Use of Skype, Zoom prohibited?
Sep 9, 2013, 8:34 pm
#16
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Like other said, if you manage to get a voice or video call out, it will be terrible quality because of packet loss and latency. However, if you really want to get a call out, it's best to do it via VPN, which Gogo doesn't block (otherwise there will be a lot of angry business customers).
Sep 9, 2013, 9:11 pm
#17
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I very much doubt they're able to allow voice-only use of skype while blocking video calls so it's much easier to block the whole service. If you use a VOIP service they don't recognize or carry the extra overhead of tunneling over a VPN you'll probably get VOIP to work.
Sep 9, 2013, 9:23 pm
#18
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Sep 9, 2013, 10:09 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I doubt the FA's have to, or even can enforce the policy - it's almost certainly blocked by the IP address, as I would assume are streaming video sites like netflix. It's probably both to reduce the disturbance for other passengers as well as to conserve fairly limited bandwidth.
Sep 9, 2013, 10:14 pm
#20
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What's Zoom?
Sep 9, 2013, 10:33 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2009
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Ever been seated close to drinking buddies located in J or F? Cannot imagine VoIP being louder than that.
Sep 10, 2013, 12:05 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Not sure if it's officially blocked or not (technologically speaking, not policy wise), but I do know that in the last year on shorter, less populated flights I've been able to get Facetime up and running with rather good quality. (I think the last time was a December flight DFW-MCI.)
Skype has never functioned for me. I've always just chalked it up to my assumption that the site was being blocked by Gogo/AA.
Interesting thought about the VPN sidestep.
Skype has never functioned for me. I've always just chalked it up to my assumption that the site was being blocked by Gogo/AA.
Interesting thought about the VPN sidestep.
Sep 10, 2013, 12:23 am
#24
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Absent great noise-canceling mic, VOIP in-flight might be worse than you even expected.
The VPN sidestep to get around blocking works to get around the blocking but doesn't necessarily help with getting around the poor quality of the communication.
The VPN sidestep to get around blocking works to get around the blocking but doesn't necessarily help with getting around the poor quality of the communication.
Sep 10, 2013, 12:27 am
#25
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Sep 10, 2013, 7:18 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: North Carolina
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I very much doubt they're able to allow voice-only use of skype while blocking video calls so it's much easier to block the whole service. If you use a VOIP service they don't recognize or carry the extra overhead of tunneling over a VPN you'll probably get VOIP to work.
I haven't tried to use Skype voice or video. Haven't hated any of my neighbors that much.
In an earlier discussion, there was some speculation that network traffic is sniffed and certain packets are rejected (like those carrying VoIP). This is possible. Personally, I think they rely on GoGo's really terrible latency to make Skype et al. unusable.
VPN would theoretically work to prevent packet sniffing, but it adds another layer that requires additional bandwidth. Which GoGo doesn't have.
Sep 10, 2013, 7:46 am
#27
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Another "for security reasons" excuse that has nothing to do with security. If something is really "for security reasons", then the employee making this excuse should be required to cite the FAR or AA reg.
Blaming "security" for non-security issues, especially consumption of WiFi bandwidth should be a terminable offense. It just makes people tune out every time someone trots out the lame "security" excuse.
Blaming "security" for non-security issues, especially consumption of WiFi bandwidth should be a terminable offense. It just makes people tune out every time someone trots out the lame "security" excuse.
Sep 10, 2013, 7:46 am
#28
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Which shows that most people are gullible sheep. Personally, I would immediately ask in what way it is considered a security risk.
Sep 10, 2013, 7:56 am
#29
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Sep 10, 2013, 8:03 am
#30
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Let's not turn this into a broader TS/S debate... Please keep posts germane to the specific topic at hand.
~Moderator
~Moderator