extended wi fi

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Terry in Naples

Terry in Naples

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Aug 8, 2006
340
Catalina 34 Naples FL
I have read the Practical sailor issue about the new wi fi extender hardware but would like to hear from actual users how well you like the system you purchased.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Here is our experience...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/WiFi-Index.html

...If I did it over I probably would buy a system from ..

http://forums.macgregor.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=891735#post891735

.... I saved some money, but not that much and if you have never done something like this not trying to to find the parts and piece it together will save you some grief.

Other vendors are also using similar equipment to IslandTime PC. I like them as they are sailors and I've seen them support their equipment and other people's equipment on The Cruisers Forum,

Sum

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Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,360
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Terry, we bought an ALFA and it works fine, just not as neat a package as Sum states.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Just an add on... to my other post. We have 2 alpha's that we use at home and on the road at motels. They are very convenient to setup and use quick in a motel room for instance but I don't feel they have the range of the Bullet and better antenna and Ethernet cable and talk about that here...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/WiFi-1.html

...so I'm not going to repeat it. If you are close in and in an area where you know you don't need the range then I'd consider the alpha otherwise I'd step up to one of the Bullet based solutions. Even most of the vendors that were only selling alpha based systems a year or two ago now have Bullet based options.

In your area of SW Florida with out setup we had WiFi from Punta Gorda south to Marco Island almost everywhere we anchored and we try not to anchor near developed areas.

Then no coverage in the 10,000 Islands or Everglades, but did have WiFi at Everglades City. At Marathon the connection was better on the Gulf side where we anchored at Fanny Keys then in Boot Key Harbor itself, but we did have a connection there. Going north on the Gulf side we had WiFi north of Long Key...



... a ways from anyone.

None at Shell Key quite a ways out. WiFi a ways out at Tavernier Creek. Also at Key Largo our last main anchorage before getting to South Dade Marina. I know we had at least one connection (slow) at over 4 miles and a number of faster ones in the 1 mile range.

If you are going to be cruising new waters I'd get the best you can afford. We will also now get WiFi via an Android phone, but I think it is limited to 2.5 gigs a month before they slow the connection down.

Good luck,

Sum

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Our Endeavour 37[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida[/FONT]

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t Tavernier Creek
 
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