Slashdot Mirror
Boeing Connexion, No More Wi-Fi at 30,000 ft?
symonty writes "After 6 years and one billion dollars, Boeing is evaluating whether or not their wifi for planes connectivity business can be a viable business. " I've never had the actual pleasure of evaluating it or not; some folks, however, have said it's a great service.
There are two basic components needed for a useful Wi-Fi connection:
1) A WiFi access point. This is reasonably easy, even if you have to make it play nice on the plane. Flight safety certification/qualification is difficult. The FAA is (understandably) paranoid about such things and I'm glad they are.
2) A connection to the outside world. On an airplane, this is much more difficult. Unless you want the system to be restricted to certain service areas (like CONUS only), this part means "satellite". Satellite means EXPENSIVE. Hell, even to provide full coverage of the CONUS airspace from the ground would be extremely expensive. $1 billion for such infrastructure seems cheap to me.
retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
> Who is going to pay for an Internet connection on a really long flight when their laptop
> battery can't carry a charge long enough to use it all the way?
Modern long/mediaum haul aircraft have personal power outlets on each seat into which you can plug special power adapters/inverters. I only had a problem once, and that was easily solved by asking the stewardess to turn the power on....
The biggest issue with these kind of internet connections is the price, which would certainly stop me from using it unless the company is willing to foot the bill (Anyway, I'd rather be watching a movie or sleeping than working).
Steve.
You can find out what each airline offers at http://seatguru.com/articles/in-seat_laptop_power. php
The aircraft power supply is usually restricted to 75 watts which is a problem for MacBook Pro and many powerful 17" PC laptops which need more than that.