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story category Planes: Wi-Fi, But No Power Outlets
New plans create new problems
(old news - 10:05AM Friday Jun 16 2006)
With in-flight broadband arriving on 18 domestic flights in a few months, Wi-Fi Networking News touches on the new problem of a lack of power outlets on planes to help charge your gear. Fleishman points to fire concerns with older wiring plans, and also illuminates newer ideas such as the Inflight Power Recharge Kits, which pull power from the seat audio-jack.

Forums » Planes: Wi-Fi, But No Power Outlets
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chemaupr

join:2005-06-06
Alexandria, VA

Buy a speare battery.

Newer laptop batteries are good enough to last you thru a whole 2hr movies and more... just buy an additional battery. It will probably cost the same that a new charger ...
Jonbo298

join:2004-01-12
Council Bluffs, IA

Re: Buy a speare battery.

Makes sense to just do that. But some are finicky abuot having to do that =/ But if I was traveling alot for business reasons or personal if I could afford, a spare laptop battery or 2 is something essential for the long trips.

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said by chemaupr See Profile :

Newer laptop batteries are good enough to last you thru a whole 2hr movies and more... just buy an additional battery. It will probably cost the same that a new charger ...
Keeping laptops from plugging in is a good incentive for laptop manufacturers to push for better battery capabilities so that a laptop can run for 8 hrs without recharging. And the 1st companies that can come out with these at an affordable price will start to cleanup on sales to corporate warriors flying around the country.
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Re: Buy a speare battery.

It's not just battery tech that must change. YOu can get a lappy TODAY that will last 6-8 hours on a single charge. BUT you will not be doing a whole lot on it. It's the power-hungry desktop hardware in some laptops and power-hungry laptop hardware that limit your time. I have a DELL 9300 that is great for gaming, but gets just over 2 hours on a charge. If I reduce the screen brightness I can push it out to 3 hours. THe screen is the single biggest power eater. OLEDs need to come out and NOW!
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You'd think so, but it's not as prevalent as that. I had a Toshiba notebook that would do 5 hours fully functional no problem. I've got a Sony VAIO that will do 4-5 with some minor peripheral disabling (and it has a small battery).

I have a Gateway notebook at work that will do 5+ hours easily. That notebook is Centrino-based and does a fine job even with some apps I run that require pretty heavy CPU utilization. I specifically requested that model when it was ordered because of Centrino and the fact that it's a notebook and intended to be taken places without power outlets. Funny thing though--most people in the company who got notebooks ordered the wide screen P4 based heavier bigger model that gets maybe 2 hours battery life--and they don't even use them for the intensive apps I use my centrino system for. They're used for spreadsheets and email!

So unfortunately while the technology exists to get good battery life, most people are woefully ill-informed to make educated decisions to buy them. They just want "what everyone else has" and the one that has the big pretty wide-screen so they can watch movies. They fail to see the irony that they're buying a portable computer which for all practical purposes isn't portable because it's always got to be around a power source.
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Joe12345678

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in till they start using vista and that sucks them down real fast.
ossito16

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Ok that's enough!

This is getting ridiculous, planes are for flying. Somebody needs to lay the smack down and tell people to sit down and shutup. Flights are not cruises or scenic train rides. I don't want to be on that first flight that crashes because some idiot needed to plug laptop in to check email. The only thing the airlines should be requires to provide is a safe flight. The only we need on a flight is a book or magazine.
rgillis70
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Re: Ok that's enough!

said by ossito16 See Profile :

The only we need on a flight is a book or magazine.
Oh I think I will take a bathroom too on an 8+ hour flight.

I have no issues as long as headsets are required for listening to whatever they choose to view (I play Civ 3 or 4 on long flights).

Just keep the cell phones out the sky, I really hate the loud talking as soon as we hit the ground land.

