Hanno
OBS Chief
Are there any plans in the works to provide Wi-Fi on long distance trains? Do any have Wi-Fi available now and if so, which ones?
Thank you!
Thank you!
Coast Starlight has Wi-Fi available in the Pacific Parlor Car. Note that it is a "terrestrial" system using regular towers, and not satellite. Therefore, it is not always strong or even available, where there isn't coverage, such as when it goes along the coast at Vandenberg AFB.Are there any plans in the works to provide Wi-Fi on long distance trains? Do any have Wi-Fi available now and if so, which ones?
Thank you!
But Amtrak doesn't. The WiFi is free on the Acela and at the stations with Amtrak WiFi service. Amtrak's announcement back in June (?) about adding WiFi to their entire system stated they planned to offer it for free, IIRC. Makes sense, because Amtrak charged for the service, they would get a ton of complaints whenever it dropped out going through tunnels or areas with poor or no 3G/4G service. Offer it for free as an incentive to take the train, but if it drops out or people can't connect, then people can't demand their WiFi fees back.I can just hear the complaints now: How come AMTRAK charges for WIFI.
No, there's aren't any dates. Unfortunately it's going to be difficult to put WiFi in on the short term because so many long distance trains - especially those out west - travel through a lot of very rural area not covered by cell service (though I had decent luck on the CZ with my AT&T cell card this summer). Eastern LD trains would be easier to start with. I think one potential technology with a lot of promise is the new satellite being launched by a company called Viasat. JetBlue is contracting with them for inflight wifi, and they promise to offer broadband comparable speeds for costs comparable with a terrestrial connection. I believe they will be launching their satellite sometime next year, and JetBlue plans to bring their system online in 2012. That's going to be the only way to ensure WiFi without interruption on all LD trains.Any ideas for when wifi will be on all routes? I'm planning a few cross country trips and I'd prefer to take a 3 day train rather than a 5 hour flight, only if the train had wifi. Something as simple as wifi could seriously help the industry compete with air.
But really, do we have any dates?
Sans tunnels.No, there's aren't any dates. Unfortunately it's going to be difficult to put WiFi in on the short term because so many long distance trains - especially those out west - travel through a lot of very rural area not covered by cell service (though I had decent luck on the CZ with my AT&T cell card this summer). Eastern LD trains would be easier to start with. I think one potential technology with a lot of promise is the new satellite being launched by a company called Viasat. JetBlue is contracting with them for inflight wifi, and they promise to offer broadband comparable speeds for costs comparable with a terrestrial connection. I believe they will be launching their satellite sometime next year, and JetBlue plans to bring their system online in 2012. That's going to be the only way to ensure WiFi without interruption on all LD trains.Any ideas for when wifi will be on all routes? I'm planning a few cross country trips and I'd prefer to take a 3 day train rather than a 5 hour flight, only if the train had wifi. Something as simple as wifi could seriously help the industry compete with air.
But really, do we have any dates?
Sans tunnels.
Unless there a way to install the antenna in the tunnel so it can broadcast the wi-fi signal through the tunnel so the train can pick it up.Sans tunnels.
Also, aircraft can fly above the clouds and weather while Amtrak can't. Then again from what I've read most airlines that offer service now are actually receiving their communications from ground-based towers and not from satellites. Go figure. Although I would appreciate internet service aboard the train I don't think it's that important right now considering what Amtrak will soon be up against.Sans tunnels.[satellite service is] going to be the only way to ensure WiFi without interruption on all LD trains.
They are. Right now, satellite service offers low bandwidth and is very expensive. That will be changing with the satellite launch I cited above.Also, aircraft can fly above the clouds and weather while Amtrak can't. Then again from what I've read most airlines that offer service now are actually receiving their communications from ground-based towers and not from satellites. Go figure. Although I would appreciate internet service aboard the train I don't think it's that important right now considering what Amtrak will soon be up against.
On my Auto Train trip in August I used a Verizon Broadband USB card and I had pretty good coverage on the trip except for some spots in the Carolina's. I have since switched to Comcast Broadband which uses Sprint but won't be able to be test it until my February trip to Florida.No, there's aren't any dates. Unfortunately it's going to be difficult to put WiFi in on the short term because so many long distance trains - especially those out west - travel through a lot of very rural area not covered by cell service (though I had decent luck on the CZ with my AT&T cell card this summer). Eastern LD trains would be easier to start with. I think one potential technology with a lot of promise is the new satellite being launched by a company called Viasat. JetBlue is contracting with them for inflight wifi, and they promise to offer broadband comparable speeds for costs comparable with a terrestrial connection. I believe they will be launching their satellite sometime next year, and JetBlue plans to bring their system online in 2012. That's going to be the only way to ensure WiFi without interruption on all LD trains.Any ideas for when wifi will be on all routes? I'm planning a few cross country trips and I'd prefer to take a 3 day train rather than a 5 hour flight, only if the train had wifi. Something as simple as wifi could seriously help the industry compete with air.
But really, do we have any dates?
3G and 4G cellular data signal can and are broadcast within some select tunnels using leaky coax installed in the tunnels. Once that is available one can simply use a MiFi to convert that to WiFi signal. Verizon peddles a neat little component that will do this so that you can set up your own WiFi network out of your pocket and connect up all your computing gear to the internet.Unless there a way to install the antenna in the tunnel so it can broadcast the wi-fi signal through the tunnel so the train can pick it up.Sans tunnels.
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