Fast satellite Internet is the new standard on board planes?

Connectivity on planes is undergoing a transformation. What was once considered a luxury is now becoming a standard - fast and increasingly free WiFi is becoming more widely available to passengers. The modern traveller expects constant and reliable network access, not only for messaging, but also for work, video calls or video streaming. Next-generation satellite internet is playing an increasingly important role in meeting these expectations, as exemplified by the planned deployments on aircraft of the Lufthansa Group, which intends to install the Starlink service from SpaceX on more than 800 aircraft.

Starlink is a global satellite internet access system being developed by Elon Musk's company SpaceX. Unlike traditional satellite solutions, which rely on geostationary satellites orbiting around 36,000 kilometres above the Earth, Starlink uses thousands of satellites placed in low earth orbit (LEO), at an altitude of just a few hundred kilometres. This difference is technically crucial. The shorter path that the signal has to travel reduces latency - in Starlink's case it averages around 25 milliseconds, whereas in classic satellite systems it can reach up to 600 ms. For the user, this means smooth web browsing or watching video streams (video calls, films).
On board the aircraft, the system works as follows: data from the passengers' devices reaches a special antenna mounted on the fuselage of the aircraft and is then transmitted to one of Starlink's more than 6,700 active satellites orbiting the Earth. Thanks to a dense network of satellites, the connection can be seamlessly transmitted between successive units in orbit, ensuring stable internet even over oceans, mountainous areas or sparsely populated regions where no ground infrastructure exists. The global mesh makes Starlink ideal for airborne applications.

Hawaiian Airlines was the first airline to deploy Starlink across its entire fleet - completing the installation in October 2024 and offering passengers free high-speed Wi-Fi even when flying over the Pacific. Soon after, Qatar Airways joined in and began installing the system on long-haul aircraft - today, around 120 of the carrier's aircraft are already equipped with Starlink.
Europe joined the trend a little later. The first European airline to launch Starlink was Latvia's airBaltic in February 2025. Prior to that, Air France and SAS announced tests and deployments, and Virgin Atlantic is also expected to join in the second half of 2025, making it the first UK carrier to offer the technology.

Despite Starlink's growing popularity, not all airlines are planning to implement it. Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair openly declare their lack of interest in the solution. Carrier representatives point to the high cost of installation and the additional aerodynamic drag caused by the fuselage-mounted antennas, which translates into higher fuel consumption. In a low-cost model based on short flights and minimising expenses, high-speed onboard internet is still not a priority.

TV in fibre optic - optical transmitters and receivers from SIGNAL PRO.

DIPOL has extended the offer of SIGNAL PRO devices, thus responding to the growing needs of the market for modern RTV/SAT installations and signal transmission systems. In addition to the proven MS-9xx SIGNAL PRO multiswitches, the offer has been enriched with new TR-901 R69956 SIGNAL PRO optical transmitters and REC-109 R69958 SIGNAL PRO optical receivers. The introduction of these devices enables the construction of advanced signal distribution systems based on fibre-optic technology, ensuring high transmission quality, stable operation and resistance to interference. The extended offer allows installers to comprehensively equip the installation - from the signal source, through optical transmission, to its distribution to end users - using devices of one consistent brand.

Group password change in Hikvision devices using HiTools Delivery.

HiTools Delivery is a tool that, in addition to the many advanced features it offers, allows group password change in multiple Hikvision devices. This is a very convenient option that is particularly useful when upgrading large installations where devices have different passwords and there is a need to unify them. To change passwords in a group of devices, after installing, starting and adding all devices to the programme, go to Maintenance → Change password. In the next step, select all devices that have the same password, enter the old administrator password for the devices in the tab on the right, the new password and confirm it again. If the devices have completely different passwords, the change procedure should be carried out in the respective groups.

Group password change with HiTools Delivery version 2.0.0.7

Visual fault locator (VFL) - how to check a fibre optic cable?

In the event of a fault in a fibre optic-based system, we may be dealing with a fault in the active equipment or with damage to the transmission medium. In the latter case, the problem may be a cable that is too bent and consequently a broken fibre or, in the case of a fault in a switch / socket / cabinet, a fibre that is too bent or broken or, for example, a broken splice.

