I could sail a lot more if I could work while away... If I could access the internet for a few hours a few times a week, it would be ideal!! How can I accomplish this?? Any ideas? Thanks, -N
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Eric Steege
Ricochet or Digital Phone
You may have seen the ads on TV for Ricochet high speed wireless. I just got it last week. It costs about $80 a month unlimited (which is a lot, so it helps if you have other reasons than sailing to need it) and it provides pretty fast access to the internet from most major cities. Their coverage seems to center around airports, but you can check their web-site for current coverage info. (www.ricochet.com) Most new digital cell phone have a PC interface available, but you will pay by the minute. If all you are doing is getting email, that should be relatively inexpensive. Coverage is the big deal, so again check the web-site. If you have digital service, you will be able to connect to the internet. Eric Steege "Perfect Union" '84 H'31 Bayport, MN
You may have seen the ads on TV for Ricochet high speed wireless. I just got it last week. It costs about $80 a month unlimited (which is a lot, so it helps if you have other reasons than sailing to need it) and it provides pretty fast access to the internet from most major cities. Their coverage seems to center around airports, but you can check their web-site for current coverage info. (www.ricochet.com) Most new digital cell phone have a PC interface available, but you will pay by the minute. If all you are doing is getting email, that should be relatively inexpensive. Coverage is the big deal, so again check the web-site. If you have digital service, you will be able to connect to the internet. Eric Steege "Perfect Union" '84 H'31 Bayport, MN
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
Blue Water Sailor
The magazine Blue Water Sailor had an article by Beth Leonard in the Feb issue (I think - might have been the Dec issue??) that covered the topic quite thoroughly. Check it out. LaDonna
The magazine Blue Water Sailor had an article by Beth Leonard in the Feb issue (I think - might have been the Dec issue??) that covered the topic quite thoroughly. Check it out. LaDonna
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web
What do you need to be able to do?
There is are a lot of ways to get email, fewer with less coverage to get web access. Also, some intra-nets are set up not to serve to IP address ranges known to be wireless due to the security risk. I'm not sure that there really is a risk, 128 bit encryption is pretty tight unless the NSA is trying to break it, but there is at least the mythos that its risky. While I was working in the IT world, this was something my employer was worried about. Anyway, depending on what you are trying to accomplish any of the ways other have suggested are great. If you only need e-mail, the range is even broader. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
There is are a lot of ways to get email, fewer with less coverage to get web access. Also, some intra-nets are set up not to serve to IP address ranges known to be wireless due to the security risk. I'm not sure that there really is a risk, 128 bit encryption is pretty tight unless the NSA is trying to break it, but there is at least the mythos that its risky. While I was working in the IT world, this was something my employer was worried about. Anyway, depending on what you are trying to accomplish any of the ways other have suggested are great. If you only need e-mail, the range is even broader. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
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J R Smith
Ricochet
Sorry but on the left coast Ricochet is on available in San Diego and San Francisco. I use it on my boat in Dallas and love it.
Sorry but on the left coast Ricochet is on available in San Diego and San Francisco. I use it on my boat in Dallas and love it.
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Brian Jarchow
! Ricochet
Just last friday Slashdot had a story about the possible closure of Ricochet as soon as June due to bankruptcy. See: http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/02/09/1559221&mode=thread
Just last friday Slashdot had a story about the possible closure of Ricochet as soon as June due to bankruptcy. See: http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/02/09/1559221&mode=thread
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Ed Schenck
Also check this site:
http://www.hfradio.com/ and then give them a call. E-Mail yes but true Internet? Probably not. Most systems require line-of-sight, in the case of Ricochet they are lightpole mounted transceivers that get their power from the pole. So if you really mean that you want to sail offshore and still do Internet I think you are talking big bucks for a satellite phone.
http://www.hfradio.com/ and then give them a call. E-Mail yes but true Internet? Probably not. Most systems require line-of-sight, in the case of Ricochet they are lightpole mounted transceivers that get their power from the pole. So if you really mean that you want to sail offshore and still do Internet I think you are talking big bucks for a satellite phone.
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Eric Steege
Ricochet may be dead?
Just because some user of some web site says that Ricochet might run out of cash does not mean that they are dead. With the introduction of the technology to buyers, they may not need any venture capital. Cash flow from customers may cover their short-fall. Who knows. Time will tell. They just became available, and I signed up. Many other CUSTOMERS may provide cash as well.
Just because some user of some web site says that Ricochet might run out of cash does not mean that they are dead. With the introduction of the technology to buyers, they may not need any venture capital. Cash flow from customers may cover their short-fall. Who knows. Time will tell. They just became available, and I signed up. Many other CUSTOMERS may provide cash as well.
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Jim Flowers
WIreless Internet a reality someday`
As an Internet wireless service provider I have been keeping an eye on the technology to deliver Internet to boaters. Currently, technology is capable of delivering Internet at rates from 2 Mbps to 11 Mbps at distances from 1 to 15 miles with a minimum of capital investment Unfortunately, in my part of the world (Lake Eire) the season is brutally short to recover investment through revenues. For those of you in a more practical area, a population center with high buildings near a large body of water is ideal and should support a 'boaters' Internet system with reasonable costs - email - web browsing - work, etc. Then there are the issues of what boaters will pay, how many will actually sign up, etc. I think it will eventually come but it depends on somebody getting interested in your area. In the meantime, a slow speed cellular connection is probably your best bet.
As an Internet wireless service provider I have been keeping an eye on the technology to deliver Internet to boaters. Currently, technology is capable of delivering Internet at rates from 2 Mbps to 11 Mbps at distances from 1 to 15 miles with a minimum of capital investment Unfortunately, in my part of the world (Lake Eire) the season is brutally short to recover investment through revenues. For those of you in a more practical area, a population center with high buildings near a large body of water is ideal and should support a 'boaters' Internet system with reasonable costs - email - web browsing - work, etc. Then there are the issues of what boaters will pay, how many will actually sign up, etc. I think it will eventually come but it depends on somebody getting interested in your area. In the meantime, a slow speed cellular connection is probably your best bet.
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Patrick Ewing
Ask daytrondbs.com
They sell a tracking antenna and told me last week that internet service is available in Canada via satellite for a reasonable fee (along with DSS TV programs). I took that to mean $40 per month or so. I do not recall exactly what they said but they said that the service is not avalilble in the US. I asked them to send me additional info and will post it here when it arrives. It seems unlikely that the service provider has any way to know if you are in Canada or not and no real reason to care.
They sell a tracking antenna and told me last week that internet service is available in Canada via satellite for a reasonable fee (along with DSS TV programs). I took that to mean $40 per month or so. I do not recall exactly what they said but they said that the service is not avalilble in the US. I asked them to send me additional info and will post it here when it arrives. It seems unlikely that the service provider has any way to know if you are in Canada or not and no real reason to care.
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