dslreports logo
 
    All Forums Hot Topics Gallery
spc
Search similar:


uniqs
119

Guspaz
Guspaz
MVM
join:2001-11-05
Montreal, QC

Guspaz

MVM

wifi

Wifi on trains is a bit questionable now that everybody has tetherable smartphones...

For that matter, the Acela Express is a bit of a joke, since it takes 7 hours to travel 456 miles. I don't know about you, but I don't call 65 miles per hour "high speed". I guess it's faster than their normal train service (if you call shaving 2 minutes off the boston-providence hop "faster"), but compared to real high speed rail, it's pretty slow.
34764170 (banned)
join:2007-09-06
Etobicoke, ON

34764170 (banned)

Member

said by Guspaz:

now that everybody has tetherable smartphones...

Keep living in a fantasy land..

scaredpoet
join:2001-03-26
Monmouth Junction, NJ

scaredpoet to Guspaz

Member

to Guspaz
said by Guspaz:

Wifi on trains is a bit questionable now that everybody has tetherable smartphones...

Simply not true. And even among those who do, not all are willing or able to pay extra to enable tethering... AND of those who do THAT, there's a cap with extra charges for going over the cap.

So if you're traveling by train, sometimes it makes sense to take advantage of the free wifi, which despite the limitations, can sometimes be good for checking e-mail or web browsing without dipping into your own capped plan.

Not to mention, since the system relies on the same networks as those tetherable smartphones, if the cell network cuts out for the train Wifi, it's probably in no better shape for your smartphone.

DC2NYC
@mindspring.com

DC2NYC to Guspaz

Anon

to Guspaz
Uh, while the Acela isn't hi-speed like in Europe or Asia, it does run in the 120-140 mph range, not 65 mph.
tanzam75
join:2012-07-19

tanzam75

Member

said by DC2NYC :

Uh, while the Acela isn't hi-speed like in Europe or Asia, it does run in the 120-140 mph range, not 65 mph.

Trip times are determined by average speed -- not maximum speed.

Acela travels at a maximum speed of 150 mph from Boston to New York. But it takes 3.5 hours to travel the 231 mile distance. Average speed: 66 mph.

The 110 mph rail lines in Michigan do indeed support speeds of "up to" 110 mph. Average speed: 41 mph.

But cheer up! Next time your train is crawling along at 30 mph in the Baltimore tunnels (built in 1873), think about how much better you feel with 11 aircraft carriers instead of 10.