Introduction
Welcome to another episode of TJ's Technology Tuesday. Today I want to address a question I get asked very frequently: Why is the internet so slow on the train? And how can I make it faster? Those of you who have known me for a while will know that I do 95% of my business travel by Deutsche Bahn. Yes, it is not always 100% on time, but when I compare it to other modes of transport — sitting in traffic jams or allowing long buffer times for security checks — I know of no other way to travel from Berlin to Munich in four hours, city to city. And when I do that, I have four hours that are completely productive. The moment I step onto the train, I can get straight to work.
My Setup for Internet Access on the Train
I do this with an ideal setup where I have a wooden wall behind me — you can choose your seat when making a reservation — and I always have a privacy screen filter on my laptop so that the person sitting next to me cannot see my screen. Most people's first instinct is to connect to the train Wi-Fi. As a rule, that is not a good idea, because a lot of passengers are watching films and series, which means the connection is not particularly fast.
The second strategy many people try is to say: I have a recent iPhone with 5G, so I can just use my own hotspot. The problem with ICE trains, however, is that the windows are coated with a metallic layer that blocks mobile signals. The next generation of ICE trains will have windows where this coating is replaced by slots — small gaps that allow normal mobile signals to pass through more easily. So the issue is not only the number of people streaming, and not only the train itself — it is these metal-coated windows. But there is a great trick: I use the Netgear Nighthawk. This is a mobile cellular router with its own SIM card slot. I have a Telekom contract — the MagentaMobil Max Flat, the highest tier — which costs around 80 to 90 euros per month and includes several additional SIM cards. One of those additional cards goes into the Netgear Nighthawk. I can then connect my PC, my iPad, and my Mac to it.
Netgear Nighthawk 5G Router
I have brought along this model so you can see what it looks like. This is what it looks like from Netgear. These devices are not cheap — they cost around 600 to 700 euros. But while my neighbour on the train is complaining on LinkedIn about how bad the internet connection is, I am sitting in a Teams call without any issues. To give you a sense of the difference: I have a 15 MX Pro, which already has a very good LTE and 5G module, but this device has considerably more power. Often I have one bar on my iPhone but five bars on the Nighthawk. I also use it frequently when I give training sessions or deliver presentations from hotel rooms, which I do often. In those situations I do not have to rely on the hotel Wi-Fi — instead, I can connect up to 32 devices simultaneously. That is right — 32 devices at the same time. So I have my laptop, my iPad, and my iPhone all connected, and I can also use it with Reflector to share screens wirelessly. When I am at a conference, I may have a perfectly stable mobile or Wi-Fi connection during the technical check, and then 600 people from the audience connect to the hotel Wi-Fi and my connection drops to zero.
So I always have the Nighthawk at the front of the stage. That gives me my own internet and keeps me independent. This is number one on my list and I highly recommend it. I have not bought it just once — I bought it twice, because I unfortunately left it on a train. That is why I now put a sticker on it with my name, email address and mobile number, so that an honest finder can return it to me. I carry a second device as well — a GlocalMe.
Portable Mobile Wi-Fi Router: GlocalMe
And the GlocalMe — not Global, but GlocalMe. Let me find it. Here we go — GlocalMe router. This is the router I also carry with me when I travel internationally. Let me show you what it looks like. It looks like this. This GlocalMe router — roughly this size — has a physical SIM card on one side, and it also supports an eSIM. In the physical SIM slot I have a Vodafone card. That means if Telekom has an outage, I still have a Vodafone connection to fall back on, and I can also switch to the eSIM.
