Oh! I still think that they are in need of a LOT of TLC, at least!...
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Power / USB sockets reliability
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The ones on the 318s and 320s have got plates over them with rather permanent notices on the coach ends saying sockets aren’t working “just now” but will be fixed “ASAP” but clearly aren’t. In saying that, someone on here reported being on a unit recently with the sockets uncovered, so maybe there’s a fix coming. Given the level of short forms in Strathclyde just now there’s no chance that stock will be taken out of service just to fix the sockets
iPhones will accept the 12W iPad charger no problem, obviously it will charge faster.
The iPhone 8 model and above will actually work with anything up to 87W. (See https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208137)
The USB ports on Blackpool Palladium buses may end with your charger having gum or other such stuff on it - awful
Esker-pades
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How long have the 318s and 320s on Argyle Line services had the sockets covered and notices saying "We're sorry there aren't any sockets, we hope to rectify this soon"?
I would imagine some get cut out on older trains because they have used the original auxiliary supply and the available capacity has been borderline.
You also get load shedding when power packs get cut out so power sockets would be a prime candidate for being shed.
You also get load shedding when power packs get cut out so power sockets would be a prime candidate for being shed.
Nick Ashwell
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The conversation about USB spec could have been better explained with regards to socked type and connection standard.
A USB C will either (generally speaking) be either 2.0 or 3.1 and type A can be anything
One of each should be provided and pinned/wired for higher power consumption (easy to do for a train at negligible cost increase). It then won't matter whether its a 2.0 or 3.1 as they physically fit. I would also, and I'm prepared for criticism here fit them to be Qualcomm Fast Charging compatible as most ODMs use this standard or a variety of it. Sure this means that Apple users won't get the same level of charging speed but that's the same with plugging into a wall. Phones don't just take the power as it comes. A perfect example of this is the old round Dell laptop chargers which had a pin in the middle which sends data to and from the power block from the laptop. Snap it and the laptop won't charge but will still draw power and can be used as a desktop. This is how modern charging actually works and hence the number of standards, if you can even call them so.
With regards specifically to Type C, Apple has moved the iPad Pro to it and most people in the industry expect a total switch due to the mass adoption of Type C, the only reason some companies haven't (like Amazon) is because they want to keep more more money for themselves. There is no advantage to micro USB, ziltch
tl;dr Hopefully they use some foresight and fit modern USB charging
A USB C will either (generally speaking) be either 2.0 or 3.1 and type A can be anything
One of each should be provided and pinned/wired for higher power consumption (easy to do for a train at negligible cost increase). It then won't matter whether its a 2.0 or 3.1 as they physically fit. I would also, and I'm prepared for criticism here fit them to be Qualcomm Fast Charging compatible as most ODMs use this standard or a variety of it. Sure this means that Apple users won't get the same level of charging speed but that's the same with plugging into a wall. Phones don't just take the power as it comes. A perfect example of this is the old round Dell laptop chargers which had a pin in the middle which sends data to and from the power block from the laptop. Snap it and the laptop won't charge but will still draw power and can be used as a desktop. This is how modern charging actually works and hence the number of standards, if you can even call them so.
With regards specifically to Type C, Apple has moved the iPad Pro to it and most people in the industry expect a total switch due to the mass adoption of Type C, the only reason some companies haven't (like Amazon) is because they want to keep more more money for themselves. There is no advantage to micro USB, ziltch
tl;dr Hopefully they use some foresight and fit modern USB charging
It's worth pointing out that the "few have USB-C, everybody has USB-A" argument is probably a re-hash of conversations which took place 20 years ago, when the Pendolinos were being designed.
"Very few people have their own MP3 players, but everybody has 3.5mm headphones". Obviously the on-board-radio system was obsolete very quickly — it's worth bearing that in mind before naysaying the forward-looking opinions that USB-C is the optimal future-proof socket.
"Very few people have their own MP3 players, but everybody has 3.5mm headphones". Obviously the on-board-radio system was obsolete very quickly — it's worth bearing that in mind before naysaying the forward-looking opinions that USB-C is the optimal future-proof socket.
mallard
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Firstly, Virgin provided 3.5mm headphones (at least in the early days). The onboard "radio" was always poorly implemented, since it just played 15-20 minute loops of audio which were rarely changed. For long-distance trains, that's hardly going to keep passengers entertained for long.
Secondly, it's far from certain that USB-C will supplant USB-A. It's certainly supplanting micro-USB at the portable device end of the cable, but outside of Apple devices, there's little move to remove USB-A from "supply/PC" end. My last two mobile phones have had USB-C connectors, but both came with chargers with USB-A ports and A-to-C cables for charging. USB-C memory sticks are rare and I've yet to see one that doesn't also have a USB-A connector.
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Plenty of rumours say they will. You are right though, without a special chip inside they will lose out on making a nice cut from the sale of 'made for i' accessories.
