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64kbps @ 40,000 ft.

Posted by Hemos on from the lucy-in-the-sky-with-diamonds dept.

jumpstop writes "The NYT Technology section reports that 64kbps is now available on business jets. Sure, you can read your email and surf the web, but can you blast away at Wolfenstein?"

2 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. The big question.... by andyring · · Score: 4, Interesting

    While this is all cool and good, if these satellites provide coverage pretty much anywhere for airplanes, couldn't us slashdotters figure out a way to acquire the laptop PC card and any antenna(s) needed to use this bandwidth at home? I obviously don't know how hard (if even possible) this would be, but hey, if nothing else, it sounds like there is potential here for good-quality wireless Internet for the masses back on good 'ol planet Earth. Maybe even a reasonable end to Internet for rural areas?

  2. Re:Already approaching from the wrong direction by interstellar_donkey · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I can see (and expect) power to your wi-fi WAP to be shutoff during takeoff-landing.

    But, from what I understand, the frequencies used by the aircraft would not experience interfearence from the wi-fi network.

    But this just made me think: I keep my 802.11b card in my laptop all the time, and when I fly, I usually pull my laptop out (typically out of bordom). I never really thought about it before, but I wonder if I'm breaking any laws/regulations by having that little thing on while in flight... and if so, are we going to start seing flight attendents asking people to pull their PC cards out?

    --
    The Internet is generally stupid