sbm12

The LiveTV-based wifi solution for the 737s is now live on a small number of aircraft. We've known that the hardware was being installed since last October/November but the system wasn't activated for customer use. As of last week some of those aircraft finally went into service. United has confirmed this.

No word yet on:

• Pricing
• Performance
• Which aircraft are active

But it is definitely online. Hopefully some reports will trickle in and we can aggregate useful data.

http://blog.wandr.me/2014/02/united-...-on-some-737s/
http://www.engadget.com/2014/02/26/u...atellite-wifi/
http://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/201...-fleet-viasat/

unavaca

^^^

Woohoo! Can't wait until there's sufficient critical mass to offer monthly subscriptions.

JOSECONLSCREW28

The following 739ERs have the WiFi active:

Tail #425
Tail #435
Tail #451

wxguy

Has ATC (i.e. "Channel 9") been integrated as well?

mduell

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N75425
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N75435
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N38451

CO_Nonrev_elite

Seems smart to fly the new wifi plane on routes that fly outside the wifi enabled areas... oh dear

sbm12

There are more than that; @United just said 10+ active. The good news is that this tracks to the list I've been compiling based on visits to KINT for the retrofit work.

N37462 entered INT 9 Oct — exited INT 30 Oct
N75429 entered INT 4 Nov — exited INT 21 Nov
N75426 entered INT 8 Nov — exited INT 3 Dec
N38451 entered INT 11 Nov — exited INT 11 Dec
N37413 entered INT 20 Nov — exited INT 14 Dec
N75425 entered INT 3 Dec — exited GSO 20 Dec
N75435 entered INT 4 Dec — exited INT 22 Dec

N75410 is also reported to have the kit installed.

Also, one report of pricing at $1/hour for mobile email/app access and $2/hour for full access.

ETA: N37422 also confirmed to have the service based on passenger reports from using it on board.

CO_Nonrev_elite

That would be nice

sbm12

It was definitely listed as "experimental" pricing according to the passenger, so no guarantees it holds.

Also, the 738 has been added to the original STC. Only one configured right now (the STC plane, of course), N24224 /tail 3224.

boat9781

Why the split solution between Airbus/Boeing equipment? If the Ka band solution that LiveTV is offering is better, why not install that same kit on the Airbus aircraft?

sbm12

Lots of theories on this. Among them: uncertainty of if/when LiveTV would deliver (they failed the first try), pricing, speed to deployment, service area and probably a few others as well.

There are some rumors swirling that the Ka solution might supplant previously committed Ku options but I have not confirmed that at all.

I've also got a list now of 22 aircraft with the kit installed. I'm working on verifying that data.

EWR764

Ka-band is through the LiveTV vendor, while the Ku-band (lower bandwidth) solution is a Panasonic installation and owned by UA.

mduell

This is the same airline that schedules the darkbirds on transcons...



The Ka-band they're using is CONUS only; the Ku-band they're using is nearly worldwide (see above).

sbm12

Planes confirmed with the kit installed based on time spent at KINT for the fitting:

3408 - 25 Jan 14 - 10 days
3410 - 29 Jan 14 - 15 days
3411 - 15 Jan 14 - 17 days
3412 - 10 Feb 14 - 11 days
3413 - 14 Dec 13 - 24 days
3414 - 30 Dec 13 - 19 days
3415 - 10 Feb 14 - 12 days
3419 - 04 Jan 14 - 15 days
3420 - 31 Jan 14 - 14 days
3421 - 07 Feb 14 - 13 days
3422 - 17 Jan 14 - 13 days
3423 - 09 Jan 14 - 18 days
3425 - 20 Dec 13 - 17 days
3426 - 03 Dec 13 - 25 days
3429 - 21 Nov 13 - 17 days
3435 - 22 Dec 13 - 18 days
3443 - 03 Jan 14 - 21 days
3444 - 04 Dec 13 - 17 days
3445 - 15 Jan 14 - 13 days
3451 - 11 Dec 14 - 30 days
3454 - 19 Feb 13 - 13 days

And the 738 noted above.

Ship 3417 is reportedly configured by the flight history suggests it never stopped in KINT for the install.

That's 24 planes complete today, I think.

demkr

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Thanks. Good to know!