Rail Users Ireland Forum

Go Back   Rail Users Ireland Forum > General Information & Discussion > Events, Happenings and Media
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Unread 18-01-2013, 07:55   #41
longword
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 33
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas Ralph View Post
Have they blocked streaming yet?
The big name streaming streaming services (Youtube, Netflix, iPlayer, RTE Player) have been blocked pretty much from the start plus a few other bulk data users like Windows updates and they have updated the banned list at least once. At least some radio streams, which are lower bandwidth, are not blocked. There are plenty of ways around it the block, but they do ask nicely on the captive portal page that passengers not do it.

Personally, on a busy Northern Commuter train I find the coverage more reliable than a mobile but lower performance - easier to stay connected longer to a company VPN for example. However there are days when the system is clearly less than 100% functional.
longword is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 19-02-2013, 14:25   #42
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

Good news finally

The Google map that used to appear on the sign in page to show you where the train is has been removed. This was a suggestion put forward by RUI and was implemented within 48 hours. This change happened 3 weeks ago and as a result the sign in process is noticeably quicker.

The sign in page is to be totally replaced in coming days

1. New Irish Rail branding and website look
2. Registration/email no longer required, simple 'Accept T&C's


There are a number of coaches floating around with no wifi signal, they seem to be getting fixed one by one
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 22-02-2013, 14:50   #43
seamus kilcock
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 103
Default plug sockets

Are all intercity trains now fitted with plug sockets for ALL passengers?
seamus kilcock is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 22-02-2013, 15:01   #44
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

ICR have sockets for most passengers.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 22-02-2013, 16:14   #45
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

Every seat on the intercity railcar fleet has a socket

On Dublin Cork Express trains, power sockets only in first class, or rear seats 05/06 in all standard class coaches. Dublin Belfast, first class only

All DART and Commuter trains have sockets as well normally at the carriage ends, under the seat

All have WIFI
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 22-02-2013, 16:22   #46
James Howard
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
James Howard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sligo Line
Posts: 1,115
Default

You cannot 100% depend on getting an ICR on routes they are supposed to be used. The commuter Railcars are used for some services to Sligo and as Mark says, there are only sockets at the end of the cars.

These don't always work and they are also positioned in such a way that you can't really access them from a seat with a table with the exception of the seats right outside the able-bodied toilets. If you just want to charge a phone, you'll be fine on any train if you sit at the end of the car but if you want to use a 15" or bigger laptop you are probably be out of luck as it isn't really possible to manage anything bigger than a 13" on seats with power on a commuter railcar.
James Howard is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02-03-2013, 18:04   #47
haddockman
Regular Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 113
Default

The problem is the wifi is virtually unusable as it is so slow and patchy. Particularly slow from Ballybrophy to LJ.

I find using my own phone is faster and more reliable.
haddockman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02-03-2013, 22:37   #48
Inniskeen
Really Regular Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 951
Default

At best very slow, typically unusable.
Inniskeen is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02-02-2016, 15:22   #49
MP54
New to the board
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Dundalk
Posts: 11
Default

What have peoples' impressions of this service been over the last 3 years? Personally, on the northern corridor, particularly the 29ks, I find it very slow and unreliable, particularly the log-in process. I just usually revert to the 3G on the phone (reminder to get a 4G phone asap) or give up altogether in exasperation.

The NIR log-in is typically faster, I find, the few times I get to use it, and the service a bit better, blackspots notwithstanding.
MP54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02-02-2016, 22:17   #50
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

Do not really use it that often but It was been improved massively since it first started however there is still a long way to go about coverage on the network.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-02-2016, 06:29   #51
James Howard
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
James Howard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sligo Line
Posts: 1,115
Default

I rarely use it as I find a personal hotspot on my 4G phone works a lot better. I go between Connolly and Edgeworthstown. The login process is still terrible but the speed isn't so bad on the rare occasion I do us it.

There seems to be bug in the login in that it looks like it is spending most of its time trying to figure out if you have already logged in. The page appears mostly instantly but the interface can be disabled for 30 seconds or longer. Quite painful really.
James Howard is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-02-2016, 06:39   #52
Mark Gleeson
Technical Officer
 
Mark Gleeson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Coach C, Seat 33
Posts: 12,669
Default

Compared to offerings elsewhere in Europe, Irish Rail is better than average, what it lets it down is coverage. There are 500,000 sign ins/month currently.

Northern Ireland Railways can be fun with VPN's.

Apple's handling of sign in pages is non nonsensical which makes life tricky.

4G is being rolled out starting with the Cork fleet and it makes a big difference.

Just bear in mind, 100+ in a coach all sharing a single access point isn't going to work no matter how good the connection from the train to the internet is.
Mark Gleeson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-02-2016, 11:51   #53
Jamie2k9
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,146
Default

Investing in 4G when the Cork line is probably one of the worst lines for coverage, very poor between Portlaoise-Mallow especially until Limerick J.

I think if IE asked Cork customer's sockets are number 1 priority not wifi.
Jamie2k9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 03-02-2016, 14:07   #54
James Howard
Really Really Regluar Poster
 
James Howard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sligo Line
Posts: 1,115
Default

If the networking system was put together any way sensibly, upgrading it should be just a matter of swapping out a few modems. No way should it cost more than a couple of grand per train.

Adding sockets at each seat is a far more expensive proposition unless the carriages are being pulled apart for another reason.
James Howard is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 06:03.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.