The simplest and also quickest method of verifying the cause of a fault is to use a Visual Fault Locator (VFL). This is a visible light source that, when connected to one side of the optical path, should shine on the other side. LEDs operating at a wavelength of 650 nm (red) are most commonly used as the source, green LEDs (around 530 nm) are less common.

If a fibre is broken along the cable route, an observer on the other side will not observe the light. In the case of a bend causing significant signal attenuation, the luminescence should be noticeably weaker than in the case of an undamaged line. In such a situation, due to the large room for subjective perception by the observer, it is necessary to support oneself with an additional transmission measurement (light source and power meter). If a fibre or splice in the switch is damaged, the matter is much simpler - excessive bending (or breaking) will result in a large leakage of light. The fibre alignment or re-weld should then be corrected and the operation of the system verified.

DIPOL offers 2 VFL models: the ULTIMODE VFL-V1-10 L5936 and the ULTIMODE VFL-V3-15 L5939, differing primarily in power and power supply.

What do the powers given with UPS characteristics mean?

Usually two powers are given with UPS: apparent power (VA) and active power (W). The active power (P) is the energy actually consumed by the connected equipment to do its job - e.g. powering computers, servers, lighting or network equipment. It is expressed in Watts (W) and shows how much energy the UPS needs to supply for the equipment to work properly.
Reactive power (Q) expressed in var is the electrical energy circulating between the source and the load, but is not converted into usable work. Apparent power (S) is the total energy that is supplied to the equipment and must be handled by the UPS. It is made up of active and reactive power. It determines how much load is placed on UPS components such as the inverter, power transistors, transformer or cabling.

The power triangle illustrates the relationship between active power P, reactive power Q and apparent power S.
The power factor (cos (φ)) determines what proportion of apparent power is converted into active power.
Ideally, it has a value close to 1 - then the proportion of reactive power is smallest.

Reactive power is not consumed in an energy sense, but its presence causes an increase in the current flowing in the circuit. This current physically flows through the UPS and causes thermal losses and stress on the power components. It is irrelevant to the UPS whether the current is doing useful work or merely 'circulating' between the source and the load. Stating the active power in Watts alone would be insufficient and potentially dangerous. The user could connect a low power factor load that formally falls within the Watt limits but exceeds the current capability of the UPS. This is why UPS specifications always state both values: the apparent power (VA), which indicates the maximum electrical load seen by the unit, and the active power (W), which indicates how much actual energy the UPS can deliver to the loads. Both parameters are equally important and only together will they allow the UPS to be safely and correctly selected for the application.
In addition, when selecting a UPS, it is worth bearing in mind the safety margin - the total power of the connected equipment should not exceed approximately 80% of the UPS's capacity, and in the case of consumer ranges, manufacturers often recommend a maximum of 60%.

Connector types in LTE, 5G devices.

Purchasing an antenna for wireless network devices such as access points, network cards or modems requires knowledge of the connectors used in these devices. The multitude of solutions and the slight differences in external appearance mean that less experienced users may have great difficulty in selecting antennas terminated with the correct plug or socket.

Depending on the manufacturer of the device or the frequency used, many different types of connectors can be found in data transmission technology. In particular, the connectors used in modems for broadband data transmission in mobile phone networks are a major problem.

In most modems, manufacturers use small antenna connectors. Although this has undoubted advantages - in practice it involves the need for additional connectors when an additional antenna is required for such a modem. The cable connecting the antenna to the modem is usually too large for direct termination with a connector corresponding to the one used in the modem. The most universal solution will be the selection of a connector terminated on one side with a connector dedicated to the modem, and on the other side with an SMA connector. Most antennas are equipped with cables terminated with an SMA connector.

Ultimode fibre optic connectors - internet connection. Ultimode fibre optic connectors allow direct termination of the cable, without the need for an intermediate subscriber socket to protect the splice and spare optical fibre.
This is the solution used when connecting internet services in flats. In the presented situation, it was necessary to shorten the subscriber's cable, which was left in the flat by the operator (location of the modem in another room). Due to the impossibility of using a splicer, it was decided to use an Ultimode L5714 SC/APC quick connector...>>>more

Triset 302 coaxial cables – class A+, triple shielding