Southwest Airlines Eyeing Broadband Will issue RFP and develop prototype 'within 9 months' Friday Apr 20 2007 16:52 EDT Glenn Fleishman points out that Southwest may be offering in-flight broadband soon. The carrier plans to issue a request for proposals and hopes to begin a prototype of the technology within the next nine months, says the Denver Post. As we repeatedly note, there's a growing list of companies eager to offer in-flight broadband services to airlines who can't afford to retrofit their planes. |
RayW Premium Member join:2001-09-01 Layton, UT |
RayW
Premium Member
2007-Apr-20 3:31 pm
Wonder what the cost isI find it amusing that the airlines are looking at wi-fi, yet many of them prohibit the use of GPS systems while flying because "the 'radiation' from them can cause avionics issues". I guess one makes money, and the other may cause people to gripe if a direct path is not flown. | |
| | KearnstdSpace Elf Premium Member join:2002-01-22 Mullica Hill, NJ |
Kearnstd
Premium Member
2007-Apr-20 3:39 pm
Re: Wonder what the cost isGPS devices are totally passive im guessing there is something more to its ban. i mean that garmin GPS doesnt send anything to the sats. | |
| | | RayW Premium Member join:2001-09-01 Layton, UT |
RayW
Premium Member
2007-Apr-20 3:50 pm
Re: Wonder what the cost issaid by Kearnstd:GPS devices are totally passive im guessing there is something more to its ban. i mean that garmin GPS doesnt send anything to the sats. You are absolutely right, stand alone GPS's do not radiate (well, there is some leakage from the RF stages, but that is MUCH less power than a laptop computer). One rumour is so that they do not get sued by idiots if they have to reroute and do not fly direct, and are late. Also, it is surprising how many people think they do radiate, I can not convince my wife that GPS's are not a plot by the US government to track us. She still believes the Clintons had all the GPS's rigged to report on our locations. | |
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Re: Wonder what the cost isI've used my Garmin GPS on planes.. Pretty cool the kind of stuff you see.. speed, altitude, etc... | |
| | | | | RayW Premium Member join:2001-09-01 Layton, UT |
RayW
Premium Member
2007-Apr-20 4:10 pm
Re: Wonder what the cost issaid by stunod2002:I've used my Garmin GPS on planes.. Pretty cool the kind of stuff you see.. speed, altitude, etc... Delta yes, Southwest use to but I have not been on them for about 9 months now and United use to, again been two years for them, and most American Eagle pilots will let you if you ask. American Airlines (not Eagle) ranges from telling you no to acting like you are a terrorist. Although on American Airlines if you use a laptop GPS with an external antenna, they are clueless, a co-worker does that. | |
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Re: Wonder what the cost issaid by RayW:said by stunod2002:I've used my Garmin GPS on planes.. Pretty cool the kind of stuff you see.. speed, altitude, etc... Delta yes, Southwest use to but I have not been on them for about 9 months now and United use to, again been two years for them, and most American Eagle pilots will let you if you ask. American Airlines (not Eagle) ranges from telling you no to acting like you are a terrorist. Although on American Airlines if you use a laptop GPS with an external antenna, they are clueless, a co-worker does that. That's what I use.. My laptop.. Nice big screen.. Holding the receiver up to the window at just the right angle can be a bit of a bitch though.. | |
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| radam join:2004-02-13 Fairfax Station, VA |
to RayW
I suspect the electronic equipment professionally installed will be EMI sheilded. The FAA will more thna likely require certification of all electronic equipment after installation. | |
| | | RayW Premium Member join:2001-09-01 Layton, UT |
RayW
Premium Member
2007-Apr-20 7:17 pm
Re: Wonder what the cost isIf it is shielded properly than you have only the frequencies that it is designed for radiating. However, Junior with his bargain basement computer and wireless card will not have that guarantee. | |
| | | | radam join:2004-02-13 Fairfax Station, VA |
radam
Member
2007-Apr-20 7:40 pm
Re: Wonder what the cost is.. good point. | |
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to RayW
