how does that work then? In simple terms, if you please, how does WiFi work on a bus say? Just got one today here in Edinburgh and it had free WiFi and the question occurred to me.
Based on the buses here... 9 times out of ten... it doesn't... But basically it's pretty much a Mobile phone with protable hotspot turned on stashed somewhere on the bus... You connect to the device's wifi, it connects to the net via the cell network... I know it's probably more complicated than that but that's the best description i can give...
Yeah, I believe it's something like that. I think they use professional 3g routers that have multiple network connections then route them into a single shared hotspot. Cruse ships use satellite internet for a connection anywhere on the planet, but I'm not sure that would work on a bus or train, and I imagine even if it did it would be prohibitively expensive. I've noticed that mobile internet along main roads in this country is a lot faster and more consistent than it was a few years back. I'm even reasonably confident about being able to stream a bit of football on the way back from London tomorrow.
Satallite internet for a tanker that gives about 3mbs with a Ping of around a second costs from $20000 to $40000 a month dependant on the area in which you are trading. A cruise ship system will cost far More I imagine.
That sounds about right for Satellite internet on a luxury Motor yacht, but even then the yacht will only fail over to Satellite if it can't get mobile (3G GPRS whatever) from the nearest land (and the owner is on board and willing to pay the bill)
This is something I have quite a bit of experience in amusingly as I tried to start a company in this market. The owners of this space are pretty much Nomad Digital in Europe, http://nomad-digital.com/ Most trains run on a multiplexed(kind of) 3G connection, hence it is not very effective. There is a new regulation for satellite internet on train systems that was recently passed, meaning we should see super fast broadband in about 2 years. Tunnels will still be a problem, funnily enough. The channel tunnel is actually 3G'd up INSIDE, massive (and rather pointless IMO, much better methods) job.
personally i wouldnt join public wi-fi as its a massive security hole, you cant be confident about the network or other people on it.
I've always found wi-fi on Spoiler public transport to offer a somewhat inconsistent service with Spoiler gaps in service common.