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said by ossito16 See Profile :

This is getting ridiculous, planes are for flying. Somebody needs to lay the smack down and tell people to sit down and shutup. Flights are not cruises or scenic train rides. I don't want to be on that first flight that crashes because some idiot needed to plug laptop in to check email. The only thing the airlines should be requires to provide is a safe flight. The only we need on a flight is a book or magazine.
Lets stick you on a 20 hour flight and see if you wish you had a laptop, internet and a power outlet.
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CPM

join:2001-08-24
Miami, FL

Re: Ok that's enough!

Well not many people goes on 20 hour flights. I guess you been on to many of them. You need to take a chill pill and layoff on the coffee.

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3 edits

Re: Ok that's enough!

said by CPM See Profile :

Well not many people goes on 20 hour flights. I guess you been on to many of them. You need to take a chill pill and layoff on the coffee.
Uhm. Your not adding to this conversation. BTW thanks for the useless statistic that no one rides 20 hour flights, where did you get that one? I know plenty of people who have taken long flights. Being cooped up in one area even for 8 hours is hard, when all you have to do is sit there and watch some lame movie thats rated G or PG and produced by disney.
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raddicott

join:2002-12-29

Re: Ok that's enough!

Where are you flying to, India?

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Re: Ok that's enough!

said by raddicott See Profile :

Where are you flying to, India?
I wish I was!!
stufried
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Re: Ok that's enough!

It really depends on what circles you run in.

* I fly from the US to Dubai and back every two months. 8 hours Detroit => Amsterdam; 6 hours Amsterdam Amsterdam ==> Dubai.

* In the US, I have lunch once a month with a guy who lives in Stutgart Germany.

* My ex-brother-in-law's new wife commutes between Detroit and China once a month.

* My first cousin commutes between Detroit and Stockholm Sweden to service Volvo.

* A good friend of mine is a New York lawyer married to a French man and goes back and fourth.
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1 edit
said by Jameson See Profile :

Lets stick you on a 20 hour flight and see if you wish you had a laptop, internet and a power outlet.
Ok, I will concede that a 20 hour flight is a long time, but there are other things to take up your time. In-flight movie, sleep, and read. Oh wait I forgot one, CONVERSATION. Talk to people, get to know someone. You never know a person mightt actually meet someone interesting and worth while. Of course you can still use laptop for as long as your battery lasts, but I do not want to see people plugging and recharging anything. I do not want to crash because some clown wants to play solitaire for 20hours.

Wills

join:2001-01-03
Port Charlotte, FL

Re: Ok that's enough!

said by ossito16 See Profile :

said by Jameson See Profile :

Lets stick you on a 20 hour flight and see if you wish you had a laptop, internet and a power outlet.
Ok, I will concede that a 20 hour flight is a long time, but there are other things to take up your time. In-flight movie, sleep, and read. Oh wait I forgot one, CONVERSATION. Talk to people, get to know someone. You never know a person mightt actually meet someone interesting and worth while. Of course you can still use laptop for as long as your battery lasts, but I do not want to see people plugging and recharging anything. I do not want to crash because some clown wants to play solitaire for 20hours.
And the last thing I want is some clown next to me talking useless drivel to me for 20 hours.

I don't want your conversation, I want my laptop.
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Re: Ok that's enough!

said by Wills See Profile :

said by ossito16 See Profile :

said by Jameson See Profile :

Lets stick you on a 20 hour flight and see if you wish you had a laptop, internet and a power outlet.
Oh wait I forgot one, CONVERSATION. Talk to people, get to know someone.
And the last thing I want is some clown next to me talking useless drivel to me for 20 hours.

I don't want your conversation, I want my laptop.
OK, now that was funny
fiberguy
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said by ossito16 See Profile :

This is getting ridiculous, planes are for flying. Somebody needs to lay the smack down and tell people to sit down and shutup. Flights are not cruises or scenic train rides. I don't want to be on that first flight that crashes because some idiot needed to plug laptop in to check email. The only thing the airlines should be requires to provide is a safe flight. The only we need on a flight is a book or magazine.
I think someone needs to not fly.

Stop worrying about everyone else.. you're not special.

Poopsmith
That's Mr. Smith To You.

join:2003-03-12
Boulder, CO

Re: Ok that's enough!

