Methods and systems for data communications

A communication system comprising:

• a controller configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system having two or more propulsion-generating vehicles that are mechanically interconnected with each other in order to travel along a route together, the controller configured to operatively connect with the propulsion-generating vehicles and a first wireless communication device,
• wherein the controller is configured to direct the first wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and operating in an onboard communication mode,
• wherein, in the off-board communication mode, the first wireless communication device is configured to receive remote data signals from a location that is disposed off-board of the vehicle system and, in the onboard communication mode, the first wireless communication device is configured to communicate local data signals between the propulsion-generating vehicles of the vehicle system.

A communication system comprising:

• a radio deployed onboard a first rail vehicle of a rail vehicle consist and operative in a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation,
• wherein the radio is configured when operating in the first mode of operation to communicate at least one of voice signals and data signals between the first rail vehicle and a location off-board the rail vehicle consist using a first frequency bandwidth, and
• wherein the radio is configured when operating in the second mode of operation to wirelessly communicate distributed power signals from the first rail vehicle to one or more remote rail vehicles in the rail vehicle consist using a different, second frequency bandwidth, for at least one of augmenting operation of other onboard wireless devices that are configured to communicate the distributed power signals in the rail vehicle consist or for acting in place of at least one of the other onboard wireless devices.