Home Asides Where the cell signals leak in

Where the cell signals leak in

by Benjamin Kabak

As the MTA has once again renewed its vow to bring cell service and wifi underground, many have wondered if constant connectivity is truly good or if the yammering masses will slowly drive us all insane. I’ve long been of the belief that cell access on platforms only won’t lead to louder waits. The subway system isn’t a quiet and peaceful arena today, and the vast above-ground portions have long had cell service. Riders along the elevated routes haven’t become boorish on their phones.

Today, Heather Haddon and Katherine Lieb unveil the secrets of underground cell service and highlight those stations that already have cell access either from street-level grates or from nearby landmarks. Nearly four dozen of the 277 underground stations have service at some point or another. The list, available on amNew York’s website, includes 30 IRT stations, many of which aren’t very far below ground, and a handful of the oldest BMT stops along the R. Only a few IND stops have service because they were built relatively deep underground. Nevins St. in Brooklyn has long been my favorite transfer point between the East and West Side IRT lines because of its stellar cell service.

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15 comments

Avi August 16, 2010 - 12:39 pm

I love how the 1 has service at 14th, 34th, 42nd, and 72nd, while the two has service at 96th. Does service only cover one of the tracks?

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Kid Twist August 16, 2010 - 1:22 pm

It depends on how you hold your phone.

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Tim August 16, 2010 - 12:57 pm

It’s not so much people talking on their phones that I worry about. It’s the people who listen to hip-hop on their cellphone using the phones speakers so everyone can share in the artistic achievement that makes me want to commit felony assault. I mean, seriously, who the hell thinks that everyone want to hear Missy Elliot at 6:30 am on the 6 train

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Fred August 16, 2010 - 7:14 pm

People listen to other things loudly on the train besides hip hop and Missy Elliott. Would you complain if it was Taylor Swift or Green Day? SMH @ some of you people…

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Tim August 17, 2010 - 9:30 am

I’m not talking about playing music so loudly that people can hear it leaking out your headphones. I’m talking about people who sit there and blast their music out of their cell phone at full volume, with actual speakers. And it’s usually not the type of person who listens to Taylor Swift who engages in this practice. At least, that’s been my experience with the situation riding the 6 between 77th and 125th every day.

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John August 17, 2010 - 9:31 am

Yes.

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Alex August 16, 2010 - 1:05 pm

I really don’t know much about the IND line but on the 174-175th st. station, the manhattan bound D platform does have reception, well not a lot but good enough to make phone calls.

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Kid Twist August 16, 2010 - 1:21 pm

I always get pretty good reception at 50th Street on the Eighth Avenue Line (upper level).

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R2 August 16, 2010 - 2:06 pm

They also missed 47-50 Sts – Rockefeller Center. No calls but I’ve certainly texted from there. Downtown platform towards the front of the train.

I’ve actually received voicemails/texts at 42nd St – Port Authority but that one’s a hit or miss for me.

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Ramvid August 16, 2010 - 6:09 pm

I get service on the mezzanine at the 65st stop on the Queens Boulevard Line.

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Kevin August 16, 2010 - 10:37 pm

There’s service in the transfer hall between 23rd Street and Court Square, right under the Citibank building with all the light pouring in. I would believe that it would be somewhat obvious since its wide open. I typically see others use their cell phones at that location as well.

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Hop August 17, 2010 - 10:34 am

I used to get great phone service at the 63 Drive station on Queens Blvd.

In fact once my phone actually started ringing at the middle of the QB express run while I was near that stop.

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Mike August 18, 2010 - 12:16 pm

the 33rd street PATH station also has cell signal. in fact, I usually get 5 bars there.

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Vin August 19, 2010 - 5:46 pm

They forgot one: Essex St. on the J/Z/M/F.

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Meredith February 18, 2011 - 11:02 pm

23rd St on the IND 8th Avenue Line also has some service on the platform.

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