Mobile phone reception on the tube

[mrmartin]

Have TfL totally given up with this? What about on at least the subsurface lines?

The WiFi is pretty pointless. It takes a good 30 seconds to set up a connection, at which point your train is there or you're pulling out of the station again.

It really would make my life so much better as I could get 45 mins of extra work done on my phone each day. Right now I will prefer overground/NR even if it adds extra journey time on simply because I can get phone reception.

 

[NSEFAN]

I wasn't aware of any concrete plans to install GSM on the tube and sub-surface lines. I'd have thought it's possible but would be expensive to install along the tunnels.

 

[Aictos]

I wasn't aware of any concrete plans to install GSM on the tube and sub-surface lines. I'd have thought it's possible but would be expensive to install along the tunnels.

That may be but other Countries have invested so why is London so behind with the times?

Look at Paris Metro, Berlin U Bahn, Seoul Metro not forgetting NYC and Washington DC Metro networks will/are in progress of delivering cellular phone coverage.

So why is Boris dragging his heels, instead of wasting millions on white elephants ie Route Master lookalikes, Cable Cars or a Airport that never be built, he should be pushing to emulate/better everyone else's Metro system instead of living in cloud cuckoo land!

 

[Mojo]

I wasn't aware of any concrete plans to install GSM on the tube and sub-surface lines.

There are; it is going to be trialled between Bank and Liverpool Street some time soon.

As to the OP; can't say I've ever found a problem with connecting to the WiFi. I very frequently use it to download things to read between stops, or to check the realtime information to decide where to change trains.

 

[mrmartin]

There are; it is going to be trialled between Bank and Liverpool Street some time soon.

As to the OP; can't say I've ever found a problem with connecting to the WiFi. I very frequently use it to download things to read between stops, or to check the realtime information to decide where to change trains.

Really? Do you have any information? I assume that it is on the northern line?

And yes, I can connect. Usually it's only for a few seconds though. I do try and download as much stuff as possible in advance but eg. My feed reader doesn't cache images so some stories are hard to read. I also spent a ridiculous amount of my life on Skype text chats to people for work and that's pretty useless, as by the time it's synced the messages you're off again. I'm not complaining too much - the wifi is better than nothing - but proper mobile coverage would be way better. Wifi definitely isn't optimised for quick setup and disconnects like this!

 

[313103]

The underground, the last bastion of a relative mobile free zone. Not that I have much chance to use it much now, the 15 minute mobile free journey on the tube to my mother is far better then the 2 hour 40 minute mobile and computer noise journey from Port Talbot to Paddington even in what one could call the quiet coach.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

The underground, the last bastion of a relative mobile free zone. Not that I have much chance to use it much now, the 15 minute mobile free journey on the tube to my mother is far better then the 2 hour 40 minute mobile and computer noise journey from Port Talbot to Paddington even in what one could call the quiet coach.

...then what chance would a 'quiet carriage' have on the tube?

There used to be a device called, I think, a video sender (it used to take about a dozen batteries to power) and it would interfere with and disrupt mobile phones within a short radius. I think they were made illegal - no idea why. If people seem to think it is fine to impose the inane drivel of a one way conversation on others then surely it is equally fine to impose a microwave free zone around oneself.

 

[NSEFAN]

You are not allowed to transmit signals on licenced bands such as those for GSM, either for your own communications or disruption of someone else's. Disrupting inane calls is one thing but I wouldn't want to interfere with safety critical systems like GSM-R.

As an aside, it would be acceptable in law to put a film on the train carriage windows to block GSM frequencies, as you wouldn't be transmitting any radiation.

 

[jon0844]

Once you've connected to the Virgin WiFi service, you can connect within seconds at each station. I've uploaded a YouTube video while moving on the tube, and sent and received emails by polling at each stop. However, the general idea is that you stay still at a station. Just let a train go if you need to use the Internet. Next train, what, 2-3 minutes?

And I made a call yesterday quite happily, using Voice over WiFi on Three. And O2 users have a similar service. EE is working on one too.

Coverage in the tunnels would be nice but it's not essential. Just having it at stations is still excellent and let's you keep in touch, and now with Three I can get calls and texts too.

 

[Manchester77]

Really? Do you have any information? I assume that it is on the northern line?

