Why you can't get cell service on the tarmac • Hacker News Board

Re: Why you can't get cell service on the tarmac

#41

Post by dijit » Tue, Dec 10, 2019, 10:48 AM UTC

antihero wrote: post #37

coding_unit_1 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there was any danger of mobile phones interfering with aircraft systems then they wouldn’t rely on the general public following instructions to make it safe.

This is the logic I've always held - if it's actually dangerous, they wouldn't allow it on board.

It's annoying that they wont tell us the context of why they prefer it, I'm assuming it's due to the interference I've seen in my own life.

However it could just as easily be spectrum oversaturation, so if 10% of passengers disobey there's no issue, but if 100% of passengers disobey then they have to start restricting phones on planes.

Air travel feels draconian enough, I'm willing to just comply, since this compliance benefits my battery-life anyway I'm not going to split hairs. I would like to bring water with me though.

Re: Why you can't get cell service on the tarmac

#42

Post by ajdlinux » Tue, Dec 10, 2019, 10:51 AM UTC

TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #13

ajdlinux wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I go into an airport terminal with lower ceilings (e.g. parts of Melbourne Airport) I feel _noticeably_ more cramped and claustrophobic. It really does make the experience feel worse for me. I'm not entirely sure why it makes me feel that way.

Melbourne airport is the one that instantly popped in to my mind as it's the airport I've spent most time in. And yeah, there are a couple of noticeably lower ceilings in there. But, I wouldn't be surprised to discover that tests have shown people become much more agitated in crowded places with regular (is it 8' / 2400mm?) ceilings. I can't imagine that scenario would make me feel at ease.

I cannot reconcile the number of Australian frequent flyers who love to talk about how MEL is so much better than SYD with the ceilings of MEL T1.

Yes, yes, I know, it's all about how you don't need to catch a bus to get from T1 to T2... but I'll always dislike MEL T1 more than dealing with SYD.

Re: Why you can't get cell service on the tarmac

#43

Post by thesimon » Tue, Dec 10, 2019, 10:59 AM UTC

>Once you’re on a plane, you’re farther away from the DAS systems in the terminal and closer to the larger cell towers that are located on the outer edges of the airport. Add in on board Wi-Fi systems, and your phone can easily get confused as to which antenna its meant to connect through.

Huh? On-board WiFi and mobile network are completely different technologies. They might mean the in-flight GSM they sometimes offer, but that's not on on the ground.

Seems like a filler article to promote their site, not really too much interesting content.

Re: Why you can't get cell service on the tarmac

#44

Post by Ensorceled » Tue, Dec 10, 2019, 11:13 AM UTC

lopmotr wrote: post #18

throwaway1777 wrote: post #8

This is a good thing. Nothing more annoying than sitting next to someone yapping on their phone in a plane.

Do you feel the same about people speaking a language you don't understand? It has the same problems of being a noise that you can't pay attention to because it doesn't make sense but you can't shut out because it's loud and filled with features.

Very few people converse in person as loudly as some people converse on the phone. I really don’t care what language people speak to their seat mates in as long as they are not yelling down the aisle.

Re: Why you can't get cell service on the tarmac

#45

Post by unnouinceput » Tue, Dec 10, 2019, 11:36 AM UTC

alpb wrote: post #27

unnouinceput wrote: post #22

Not a problem in my country. Every time I flew internally people were texting and watching youtube all the way to the point where the crew had to tap on their shoulder before take-off to switch to airplane mode or shut them off. So my guess this has to do with article's author personal experience on his/her country implementation of technology.

Does anything actually happen if nobody switches their phone to airplane mode and kept watching videos on YouTube? I have witnessed some people do the policing on behalf of flight attendees, but I'm never sure enough to say that rule has no scientific basis.

No. That's just a boogeyman sold by corporations to make you pay for their extra-services.

Otherwise Al-Qaeda would've dropped the entire Western planes by smuggling cell phones in luggage of unsuspecting fliers.

And there is plenty of evidence people forget their phone on by mistake. You draw the conclusions.

Re: Why you can't get cell service on the tarmac

#46

Post by lordgrenville » Tue, Dec 10, 2019, 2:15 PM UTC

rtpg wrote: post #7

Slightly related to a comment in the article about airport interiors being so big: Why is it that almost _all_ airports have those huge ceilings? Is it just for aesthetics? Personally it feels really uncomfortable and just wasteful. I can't help but think you could make airports a hell of a lot smaller and make it a better experience overall. An interesting contrast is Narita's low-cost-carrier terminal 3. It has nor…

Here are some theories: https://www.reddit.com/r/answers/comments/2fricv/why_do_airp...

Summary: prevents claustrophobia/overheating, allows high signs to be seen from far away, possibly structurally sounder for a wide room to be higher, aesthetics.