For those of you looking for GhettoIFE.com – this is the same location. We’ve had a re-brand into something a little more sensible, but don’t worry – the madness still remains. But for historical purposes, a big question I’m never asked is What is GhettoIFE?
IFE (In-Flight Entertainment) is in so many words something to keep you occupied when you’re trapped in a small seat crossing distances far and wide.
IFE Systems are very common amongst long haul airlines, and forms of IFE exist short haul aircraft across the world (well.. except in Short Haul in Europe it seems where the only thing you get is a seat to sit in – and that’s if you’ve been good).
There are variations of IFE (sometimes depending on where you sit on the plane sometimes). Here’s a few of them:
- PTV with AVOD ((Personal TV – Audio/Visual On-Demand)
- PTV Rolling Screen – There are various channels to select
- LiveTV – Live TV Broadcast sent to your seat-back screen via Satellite
- Small screens – Lots of little screens dotted in the cabin
- Big Screen – One big screen in the centre of the cabin
- Audio Only
Let’s looking at some examples:
PTV (Personal TV) with AVOD (Audio/Visual On-Demand)
ANA Boeing 787 (Business Class – Panasonic EX2 with a feed from an Apple iPhone)
Continental Airlines Boeing 777-200 (Economy Class – Panasonic EX2)
In an Air Canada ERJ-175 – Note the USB Port on the left and the Broken map
Onboard an Air Canada Boeing 777-300ER. Again, note the USB Socket on the left and Power System socket on the right.
On-board an Asiana Boeing 777-200ER First Class seat (AVOD)
Onboard a Thai Airways Boeing 777-200 in Business Class
Onboard a refurbish United 767-300ER in Business Class
A bad example of AVOD – US Airways Airbus A330 (Economy – Rockwell system)
PTV’s with Rolling Screens
Onboard a BMI Airbus A330 – Screen set to Wheelcam (Economy Class)
Onboard an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777-200ER in Business Class – Welcome Screen
Onboard an United Airlines Boeing 777-200ER in Business Class – Economy Class
LiveTV
Onboard a Continental Airlines Boeing 737-900ER in Business Class – Economy Class – note the credit card reader integrated into the unit.
Small Screen Overhead
Onboard an United Airlines Airbus A320 in Economy Class – Nightime
Onboard an United Airlines Airbus A320 in Economy Class – Daytime
Onboard an US Airways Boeing 757-200 in Economy Class
hr
Big Screen
United 747 – Economy Class pre-refurb.
So these are great – except what if there is nothing to watch… or even worse, you’re on a flight and suddenly realise there is no IFE or after browsing through the sections a very poor IFE?
My Solution is very simple: Build your own system! (What? I’m a geek. I’m allowed to think of a technical solution to anything…)
Now if you’re going to do this make sure:
- You switch on your portable electronic device when you’re allowed to
- Make sure you have spare sickbags (if you’re nauseous in the air)
- Make sure you don’t rip the bag too much so that your precious media device ends up on the floor and
- Prepare be laughed at – or watch people copying you…
So – How to create a GhettoIFE system:
- Place device in your sickbag.
- Rip hole in bag where the centre of the screen is.
- Pull out the hole, tearing off bits of the sickbag paper until the screen is fully exposed
- Rip a hole in side so you can plug your headset in
- Mount onto seat back by folding back the top of the sickbag so it can be squeezed between the top of the table in the stowed position
- Enjoy your entertainment
And you get of these….
Ghetto IFE installed on a US Airways 757
Ghetto IFE installed on a United 767-300ER
On a British Airways Boeing 747-400
On a British Airways Boeing 777-200ER
On an Air Canada A330-300
Of course you could watch it in your hand or lap, but there is a lot of strain doing that. Why strain when you do thing slightly less elegantly? Simples!
