🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <33D59D6C.66C@ix.netcom.com>, TheSmurf@ix.netcom.com wrote:

> Craig as Navar wrote:
> > I'm a techno/trance DJ, so I make my own mixtapes, and I send a lot of tapes
> > to friends both here in Australia and in the US/Canada. I always wrap the
> > tape(s) in foil just in case they get run through x-ray scanners, or are sat
> > onto magnetic scanners.
> Aluminum foil may not stop all the x-rays.  It wont stop a DC (or near DC)
> magnetic field either.  I assume the scanner uses an alternating magnetic
> field?  A large coffee can may be a better shipping container, or a square
> biscuit tin.
> Papa Smurf

Aluminium foil will provide little protection against the magnetic fields.

With an X-ray scanner, what would you do if you were a postal inspector and
you found a package that seemed opaque to X-rays?  Well, you would do the
obvious thing and turn it up the scanner so that the X-rays *did* pass
through the package with the unknown contents.  Maybe just to be sure, you
would pass
it through the scanner a couple of times in different orientations to make
sure you get a good image. My opinion is that covering your package in
aluminium
foil is not as good as properly packing your tapes.  This information is more
relevant for people sending film in packages than mag. tapes, as film
(especially fast film or exposed film) is much more sensitive to X-rays
than magnetic tape.

If you pay by weight rather than size, try packing your tapes in a larger
corrugated cardboard box, surrounded by bubble wrap, polystyrene foam, or
polyurethane foam.  The further away from the sides of the box, the
further away from any magnetic field source.  Also, the more likely that
your box will survive any physical damage in transit.  Label your box as
"Computer Tapes - Keep Away From Magnetic Fields".  This is more likely to
warn handlers to keep your package safe, as people are more aware of the
value of computer data on tape than they would be of recorded music.

The more fuss you make about them *NOT* X-raying your package, the more
likely that that is what will happen.

As someone who has passed through security at airports many times with
floppy disks and hard disks without problems, I will pass on the
information from a FAQ on Apple's PowerBooks answering a question about
X-ray machines:

" The X-rays emitted from the machine are not at all dangerous to the
computer. However,the metal rollers below the conveyor belt emit a
magnetic field that could damage the data on the hard drive if the
shielding is not adequate. We have never heard of a report of this being a
problem in the United States, but in under-developed countries you might
want to ask that the PowerBook be hand checked.  [...]

You should be aware that the metal detecting batons used by some security
guards emit a very strong, unshielded, magnetic field. You should avoid
getting the computer and any magnetic media, such as floppy disks, near
these devices."

Bill Lee
Have you considered using a CD-R player to turn your (analogue) work into
the digital domain?  This can be cheaper to send than a tape package.

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