JetBlue Launches Satellite-Based Inflight Wi-Fi 79
First time accepted submitter spineas writes "JetBlue is rolling out a new form of inflight Wi-Fi operating from satellites instead of ground-based cell towers. Up to eight times faster than traditional inflight Wi-Fi, it will enable users to stream video whilst in the air, something that is nearly impossible to do with current dial-up speed access in aircraft."
Re:Why can't people just enjoy the peace and quiet (Score:5, Insightful)
Why can't people just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet ?
Why must they bring all those hustle and bustle into one of the last quiet spaces left ?
What peace and quiet? Airline cabins are noisy (what do think noise canceling headphones were invented for?) and uncomfortable. Some of us can sleep through this after a fashion. Others would much rather get work done so they have to time to relax somewhere that is actually relaxing.
Re: (Score:3)
Don't get me wrong, I usually sleep or read entertainment stuff (recently for me: either Pratchett or Iain M Banks - I heartily recommend his excellent Culture cycle, BTW) on airplanes, but what this is about is giving people choice in the matter. If you want to relax and "enjoy the peace and quiet", fine ! if you want to connect to the global planetary network, be it for work reasons or entertainment too, you should be given the choice.
I get what you're saying - but you can't
Re: (Score:3)
Why can't people just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet ?
Relax? Not if you're over 5'6" or the person sitting next to you weighs more than 150 lbs. Airline seats are some of the least comfortable places I ever go; I've been more comfortable in porta-potties. If I can't rest I might as well get some work done (provided of course my battery holds out, as I can never seem to get planes with AC for charging my laptop). Bring on the wifi, I say.
Re: (Score:2)
While I do agree with you, that economy cabin seats could be more roomey and comfortable, I do think that you exaggerate.
I'm 6'1" and around 240 lbs and I have no problem relaxing on a plane. And before you say anything, I'm not spilling over to the person besides me either. What I do is simple: I always (if possible) get a window seat. That way I can lean on to the fuselage wall and away from the person besides me. I stretch my legs underneath the seat in front of me and I fall asleep. If I want to I can b
Re: (Score:2)
While I do agree with you, that economy cabin seats could be more roomey and comfortable, I do think that you exaggerate.
I'm 6'1" and around 240 lbs and I have no problem relaxing on a plane.
I'm 6'3" myself. I am happy if I can get a plane where my knees aren't hitting the seat in front of me. On top of that it appears that every time I fly the reclining ability of the steerage class seats diminishes a bit more; I've had non-bulkhead seats on some recent flights that did not recline at all. I find it nearly impossible to relax in an airline seat now.
Re: (Score:2)
Aisle seats work about the same for me, with the added bonus of not needing to climb out over the two people sitting with me if I need to get up for whatever reason. I'll get a little extra room by leaning out into the aisle a bit, except when the stewardesses bring the drink cart past. I us
Oh please (Score:1)
I connected to a Slingbox over a VPN after doing a Facetime conversation with my parents via GoGo. It's plenty fast enough for video.
Re:So, about Slashdot (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
My problem here is that this is announced as something that could be a global first.
It's only new for the Jetblue. Lots of other carriers had this for years and years. I remember I flew with Lufthansa somewhere between 7 and 10 years ago and they were doing this. And yes, I'm fairly sure it was satelite-based since it was on a transatlantic flight.
The only thing is that at that time the service while being free, was fairly useless for economy passengers, since there was no electrical power in the cabin and
How many? (Score:2)
Sure perhaps a few people can stream video over this connection, but I really doubt one satellite link would hold up to even ten people using Netflix...
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Frankly if there are hotels charging up to $17.95 per day [starwoodhotels.com] for wifi in a fixed location this is really a perfect example for Louis CK [youtube.com]. $9 an hour for high speed internet, while 'flying through the air like a bird' is a bargain.