When I'm on a plane I'm not complaining about the "bastard" with the laptop next to me, it's generally the baby who gets to annoy the hell out of me for free. Now there's a problem!

Mchart
Super Joe

join:2004-01-21
Gurnee, IL

Re: Ok that's enough!

When i'm in a plane i'm located behind a bullet proof, lockable door, doing my job. You guys really amuse me

bear73
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said by ossito16 See Profile :

This is getting ridiculous, planes are for flying. ... Flights are not cruises or scenic train rides. ... The only thing the airlines should be requires to provide is a safe flight. The only we need on a flight is a book or magazine.
You've never been on a Trans-Atlantic/Pacific flight have you. After the first 6 hours EVERYONE starts getting edgy. By 8 hours, people are getting downright annoyed. My long flights are usually around the 10+ hour flight.
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91439306
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join:2002-10-16
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Re: Ok that's enough!

13h 36m SFO --> MNL. Add another 6-7 hrs for JFK --> SFO and it all adds up. I timed 32 hours from my door to the door at my destination in Taguig, Metro Manila. It would be nice to be engaged in some internet activity for some of that time.

faction

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pansie
Kearnstd
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laptops dont crash planes, this has been proven. infact mythbusters even has shown that a modern cellphone doesnt screw with the instruments in a modern jet airliner.
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z00medu

join:2005-04-12
Chicago, IL

said by ossito16 See Profile :

This is getting ridiculous, planes are for flying. Somebody needs to lay the smack down and tell people to sit down and shutup. Flights are not cruises or scenic train rides. I don't want to be on that first flight that crashes because some idiot needed to plug laptop in to check email. The only thing the airlines should be requires to provide is a safe flight. The only we need on a flight is a book or magazine.
i dont think you would want to be on ANY flight that crashes b/c of some idiot that needed to plug in his laptop in to check emails
patcat88

join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

Re: Ok that's enough!

said by z00medu See Profile :

said by ossito16 See Profile :

This is getting ridiculous, planes are for flying. Somebody needs to lay the smack down and tell people to sit down and shutup. Flights are not cruises or scenic train rides. I don't want to be on that first flight that crashes because some idiot needed to plug laptop in to check email. The only thing the airlines should be requires to provide is a safe flight. The only we need on a flight is a book or magazine.
i dont think you would want to be on ANY flight that crashes b/c of some idiot that needed to plug in his laptop in to check emails
right on!

Jameson
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Re: Ok that's enough!

said by patcat88 See Profile :

said by z00medu See Profile :

said by ossito16 See Profile :

This is getting ridiculous, planes are for flying. Somebody needs to lay the smack down and tell people to sit down and shutup. Flights are not cruises or scenic train rides. I don't want to be on that first flight that crashes because some idiot needed to plug laptop in to check email. The only thing the airlines should be requires to provide is a safe flight. The only we need on a flight is a book or magazine.
i dont think you would want to be on ANY flight that crashes b/c of some idiot that needed to plug in his laptop in to check emails
right on!
Since when do the Pilots fly the plane from the cabin and not the cockpit?
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yock
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said by ossito16 See Profile :

This is getting ridiculous, planes are for flying. Somebody needs to lay the smack down and tell people to sit down and shutup. Flights are not cruises or scenic train rides. I don't want to be on that first flight that crashes because some idiot needed to plug laptop in to check email. The only thing the airlines should be requires to provide is a safe flight. The only we need on a flight is a book or magazine.
Your recreation isn't their only concern. Many professionals on business flights are expected to be productive on those flights. Having a ready source of electricity makes that all the more plausible
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Re: Ok that's enough!

said by yock See Profile :

said by ossito16 See Profile :

Many professionals on business flights are expected to be productive on those flights.
No matter how many times I hear that phrase, I still think it is stupid. Makes me think you sold your self like an indentured servant. Your boss should get out of their private jet and spend some time in economy section and find out that there is more room in a toilet stall than in an airplane.

yock
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Re: Ok that's enough!

said by averagedude See Profile :

said by yock See Profile :

said by ossito16 See Profile :

Many professionals on business flights are expected to be productive on those flights.
No matter how many times I hear that phrase, I still think it is stupid. Makes me think you sold your self like an indentured servant. Your boss should get out of their private jet and spend some time in economy section and find out that there is more room in a toilet stall than in an airplane.
I'm not here to argue its merit, but that doesn't change the fact that it's true. Personally, my company is pretty lenient about airplane time, but many companies out there view it as their time since they purchased the ticket. Keep whatever opinion you want, it's still a factual statement.
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That's irrelevant to the conversation.

