Best Bos to NYC corridor cellular data reception?

[bretaa]

Hi everyone,

Big Amtrak fan and frequent traveler here on the NE corridor between Boston and NYC. Can anyone recommend a carrier with strong and useful data reception along this trip? I have T-Mobile and pop a data SIM card into my laptop, and get very spotty reception that's only strong at the major cities (New London, New Haven, Providence, etc). Between those sites, I get nearly nothing and Amtrak's own wifi is useless for my need (remote access into the office).

I'd really need to be more productive during this gold-mine of a 3-4 hour, uninterrupted trip, but I need some help. Which carrier's data reception rocks the NY to Boston corridor? Thanks to everyone in advance!

 

[Triley]

I tend to have 4G any time I look at my phone, using Verizon. When I was training in DC and commuting home to Boston for the weekend, I would sit with my phone's hot spot on for nearly the entire trip, and the signal was always strong enough to support Netflix.

Also, welcome to the forums!

 

[Bob Dylan]

I have heard many persons that I know, and those aboard LD Trains, and that drive alot like truckers, say that overall, especially in rural areas, Verizon provides the best service for their needs even if it is expensive. ( perhaps your employer subsidizes your plan?)

Disclaimer: I personally had Sprint for many years, and found it excellent in Metropolitan Areas, but it sucked out in the boonies! I now have a no contract plan with Metro PCS for unlimited everything for $40 a month and find it very useful for my needs as a retired person on a fixed income.

 

[Ryan]

VZW has a good reputation, but I've been unimpressed with their actual coverage since I switched last year.

That may be a function of the particular places I spend time, though.

 

[pennyk]

I have a Verizon prepaid plan and am very happy with its coverage throughout the country. However, I do not spend a lot of time between NYC and Boston.

 

[bretaa]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I've had T-Mobile for almost a year and have been very impressed with their service and network in NY and Boston (much better than Sprint, which I had before), but it's near useless in the void between major metros on Amtrak's NEC.

I'll have to check out how much a Verizon prepaid data only SIM might be.

Anyone else with any NY to Boston corridor experience?

BTW: Anyone know why Amtrak's wireless is so useless?

 

[Hal]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I've had T-Mobile for almost a year and have been very impressed with their service and network in NY and Boston (much better than Sprint, which I had before), but it's near useless in the void between major metros on Amtrak's NEC.

I'll have to check out how much a Verizon prepaid data only SIM might be.

Anyone else with any NY to Boston corridor experience?

BTW: Anyone know why Amtrak's wireless is so useless?

I don't think the Amtrak wireless is useless. It depends a lot on how many are using it and what you want to do. To conserve bandwidth you can't stream or use a VPN (you can VPN on Acela). I have found it sufficient for email, Facebook, Twitter and web site surfing.

As far as the cell providers both AT&T and Verizon have good coverage. They both have coverage holes but less than Sprint and T-Mobile. I have AT&T service because they have the best signal at home and their NEC service is good. If Verizon had the best signal at home I would have picked them.

 

[Hal]

I tend to have 4G any time I look at my phone, using Verizon. When I was training in DC and commuting home to Boston for the weekend, I would sit with my phone's hot spot on for nearly the entire trip, and the signal was always strong enough to support Netflix.

Also, welcome to the forums!

Verizon has one advantage from DC. They have wired both the Baltimore tunnels and the Hudson tunnels. Also Verizon has an advantage on Acela since they have a cell repeater on the transets.

 

[amamba]

I had a Verizon mifi for a while and I have Att for my iPhone. Both are spotty along the CT shoreline particularly between new London and mystic IMO. Also there are a few dead zones (very brief) between Pvd and rte.

 

[railiner]

As VZW's ads say....."Rule The Air"....

 

[Ryan]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I've had T-Mobile for almost a year and have been very impressed with their service and network in NY and Boston (much better than Sprint, which I had before), but it's near useless in the void between major metros on Amtrak's NEC.

I'll have to check out how much a Verizon prepaid data only SIM might be.

Anyone else with any NY to Boston corridor experience?

BTW: Anyone know why Amtrak's wireless is so useless?

Imagine how worthless your cell connection is.

Now share that tiny connection with 200 other people.