Internet ability for my boat

[khemberger]

My wife and I are planning a trip in the near future that will last
about 2 months. We currently do not have the ability to connect
to the internet . Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly do
we need in the way of electronics, and where is the best place to
purchase the items. thanks...... Ken

 

[Ed Schenck]

We used a Verizon "air card" on our laptops on a recent cruise from Lake Erie to the Tampa area. Sometimes I could use it in the v-berth but more often I had to be close to the open companionway. Sitting in the cockpit at the dock or anchor it worked fine.

We used it to download charts when we were more than three miles offshore. Only downside is the cost. I only needed it for the cruise but signed a two-year contract. I did cancel but had to pay a penalty.

A much cheaper option is to just wait until you reach a free wireless spot. Lots of marinas have them. Or you could schedule your breakfasts for Panera.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Air Card on Laptop or tethering both work

I use a Verizon aircard and it works well throughout most of the US. If your phone tethers as mentioned above, that also works. I use the aircard when on the hook througout most of KY Lake and Barkley and have no problems.

Two years ago, I made the trip down the Tenn-Tom to Mobile and then to Punta Gorda and had coverage most of the time except at sea. At sea, I use a Globalstar phone for e-mail and grib wx files. Globalstar is very slow and you need an unlimited account for it to be practicable at all.

Lower Alabama was the weakest area on the trip, but I was able to get a signal for checking water levels on the internet at some time during every day of the trip.

Globalstar is weak at the moment but is scheduled to launch new sats next year (several months behind schedule)

Look at Verizon's 3G coverage map and see how coverage matches up with where you are going.

You can purchase the aircard over the internet or go to a verizon store.

 

[Neil McDonald]

My wife and I are planning a trip in the near future that will last
about 2 months. We currently do not have the ability to connect
to the internet . Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly do
we need in the way of electronics, and where is the best place to
purchase the items. thanks...... Ken

Sailingdog has written the definitive article on how to install an antenae on a boat that will pickup WIFI internet signals to feed to your computer. Quite technical. Shows you how to pick up signals from unsecured hubs at long range. There are plenty of such hubs around. See http://www.anything-sailing.com/wifi-cruising-sailboats-t3000.html?t=3000&highlight=internetare

 

[David in Sandusky]

iPhone

We use our iPhone, augmented by taking the PC to wifi providers like Panera, Starbucks, or Internet cafes. We have to augment our contract for the iPhone in Canada, but the cost is reasonable, and only for the months we need it. This approach has worked wherever we have sailed in Lakes Erie and Ontario. There are places (North Bass Island is one) where there is no coverage. We don't expect much coverage in the North Channel this summer, but we will be able to connect in some of the towns.

Our priority is to see the weather radar picture. Thats the best way to see where weather problems can arise in the coming day, in our experience. WE can wait a few days without email, or the Internet.