BTP abusing genuine rail passengers (again)

[driver9000]

there is also the possilbity that the guards Advantix machine had failed yet again. This machine really has slowed guards down collecting fares as it is so slow at issuing tickets - put a card transaction into the equation and there goes another 5 minutes while the bluetooth connection boots up (what was wrong with a wire!) Rarely a day goes by I dont hear guards complaining that there machine has packed in.

Whatever actually happened on that day will never be known as the papers will have twisted the story to suit their own needs - if indeed they were fed the correct information in the first place.

 

[P156KWJ]

there is also the possilbity that the guards Advantix machine had failed yet again. This machine really has slowed guards down collecting fares as it is so slow at issuing tickets - put a card transaction into the equation and there goes another 5 minutes while the bluetooth connection boots up (what was wrong with a wire!) Rarely a day goes by I dont hear guards complaining that there machine has packed in.

Whatever actually happened on that day will never be known as the papers will have twisted the story to suit their own needs - if indeed they were fed the correct information in the first place.

Bluetooth takes forever and a day on bleedin phones just to send a photo, never mind important banking stuff

 

[will1337]

The Advantix machines use Bluetooth? I'd very much doubt that, security for a start!

 

[1D53]

The Advantix machines use Bluetooth? I'd very much doubt that, security for a start!

They do.

 

[Nym]

PORTIS uses a wire or the keypad, SPORTIS (Super PORTIS) has Bluetooth for transaction transfer to the PDQ

 

[voyagerdude220]

*remembers to turn bluetooth on mobile phone, next time he sees TM trying to carry out a very expensive transaction on a peak time Euston bound Pendo*

 

[Mojo]

PORTIS uses a wire or the keypad, SPORTIS (Super PORTIS) has Bluetooth for transaction transfer to the PDQ

What? PORTIS can't take cards at all, and its upgrade to SPORTIS does not support Chip & Pin :-?

As far as I am aware, SPORTIS has now been superseded on most (if not all) mainline TOCs (I think Merseyrail doesn't have Avantix though, and last time I travelled on Chiltern they had SPORTIS, but that was years ago).

ABV1 has wired connection only, whereas AVB2 can use either wired or bluetooth for Chip & PIN. I've seen a few staff just swipe the card & get people to sign though.

 

[1D53]

All operators are using Advantix now from what I know except NXEC.

 

[driver9000]

indeed SPORTIS has by and large been withdrawn from use.

To make card transactions on SPORTIS they had a swipe reader on one side of them, this then printed out a signature slip for the holder to sign. Adavantix uses a PDA type keypad operated by stylus which is mounted onto the ticket printing section of the machine (another connection that regularly fails) and the chip & pin unit is connected via bluetooth to the Advantix machine proper. Next time you see one in use you will note the lack of connecting wire between chip & pin unit & Advantix unit.

I heard a story not long after they were introduced of a software error in the bluetooth equipment that meant it would try to connect to any bluetooth device in the area - thankfully this has now been cured.!!

 

[Mojo]

Next time you see one in use you will note the lack of connecting wire between chip & pin unit & Advantix unit.

There are some machines which still have a 'wired' connection to the Chip & Pin reader. AVB1 can *only* operate using a wired connection. I believe some TOCs only use one type (I've only ever seen AVB1 with wired connection on XC), whereas some TOCs use both.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Anyone on here know what you do when you get "Bluetooth Error 6"? we regularly get connection failed on the things, even after you've made sure they are paired, often they fail at the first attempt at using them, so its back to swipe and sign.
XC have a wired pin pad on a curly lead from the socket on the front of the Avantix, looks so much more reliable than the bluetooth link.

 

[Nym]

it's because bluetooth wasn't designed to handle this kind of work...

Bluetooth was designed for object pushes, the chip and pin uses a multiple object push, about 12 pushes if I remember right, so if one of them fails the whole lot fails, and especialy on trains now, with the amount of sheilding, electronics and earthed points, it's no supprise that bluetooth fails occationaly, they'd have been much better using a secure 801.11a type connection on an Ad-Hoc basis, because that WAS designed for this kind of work...

 

[will1337]

Yeah I'd have thought they'd have uesd 802.11 a/b but you learn something new every day. Surprised people aren't having a field day stealing card and PIN numbers over bluetooth

 

[Mojo]

I believe (but could be wrong) that the only data transmitted over bluetooth is the card number and details (expiry date, etc.) and whether the PIN was successful or not.

Such machines do not do online transactions, hence the reason for the refusal of Electron & Solo.

 

[Nym]

If it's like what I've seen, all it is, because the card goes in it, is price one way and confirmed the other way...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Would still be better with 801.11a AdHoc though...