Erasing Tape on Public Transport.

Dave Slevin · 20th July 2008, 05:39 PM

This is an old one but would anyone like to clarify is this an urban myth or not. The question being is it possible to accidentally erase a tape or hard drive on electrified trains, trams etc. The London underground for example.

Should I be wearing my tinfoil hat or not

amorris · 20th July 2008, 05:54 PM

I had this expalained to me that the conditions are there for such a thing only you would have to be extremely close to the electrified fields as they diminish exponentially with distance. and general building and safety codes dont get you even close to close enough to break through the coercivity threshold to have any data loss.

**Jules** · 20th July 2008, 06:09 PM

In other words you would have to put the tape box down on the exact part of train floor that was above the motor.

So if you stand for the whole journey with the tape in a bag kept off the floor or sit down and keep the tape on your knees you will be fine.

You should however wrap any tape in foil to protect it from Martian space wave radiation (which can erase cowbell tracks).

d_fu · 20th July 2008, 06:29 PM

There was indeed an issue on a certain type of german trains ten years ago. The foldable trays in the seat ahead were held up by magnets which were strong enough and so ill-positioned in the corners of the tray as to be able to destroy data on laptop drives...
Here's an article on the issue (in german only, run it through Google at your own risk).

Never heard of anything similar since then.

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20th July 2008, 05:39 PM	#1
Dave Slevin Gear nut Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 110	Erasing Tape on Public Transport. This is an old one but would anyone like to clarify is this an urban myth or not. The question being is it possible to accidentally erase a tape or hard drive on electrified trains, trams etc. The London underground for example. Should I be wearing my tinfoil hat or not __________________ http://www.virtustudios.ie

20th July 2008, 06:09 PM	#3
Jules Gearslutz.com admin Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 11,400	In other words you would have to put the tape box down on the exact part of train floor that was above the motor. So if you stand for the whole journey with the tape in a bag kept off the floor or sit down and keep the tape on your knees you will be fine. You should however wrap any tape in foil to protect it from Martian space wave radiation (which can erase cowbell tracks). __________________ Jules (Re: hollow column speaker stands) "Fill with the "Sands of Time" for the best bass response." - Kyle S

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20th July 2008, 05:54 PM	#2
amorris Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: winter park Posts: 198	I had this expalained to me that the conditions are there for such a thing only you would have to be extremely close to the electrified fields as they diminish exponentially with distance. and general building and safety codes dont get you even close to close enough to break through the coercivity threshold to have any data loss.

20th July 2008, 06:29 PM	#4
d_fu Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 1,371	There was indeed an issue on a certain type of german trains ten years ago. The foldable trays in the seat ahead were held up by magnets which were strong enough and so ill-positioned in the corners of the tray as to be able to destroy data on laptop drives... Here's an article on the issue (in german only, run it through Google at your own risk). Never heard of anything similar since then.