said by RayW:yet many of them prohibit the use of GPS systems while flying because "the 'radiation' from them can cause avionics issues How do they know? Flight attendants as a rule aren't know for being tech savy. In the next 18-months most phones will have GPS - it'll be interesting seeing them try to enforce such a policy. | |
| | | RayW Premium Member join:2001-09-01 Layton, UT |
RayW
Premium Member
2007-Apr-20 9:30 pm
Re: Wonder what the cost issaid by Authority:said by RayW:yet many of them prohibit the use of GPS systems while flying because "the 'radiation' from them can cause avionics issues How do they know? Flight attendants as a rule aren't know for being tech savy. In the next 18-months most phones will have GPS - it'll be interesting seeing them try to enforce such a policy. You are assuming that some greedy idiot will get phones allowed in-flight, and if phones are legal, then they do not care since the phone takes precedence. But I do know that the several GPS units I have used or seen used will only work if you are in a window seat, I just wonder how a cell will work since most towers appear to be gain antennas with a beam in the horizontal plane, and those itty bitty windows will not give much of an angle to the ground. I am flying Delta the end of May, I plan on asking the pilot to let me use my 2m/70cm radio at some point in the flight. If he does, I may have some idea of how well a cell will work (currently have window seat well forward of the wing). I know I can use the GPS, hope this flight has a power port under my seat. | |
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| KearnstdSpace Elf Premium Member join:2002-01-22 Mullica Hill, NJ |
to RayW
also on the cell front wouldnt an airplane be kinda like a Fareday cage? i mean it is a big metal tube. | |
| | | RayW Premium Member join:2001-09-01 Layton, UT |
RayW
Premium Member
2007-Apr-22 10:08 am
Re: Wonder what the cost isSit by a window, but there are other technologies that will let you use a cell phone inside a cage. | |
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nixenRockin' the Boxen Premium Member join:2002-10-04 Alexandria, VA |
nixen
Premium Member
2007-Apr-20 8:10 pm
Why?Why would SWA bother with this? Does the average SWA rider need in-flight broadband. Is the average SWA rider, who's riding SWA to save $100, going to spend $9 (or whatever) per day for the service? Seems doubtful. | |
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Re: Why?said by nixen:Is the average SWA rider, who's riding SWA to save $100, going to spend $9 (or whatever) per day for the service? Seems doubtful. What makes you think they'll charge at all? | |
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vic5 join:2007-03-20 Alhambra, CA |
vic5
Member
2007-Apr-20 9:52 pm
Just taking in the newsthis is great... especially on long international flights. I can't wait for in-flight broadband to be implemented. Imagine high-speed internet instead of a bad in-flight movie. High Speed Internet Access and Broadband Provider | |
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Re: Just taking in the newsI find it hard to believe that its going to see widespread adoption for the very simple social reason that the two people whose shoulders are touching yours are going to be peering at whatever you're doing. No privacy with emails, no online banking, no proprietary/confidential content, and no "questionable" videos or images.
Who thinks otherwise and why? I'm curious. | |
| | | RayW Premium Member join:2001-09-01 Layton, UT |
RayW
Premium Member
2007-Apr-20 10:26 pm
Re: Just taking in the newssaid by expert007:I find it hard to believe that its going to see widespread adoption for the very simple social reason that the two people whose shoulders are touching yours are going to be peering at whatever you're doing. No privacy with emails, no online banking, no proprietary/confidential content, and no "questionable" videos or images. Who thinks otherwise and why? I'm curious. I think most people do not think of the privacy issue. Listen to some cell phone conversations, I have heard people give logins and passwords over the phone in the airport, talk about giving a bid and how much for what project, and other things. On one flight I watched some lawyer(?) working on a brief that if I was dishonest and had a good memory might have been fun to give to the opposition (names and addresses were out in the open). I have seen other people working on what to me appeared to be proprietary information since it looked like pricing for bids. And that is in coach. | |
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