[no subject]

Likely it's because of the design of the cellular network - which from what I
understand, is far more dense in the US than it is in Canada (which might be
why the CRTC doesn't have such a prohibition).  The problem is what happens
when a cellular device is based above the cellular system antennae - there is
an ability to connect to multiple systems simultaneously, and that's something
the system wasn't designed to see happen.  Additionally, there's the hand-off
factor, of the negotiation process of what happens when you leave the range of
one cellular tower and enter the range of another.  In an aircraft, that
happens at a rate greater than would be if the cellular phone were used in a
car - so again, there's a problem there.  The Airphone system found on
commercial aircraft was designed to overcome these limitations - which is why
they CAN be used onboard commercial aircraft systems.

So, besides it being illegal, you run the risk of taking down your service
provider's cellular network - and from what I've heard, this doesn't make them
very happy.

In summary - don't do it.


  -- Leigh Anne Chisholm
     Network Engineer
     Applied Design Networks


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nanog () merit edu [mailto:owner-nanog () merit edu]On Behalf Of
> Scott Weeks
> Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2002 2:11 PM
> To: nanog () merit edu
> Subject: How do I log on while in flight?
>
> I was wondering if any of y'all could give me pointers to services I could
> use to log into a network during flight on a private airplane. For example
> a person is in flight cross-country and needs to do a videoconference,
> send email from his network to interested parties, or any of the normal
> things we do from the ground.  Is this possible or would it interfere with
> the plane's other systems?
>
> scott