Broadband On The Train

The Diplomat · 02-12-2003, 14:10

According to the BBC site GNER are rolling out broadband access for their 1st class passengers.

Article HERE

All you need to do now is to remortgage your house to pay for the train ticket.

Tricky · 02-12-2003, 19:02

It's bad enough RAS'd in to the office via a GPRS card at least now I can complain that mails are too big to download. Interest concept though, didn't think they can get track signalling right let alone cable

MadGamer · 02-12-2003, 23:49

Well they are saying in that report that all laptops will be WI FI enabled by 2006. Does this mean that users will have to take their own laptops with them?

Tricky · 02-12-2003, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by WNA

Well they are saying in that report that all laptops will be WI FI enabled by 2006. Does this mean that users will have to take their own laptops with them?

This is certainly Intel's plan - means they get more sales - Problem in the UK is wireless access points not being that easy to come across.

MadGamer · 03-12-2003, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricky

This is certainly Intel's plan - means they get more sales - Problem in the UK is wireless access points not being that easy to come across.

How will the satellite on the train pick up the signal for Broadband access?

Tricky · 03-12-2003, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by WNA

How will the satellite on the train pick up the signal for Broadband access?

They mount a dish on the roof of each carridge and mirrors on the entrance and exit to each tunnel

Oops sorry that's the NTL solution!

I would imagine they'll install Wireless Access Points in each carridge that'll feed back to a central hub/router which in turn will be connected via ???? to the outside world.

Any suggestion on what the ???? - I assume they couldn't run it through the tracks (always breaking!) so the only other perm connection is the power lines unless they do use satelite (interesting doing your banking on the train as you enter a tunnel - Unless my 1st suggestion works!)

Stuart W · 03-12-2003, 20:34

There's no reason why it couldn't be sent as 'carrier' signal over the power lines.

Oh, and the tracks could also be used, despite there being breaks, they are allways connected (usualy by a piece of very heavy duty braided cable).

Tricky · 03-12-2003, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart W

There's no reason why it couldn't be sent as 'carrier' signal over the power lines.

Oh, and the tracks could also be used, despite there being breaks, they are allways connected (usualy by a piece of very heavy duty braided cable).

How long before someone gets electricuted or decapitated trying to get free internet access?

Tiptoes · 03-12-2003, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tricky

They mount a dish on the roof of each carridge and mirrors on the entrance and exit to each tunnel

Oops sorry that's the NTL solution!

I would imagine they'll install Wireless Access Points in each carridge that'll feed back to a central hub/router which in turn will be connected via ???? to the outside world.

Any suggestion on what the ???? - I assume they couldn't run it through the tracks (always breaking!) so the only other perm connection is the power lines unless they do use satelite (interesting doing your banking on the train as you enter a tunnel - Unless my 1st suggestion works!)

One of my old school pals and EX-business partners is the Technical Director at the Company MyZones (WiFi)

Ken worked for Alcatel and I was contracted to Alcatel installing IT/Satellite navigation equipment for Road transport systems.

It is entirely feasilbe that the Carrier is actually Sattelite based but WiFI only in the carraige.

asdf · 05-12-2003, 15:58

Quote:

Icomera, the company providing the wireless connections, is based in Gottenburg, Sweden where it recently introduced Wi-Fi on Linx trains running between Gottenburg and Copenhagen. Roll-out on trains serving Oslo-Karlstad-Stockholm is scheduled for later this year.

Crucial to the success of Wi-Fi on high-speed trains is the delivery of a reliable wireless connection through a number of systems, according to Current Analysis. Icomera uses multiple GPRS, GSM and satellite links to deliver Internet access on trains going at speeds of up to 200km per hour. The company has also collaborated with train operators, manufacturers and regulators to ensure its solution meets industry standards

GNER has conducted trials to find out what the quality of the GSM network is like along the east coast rail route from London to Inverness, according to Current Analysis' report, which concluded that coverage was 98 per cent.

It seems it's a combination of satellite and then GPRS/GSM when it can't get a satellite.

**Chris** · 05-12-2003, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by asdf

It seems it's a combination of satellite and then GPRS/GSM when it can't get a satellite.

I thought satellite broadband still required a phone line for the PC to upload, even if all the PC is doing is confirming receipt of data packets?

If so, I would have thought the train will need to maintain constant links to a satellite and the nearest GPRS/GSM cell at the same time.

Lord Nikon · 07-12-2003, 02:13

Satellite links CAN be bi-directional... no need to use a phone line in conjunction with them....

also, from the same article from post 1

Quote:

The train in the trial is fitted with a satellite dish which will access a combination of available networks as the train travels.

So yup, sat BB it is.