hours
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to navigate >>>>> you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'DarkI don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank >>>>>>> specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both >>>>>>> died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a new >>>>>> phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing with it. >>>>>
mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
hiking in the mountains, train back, with extensive use of the phone for >>>> navigation, as well as listening to audio through my headphones
throughout. 2 year old phone. When I got on the "big" train (after the >>>> meter gauge Appenzellerbahn out of the hills), my phone was reporting a >>>> little over 60% battery, plenty to enable me to show my ticket on the
return journey. But I am repeatedly berated for paying the "apple tax" >>>> or being some sort of splash the cash moneybags for not buying a cheap >>>> low end Android phone. Perhaps people with those low end Android phones >>>> have different experiences.
Robin
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that aren?t >>> Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this. My phone battery runs down twice as
fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I frequently visit. >>
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile
infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still
be in coverage from a practical point of view (making calls (does anyone
still do that?), using data etc.) but wasting battery on far more
transmit power. Constantly swapping between marginal cells and falling
back to older, less efficient protocols (I forget EDGE is even still a
thing until I get on a train in the UK and discover protocol icons I
didn't realise modern phones still even had...) doesn't help either.
All down to the dead hand of the Treasury. They saw cellular spectrum auctions as a wonderful wheeze to extract millions (lots of) from the operators. This has had the inevitable effect of reducing capital
investment. In my limited European travels I?ve found Iceland, Norway and Switzerland to have the best networks. Probably related to their no
nonsense attitude to their sometimes difficult/dangerous geography.
On 2026-09-15 1:09 a.m., Tweed wrote:
Clank <clank75@googlemail.com> wrote:
On 15/09/2026 10:21, Tweed wrote:
Bob <nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
On 14/09/2026 17:45, Rolf Mantel wrote:
Am 14.09.2026 um 17:04 schrieb boltar@caprica.universe:On Saturday I went for a hike around Appenzell. Train out, 4 hours
On Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:58:20 +0100
Roger <usenet@rilynn.me.uk> gabbled:
I don't travel by train often enough to bother buying a power bank >>>>>>>> specially. I think I have had two over the years, but they've both >>>>>>>> died or
been lost.
Anyone whose phone battery can't last a day either needs to get a >>>>>>> new
phone
or get a life as they clearly spend far too much time playing
with it.
One variant of 'Playing with the phone' is to use the phone to
navigate
you through a day walk in the hills.˙ Before Komoot supported 'Dark >>>>>> mode' meaningfully, this regularly killed even new phones.
One of my reasons to carry two phones was to keep the old one for
showing the train ticket on the way home ;-(
hiking in the mountains, train back, with extensive use of the
phone for
navigation, as well as listening to audio through my headphones
throughout. 2 year old phone. When I got on the "big" train (after the >>>>> meter gauge Appenzellerbahn out of the hills), my phone was
reporting a
little over 60% battery, plenty to enable me to show my ticket on the >>>>> return journey. But I am repeatedly berated for paying the "apple tax" >>>>> or being some sort of splash the cash moneybags for not buying a cheap >>>>> low end Android phone. Perhaps people with those low end Android
phones
have different experiences.
Robin
You have the advantage of a decent cellular network and trains that
aren?t
Faraday cages.
I think people underestimate this.˙ My phone battery runs down twice as
fast when I'm in the UK compared to almost anywhere else I frequently
visit.
Coverage maps don't tell the whole story of the UK's woeful mobile
infrastructure - if the network deployment is inadequate you can still
be in coverage from a practical point of view (making calls (does anyone >>> still do that?), using data etc.) but wasting battery on far more
transmit power.˙ Constantly swapping between marginal cells and falling
back to older, less efficient protocols (I forget EDGE is even still a
thing until I get on a train in the UK and discover protocol icons I
didn't realise modern phones still even had...) doesn't help either.
All down to the dead hand of the Treasury. They saw cellular spectrum
auctions as a wonderful wheeze to extract millions (lots of) from the
operators. This has had the inevitable effect of reducing capital
investment. In my limited European travels I?ve found Iceland, Norway and
Switzerland to have the best networks. Probably related to their no
nonsense attitude to their sometimes difficult/dangerous geography.
Norway even switched off 95% of its FM radio coverage pushing ten years
ago.˙ DAB works throughout the country, even up in Longyearbyen on
Svalbard.˙ That location however has the only NRK AM transmitter,
1kW/1485, which makes it into western Canada during the late fall/winter/early spring.
Who, aaprt from radio hams, listens to AM stations these days?
Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
Who, aaprt from radio hams, listens to AM stations these days?
The present legalised version of Radio Caroline has a reasonable following in the East Anglia /Kent area who are in range of the signal on 648 KHz transmitted from a former BBC world Service mast at Orford Ness. Actually with the demise of many other AM users the signal can be heard much further if you want to recreate that authentic experience of fading hiss crackle
and pop people mainly associated tuning into Radio. Luxembourg in days gone by.
Personally I prefer their internet feeds which are clear and in Stereo.
On 16/09/2026 08:22, Marland wrote:
Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
Who, aaprt from radio hams, listens to AM stations these days?
The present legalised version of Radio Caroline has a reasonable following in the East Anglia /Kent area who are in range of the signal on 648 KHz transmitted from a former BBC world Service mast at Orford Ness. Actually with the demise of many other AM users the signal can be heard much further if you want to recreate that authentic experience of fading hiss crackle and pop people mainly associated tuning into Radio. Luxembourg in days gone by.
Personally I prefer their internet feeds which are clear and in Stereo.
I'm of the same mind. On the rare occasions I'm in Anglia with my car I
do listen on AM. They re-configured their compressor in August and the
AM audio does sound better. The power is noticeably up as a result.
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