If it's between Liverpool street and bank then it'll be the central line.

 

[theageofthetra]

You can connect to the wifi quicker by turning the wifi button off and quickly on again when the train is just about to come into a station

 

[Tom B]

You can connect to the wifi quicker by turning the wifi button off and quickly on again when the train is just about to come into a station

Yes, I find the delay with my phone is usually it waiting before attempting to obtain a wifi connection. I can happily pick up email or Facebook etc messages at a station and send my reply at the next. Some stations e.g. Holloway Road have mobile reception on the platform these days presumably as it's shallow.

 

[mrmartin]

The underground, the last bastion of a relative mobile free zone. Not that I have much chance to use it much now, the 15 minute mobile free journey on the tube to my mother is far better then the 2 hour 40 minute mobile and computer noise journey from Port Talbot to Paddington even in what one could call the quiet coach.

I wouldn't be using it for phone calls (way too noisy) but it would be a lifesaver having data.
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Once you've connected to the Virgin WiFi service, you can connect within seconds at each station. I've uploaded a YouTube video while moving on the tube, and sent and received emails by polling at each stop. However, the general idea is that you stay still at a station. Just let a train go if you need to use the Internet. Next train, what, 2-3 minutes?

And I made a call yesterday quite happily, using Voice over WiFi on Three. And O2 users have a similar service. EE is working on one too.

Coverage in the tunnels would be nice but it's not essential. Just having it at stations is still excellent and let's you keep in touch, and now with Three I can get calls and texts too.

I think seconds is optimistic. It takes nearly a minute for me to connect on my iPhone 5 to the WiFi and get an IP address. By which point, you're moving again. By the time I switch into the app I want to use and retry, I've usually lost service. It's pretty annoying.

The platform/station is fine and very handy indeed. But it's not much use for me on the move.
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You can connect to the wifi quicker by turning the wifi button off and quickly on again when the train is just about to come into a station

I know that trick well but still doesn't seem to speed it up vastly.

 

[jon0844]

I think seconds is optimistic. It takes nearly a minute for me to connect on my iPhone 5 to the WiFi and get an IP address.

Sorry, I'm not an iOS user (generally). I should have said it was on an Android device.

Mine will almost certainly have connected by the time the train has stopped and the doors opened and probably sooner, and that means I have pretty much as long as it takes for people to alight/board and the train to start off. It's not a very long time, but it certainly doesn't take a minute to connect.

Maybe try the trick of toggling Wi-Fi as mentioned above?

 

[jopsuk]

Some organisations have special dispensation to operate radio frequency jamming devices. But otherwise they are illegal.

 

[starrymarkb]

I wouldn't be using it for phone calls (way too noisy) but it would be a lifesaver having data.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I think seconds is optimistic. It takes nearly a minute for me to connect on my iPhone 5 to the WiFi and get an IP address. By which point, you're moving again. By the time I switch into the app I want to use and retry, I've usually lost service. It's pretty annoying.

The platform/station is fine and very handy indeed. But it's not much use for me on the move.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I know that trick well but still doesn't seem to speed it up vastly.

That may be an Apple issue, my Samsung S2 used to connect fine at every station.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Some organisations have special dispensation to operate radio frequency jamming devices. But otherwise they are illegal.

Rightly so too. How selfish can you be if you want to use a jammer just so you can get some peace and quiet, when there is the very real chance of an emergency call being blocked by your device.

 

[Tetchytyke]

My cheap old Saumsung took a bit of time to connect to the WiFi, but it still managed to be connected long enough to download the next page on Facebook. I generally tried to make sure my newspaper apps downloaded the content whilst I was waiting on the platform.

As for GSM signals on the tube, I don't understand why it hasn't been done yet. O2 installed wiring for mobile phone signals on the Tyne and Wear Metro back in about 2005, as proof of concept for the Tube, although since then the technology has moved on and the wiring doesn't support 3G.

As for peace and quiet, buy some noise cancelling headphones if it bothers you so much. I use them, even when I don't want to listen to my music.

 

[jon0844]

I expect it's down to cost. Providing signal is one thing, but you also need to provide capacity - or else people will still find they can't use their phone properly.

 

[starrymarkb]

HEx is 2G only aswell.

