On 27-Feb-2009, "vaughn" wrote:

"Morgans" wrote in message
...

Don't forget that it is still illegal, on some of the frequencies,
This has been hashed around here many times in the past, and if memory
serves, it is only the original 800 mHz frequencies where it is
technically
illegal. Are those frequencies even used for the data services?

and if the phone companies and fcc decided to prosecute, it would be an
easy task.

Can anyone name a case where it has happened; especially where it has
happened to a casual aviator?

Vaughn

I read into this quite a bit awhile ago, and found that the FCC has
proposed lifting the inflight cellphone ban, but they won't do it until the
FAA signs off on it. The FAA is still deciding, but all of the negative
comments I found on the FCC and FAA websites pertinent to lifting the ban
had to do with airlines and aircraft flying in the flightlevels. I could
find nothing referencing any concern about using a cellphone inflight at
the altitudes my Cessna 172 flies. I found an article written by someone
high up in either ARINC or the Aircraft Electronics Association or some
such group in which he said he uses his cell phone inflight in his private
aircraft regularly with no qualms about it. So what I got out of everything
I read is that while technically still illegal, using a cellphone while
flying a small aircraft at altitudes lower than the flight levels causes no
problems at all and is extremely unlikely to result in any enforcement
actions.
All of which really doesn't seem to be an issue, I'm pretty darned sure
using the Alltell data network to access the internet is not the same as
placing a cell phone call. Yes, they use the same towers, but it's still
not the same thing. As circumstantial evidence to this, they charge
minutes per call, but use of the internet is unrestricted with no limits
or per-minute charges, just one monthly charge no matter how much or
little you use it.
So if I go this route and try using the internet through the Alltell data
network, it's my risk and I know that. XM isn't really a consideration for
me as I want this service for just one long cross-country each year, when
my wife and I fly from Wisconsin to Texas to see my parents. It'd hardly
be worth buying a new GPS and signing up for XM for one trip per year. If
we sign up for Altell's plan, we'll be using that for our home internet
service as well as for the one annual flying trip. I hope that explains my
motivations better.
Scott Wilson