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Inflight power recharge kits? is that a joke?

quote:
The Inflight USB Power Unit is quite interesting as it pulls a trickle charge from the audio plug to provide minimal but useful power to handheld devices and music players. it’s probably two orders of magnitude below what’s needed for laptops.
[/qoute]

Two orders? Might as well be a million. How in the hell are you supposed to interface a device designed to charge USB devices into a laptop? And for that matter who the heck thinks they're going to get enough current out of it?

Maybe if you want to charge you Ipod shuffle or something. Heck maybe even a cell phone....but a laptop? No farkin' way.
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bear73
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Re: Inflight power recharge kits? is that a joke?

/sarcasm Hey, at least when you kill your battery, you can charge it up i 5 hours! /sarcasm
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Other wifi devices

Many new phones and PDA type devices come with wifi now. I had a Windows Mobile 2005 PDA here for a few weeks to test, and the internet access through wifi is pretty cool. That, and you can run all sorts of mobile apps on it, even a terminal server connection. Since you can disable the phone portion of it it won't interfere with anything.

In my opinion Wifi in planes does have a future, laptops aren't the only devices that work with wifi. And nowadays there's quite a few in-between devices.... not quite as powerful as a laptop, but bigger then a PDA and full size keyboard. Great to do your e-mail and browse the web in-flight. Its not like there is much else to do but wait till they land.... especially since the in-flight entertainment on longer flights isn't what it used to be either.
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Re: Other wifi devices

Everquest, WOW, EVE-Online.........(id imagine trying to play CS would be too lagged due to aircraft BB being satellite based).
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averagedude

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Power?

Power? Your worried about power?
How do you even use a standard size notebook (notice I did not say large or micro, but standard), in that way to small a space they call your seat?

I don't know about you, but I have almost had my notebook crushed twice when the passenger in front of me tilted their seat back. Passengers with drinks spilling are a totally different topic. Power is not as important to me as keeping my notebook safe. No computer = no work = no pay.
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Power Jacks are still there...depends on the flight

Most transcon and trans oceanic flights have power jacks, either under the seat or between the 2 seats in front of you. Sometimes there is only 1 jack per three seats in coach, so if someone else gets it, too bad.

Most of the domestic flights 3 hours or less don't have them unless its a continuation to a international destination.

Personally, it is way too much hassle to mess with a laptop in coach on a flight 3 hours or less. The planes are smaller now, so much carry on baggage is being brought on board, I have seen numerous soda spills from the neighbor. It isn't worth it.

However, on a 17 hour flight....it is a requirement! Depending on your destination & airline, you may be required to pull your CD/DVD drive out. But at least you have something to work with.

With the airlines downsizing and cutting costs and the domestic flights being so short, I can't see any movement to add more jacks in coach anytime soon.

91439306
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Re: Power Jacks are still there...depends on the flight

Why do some airlines require removal of the CD drive? Some software runs off CD and isn't installable on HD without special software hacks. Or you might need to write files to a CD for a client you're meeting when you get off the plane. Are they worried that the laser beam is going to burn a hole through the plane's fuselage?
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Re: Power Jacks are still there...depends on the flight

said by 91439306 See Profile :

Why do some airlines require removal of the CD drive?
I see it less now than I used to. I was on a 15 hour flight on South African from Miami to Cape Town and right after we made the turn off Recife, Brazil towards the Angolan coast they asked everyone to turn off their CD players and disable their laptop drives.

I complied, but about 20 minutes later the captain got on the PA with a pretty stern message to whomever that action would be taken if they weren't shut off immediately.

