WiFi expansion to 150s & 158s

[whole diary]

[plymothian]

As the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) and 180s have WiFi, and the 165s and 166s are being rolled out, its now the turn of the 150/2s, 150/0s and 158s begin to get theirs fitted.

Unfortunately Devon and Cornwall won't benefit much as most of their services are provided by 143s, 150/1s and 153s.

[devon_metro]

As the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) and 180s have WiFi, and the 165s and 166s are being rolled out, its now the turn of the 150/2s, 150/0s and 158s begin to get theirs fitted.

Unfortunately Devon and Cornwall won't benefit much as most of their services are provided by 143s, 150/1s and 153s.

I imagine the 4G coverage is fairly patchy too!

[ChrisB]

I was on 150002 on Friday. Using the wifi

[plymothian]

As the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) and 180s have WiFi, and the 165s and 166s are being rolled out, its now the turn of the 150/2s, 150/0s and 158s begin to get theirs fitted.

Unfortunately Devon and Cornwall won't benefit much as most of their services are provided by 143s, 150/1s and 153s.

I imagine the 4G coverage is fairly patchy too!

And yet GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are expecting staff to do everything electronically which needs at least a 4G signal.  Does STARMobile have an offline mode so tickets can be sold when there is no suitable signal?

[ChrisB]

Mudt have, as not all stock is/has been fitted

[plymothian]

The Icomera WiFi does seem vastly superior to that on the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) - more stable and quicker.  Though is that just because few people realise that WiFi is available on units?

[Spaceship]

Seems to work well, even in tunnels  You have to login though first so sometimes I just use my own data

[Rapidash]

4G isn't too bad around here. Between Paignton and Exeter the only blackspots are the tunnels along the seawall, and a small bit near Torbay hospital. That's on EE, no idea about other networks.

[LiskeardRich]

As the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) and 180s have WiFi, and the 165s and 166s are being rolled out, its now the turn of the 150/2s, 150/0s and 158s begin to get theirs fitted.

Unfortunately Devon and Cornwall won't benefit much as most of their services are provided by 143s, 150/1s and 153s.

I imagine the 4G coverage is fairly patchy too!

Its much improved in Cornwall now. Only blackspots for 4G on o2 is between Liskeard and Lostwithiel, although strangely it comes back for around 100 yard radius around Bodmin Parkway, there is then a blackspot for 5 mins between St Austell and Truro.
All depends what network they are using.

[sorch]

I imagine the 4G coverage is fairly patchy too!

Not really. EE pretty much has the place bathed in 4G coverage now, and O2/Vodafone are slowly getting there. 3 don't seem to be making much of an effort however.

You also forget that 3G/HSPA is still available and has had good coverage for some time. If I can get a nearly consistent signal on my phone inside a train, I'd imagine that the proper antennas on a wifi-fitted train can do an even better job.

(don't these wifi systems use all available 3G/4G networks?)

[Rapidash]

Talking of the devil, the 150/2 I was on this evening had armed and fully operational wifi. The only thing announcing it was a tiny sticker on the doors. Naturally I only noticed them as we arrived back in Paignton....

[LiskeardRich]

I can't find any thread mentioning it, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) 150/2 units are gaining wifi.

150265 is the only one I picked up on this week with it operational, however it was a more reliable connection than HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) through Cornwall.

[grahame]

I can't find any thread mentioning it, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) 150/2 units are gaining wifi.

150265 is the only one I picked up on this week with it operational, however it was a more reliable connection than HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) through Cornwall.

Picked it up on several journeys ... yes, robust. Not sure of the unit number(s) but not very obvious - just a tiny Wifi sign


update150-221 ... on the 05:19 Gloucester to Southampton last Wednesday

[plymothian]

This thread regarding wifi roll out to DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit):

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16904.0

[Chris from Nailsea]

With thanks to all those posting on this subject, I have now merged both topics here, in the interests of continuity and ease of future reference.