Leave By Rear Door! Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 I wonder if GRT will ever consider "WiFi" on the buses. There are even "WiFi" enabled bus shelters available! WiFi BusShelters http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/so...i-fi-bus-stops/ WiFi Buses http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2008-04-10-wifi_N.htm http://www.actransit.org/news/articledetai...icleid=ae8a49cd BTW, What ever happened to "Google Transit"??? GRT isn't showing up anymore. Was it only a "test" and it was "trashed" for "EASYGO"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greater Golden Horseshoe Transit Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 I wonder if GRT will ever consider "WiFi" on the buses. There are even "WiFi" enabled bus shelters available!WiFi BusShelters http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/so...i-fi-bus-stops/ WiFi Buses http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2008-04-10-wifi_N.htm http://www.actransit.org/news/articledetai...icleid=ae8a49cd BTW, What ever happened to "Google Transit"??? GRT isn't showing up anymore. Was it only a "test" and it was "trashed" for "EASYGO"? While I like the idea I wonder if they would go for it since Atria networks has set up a handful of areas in the region where one can connect to wi-fi service. http://www2.atriawifi.com/WiFi/Availability_wat_region.cfm I wonder if it would make sense to contract with them to expand their coverage for this purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Transit Man Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 While I like the idea I wonder if they would go for it since Atria networks has set up a handful of areas in the region where one can connect to wi-fi service. http://www2.atriawifi.com/WiFi/Availability_wat_region.cfm I wonder if it would make sense to contract with them to expand their coverage for this purpose. While "Atria" has some great areas of coverage, there is a "charge" for accessing it. I like the idea of "free WiFi", and being able to log onto the Internet, check email, etc., doing this all while waiting to board the bus at a shelter (or, WOW, How about free wireless at the Charles Sreet Terminal ............. as if that will ever happen! They can't even fix an escalator, or get the floor tiles to match when they get them fixed, but that's another whole story!), as I was saying, while waiting to board the bus, or while riding the bus. To me it just seems too simple of a thing to offer. But then again this is GRT we're talking about, right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylortbb Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 The INIT system they are installing supports offering WiFi on buses. GRT is aware of this, and I've seen it written in a couple documents that they would consider it at some point in the future. Seeing as the buses already have data links for relaying their location there would be little additional cost. WiFi at the terminals seems like a good idea, not so sure about bus shelters. The cost of getting data service to shelters would probably be rather high for how much it would actually get used. Providing it for free is money that could be better used, and if they're going to charge people would probably be better off just using Atria or the cell network, so it wouldn't see much uptake. It's easy to setup a single access point on a home connection. But as soon as you get into commercial grade gear and inter-access point handovers things start getting complicated and expensive. Plus all the management side so people using BitTorrent don't take all the bandwidth. It'd probably cost $10,000/shelter to get WiFi setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRTMOFO Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 Perfect. People can be busy checking e-mail while I try to guess whether or not they want my bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FIDO Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 Perfect. People can be busy checking e-mail while I try to guess whether or not they want my bus. Pass right by them then! I do that now. (LOL) I'll slow down, and if they make no indication that they want the bus - EG: look up, make any move towards the stop/curb, etc., I just carry right on. As you said too, I'll try to guess whether or not they want the bus, and IF IT'S NOT OBVIOUS, then I just carry on. I've wasted too much time slowing down, stopping, opening the door to just have them stand there looking into "oblivion", or to just stand there and look at me when the door opens! If you don't make it obvious that you want the bus then don't be p*ssed off when it doesn't stop! But I do tend to agree, WiFi "on the buses" would be a good idea. Afterall, aren't we in the "Technology Triangle"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leave By Rear Door! Posted August 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2010 Offering "WiFi" even at the Charles Street Terminal would be a bonus, but since they can't get an escalator to work there, or even get floor tiles that 'match', I highly doubt we'll ever see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leave By Rear Door! Posted March 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 Nice to see Greyhound buses coming into the CST with "WiFi" on board! (In fact, while the bus is sitting there waiting, and loading, you can access "their" WiFi from the platform, or overhead walkway. Great if you need to check something quickly, while Greyhound is sitting there.) hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRTMOFO Posted March 10, 2011 Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 Another problem is now people will want to hog multiple seats to set up their "office". This is a HUGE problem on VIA trains and these losers get very irate when asked to clear up. It also doesn't work very well, i.e. very slow. Walked through one car on a train recently and counted 32 people surfing away. A router can only handle so much bandwidth ! If everyone was doing e-mail only it would be no big deal, but fire up a couple of dozen YouTube channels and you're dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FIDO Posted March 10, 2011 Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 Another problem is now people will want to hog multiple seats to set up their "office". This is a HUGE problem on VIA trains and these losers get very irate when asked to clear up.It also doesn't work very well, i.e. very slow. Walked through one car on a train recently and counted 32 people surfing away. A router can only handle so much bandwidth ! If everyone was doing e-mail only it would be no big deal, but fire up a couple of dozen YouTube channels and you're dead. Good points, but "if" it was available on GRT, I highly doubt people would be hogging extra seats, most of those runs up around the University are "standing room only"! (And not as long a "run" as taking the Greyhound to Toronto ............. a 2 hour trip!) But it would be great for a quick check of emails! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now