Amtrak.com not working...while on Amtrak WiFi...

[Anderson]

So, I'm on the train up to DC (en route to Boston...Christmas travel junket FTW). One thing I noticed is that while I can open up Amtrak.com on my phone, when I try to open it up on the on-board wifi Amtrak.com (and really only Amtrak.com) kicks back an error message. Has anyone else run into this issue?

Edit: It seems to be specific to a single browser. How odd...

 

[flitcraft]

Which browser? Chrome?

 

[Anderson]

It's a Chrome-based browser (SRWareIron) that's basically "Chrome without Google".

 

[willem]

It could be unrelated to your situation, Anderson, but I have noticed that I cannot download email (to a client, not a browser) while in an Amtrak lounge, but I have no problem if I'm on an Amtrak train, while connected to Amtrak_WiFi in both cases. This has been going on for years.

 

[Anderson]

So, I'm having no issues on the Acela.

This seems to track back to something I noticed a long time ago, namely that there seem to actually be two Amtrak wifi "networks"...and it's anyone's guess which one you'll end up on where.

 

[bratkinson]

Onboard WiFi on NEC regional trains seems to be getting worse every time I ride. The problem is there simply isn't enough band width on board to provide 400 or so passengers with anything resembling 'reasonable' service, mostly between WAS and NYP. What seems to happen is that although I've successfully 'connected' to the WiFi, unless the Amtrak 'Agree/Greeting' screen comes up on its own, going directly to any website will fail. I used to be able to go to that screen myself (I saved it as a bookmark) but even that doesn't work any more. And should you 'wait it out', internet response times are worse than dismal...minutes some times.

On the other hand, Wifi on the Acela works far better all the time. A quick check with my Wifi 'checker' app reveals considerably more available WiFi channels than on the regional trains.

These days, I've routinely switched to using my cellphone connected via USB to my laptop between WAS and NYP. Problem solved. NYP-NHV is usually OK, but sometimes slow. Too often, WiFi on the 2-car shuttle trains NHV-SPG doesn't connect to the internet. Cellphone to the rescue.

 

[willem]

What seems to happen is that although I've successfully 'connected' to the WiFi, unless the Amtrak 'Agree/Greeting' screen comes up on its own, going directly to any website will fail. I used to be able to go to that screen myself (I saved it as a bookmark) but even that doesn't work any more.

I read somewhere else that if you try to connect to a site that starts with http and that does not redirect you to an https version, then the splash page will come up. I have not verified that this is true. Does anyone know?

If you're looking for a site that starts with http, Amsnag fits the bill.