Last year, for example, I was speaking at a conference in Bucharest. From home I had already selected a data plan for Romania via the GlocalMe smartphone app, so I had internet access immediately upon arrival. Many of you might say: I can just buy a local SIM card at the airport. Yes — but that is not so convenient if you arrive on the last flight of the day, all the shops are closed, you do not speak the local language, and neither do the staff, and you have no idea which card to buy. Against that backdrop, booking in advance via the app makes a lot of sense. I get a proper invoice that I can put through accounting. The device really works well. The Netgear can be connected to a PC via Wi-Fi or via a LAN cable. The GlocalMe can be connected via Wi-Fi or via USB. And the reason I mention these different connection options is that there is another piece of software I can highly recommend: Speedify. The idea behind it is that it combines and bonds multiple internet connections. It is available for Windows and Mac.
With Speedify You Combine Multiple Internet Connections Simultaneously
What this software allows me to do is connect the Netgear Nighthawk via Wi-Fi, the GlocalMe via USB, and then also a fixed-line connection via a LAN cable. I can bond all three connections in Speedify. On my device I then have an overview that combines them. The great thing is that when all connections are available, Speedify adds their bandwidth together — making everything faster. And when one connection drops out, Speedify ensures continuity automatically. For example, I was recently in our holiday flat on Wangerooge, and there was a Telekom outage. I was delivering a webinar, and because I knew the connection there could be unstable, I had activated Speedify, connected the flat's DSL via a LAN cable, and connected the Netgear Nighthawk via Wi-Fi.
The Compact Starlink Mini
During that one-hour webinar, Speedify switched between connections more than 400 times. And there is one more component I use especially for travel and can now highly recommend: Starlink. Specifically the Starlink Mini, which is designed for travel. You can see here how compact it is — it really is quite small. I have the travel unlimited plan, which when I signed up cost 72 euros per month; it is now 89 euros. If 50 gigabytes is usually enough for you, there is a smaller plan available. I always choose unlimited because I do a lot on the go. I also have a mobile office vehicle, which has a workstation in the back. Just last Sunday I ran a four-and-a-half-hour seminar from it. I had clipped the Starlink antenna into the transparent rear roof hatch, connected it to my laptop via a LAN cable, connected the Netgear Nighthawk via Wi-Fi, and bonded both through Speedify. During those four and a half hours, Speedify switched between connections 110 times. When you drive through a tunnel with Starlink, the connection drops out — but Speedify picks up another line immediately.
Never Experience a Bad Internet Connection Again
While driving it works wonderfully. You can be online with Starlink while moving — and the same applies to the Nighthawk. You can attach additional external antennas to the Nighthawk, though I have not done so; the standard antennas work perfectly well. But if you need high reliability, I would always recommend having both. That is why I have both. We have also used this setup for livestreams, combining Starlink, a LAN connection, and a Wi-Fi connection. I still remember livestreams we ran at Toyota during the pandemic, broadcasting to 600 Toyota dealers across the country. That was the first day when people in North Rhine-Westphalia could register for COVID vaccinations online, and when registration opened, it felt as though the entire internet collapsed. But we had four connections bonded together, and we stayed on air. So — rather than complaining about poor Wi-Fi in hotels or on trains, make sure you have your own internet with you. The combination of a Netgear Nighthawk as the minimum setup, Speedify for bonding, GlocalMe for international travel, and Starlink Mini for situations where you are also perhaps travelling by motorhome internationally — that is a wonderful recommendation.
Conclusion
With that, this has been a slightly more technical episode — but as you know, I have two sides to me. On one hand, I am an IT nerd who really knows his way around the settings. On the other hand, I am a managing director of a GmbH, a long-standing mid-sized company manager, and an Executive MBA holder — having spent many years in management at Tchibo.
In other words, I combine IT and management — two worlds that often drift apart — and I bring them back together for my clients as a personal IT coach for executives. I wish you every success from the heart.
Your Thorsten Jekel
Key Takeaways
- The train Wi-Fi is often slow because many passengers are simultaneously streaming films — a personal mobile router solves this problem.
- The metal-coated windows of ICE trains block mobile signals; an external router with its own SIM card bypasses this issue.
