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Nintendo DS Emitting Anomalous Signal?

Posted by Zonk on from the dual-screens-means-twice-the-emissions? dept.

An Anonymous reader writes "An owner of Nintendo's Shiny New Portable, has noticed his DS is emitting a signal that is projecting a ghostly image of his screen onto his TV- and he's not even multiplayer gaming. He and several others have uploaded photos of their DSs interfering with their TV's reception. As one forum-goer points out, this doesn't seem like the DS is adhering to FCC standards." More news from a forum, so enjoy some NaCl with this.

4 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yeah, and? by Student_Tech · · Score: 3, Informative

    TEMPEST @ Wikipedia
    Another article with some more links.
    I think the original poster may be referring to the Van Eck Phreaking, not TEMPEST as TEMPEST is the US code limiting the radiation out from electronic equipment, and Van Eck Phreaking is actually receiveing the signal emitted from the equipment.
    Actually for more go to Google and look up "Van Eck Phreaking"

  2. Re:FCC Forced Recall BABY! by Muad'Dave · · Score: 4, Informative

    I doubt seriously this will happen. Here's a link to the DS's FCC Certification Report. Just because a part 15 device impacts a non-part 15 device doesn't mean it is not operating within spec. All it means is that the part 15 device must be moved, turned off, etc to eliminate the objectionable interference. Read that little FCC label on the DS (or in the manual). Note that the DS user and TV owner are the same person in this case. They can choose to play and accept the interference or turn off either the DS or TV. My guess is that the DS can't interfere far enough away to cause a neighbor's TV to show interference, so the product probably won't cause harmful interference to anyone but its owner, and only right next to a TV.

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    Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  3. Doesn't make sense by dfj225 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Ok IANAEE but I believe one poster said he saw an image of Mario in his TV. Now, to my understanding his TV was analogue and the DS is entirely digital. It might make sense to see lines or other noise, but projecting the image seems impossible. I'm not buying it...most TVs get interference from microwaves or vaccuum cleaners or other high powered devices, I have a hard time believing that the DS, which is a low powered DC, digital device would interfere with a television.

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    SIGFAULT
  4. Re:Using the NDS on an airplane by The+Evil+Couch · · Score: 4, Informative
    I used to be an airborne Ranger. While prepping our equipment during an airborne operation, a lot of times, guys would be doing radio checks as well as using their radios to communicate with guys in other airplanes and guys that were already on the ground.

    We're talking radios with 5 watt transmit power, minimum. If we weren't screwing up instruments then, I have a really hard time believing that low-power interferrence is that big of a problem. instruments have to be pretty on, or we'd have a misdrop and drop in some farmer's field or something, which didn't happen, so I'm pretty sure we didn't screw them up badly, if at all.

    I'm pretty sure that the FAA is just paranoid about their restrictions.

    I wouldn't worry about playing games on airplanes.

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