greeting hunter owners community. can anyone advise me as to how to access the internet from the boat using a laptop (in my case a mac g3)? i am at a loss. thanks.
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Hi Christopher, one way is to order a ...
phone line with internet access installed at your boat by your local phone company. They include the internet access software with the order. Terry
phone line with internet access installed at your boat by your local phone company. They include the internet access software with the order. Terry
Lots of ways, none are perfect...
As Terry mentioned the easiest and cheapest is basic dialup service which you can probably get as long as there are phone lines on your dock. You might also be able to get more sophisticated service such as DSL depending on where you are but the basic problem is you will need to be plugged in to a phone line. Fine for the slip but won't work away from the dock. I've had fairly good luck with using a cell phone with a built in digital modem to connect when anchored out. You just hook it to your laptop and connect. I assume there is a Mac version. Speeds are slow though and service (air time) can be expensive. Quite viable for short emails, but you wouldn't want to try big downloads. There are also some fancy satellite systems but I have not tried them, maybe someone else here has. Very expensive, often charging per byte for transmission. Are you looking for a "dock only" setup or do you want access when you're away from the dock? Also, do you just want email? or full web browsing? There are services such as SailMail that can get you email but not the full web. Give us some more details and I'm sure someone here can recommend something for you...
As Terry mentioned the easiest and cheapest is basic dialup service which you can probably get as long as there are phone lines on your dock. You might also be able to get more sophisticated service such as DSL depending on where you are but the basic problem is you will need to be plugged in to a phone line. Fine for the slip but won't work away from the dock. I've had fairly good luck with using a cell phone with a built in digital modem to connect when anchored out. You just hook it to your laptop and connect. I assume there is a Mac version. Speeds are slow though and service (air time) can be expensive. Quite viable for short emails, but you wouldn't want to try big downloads. There are also some fancy satellite systems but I have not tried them, maybe someone else here has. Very expensive, often charging per byte for transmission. Are you looking for a "dock only" setup or do you want access when you're away from the dock? Also, do you just want email? or full web browsing? There are services such as SailMail that can get you email but not the full web. Give us some more details and I'm sure someone here can recommend something for you...
Couple of Options
When I had NEXTEL, my internet connection was pretty good, once I supressed the web graphics. I had to switch to ATT Cellular since it is the only provider in my mountain home community. I can't get squat information from ATT, but for trying to sell me a $100/month high speed wireless plan. I know I can hook up to my standard cell phone on analog with a laptop modem and cell cable, but they are no help. I can get wired dock telephone service for $9/month pre-surcharges. Then I'll just use my Access-4-Free ISP to get to my Hotmail. Recently, the Wi-Fi folks are installing wireless high-speed access that will run $40/month. That looks great since they will roll the access out to most SoCal cruising grounds (the few we have). If you need it for business, get a high speed wireless cell connection that has a good reputation in your area. If civilian use, just get a phone line to your dock. Good luck... Rick D.
When I had NEXTEL, my internet connection was pretty good, once I supressed the web graphics. I had to switch to ATT Cellular since it is the only provider in my mountain home community. I can't get squat information from ATT, but for trying to sell me a $100/month high speed wireless plan. I know I can hook up to my standard cell phone on analog with a laptop modem and cell cable, but they are no help. I can get wired dock telephone service for $9/month pre-surcharges. Then I'll just use my Access-4-Free ISP to get to my Hotmail. Recently, the Wi-Fi folks are installing wireless high-speed access that will run $40/month. That looks great since they will roll the access out to most SoCal cruising grounds (the few we have). If you need it for business, get a high speed wireless cell connection that has a good reputation in your area. If civilian use, just get a phone line to your dock. Good luck... Rick D.
Ditto, Miles
I use an Audiovox cellphone w/ a built-in modom thru Verizon Wireless. As Miles said, it's slow, about 20k; but 300mins of nationwide service, with (almost) free nights and weekends cost less than $50/mo. inc. taxes. And obviously, this is only an extra, added, part of the overall use of the cell phone. I have been able to get my e-mail, (and by turning off graphics), web pages (inc. HOW), from here to the Keys without much trouble. Connecting during nights and weekends, the slow speed is annoying, but since it doesn't cost anything to stay on as long as necessary, it doesn't matter too much....... unless you were using it for business.
