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 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 in 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 are 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 look 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 the 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 refurbished United 767-300ER in Business Class
A bad example of AVOD – US Airways Airbus A330 (Economy – Rockwell system)
PTVs 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 a 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 a United Airlines Airbus A320 in Economy Class – Nightime
Onboard a United Airlines Airbus A320 in Economy Class – Daytime
Onboard a US Airways Boeing 757-200 in Economy Class
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 to be laughed at – or watch people copying you…
So – How to create a GhettoIFE system:
- Place the device in your sick bag.
- Rip a hole in the 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 inside so you can plug your headset in
- Mount onto the 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 things slightly less elegantly?