The increase in security at airport
check-in has led to a resurfacing of the age old concern, 'what
effect will airport x-rays have on my magnetic tape recording?'
X-ray systems used at airport check-in have long been found
to have no effect on magnetic tape media. But, customer uncertainty
regarding what effect the new sophisticated Explosive Detection
Systems (EDS) might have, prompted Sony to conduct a preliminary
test to determine if more extensive testing was warranted.
Based on a controlled test using a variety of Sony magnetic
tapes with varying degrees of susceptibility to erasure (i.e.
values of coercivity), it was found that the EDS in use at one
airport did not impact the magnetic recording on the tapes tested.
Unfortunately variations in the design of security x-ray scanning
equipment (i.e.: positioning of the electric motors that power
the conveyer belt; radiation intensity & frequency; speed
of the conveyor belt; length of time the material is x-rayed;
equipment used outside the U.S.) make it impossible to definitively
determine what effect, if any, these new scanners might have
on magnetic tape recordings.
Although it is highly unlikely that these new EDS' will
affect your magnetic recording, as a safeguard it is recommended
that you consider the following guidelines:
- Carry-on valuable recordings and submit them for hand
inspection at security checks.
- Allow yourself some extra time in the event there is any
question.
- Carry along a sample tape that can be put through the
normal inspection, if necessary.
- Avoid mailing magnetic tape through the United States
Postal Service, or the like, unless it can be arranged for
these mailings to be exempted from being x-rayed.
- If it is unavoidable for your tape to be subjected to
x-ray security, try to avoid multiple passes.
- If possible, make a back-up copy before you embark on
your travels.
- Sony
2/2003
Back
to Main FAQ | Back
to the top
Online Formats
 |
CERTIFIED PRO MEDIA:
CERTIFIED HDCAM MEDIA, CERTIFIED HDCAM SR MEDIA, CERTIFIED DIG BETACAM, CERTIFIED DVCAM MEDIA, CERTIFIED BETA SP MEDIA
DISCS:
LINE 1 MEDIA BLU-RAY, BLU-RAY, CD-R DISCS, DVD FOR CAMCORDER, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, LIGHTSCRIBE, XDCAM PRO DISC
VIDEO FORMATS:
PANASONIC PLAYBACK PAYBACK QUALIFYING PRODUCTS, BETACAM SP, BETACAM SX, DIGITAL BETACAM, DIGITAL MASTER, DVCAM TAPE, DVCPRO / 50 / HD TAPE, HDCAM/HDCAM SR, HDV TAPES, LARGE DV, MINI DV TAPES, MPEG IMX, P2 CARDS, SxS MEMORY CARDS, SDHC MEMORY CARDS, VHS BULK / PACKAGED, XDCAM PROFESSIONAL DISC, OLDER / OTHER VIDEO FORMATS
DATA STORAGE MEDIA:
LTO ULTRIUM TAPES, LTO CARTRIDGE ANALYZER, DLT + SDLT TAPES, AIT TAPES, T10K / T10000 TAPES, 4MM DDS TAPES, 8MM TAPES, ENTERPRISE - 1/2 INCH, OPTICAL DISKS, VXA TAPE, ECHO RECYCLED/CERTIFIED DATA MEDIA, OLDER / OTHER DATA TAPES
HARDWARE:
DVD/CD ARCHIVAL UNIT, DISC DUPLICATORS/TOWER DUPLICATORS, DVD/CD/BD PRINTERS + DUPLICATORS, HARD DRIVES - STORAGE, G-SPEED
USB/FLASH MEMORY:
FLASH/USB DRIVES, COMPACT FLASH CARDS, MEMORY STICK CARDS, SDHC AND COMPACT FLASH MEMORY CARDS, SECURE DIGITAL HIGH CAPACITY (SDHC) CARDS
SOFTWARE:
COPY PROTECTION
ACCESSORIES:
BATTERIES, EXTENDED WARRANTIES, INKJET CARTRIDGES, CASES + SLEEVES, DISC PRINTER + COPIER ACCESSORY KITS, STORAGE CASES + RACKS, TAPE + DATA CLEANERS, THERMAL RIBBONS
AUDIO:
AUDIO CASSETTES, DAT TAPES, SONY MINIDISC
SPECIALS/BUNDLES:
MONEY SAVING BUNDLES, SPECIALS & CLEARANCE
|
FREE
SAMPLE 