When I asked what the reason was I was told that the airspace between Recife and Angola was "dark territory" for air traffic control and that some CD-ROM motors put out RF interference in a way that interferes with navigational support.

I found that a bit odd.

I have since taken flights of 10 hours + on Lufthansa, Virgin & United and no such issues existed. I even asked them if there were in seat restrictions during the flight for computers or MP3 players. They all said "No...why?" but these went a different route.
saabnut

join:2001-04-04
Glenview, IL

Plane WiFi from Experience

Saw all the posts and just had to put my 2 cents in. I have actually gotten to use WiFi on a 9 hour Atlantic flight. Once in Business with Power and once without in Coach. Giving it the IT challenge, I used the connection for Chat, Surfing, and even Skype Calling. All worked just great. Even Skype Video worked! Just that some Schmuck in front of my complained about the talking. I wanted to tell him to jump off the plane, but that wouldn't have helped me. I suppose that it will work just fine with just about anything until the pipeline gets more utilized. But is is definitely worth the $26 for 24 hours of access. It would of course be better if the connecting flights had it. And once I stopped testing, I did get lots of productive work done.
Oh and power is nice, but an extra battery will mostly suffice as you forgot about all the time that the food service takes. The only time an extra battery won't cut it is trans-Pacific 14-18 hour flights.
andyp6

join:2003-01-28

Re: Plane WiFi from Experience

quote:
"Just that some Schmuck in front of my complained about the talking"
No doubt your voice was loud enough to be audible over 2 or perhaps even 4 turbofan jet engines. Which even at cruise require a loud voice. Crying babies/children is one thing, someone talking on skype is another. I bet you were probably more annoying than the crying baby because your noise will have been constant.

2 points I want to make:

1.) PEDs (portable electronic devices) DO effect various aircraft systems. Here is a study: »www.house.gov/transportation/avi···CKGROUND An extract from that study: "In August 1995, an aircraft making its approach to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston was advised that it was 4 miles off course. Because the course director indicators had been scalloping left and right of center, the captain ordered the flight attendant to check the cabin for any passengers using a portable electronic device. Within 15 seconds, problems with the course director indicators disappeared. The captain later learned that a passenger had been using a portable computer."

Maybe people dont realise this, but with 50,000 planes landing everyday in the USA alone the skies are getting more congested. Aircraft vertical seperation is 1000ft minimum, I hate the idea of some self important salesman using his laptop and causing a mid-air collision.

2.) Trains here have Wifi and power outlets for laptops, because of all the noise created from people using this equipment there is now usually a whole carriage created specifically as a "quiet zone" i.e no laptops/phones allowed. I cant see planes creating an area like this, with profit margins being as they are.

Impressive tech, but 99% of people dont NEED it, add to the fact that interferance caused by devices can be unpredictable and intermittent just seems bad news to me.
cvbcvb

join:2002-08-06
Santa Monica, CA

Re: Plane WiFi from Experience

The report (from the link above) also states:

“Boeing has attempted to duplicate instances of PED interference, reportedly even going so far as to purchase a passenger’s laptop that had allegedly caused interference on a London to Paris flight. The pilot on that flight claimed that turning the laptop on and off triggered autopilot error. Boeing flew the same laptop on the same route in the same seat but was unable to duplicate the interference.”

In fact all laptop interference incidents has been anecdotal - no one has yet been able to duplicate the interference...

More info can be found from these House hearings (transcripts 7/20/2000):
»commdocs.house.gov/committees/Tr···02_1.HTM

CVB
lcohen999

join:2002-02-23

Using Skype on a plane, and you are upset you annoyed your fellow passangers with "cool, I'm using skype on a plane" conversation where your voice was probably much louder than you think.

Are you the same guy that has a really cool cell phone ring tone and gets pissed off that people don't want to hear it in the middle of a movie.

Voice communications on a plane should be limited to quiet conversations. G-d help us all, the day when cell phones work in the air.
Forums » Planes: Wi-Fi, But No Power Outlets


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