5G on the WCML

[lewisdicks]

Travelling between Glasgow and London, how good is 4G and 5G across the West Coast Main Line?

 

[Snow1964]

Last time I was that way, there were parts of Cumbria and Southern Scotland where phone struggled to even get 3G

 

[Watershed]

Travelling between Glasgow and London, how good is 4G and 5G across the West Coast Main Line?

Depends on the network and what kind of train you're on. Avanti trains (Pendolinos and Voyagers) have UV film on the windows, which blocks quite a lot of the signal. The onboard WiFi is generally pretty rubbish so you end up with a very patchy internet connection.

By contrast, most other stock is generally OK for signal - although there are still many places where you can expect it to drop out. Overall the signal is likely to be good enough to stream music or a podcast, or video in low resolution, but not good enough for anything more intensive than that.

Because of the frequencies, you won't get 5G in more than a handful of places. Perhaps at some of the station stops if you're lucky.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I can't imagine there's any great 5G coverage given its short transmission length.

Very good 4G for the most part, ignoring the tunnels at Watford/Kilsby/Shugborough.
The northern section is very inconsistent, lots of 3G and some areas of no signal for sure.

 

[Lewlew]

Coming from Milton Keynes (ish), I only pick up 5G after passing through Watford tunnels

 

[TJM]

I believe the radio frequency repeaters on Avanti Voyagers and Pendolinos are only configured for 900/1800/2100MHz (the old 2G and 3G bands), but that allows 4G reception on those bands now, for the networks that use them?

 

[Peter0124]

I believe got pretty good coverage on the 390 between Glasgow and Carlisle, whereas the return journey on a 397 I got nothing. I'm on EE 4G

 

[Skie]

I believe the radio frequency repeaters on Avanti Voyagers and Pendolinos are only configured for 900/1800/2100MHz (the old 2G and 3G bands), but that allows 4G reception on those bands now, for the networks that use them?

Are they still fitted? The stickers proclaiming the enhanced mobile connectivity vanished many years ago when they were still Virgin and they never really seemed to have great connectivity anyway.

 

[TJM]

Are they still fitted? The stickers proclaiming the enhanced mobile connectivity vanished many years ago when they were still Virgin and they never really seemed to have great connectivity anyway.

They recently issued a tender to upgrade them - I've definitely noticed much worse coverage on the odd train when they've failed.

Upgrade of the Mobile Signal Repeaters on Pendolino Fleet of Trains - Proof of Concept [PIN]

FTWCR (Avanti West Coast) is investigating the opportunity to upgrade the mobile signal repeaters on... A Utilities Periodic Indicative Notice by First Trenitalia West Coast Rail.

bidstats.uk

 

[Skie]

Thats encouraging, thanks!