Wifi On Keystones
Oct 20, 2011, 5:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Amtrak S+, Kimpton IC
Posts: 298
Wifi On Keystones
I was on the 600 Keystone HAR-PHL this morning and much to my surprise, my phone sniffed out "AmtrakConnect" open and free wireless. It took me to a T&C page that looked Amtrak legit, and proceeded to connect me to the internet, albeit at slower connection than my phone's 3g connection.
Oct 20, 2011, 9:00 am
#3
Company Representative - Amtrak
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (Select Executive)
Posts: 528
Hi all, you are both correct, we are in the testing phase of adding WiFi to some of our trains. Expect a formal announcement from Amtrak soon
Becky Parks
Senior Marketing Officer, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Becky Parks
Senior Marketing Officer, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Oct 20, 2011, 10:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
It's been on several NE Regionals I've been on in the past few weeks. It seems usable - and noticeably faster than the Acela wireless - but not blazing fast. That's a low standard though, as it took a single web page 10 minutes to load on my iPad last week on a midafternoon Friday Acela. Most of the time I just use my MiFi on the NEC trains if I actually need to be connected/do work.
The speed might simply be because not enough folks were looking for it on the Regionals, but hopefully the pipe is bigger.
The speed might simply be because not enough folks were looking for it on the Regionals, but hopefully the pipe is bigger.
Oct 21, 2011, 11:46 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ
Programs: AGR Executive, UA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 274
Actually I have used it in Acela First and it works great. Not sure if there is a difference in Acela Business...maybe it's too much suit material which is blocking it
(just kidding)
On the NEC it is almost unusable. I use my 4G Wifi hotspot instead!
(just kidding)On the NEC it is almost unusable. I use my 4G Wifi hotspot instead!
Oct 23, 2011, 6:49 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AMEX Cent AU, UA Plat, 9W Plat, Amtrak S+, HHonors Slv
Posts: 477
NER 140/141 have always netted me speeds in the 5-7 Mbps range. Not bad for free Wi-Fi on a train, although my iPhone's 12 Mbps is always welcome. 
Oct 24, 2011, 10:50 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DCA ZWU
Programs: AGR WOH
Posts: 1,785
Saw a few other blog posts about AmtrakConnect Wi-Fi soft launching on Northeast Regionals last week -- and sure enough, it was live on my Virginia regional on Sunday. It seemed to drop coverage wherever my phone also had no coverage, but it was adequate and was a pleasant surprise both to me and (judging from their conversations) to several people sitting nearby.
Oct 26, 2011, 9:21 am
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
I am not sure if the ACELA F car has a separate WiFi Router, but I have never experienced slow speeds while ridding ACELA F.
Now Business Class is an entirely different story and twice now I have been unable to surf a simple website while logged onto ACELA Business WiFi.
Dan
Now Business Class is an entirely different story and twice now I have been unable to surf a simple website while logged onto ACELA Business WiFi.
Dan