 

[Mikey C]

The underground, the last bastion of a relative mobile free zone. Not that I have much chance to use it much now, the 15 minute mobile free journey on the tube to my mother is far better then the 2 hour 40 minute mobile and computer noise journey from Port Talbot to Paddington even in what one could call the quiet coach.

Yes, with the roar of the trains going through the tunnels, you can imagine the noise of people shouting into their phones to make themselves heard...

 

[Aictos]

HEx is 2G only aswell.

Not if you use the wifi as that is 4G enabled

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Rightly so too. How selfish can you be if you want to use a jammer just so you can get some peace and quiet, when there is the very real chance of an emergency call being blocked by your device.

It wouldn't be the intention to - but for some reason this mobile phone mentality seems to ride roughshod over considerations for anyone else. From the ignorance of people engaged in conversation at checkout tills to the indignance they give out after nearly being run over due to being distracted by them. A bit difficult to make that 'emergency' call when through distraction by using one you get run over. Many can't seem to cope with the real world anymore and seem to need the comfort blanket of a conversation with someone - anyone, rather than deal what is in front of them. So, please excuse those of us who would like a bit of peace away from the damned things.

 

[mrmartin]

Back on topic, does anyone know anything more about this trial between Liverpool Street and Bank?

 

[jon0844]

So, please excuse those of us who would like a bit of peace away from the damned things.

Ask people to get off their phone then! Trying to jam the signal is irresponsible and totally illegal!

 

[gswindale]

Ask people to get off their phone then! Trying to jam the signal is irresponsible and totally illegal!

So why not have no mobile signal on the tube then?

Gives those of us who aren't addicted to them a bit of peace & quiet.

What are the average journey times on the underground? Is that length of time in the wilderness really such a hardship?

 

[ac-03]

It will be a sad day when the tunnels of london underground are polluted with GSM/WCDMA signals.

Plenty of VOIP solutions are available to use on wifi when your on the station platform...

 

[Wolfie]

Have TfL totally given up with this? What about on at least the subsurface lines?

The WiFi is pretty pointless. It takes a good 30 seconds to set up a connection, at which point your train is there or you're pulling out of the station again.

It really would make my life so much better as I could get 45 mins of extra work done on my phone each day. Right now I will prefer overground/NR even if it adds extra journey time on simply because I can get phone reception.

I sincerely hope they have! The tube is hellish enough at times without listening to inane burblings from those you are pressed against....

Experiencing exactly that on the Overground/NR makes me even more convinced it's a bad idea on the tube!

There are some serious security issues too! Suddenly no requirement for a bomber to die also......
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

...then what chance would a 'quiet carriage' have on the tube?

There used to be a device called, I think, a video sender (it used to take about a dozen batteries to power) and it would interfere with and disrupt mobile phones within a short radius. I think they were made illegal - no idea why. If people seem to think it is fine to impose the inane drivel of a one way conversation on others then surely it is equally fine to impose a microwave free zone around oneself.

Probably something to do with the potential terrorist uses! They were controlled under the Wassenaar Arrangement.

To quote a US Govt document explaining the rationale:
"Manufacturers are being asked to design jamming equipment for satellite
telephony systems that are being used in warfare. The systems are not specially designed for rnilitury use. This equipment is not currently controlled by 5A001.f These systems are being used by insurgents to command and control activity in conflict areas. Therefore, this revision to paragraph 5A001.f is made to expand the scope of control to include jammers for any mobile telecommunications device in order to prevent the users of the equipment from obtaining this type ofjamming device, or related technology used
to defeat it."

http://www.sidley.com/files/News/97...nary Agreements Implementation Final Rule.pdf

 

[Mutant Lemming]

.

What are the average journey times on the underground? Is that length of time in the wilderness really such a hardship?

Pretty much same argument many gave for an alcohol ban. If you can't last a short journey without a drink you must have a problem.

 

[gswindale]

Except that it isn't.

I'm simply asking the question as to whether 5/10 minutes with no phone signal is really such a hardship. I'm not suggesting that everyone on their phone is addicted!

For instance; I drive to/from work - most days, journey time is about 25 minutes. No bluetooth in car. Therefore that is 25 minutes where I get peace from work.

I will pick up emails before/after work; but travelling time is a chance to switch off from that and long may it continue in my view.

I understand that some people may not wish to disconnect; but what about those that do?