I still think they'll have to do it though. Maybe find a way to offer a USB-C compatible port for charging but with extra pin outs for 'security'.
squizzler
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If TOC's specify USB-C for their new trains, not only will the units be future proof, but for the duration of their franchise the buffet trolley can make a killing by selling micro-USB and Lightning cable adaptors at PC World prices. What's not to like!
Or of course just offer both.
Or of course just offer both.
Haha, that's a great idea. There's also the opportunity for revenue for people who had their own cable, then left it on the train! TOCs can probably get their stock from lost property...!
anamyd
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Haven't they already released an iPad with USB-C...?
Nick Ashwell
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iPad Pro so not the "consumer" version. Expect new iPads and iPhones with it as their connector, what Apple really want is no port but wireless charging isn't there yet
WatcherZero
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Is that one where they've used Thunderbolt 3? That's physically identical to USB-C and compatible but Thunderbolt 3 is a chipped interface and so Thunderbolt 3 specific products wont work on USB-C ports while USB-C products will work on Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Nick Ashwell
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Type C is the connector whilst TB3 is a PCIE standard over that connector. Cables are interchangeable to a degree although a cheap USB C cable won't work with TB3 accessories running in that mode. It makes no difference for power delivery, aside from USB data standards being required for fast charging.
I should point out with regards the Scotrail 170 units the ones that do have power and USB I think have been retrofitted by Northern during their refurbishments, although I was on one this morning that still has the first class compartments and those are power sockets only rather than USB (I was therefore cursing myself when I had a dead phone this morning as I had my cable but no power brick!)
My phone is iPhone 6 Plus, which does charge much faster with an iPad charger than the standard one (been using that trick since the iPhone 5 days!), I must have a million power banks around the house or at work but I always end up forgetting to either charge them or carry them with me!
My phone is iPhone 6 Plus, which does charge much faster with an iPad charger than the standard one (been using that trick since the iPhone 5 days!), I must have a million power banks around the house or at work but I always end up forgetting to either charge them or carry them with me!
Not really a trick using an iPad charger, rather that Apple decides to bundle such a crap charger with the iPhone despite the handset cost.
Didn't the iPhone X not come with the fast charger either, despite supporting fast charging? Sold as an extra accessory? Cheeky gits!
Didn't the iPhone X not come with the fast charger either, despite supporting fast charging? Sold as an extra accessory? Cheeky gits!
GLC
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It was a cost saving measure, but a lot of customers prefer the slow charger but it’s physically much smaller than the more powerful chargers. Additionally, the battery wear is noticeably accelerated with repeated fast charging. After the mess of the iPhone 6 battery replacement, shipping a charger that was cheaper, smaller and led to longer lasting batteries (over years, not daily) won the day
On the Voyager maybe (R4 only), but on the Pendolino, if it was working properly, you got live BBC R1-R4, with a decent signal & RDS frequency switching. I had a few good journeys home from London on Friday nights in the days where a YP railcard would buy you a First Advance for £37.50. Free beer/food & Pete Tong’s Essential Selection passed the journey brilliantly!
You’re right about the programmed channels though, they weren’t great.
anamyd
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I liked the Mr. Scruff one that "aired" in 2004-2005 time! Can't speak for the others though
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Fast chargers slow right down before the battery is fully charged to reduce the impact. I'd personally rather have the best charger supplied with the phone. If you chose to buy a slower, smaller, charger then that would be cheaper than having to buy the more expensive charger.
Can you cite sources for any of that?
I'd have thought a lot of people would prefer the fast charging - Friends of mine have even considered a new handset just for a fast charge facility.
I can go from 0-40% in about 20 mins on my OnePlus... been doing that for years and I haven't noticed any decline in battery performance; It's as good as the day I took it out the box.
krus_aragon
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It's a slightly larger battery, but here's Tesla's explanation for why they limit the charge rate (i.e. slow it down) for batteries that have seen a lot of fast charges.
The batteries have a register of charge cycles so any phone could gradually slow the rate of charging based on its health status. Let's be honest, the number of cycles for the average phone or tablet will exceed its likely life for most owners.
BucksBones
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Trouble with USB sockets is that they’re quite physically fragile and the internal parts break easily. 3-pin sockets on trains are way more reliable than USB ones.
Yes, try to shove a USB A plug in upside down and with no too much force it will become damaged, you thankfully can't do that with a 13A socket.
As for the multi-standard "fits all" sockets, that's a non starter, not only are they really "fits nothing properly" sockets, they are generally not that safe (as to fit multiple plug standards there has to be a safety compromise) and are not actually legal in the UK.
GLC
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All I can say is that this is second-hand information to me, specifically regarding iPhones.
Yeah - and I bet many people don't really care if they're shoving it in the wrong way.
If people took more care, we'd be in a better position.
Same here.
The USB point I was sat next to as just that - no "normal" 3-pin plugs! Silly in my opinion. I may not use the 3-pin plug all the time, but I'd like to have the option of using one!
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