Re:How many? (Score:5, Insightful)
There was a media flight yesterday morning that had a bunch of aviation press on it, all trying to push the system to its limits. Here's what one blogger [jaunted.com] had to say: "Speedtests proved that the WiFi remained fast, registering between 12-28 Mbps, even with over 60 devices connected and pushing activities like Netflix Instant, Google Video Hangouts, Ustream live streaming, and Skype calls." Engadget [engadget.com] also has more details about the media flight.
There are obviously a lot of posts about the service, but out of the ~10 that I read those had the most details about Wednesday morning's actual flight.
Re: (Score:2)
What kind of latency numbers do you get?
Re:How many? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
First, thanks for sharing the technical details. You're among friends.
Second, I see this level of latency as a feature, not a bug. Much below 250ms and you'll have VoIP. At this level, email sync, file transfers (music and video) work fine, but RTC won't.
This is EXACTLY what I want on a flight. Either the ability to watch streaming movies & listen to music with my headphones on, or talk quietly to a neighbor while doing work on the laptop and NOT hearing everyone else have phone calls.
Re: (Score:2)
Impressive, I stand corrected (Score:2)
Well I have to admit that's a lot more data than any normal flight would ever see. So I fully retract my statement and also offer congratulations on what seems to be a pretty excellent system!
I'm sure the latency is not that great as others asked about, but really that will not matter a lot to most people. Plenty good enough for browsing and video use.
Re: (Score:1)
Go to the home page. Scroll down to the bottom. You'll see it.
I'm assuming the Beta site is is sparse because it's, well, beta, and still pretty skeletal.
So this means I shouldn't... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Streaming video over in-flight WiFi? So this means I shouldn't check my notebook [youtube.com]?
Airlines tell you to never check anything valuable or fragile.
:).
If you need any more convincing, just talk to a baggage handler
But seriously, I've used WiFi on two airlines, on QANTAS it was barely usable but the number of page timeouts were so frustrating I ended up watching videos. On Southwest it was utterly useless, not even a single page loaded. JetBlue will be the same or worse.
Re: (Score:3)
Streaming video over in-flight WiFi? So this means I shouldn't check my notebook [youtube.com]?
Sadly more and more people refuse to check any bags, leading to flights over boarding first, massive problems in the overhead bins, high stress, and delayed flights.
Re: (Score:2)
Streaming video over in-flight WiFi? So this means I shouldn't check my notebook [youtube.com]?
Sadly more and more people refuse to pay to check any bags, leading to flights over boarding first, massive problems in the overhead bins, high stress, and delayed flights.
seriously, a total ripoff. i'm surprised they don't start charging for overhead luggage space. although if you bring your stuff to the gate and there's no baggage bin room, they usually gate check it for free.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Frontier does this for some passengers, though I think there are still ways to avoid the fee that don't involve paying more for your seat.
On a recent flight, I overheard that Spirit had bought Frontier. Tried googling it just now...turns out that Frontier was purchased by a private-equity firm headed up by a former chairman at Spirit [foxbusiness.com]. Given that my first (and last) experience with Spirit was total suckage
Re: (Score:2)
Streaming video over in-flight WiFi? So this means I shouldn't check my notebook [youtube.com]?
Sadly more and more people refuse to pay to check any bags, leading to flights over boarding first, massive problems in the overhead bins, high stress, and delayed flights.
seriously, a total ripoff. i'm surprised they don't start charging for overhead luggage space. although if you bring your stuff to the gate and there's no baggage bin room, they usually gate check it for free.
The airlines I fly allow you to check for free. Doesn't help. I'd be delighted if they charged for overhead space, or just make a charge for any "hand luggage" with wheels. If you're too lazy to carry your essentials, you should be forced to check them.
Re: (Score:2)
It's the airlines' fault for hidden charges for checked bags, and so it's only right that they reap the fallout.
Personally, I wish airlines would do away with their checked baggage fees. Besides the obvious, I'd also like to be able to take more than 10oz of hair gel, deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc., when I travel. Not to mention a pock
Congratulations! (Score:4, Informative)
Now they can join american, united, lufhansa, and all the other carriers that have sat based wifi.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, my thoughts entirely. Was a little surprised this was making "news" since I've been using sat-based wifi whilst flying over the Pacific for a few years now on several carriers.
