In-flight computer use for dummies
 

I am inspired by AHO's live report from 30,000+ feet and I should also admit that I'm WiFi illiterate on the ground.

How does Connexion by Boeing exactly work. You need a laptop and a WiFi card as far as I understand. Are some WiFi cards that experienced flyers would recommend ??? And is the Internet much slower in the sky, or is it just the same as on the ground...

I'd very much appreciate a response to those of us not young enough to be born with this technology !!!

There is a WiFi network on the aircraft that is usually turned on when you board. You connect to this like any other. When the aircraft is in the sky then it connects via satellite to the internet. You will see a window on the page that indicates that CBB is connected and you can logon. It's not super fast (maybe 500kbs?) but plenty fast for most things.

If you have a decent laptop that is less than 3 years old then you should have built-in wifi. If not then you can buy cards for about $50, I would guess. common brands are Netgear, D-link, Linksys, etc.

Might I add, that you can also use inflight Wifi for Skype or SIP phones in general! It's darn impressive, really.

On my last trip I even dialed back to a colleague who was also on a SIP phone with his laptop. (in the same airplane, but he could just as well have been on another one with Wifi)

The voice quality was definitely passable, with a slight delay and a few drop outs. Worst part was the ambient cabin noise through the microphone...

[QUOTE Worst part was the ambient cabin noise through the microphone...[/QUOTE]

That can be solved with a decent headset (and not the typical EUR 39 computer headset) with a true noise canceling microphone - that will eliminate most background noise.

I use a cheap USB handset and the sound quality is fine on the plane. This weasel purser on a LH flight nearly had an aneurism when he saw me talking on the phone and rudely interrupted me after he recovered. :rolleyes: