Comments on: Talking about Wifi Onboard a Grumman Albatross http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/ Thu, 24 May 2012 20:28:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tony http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78390 Tony Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:57:25 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78390 The cost to upgrade from an obsolete system like Aircell/Gogo is on the airplane side. If everyone is on Wi-Fi on your flight it will slow down just like any other Wi-Fi. I will take the faster satellite option anytime. It looks like I will be on Southwest for the next five years. <b>@ <a href="#comment-78198" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">Test Install</a></b>: The cost to upgrade from an obsolete system like Aircell/Gogo is on the airplane side.
If everyone is on Wi-Fi on your flight it will slow down just like any other Wi-Fi. I will take the faster satellite option anytime. It looks like I will be on Southwest for the next five years.
@ Test Install:

]]> By: Tony http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78389 Tony Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:50:39 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78389 Wow tell me the make and model of your laptop. I checked all brands and 1 hour on Wi-Fi is about normal. I would like to check it out. I also asked about future batteries and none of the major brands are expecting a new magic battery to show up anytime soon. <b>@ <a href="#comment-78384" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">Ryan</a></b>: Wow tell me the make and model of your laptop. I checked all brands and 1 hour on Wi-Fi is about normal. I would like to check it out. I also asked about future batteries and none of the major brands are expecting a new magic battery to show up anytime soon.

@ Ryan:

]]> By: Ryan http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78384 Ryan Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:39:50 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78384 I'm not convinced that the battery issue is going to be a big deal. Yes, right now the majority of laptops are only going to get 3-4 hrs and probably 2-3 hrs with wireless turned on. However, laptops are coming onto the market with much, much better battery performance. I bought one a year ago that I can get 8hrs w wireless turned off, and about 5 with it on. I heard somewhere a 10hr battery/laptop combo was going to hit the market. 3-5 yrs I don't think the concern of AC power will be as big, and definately not worth the costs by airlines to install such power options - especially for southwest or Alaska, which is doesn't really have flights over 6hrs. I’m not convinced that the battery issue is going to be a big deal. Yes, right now the majority of laptops are only going to get 3-4 hrs and probably 2-3 hrs with wireless turned on. However, laptops are coming onto the market with much, much better battery performance. I bought one a year ago that I can get 8hrs w wireless turned off, and about 5 with it on. I heard somewhere a 10hr battery/laptop combo was going to hit the market. 3-5 yrs I don’t think the concern of AC power will be as big, and definately not worth the costs by airlines to install such power options – especially for southwest or Alaska, which is doesn’t really have flights over 6hrs.

]]> By: Test Install http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78198 Test Install Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:54:09 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78198 What happens to Row 44 when the Hughes based satellite technology is outdated in five years? Have you priced a satellite launch these days? I'm sure it's pricey. Upgrades to their system for speed and bandwidth enhancements will be enormously costly. What's it cost to change the network equipment on top of 100 or so cell towers throughout the US? Not nearly as much. Southwest may control the cost now, but they do not control the bandwidth ever. Simple economics does. Gogo will be much cheaper to upgrade and maintain than any satellite based system. What happens to Row 44 when the Hughes based satellite technology is outdated in five years? Have you priced a satellite launch these days? I’m sure it’s pricey. Upgrades to their system for speed and bandwidth enhancements will be enormously costly. What’s it cost to change the network equipment on top of 100 or so cell towers throughout the US? Not nearly as much. Southwest may control the cost now, but they do not control the bandwidth ever. Simple economics does. Gogo will be much cheaper to upgrade and maintain than any satellite based system.

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78129 CF Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:55:33 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78129 <b><a href="#comment-78104" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">Bill Ward</a></b> wrote: <blockquote>I wish you’d just shot video off to one side or something rather than straight at the sun… does that pod go underwater when they land in the water? How awesome would that be to ride in (or at least video)??? </blockquote> Yeah, sorry about that. I can't imagine that the nose goes under water because that would probably sink the whole plane. You'll definitely get a ton of spray though. Bill Ward wrote:

I wish you’d just shot video off to one side or something rather than straight at the sun… does that pod go underwater when they land in the water? How awesome would that be to ride in (or at least video)???

Yeah, sorry about that. I can’t imagine that the nose goes under water because that would probably sink the whole plane. You’ll definitely get a ton of spray though.