Re: (Score:2)
Let me know when they offer free wifi. Jetblue is offering free wifi with a video streaming upgrade for $9 per month (to use satellite internet).
Re: (Score:3)
I think you misread that.
First, during the trial period, it's free. There is no comment as to how much it will cost after June 2014. Second, it's $9 per hour. So $18 to watch, say, a two hour movie. A bit pricey, methinks.
Re: (Score:2)
I think you misread that.
First, during the trial period, it's free. There is no comment as to how much it will cost after June 2014. Second, it's $9 per hour. So $18 to watch, say, a two hour movie. A bit pricey, methinks.
Sounds good to me. It just means that the only people who use it will be business travelers whose companies are paying. I'll actually be able to get some work done.
Re:Congratulations! (Score:5, Informative)
Nope, the basic service is actually free. The streaming plan initially free but will be charged at 9/hr later. Here is their pamplet [imgur.com] and a news source [consumerist.com] talking about this
Re: (Score:2)
GoGo in-flight wifi is cell based, not sat based, unless something has changed in the past week.
Re: (Score:2)
I believe that they have successful deployments using SAT. But this is pretty new stuff for them. Most of their equipment uses ground based stations for which they where granted an exclusive FCC licenses. I'm sure that the majority of their installs are currently ground based and will continue to be ground based for a long time.
Re: (Score:1)
"Wi-Fi operating from satellites" (Score:5, Funny)
I can't even get my laptop to connect from the corner of the garden. That's some serious WiFi power!
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
The Netgear router has been taped to the satellite for months, but it was only last week that they were able to attach the Pringles can.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Not necessarily. If they have a spectrum license that gives them rights nationwide, with rights to spill over into Canada and Mexico, they COULD have 6-12 satellites in low orbit acting like 200 mile high cell towers a-la-Iridium. More likely, though, is that it's a combination of terrestrial wimax uplink and satellite downlink. If they proxied it in a way that sent small files and AJAX traffic over wimax, and large files & streams over satellite, the latency wouldn't be bad at all. Years ago, I worked
almost impossible? (Score:1)
streamed free NFL Channel on Southwest many many months ago. And my daughter streamed cartoons from the same service. Both with minimal buffering at the onset and youtube quality video.
Speed Test 20 Mb/s (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Series of Tubes (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
So you use the Ted Stevens metaphor?
I don't know who you've been flying... (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
It's a modified 3G CDMA connection with a Qualcomm modified chipset allowing for up to a 2K doppler shift in frequency handling. It's distributed via multiple APs on the aircraft and when you're close to a tower, you get reasonable speed. If there's a lot of people using it or your near the fringe distance away from the tower you'll see higher latency which is natural with 3G CDMA. If you're over the Nevada desert or the Rocky Mountains, you'll get sucky performance. We were the first to work with AirCe
Re: (Score:2)
"JetBlue is rolling out a new form of inflight Wi-Fi operating from satellites instead of ground-based cell towers."
No current airline internet system uses cell towers. They are all satellite based.
Actually, it is almost the opposite, at least here in the US. Most airborne data services today are ground based, with satellite services being new and usually reserved for long over water international routes.
Service is Viasat AKA Wildblue (Score:3)
http://www.viasat.com/news/high-speed-internet-now-flying-jetblue-launches-service-using-viasat-high-capacity-ka-band-broadband [viasat.com]
I remember reading this a year ago or so when the home service launched, but I guess /. missed it. This kind of portable/mobile use is being heavily marketed for homeland security, SNG (Satellite News Gathering), and other high-end markets, while they continue to give the middle finger to RVers, truckers, etc--I guess the home system is locked to the spotbeam its activated on so you can't roam outside it, unlike HughesNet. Personally, I'd love their little portable flyaway system, but at a price of $20k or so, oh well.
News to noone who's flown lately (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)