Wifi on the Train

Now that all subway stations in NYC are rocking wifi and cellphone access, the panopticon is complete! Nowhere left to hide from prying Internets. The commute has been hacked.

So naturally curious I took it for a spin yesterday traversing from one part of Brooklyn to the next. As soon as I dropped down into the subway I saw the transit wifi AP begging me to connect. I had used it previously in couple stations in Manhattan so I was familiar with the interface. I connected without a hitch and began surfing the net. The signal remained strong on the train but as soon as it went underground the signal dropped out to almost nonexistent. Cell and wifi signal would fluctuate as we stopped at and left the various stations along my route. Nevertheless the signal never really dropped out entirely. Most likely the signal is stronger and more consistent when traveling above ground.

As for the fears of obnoxious straphangers disturbing every second of our commute, I heard none of that. It was the proverbial train banter. People were still glued to their phones like zombies. It was like wifi and cell access on the train wasn’t a big deal. It seems people have already adapted to the data breach. Which is a good thing. Might be different on other trains though and in other boroughs of the city. Time will tell. The Internet will definitely broadcast the mayhem wherever it happens.

Eventually there will be charging stations in the subway and trains. And maybe VR in a couple years to keep us all zombified. Remember the net is forever. It’s like a pitbull sinking fangs into unsuspecting flesh.