[Article] Iarnród Éireann offered free Wi-Fi network

[Donal Quinn]

be careful with that!

[Mark Gleeson]

I can report that Irish Rail are conducting trials of Wifi on the Dublin Cork route using 3G only. Borrow a computer science student, get a modem from the 4 networks and its easy enough hack something up. Though IE really need to be looking at something like this http://www.icomera.com/m400_overview.php?id=1&p=1

It works but there are 3 major blackspots en route. 3G coverage is rubbish outside populated areas. Other routes ruled out due lack of coverage

Talk of filtering as well to block youtube, to avoid the connection being saturated with unproductive traffic

[Colm Moore]

Satellite download might be ideal for cuttings and remote areas.

[dowlingm]

something like this (scroll to near the bottom) - would be a start

[Mark Gleeson]

The best solution is one unit per train as each 3G modem is competing for the same bandwidth

Remember the business case is based in access to the trains computer for operational reasons not kids on youtube

[markpb]

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Remember the business case is based in access to the trains computer for operational reasons not kids on youtube

If Irish Rail are going to offer a Wifi product to customers years after people asked for it, they should do it properly. A service that doesn't work in some areas, provides slow speeds and has a blacklist of sites isn't going to be attractive. Then again, they can't operate a train service properly, what hope is there for anything else.

[Mark Gleeson]

Blame 02 for the bad connection

It looks to be targeted at business given its Cork only, given the constraints on the link blocking youtube and then other less how shall we say graphic sites is not unreasonable

What was GNER in the UK are looking to clamp down on high bandwidth users

[MOH]

Originally Posted by markpb

If Irish Rail are going to offer a Wifi product to customers years after people asked for it, they should do it properly. A service that doesn't work in some areas, provides slow speeds and has a blacklist of sites isn't going to be attractive. Then again, they can't operate a train service properly, what hope is there for anything else.

Is that the wi-fi or the train you're talking about?