- The Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Router provides stable connectivity on trains, in hotel rooms, and on stage — connecting up to 32 devices simultaneously.
- The GlocalMe router offers a second SIM card (Vodafone) plus eSIM and is ideal for international travel, with data plans bookable conveniently via app.
- With Speedify, multiple internet connections can be bonded simultaneously, and if one line drops out, the software switches automatically.
- Starlink Mini provides a compact satellite connection for travel — when driving through tunnels, Speedify seamlessly takes over another line.
- The combination of Netgear Nighthawk, GlocalMe, Speedify, and Starlink Mini delivers maximum reliability, even for live streams and online seminars.
- Labelling expensive devices with your name and contact details helps get them returned if lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the internet so slow on the train?
The internet on trains is often slow because many passengers are simultaneously streaming films and series over the train Wi-Fi. Additionally, the metal-coated windows of ICE trains block mobile signals, meaning even a personal smartphone hotspot only receives minimal reception.
What is the Netgear Nighthawk and why does Thorsten Jekel recommend it?
The Netgear Nighthawk is a mobile 5G router with its own SIM card slot that delivers significantly better reception than a smartphone hotspot. Thorsten Jekel recommends it because it provides stable internet on trains, in hotel rooms, and on stage for up to 32 devices simultaneously.
How much does the Netgear Nighthawk cost approximately?
According to the episode, the Netgear Nighthawk costs around 600 to 700 euros. On top of that comes a suitable mobile plan — for example the Telekom MagentaMobil Max Flat at around 80 to 90 euros per month, from which an additional SIM card can be used for the router.
What is the GlocalMe router and what is it used for?
The GlocalMe is a compact mobile Wi-Fi router that supports both a physical SIM card and an eSIM. It is particularly well suited to international travel, as you can use the GlocalMe app to book a data plan for your destination country before you leave, giving you internet access immediately upon arrival.
How does Speedify work?
Speedify is a software application for Windows and Mac that bonds multiple internet connections simultaneously. It increases overall bandwidth when all lines are available, and automatically switches to a working connection if one line fails.
How many connections can Speedify bond at the same time?
Speedify can combine any number of connections. In the example from the episode, three lines are bonded: the Netgear Nighthawk via Wi-Fi, the GlocalMe via USB, and a fixed-line broadband connection via a LAN cable.
What is Starlink Mini and what is it used for?
Starlink Mini is a compact satellite antenna from Starlink that can be taken along on trips. It provides a stable internet connection via satellite, which is especially useful in rural areas, in a motorhome, or in regions with poor mobile network coverage.
How much does the Starlink travel plan cost?
According to the episode, the Starlink travel unlimited plan now costs 89 euros per month. Those who can manage with 50 gigabytes can choose a less expensive plan.
How does Thorsten Jekel use Starlink and Speedify together while travelling?
Thorsten Jekel connects Starlink Mini via a LAN cable and the Netgear Nighthawk via Wi-Fi to his laptop, then bonds both connections through Speedify. During a four-and-a-half-hour online seminar run from a vehicle, Speedify switched between the two connections 110 times without any visible interruption.
What minimum setup does Thorsten Jekel recommend for reliable internet on the go?
As a minimum setup, Thorsten Jekel recommends the Netgear Nighthawk as a mobile router combined with Speedify software. For greater resilience and international use, he adds the GlocalMe router and Starlink Mini.
Tools & Resources Mentioned
- Netgear Nighthawk – Mobile 5G router for up to 32 devices, usable on trains, in hotels, and on stage
- GlocalMe – Compact travel router with physical SIM and eSIM; data plans bookable conveniently via app
- Speedify – Software for Windows and Mac for bonding multiple internet connections
- Starlink Mini – Compact satellite internet solution for mobile use
- Telekom MagentaMobil Max Flat – Mobile plan with additional SIM cards for external routers
- Reflector – Software for wireless screen sharing, mentioned in the context of stage presentations