I use an Audiovox cellphone w/ a built-in modom thru Verizon Wireless. As Miles said, it's slow, about 20k; but 300mins of nationwide service, with (almost) free nights and weekends cost less than $50/mo. inc. taxes. And obviously, this is only an extra, added, part of the overall use of the cell phone. I have been able to get my e-mail, (and by turning off graphics), web pages (inc. HOW), from here to the Keys without much trouble. Connecting during nights and weekends, the slow speed is annoying, but since it doesn't cost anything to stay on as long as necessary, it doesn't matter too much....... unless you were using it for business.
thanks rick
appreciate your input. i don't have a dock connection, so i will explore the high spped wireless cell connection as i need the business option. happy sailing!
appreciate your input. i don't have a dock connection, so i will explore the high spped wireless cell connection as i need the business option. happy sailing!
thanks terry
thanks for your help. i will explore the internet software access options. happy sailing.
thanks for your help. i will explore the internet software access options. happy sailing.
1X Ready at Verizon Wireless
I am doing this from the boat in St. Augustine, FL through a lap-top and Verizon Wireless. Currently ONLY Verizon Wireless has the hardware in place to handle this at high speed. Up to 230 baud rate. It is not nation wide at this point but is available along the East Coast from Southern Maine through VA and in Florida. Go to Verizon Wireless and ask about "Express Network - 1 X Ready". You will need a special phone (which they will sell you, along with the cable and software). It works and very convenient. Good luck. Gordon on s/y Utopia III
I am doing this from the boat in St. Augustine, FL through a lap-top and Verizon Wireless. Currently ONLY Verizon Wireless has the hardware in place to handle this at high speed. Up to 230 baud rate. It is not nation wide at this point but is available along the East Coast from Southern Maine through VA and in Florida. Go to Verizon Wireless and ask about "Express Network - 1 X Ready". You will need a special phone (which they will sell you, along with the cable and software). It works and very convenient. Good luck. Gordon on s/y Utopia III
Internet Access - CDPD
My CDPD wireless is 19.2Kb, does not require a cell phone (but must be in a cellular area that supports CDPD) and is a flat rate $59/mo. I can leave the thing on all the time on the boat and get email, web, etc. The card I use in my computer (supports both Intel and Mac machines) is from Enfora (www.enfora.com) but Sierra Wireless also has a good card. The service is with AT&T wireless (www.attws.com ..search for CDPD). Cap'n D
My CDPD wireless is 19.2Kb, does not require a cell phone (but must be in a cellular area that supports CDPD) and is a flat rate $59/mo. I can leave the thing on all the time on the boat and get email, web, etc. The card I use in my computer (supports both Intel and Mac machines) is from Enfora (www.enfora.com) but Sierra Wireless also has a good card. The service is with AT&T wireless (www.attws.com ..search for CDPD). Cap'n D
Stay away from CDPD
I just went thru this hassel trying to get my PDA connected to the web. Unfortunately, the CDPD network was the only way to do this at a reasonable cost. The speed was around 14 kb/sec. A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME FOR INTERNET SURFING. A REAL PAIN FOR E-MAIL. I gave-up on the PDA and went back to connecting my cell phone to my laptop after beefing-up my connection to the Express Network thru Verizon. IT'S WONDERFUL. Now I have surfing speeds at twice the dial-up speeds of my home computer at REASONABLE RATES. You pick the plan based on the hours of ueseage you will need. Check it out.
I just went thru this hassel trying to get my PDA connected to the web. Unfortunately, the CDPD network was the only way to do this at a reasonable cost. The speed was around 14 kb/sec. A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME FOR INTERNET SURFING. A REAL PAIN FOR E-MAIL. I gave-up on the PDA and went back to connecting my cell phone to my laptop after beefing-up my connection to the Express Network thru Verizon. IT'S WONDERFUL. Now I have surfing speeds at twice the dial-up speeds of my home computer at REASONABLE RATES. You pick the plan based on the hours of ueseage you will need. Check it out.
CDPD Issues
You're right. CDPD isn't for everyone. If you're a heavy web-surfer, or have alot of emails with huge attachments, it's not the best. But, for flat-rate access to the Internet for text email and light-to-moderate web surfing, it's alot more economical than eating up all your cell minutes. By the way: as a backup when I do hit an area without CDPD, I also have a Verizon phone with the cable attachment to do cellular-based Internet connections. Cap'n D
You're right. CDPD isn't for everyone. If you're a heavy web-surfer, or have alot of emails with huge attachments, it's not the best. But, for flat-rate access to the Internet for text email and light-to-moderate web surfing, it's alot more economical than eating up all your cell minutes. By the way: as a backup when I do hit an area without CDPD, I also have a Verizon phone with the cable attachment to do cellular-based Internet connections. Cap'n D
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