Why would you be happy about in-flight Internet?

[baja_yu]

Because it just makes me mad. All these years of Nazi-like treatment if you so much as look at a phone or an electronic device while onboard, and now suddenly it's perfectly fine and you can even use our Internet during flight for a mere one billion $.

[thebuffalo]

So there is internet access on planes now? and I can pull my phone out and play angry birds while on a flight? I like this.

[techgnome]

you've always been able to use electronics and such while in flight... it's during the take off and landings where RF interference poses the risk. Also planes are now made compatible with wifi now.... 15 years ago they weren't. Plus more research has been done so we now know more than we used to about what the problems are.

-tg

[JuggaloBrotha]

Because it just makes me mad. All these years of Nazi-like treatment if you so much as look at a phone or an electronic device while onboard, and now suddenly it's perfectly fine and you can even use our Internet during flight for a mere one billion $.

You've always been allowed to do all of that once the plane is above a certain altitude.

Your phone wont be cellular signal that high up, but if it can connect to the plane's wifi then you can at least browse the web on it.

[baja_yu]

You've always been allowed to do all of that once the plane is above a certain altitude.

Not on all airlines. Some even now don't allow cell phones (but do allow other electronics) during flight. And none are allowed during landing and takeoff.

[Shaggy Hiker]

Your phone wont be cellular signal that high up.

That high? Supposing a plane flies at 35,000 feet, that's only about 7 miles. Cell signals can cover that easily. I've gotten full signals on the tops of mountains where the nearest tower was some 20 miles or further. It seems to me that the real issue would be that you would be hopping towers at a frantic pace, and might easily fly over a dead zone (though there may be no zone dead enough at that altitude).

[FunkyDexter]

The cable on mine doesn't stretch far enough. I tried.

[SJWhiteley]

That high? Supposing a plane flies at 35,000 feet, that's only about 7 miles. Cell signals can cover that easily. I've gotten full signals on the tops of mountains where the nearest tower was some 20 miles or further. It seems to me that the real issue would be that you would be hopping towers at a frantic pace, and might easily fly over a dead zone (though there may be no zone dead enough at that altitude).

I don't believe cellphone towers transmit vertically: why should they, there's essentially nothing up there. The energy requirement would be much more significant, but I'm a bit rusty on antenna theory.

[JuggaloBrotha]

That high? Supposing a plane flies at 35,000 feet, that's only about 7 miles. Cell signals can cover that easily. I've gotten full signals on the tops of mountains where the nearest tower was some 20 miles or further. It seems to me that the real issue would be that you would be hopping towers at a frantic pace, and might easily fly over a dead zone (though there may be no zone dead enough at that altitude).

My understanding is that the cell towers transmit horizontally a lot more than vertically, in either direction vertically why would the tower need to transmit more than half a mile?

In the last few years I've turned my non-smart phone on while on a plane and it hasn't been able find any cell service. I doubt it's because of tower jumping as a single tower can cover several miles, but I don't know that for sure.

Edit: here's a study that someone did on this topic: http://www.physics911.net/projectachilles
Looks like the higher up you are, the less signal you get. Once you're up a mile from the ground, there is no signal.

[EntityX]

The cable on mine doesn't stretch far enough. I tried.

You need to invest just a few million $ in cable and then you can get one of the airline companies to agree to put a cable unreeling device on their airplanes that lets the cable out rapidly enough and you'll be set.

[SJWhiteley]

My understanding is that the cell towers transmit horizontally a lot more than vertically, in either direction vertically why would the tower need to transmit more than half a mile?

In the last few years I've turned my non-smart phone on while on a plane and it hasn't been able find any cell service. I doubt it's because of tower jumping as a single tower can cover several miles, but I don't know that for sure.

Edit: here's a study that someone did on this topic: http://www.physics911.net/projectachilles
Looks like the higher up you are, the less signal you get. Once you're up a mile from the ground, there is no signal.

Using a cell phone while flying!? Why there aughta be....

I've had the same experience while accidentally *ahem* leaving my cellphone (iPhone) on, while flying commercial. No signal once at cruising altitude. It was only one flight, though.

And honestly, even if there was no technical limitation, having cell phones 'allowed' in flight will be....ugly. Internet access is pretty cool, though, if you have a regular internet reading regimen.