]]> By: Bill Ward http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78104 Bill Ward Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:07:16 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78104 I bet it's for the whole plane, so the per-user amount would depend on the number of people using it. I suppose that's a reason to want to NOT have power outlets at every seat, so you have less competition for bandwidth (just bring extra batteries)... That video was a cool idea but even through the filter of your camera and youtube I still felt I had to squint. I wish you'd just shot video off to one side or something rather than straight at the sun... does that pod go underwater when they land in the water? How awesome would that be to ride in (or at least video)??? I bet it’s for the whole plane, so the per-user amount would depend on the number of people using it. I suppose that’s a reason to want to NOT have power outlets at every seat, so you have less competition for bandwidth (just bring extra batteries)…

That video was a cool idea but even through the filter of your camera and youtube I still felt I had to squint. I wish you’d just shot video off to one side or something rather than straight at the sun… does that pod go underwater when they land in the water? How awesome would that be to ride in (or at least video)???

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78072 CF Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:08:40 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78072 <b><a href="#comment-78070" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">Ron</a></b> wrote: <blockquote>Cranky, is that 8 to 10 Mbps per user, or for the whole plane? </blockquote> I'm not sure on that. Ron wrote:

Cranky, is that 8 to 10 Mbps per user, or for the whole plane?

I’m not sure on that.

]]> By: Ron http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78070 Ron Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:52:10 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78070 Cranky, is that 8 to 10 Mbps per user, or for the whole plane? Cranky, is that 8 to 10 Mbps per user, or for the whole plane?

]]> By: Tony http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78063 Tony Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:02:17 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78063 Aircell/Gogo and Delta are in patent litigation for this service. This could make users liable as well. Aircell should have installed power at every seat. Wi-Fi uses battery fast. I only get about an hour on my lap top. Why pay for only an hour of use. I would not use them for that reason. Aircell/Gogo and Delta are in patent litigation for this service. This could make users liable as well.

Aircell should have installed power at every seat. Wi-Fi uses battery fast. I only get about an hour on my lap top. Why pay for only an hour of use. I would not use them for that reason.

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2009/08/26/talking-about-wifi-onboard-a-grumman-albatross/comment-page-1/#comment-78048 CF Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:11:36 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3437#comment-78048 <b><a href="#comment-78035" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">Oliver</a></b> wrote: <blockquote> Didn’t quite happen with Connexion, now did it? ;) </blockquote> No, but Connexion had a bunch of problems. First of all, the equipment was incredibly heavy, so not enough airlines were interested in doing it. Also, the pricepoints were really high. It just didn't have the critical mass to keep going whereas these programs will. <b><a href="#comment-78042" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">Dan</a></b> wrote: <blockquote> One last thought: What is throughput rate on those things? Is it fast enough to stream a movie? That might be the future of inflight entertainment AND inflight internet — pay per view movies. </blockquote> Row 44 tells me that they are currently doing 8 to 10 Mbps on Southwest and once modem technology gets better, they can go up to 30 Mbps. I don't believe AirCell gets anywhere near those numbers. But they both can do streaming. Row 44 has said that they want to make it a content platform. <b><a href="#comment-78044" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">Alex</a></b> wrote: <blockquote> Have you ever thought about taping and editing any of your interviews. On the evidence of this video, I would definitely be interested in watching CrankyTV. Maybe a video podcast? ;-) </blockquote> Thanks for the kind words, Alex. I could look at doing a video pod one of these days, but that takes a ton of effort. I'd probably have to charge for something like that to make it worthwhile, and I'm not sure there's a lot of demand for that. But I'll keep it in mind. Oliver wrote:

Didn’t quite happen with Connexion, now did it? ;)

No, but Connexion had a bunch of problems. First of all, the equipment was incredibly heavy, so not enough airlines were interested in doing it. Also, the pricepoints were really high. It just didn’t have the critical mass to keep going whereas these programs will.

Dan wrote:

One last thought: What is throughput rate on those things? Is it fast enough to stream a movie? That might be the future of inflight entertainment AND inflight internet — pay per view movies.

Row 44 tells me that they are currently doing 8 to 10 Mbps on Southwest and once modem technology gets better, they can go up to 30 Mbps. I don’t believe AirCell gets anywhere near those numbers. But they both can do streaming. Row 44 has said that they want to make it a content platform.

Alex wrote:

Have you ever thought about taping and editing any of your interviews. On the evidence of this video, I would definitely be interested in watching CrankyTV. Maybe a video podcast? ;-)

Thanks for the kind words, Alex. I could look at doing a video pod one of these days, but that takes a ton of effort. I’d probably have to charge for something like that to make it worthwhile, and I’m not sure there’s a lot of demand for that. But I’ll keep it in mind.

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