Why not wireless?

[Scott]

Does anyone know why BC Ferries doesn't offer wireless internet on board the major ferries? It seems they're a little behind the times. I think most coffee shops in the city offer it - for a price of course. It's a money making venture! Why wouldn't BC Ferries be interested?

I do know that BC Ferries has said they plan to have it available in the future and that the new ferries will be wired for it.. but what's holding them up??

[Kam]

Bandwidth limitations and lack of cost effective technology I would expect.

The ferries do have network connectivity on board that use a standard wireless LAN in the terminal. But when under way the network falls back to a very low speed (100 kbps) radio modem link.

The system is explained here:

www.data-linc.com/indapps/transpor/bcferry.htm

(The equipment used for route 2 is located on the same tower I have equipment on in Nanaimo)

This works fine for keeping basic data flowing between the terminals and ships, but is much to slow for surfing the web, let alone a dozen or more laptop users free access to it.

Some of the issues with establishing a high-speed digital link are explained in this study for digital pay phone links on the ferries:

ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/iel2/1036/6931/00279961.pdf?arnumber=279961

I'm fairly certain that satellite technology is on the horizon for BCF, if it's not already in use. The problem is the bandwidth is very expensive. With all those people surfing the web I could see a sizeable bill rack up in short order.

Perhaps a pay per use network?

[Ferryman]

I remember reading that BC Ferries plans to offer Wi-Fi Internet on the Coastal Ferries. I guess that will let them see if it's worth offering.

Massachusettes Steamship Authority Ferries offer Wi-Fi service onboard all of their vessels.

[Nick]

I was actually talking to someone at Fleet House about that. He said it was mostly because of bandwidth limitations. The specifics of the issue are explained better above than I could ever do. He also said that it was in the works for the future (didn't say when), but it wasn't getting a very high priority right now.

[Hardy]

Okay, that takes care of the shipboard part of the equation. Let me pose this question:

"Why doesn't BCFS offer Wi-Fi access at their major terminals (ie for people that are waiting 3 sailings/6 hours for the next boat)??"

And yes, sat-based would run up quite the bill quite quickly. Radio-modem is a barely workable solution. Wireless WiFi (on Telus/Bell/Rogers) is an option, at a cost. Not as bad as a sat-link, but still not cheap or free. There is some technology on the horizon that I have read some about that could offer a few alternatives ... but then again, who knows what the entire plan at QoFS is.....

[Nick]

You would think that it would be reasonably inexpensive to install wireless internet in the terminals. It would definitely help to ease tensions during the long waits of late.

[Hardy]

coxnnick said:

You would think that it would be reasonably inexpensive to install wireless internet in the terminals. It would definitely help to ease tensions during the long waits of late.

I try not to think, in regards to these type of queries, especially where high levels of logic are involved. I find that by not thinking, I tend to be on an even keel with the decision-makers at QoFS.

You are indeed correct though. WiFi at the terminals would be a very minimal expenditure on the part of BCFS yet the perception of them giving something back to the travelling public would be large. The ROI (return on investment) would be very high, even if it were only in terms of positive PR - that may not have any MONETARY value, but perception is a huge intangible, but carries a lot of weight and emotional value.