64kbps @ 40,000 ft. 232
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?"
If A = B and B = C, then A = C, except where void or prohibited by law. -- Roy Santoro
Huh? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Flying business class? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:And in other news... (Score:3, Insightful)
Already approaching from the wrong direction (Score:5, Insightful)
Why not the flight? Or the day. I'd pay $15 to have a solid net connection on a 5 hour flight.
I'm looking at this from a passenger point of view, but I think we're eventually going to see (and need) net connectivity in the air.
And it should be cheaper then they think. Why go for a wired network in the plane at all? Pulling cables through a pre-existing airplane has to be expensive. A decent WAP which can handle 64 users at the same time and cover the entire cabin gives you a lan at ~$5-700 installed. Couple that with pre-existing antenneas, get a decent switch, and violla, you have internect connectivity in an average craft for a few thousand bucks.
Wi-fi is already becomming the standard at airports (even though current coverage stinks). Why not partner with one of the many wi-fi providers popping up? I don't subscribe to any of them, but if I found out that my subscription to boingo would keep me connected at the airport, in the plane, and the hotel when I landed, I'd sign up in a second.
Re:Already approaching from the wrong direction (Score:2, Insightful)
The one thing that I'd be worried about with wi-fi is interference. With cable runs, you can handle shielding better. As it stands, they want you to turn off your laptop, portable CD player, cell phone, etc. during takeoff and landing.
Then again, if those are fine to use during the flight, then maybe this would be OK too. Any electrical engineers (or IANAEE) care to comment?
Re:Already approaching from the wrong direction (Score:4, Insightful)
Because wireless networks can have spurious emissions that their wired counterparts do not have to contend with. Unfortunately, I'm guessing the FAA will never allow wireless radio transmissions in an aircraft.
Airline Security? (Score:2, Insightful)
Hell, anyone with a modern web browser has the software installed. Then again, GSM mobile phones encrypt their traffic (I think, correct me if I'm wrong), so maybe it isn't seen as a problem.