[True Story] Can Rakuten Mobile be used on the TX and Joban lines? Packet freezes in densely populated areas and employee compromises

1. Introduction: I want to eliminate frustration while traveling or in crowds.

For those who commute to work or school every day on the Tsukuba Express (TX) or Joban Line, smartphone signals are a lifeline.

To be honest, I can't say with any confidence that Rakuten Mobile is super fast anywhere!

Even as an employee, I sometimes feel frustrated when I'm in the crowded areas around Moriya Station or Mito Station and think, "Oh no, it's not loading..." This time, I'd like to share the "Ibaraki Edition: The Reality of Radio Waves" focusing on train travel and crowded areas.

2. [Train Edition] Where is the "bad luck" point of the TX Joban Line?

I will share my personal experience as an employee on Ibaraki's major routes.

Tsukuba Express (TX):

The underground sections (between Tsukuba and Kenkyu Gakuen and within Tokyo) have been significantly improved compared to before. However, when traveling at high speeds across prefectural borders, such as between Moriya and Kashiwa Tanaka, the line switching cannot keep up and the connection may be interrupted for a moment.

JR Joban Line:

The open areas between Mito and Tsuchiura are comfortable, but there may be times when there is only one antenna in unexpected places, such as near "dead sections (AC/DC changeover)" or in waiting rooms on station platforms.

3. [Densely populated areas] The reality of AEON Mall and Mito Station

This is about behavior at large commercial facilities, a symbol of weekends in Ibaraki.

Packet freezes in densely populated areas:

In crowded places such as Aeon in Uchihara and IIAS in Tsukuba, there are rare cases where packets are stopped and communication does not proceed even though the antenna is up.

Measures to be taken by employees:

Just between you and me, when I'm in a crowded place, I sometimes turn off 5G and stick to 4G because it provides a more stable connection and allows me to use QR code payments (such as Rakuten Pay) more smoothly.

4. Comparison: Difference with "ahamo" and "UQ" that are strong in densely populated areas

We've put together an honest comparison table. If stability while on the move is important to you, here are some important points to consider:

If you're someone who doesn't want to stop a video for even a second while on the move, then honestly, it might be less stressful to choose something like ahamo on the Docomo network.

5. Why I still carry Rakuten Mobile

Why do I continue to use it despite knowing the weaknesses of the signal? Because the experience I get for the money I save outweighs that.

By reducing your communication costs by 3,000 yen per month, you can make choices such as the following:

I use it to pay for subscriptions to YouTube Premium and Audible to listen to while commuting.

On the weekend, I buy some good beans at a good coffee shop in Moriya or Mito.

Rather than paying a high price for a perfect signal, I would choose an 80-point signal and use the remaining 20 points to enjoy life more. This is what I consider to be a wise choice.

6. Summary: Specific actions to make a satisfactory choice

If you're worried about your signal while traveling, try the following steps first.

Start with the "Strongest Family Program" for just 110 yen a month cheaper:

If you have family, you can minimize the risk by combining this with referral points.

Try with an eSIM instead of a physical SIM:

The wisest thing to do would be to keep your current line and try it out as a secondary connection "on the train" for a few days.

Check the quality of Rakuten Link:

Make a call on the train platform or elsewhere and check the quality for yourself.

It would be unfortunate for both you and Rakuten if you signed a contract without being completely satisfied and then had to cancel early. First, please carefully consider whether you can use the service on your commute route.