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In addition to basic services such as email and web browsing, what other types of network services do you think people could use via public wireless LANs in airports?
In the past, I have researched developing semi-mobile kiosks for selling goods in places like airports that have WLAN access. Essentially all I would need to add a kiosk would be a power cord - but that isn't a consumer application.
Two things that I would like to see offered on Wi-Fi in Airports: A Gate finder service that uses Wi-Fi to triangulate your location and points you in the right direction (more of a PDA app than a laptop one, as I can't imagine anyone running for a plane holding an open laptop in one hand).
On-the fly print services for people who need a hard copy to take on the plane with them.
Those are great ideas. I especially like the idea of being able to print documents. I often travel because of my consulting business and could really benefit by printing/faxing signed NDAs and contracts. Some sort of mapping system also makes a lot of sense for people trying to find their way to a specific concourse, taxi stand, restaurant, etc. The ability to easily find a Starbucks would definately help me out!
Anyone else have some uniques applications for airports?
Jim, airport applications are an interesting topic to me. However, I'm not on the consumer application side. There are so many airport operational uses for WiFi that it just ain't funny. Unfortunately, very few WISPs are treading into that space outside of the terminal and onto the tarmac, which is a shame, because there would be a lot less consumer price sensitivity (Even in this market, I can justify higher prices for my service). I imagine that theres some unique challenges to making .11x work in that sort of environment (with all those huge aluminum tubes laying around), but hopefully soon there will be enough demand to make a few ISP's take notice.
Thanks for your response. I agree that wireless at airports would be beneficial on the airside as well. I've been working with Miami International Airport to deploy an 802.11a and 802.11b wireless LAN throughout the terminals, concourses, and baggage claim areas (but nothing on the airside). I think it would also be very beneficial to include access to passengers on-board planes waiting to depart the gate, but I think there are some FAA issues.
Jim, in your opinion, if a facility such as MIA airport has .11x coverage in the areas that you described, especially gate and baggage areas, is it possible to have a considerable amount of 'spillover' coverage (for lack of a better term) onto ramp areas? I'm only interested in having access in the immediate area where the airplane is parked at the gate, maximum 300 feet from the jetway.
Also, is it just my imagination, or has the WISP rollout at airports slowed considerably? Is the mobile traveller space actually a sustainable market? I'm always curious, because when I'm going thru airports, I just don't see many people with their laptops open, and those that don't seem to be connected. Concourse Communications seems to be laying out alot of moolah to enable entire terminal areas, but they're probably in the best financial position to build the market.
I was able to run some tests aboard an aircraft parked at the gate before my return flight home. The gate I was leaving from was in Concourse H at a gate just adjacient from the Delta Crown Club (which has an existing access point for public access). I was sitting in the first class section (using my frequent flyer miles) of the plane in a window seat in row 8. My AirMagnet handheld analyzer indicated just barely 5 dB SNR (which is very low), and it wasn't possible to associate with the access point via my laptop. As a result, I don't think there's enough spillage to offer connectivity aboard aircraft. Of course the conditions will also likely be worse in the coach section of the plane due to longer distances.
I think that the deployment of pubic wireless LANs will pickup over the next years. MIA is one of the largest airports in the World, so I believe that it's implementation of an airport-wide system will certainly set a trend that others will follow.
Jim, I work with Roving Planet and we have been working with airports for the last 2 years to provide wireless solutions. We have seen a number of used or requested applications in airports, besides public use. Keep in mind, airports are small cities with travelers, concessions, airlines, maintenance, security, etc.
- baggage tracking; wireless bar code scanners can ID the bar codes placed on the bag at check-in.
- baggage ID match; this is to conform with the FAA's requirement to only allow baggage on an airplane once the passenger has been verified on board.
- mobile kiosks; for both gate agents and self-check in, allows touch screen check-in services. Keeping these mobile allows airlines to move gates, check-in areas more easily (and cheaply)
- mobile hand-held checkin; these are those hand-helds gate agents can use to check-in people who are still in line but their plane is about to leave
- security surveillance cameras; wireless cameras
- hand-held surveillance monitors; allows security personnel to monitor the cameras while mobile
- maintenance tasklists; most airports use walkie-talkies for this, and paper logs by the dispatch. Some airports have moved to a PDA format, but it requires synching which of course is a headache.
- multiple roaming partners; instead of just 1 ISP, the choice for whichever ISP you currently have an account with
- wireless inventory management; for concessions
Im sure there is more, but quite frankly that was all off the top of my head. Just to give in a plug (of course) at Roving Planet we have built a solution that uses a single common-use infrastructure to allow all those multiple groups/applications to be utilized securely and effeciently.
I remember seeing a release from Concourse Communications that said that Roving Planet products were in use at MSP airport. Is there outdoor 802.11x coverage on the aircraft ramp areas or anywhere else for that matter? I'm interested in shared WLANs.
You are correct, Concourse is using our equipment at MSP. Unfortunately, Concourse's network there is currently limited to the interiors of MSP.
Northwest had put in a network prior to Concourse, and that does have some exterior services. There is a plan that will consolidate the two networks and create a single common-use environment, but that has not been deployed yet.
Seth, You mentioned the use of wireless for security cameras. Wouldn't it be fairly easy for someone to jam the radio signals and knock out the security video? Most people know that 802.11 WLANs are easy to jam with a single 802.11-equipped user device and some simple software (by sending continal 802.11 traffic such as CTS frames, probes, etc).
Also, have you implemented public printing at any of the airports? How does that work?
I'm confused.......why is it that I would be able to use a cell phone (PCS) on an airplane...while it is on the ground at the gate, that is...but I wouldn't be able to maintain a wireless link with 802.11b. The cell phone has excellent TX/RX anywhere in the plane, and I do mean everywhere. My limited knowledge of RF theory led me to believe that bandwidth and signal strength were inversely proportional.
Ok, I guess this one is all RF theory. If metallic objects create a shield like barrier and 2.4Ghz can't get thru (this is in reference to the airplane project), if I use a higher gain antenna can I 'somewhat' muscle the signal thru it? For the extremely short outdoor distance that I'm trying to cover, I'm wondering of a high gain sector antenna would bounce the signal off enough surrounding structure to get it thru airplane windows, etc.
Yes, if you have enough signal strength the signal will penetrate the airplane. But, I think it would be difficult to get enough signal strength taking into consideration the low power of the transmitters.
Your PCS Cellphone still working inside aircraft on the ground because the cellphone still have enough energy to penetrate aircraft wall and surrounding structures.
Typical PCS Cellphone transmit up to 600 mWatt over 30 kHz analog bandwidth, giving power density of 20 mWatt/kHz bandwidth.
Meanwhile typical WLAN transmit only about 20 mWatt over 22 MHz analog bandwidth, giving power density of less than 0.001 mWatt/khz bandwidth.
In this relation, PCS Cellphone have sinyal density (power density) twenty thousand times (20,000 x) higher compared to WLAN signal. In both cases, average white noise are about the same. It is understandable that PCS Cellphone signal could travel far beyond WLAN signal ...
Sample Airport Applications
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