How did they manage 20 years ago?
Flag signals. Oh sorry, that was 40 years ago!
Flag signals. Oh sorry, that was 40 years ago!
Internet and telephone while off-shore in Canadian Pacific Northwest
- Thread starter dchipley
- Start date
The "cheap" antenna is used OUTSIDE 24/7, rain, shine or snow, on RVs, home and some boats, worldwide. Seems to work fine outside getting wet, otherwise there would be 2 million complaints and a recall.
The actual box portion is obviously installed out of the weather.
The new 2.0 version is less complex, and lacks the motor drive for alignment. I would think that would be more reliable, but we own the previous version, so can't say how well version 2.0 is built. But it also is designed to be outside in all normal weather, 24/7
I wouldn't rely on it for offshore emergencies. Hard for a small dish to get a good lock on a small boat when underway. At anchor ? Good enough.
OP specifically asked about WORKING from a boat along the PNW coast. Not sure why emergency use and related comm gear applies to that.
Starlink is the best option for internet. Cell phone tethering for internet is a unreliable option if you need to work any distance from land settlements.
@Terry Cox nailed the details.
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The phone tethering worked well enough for me to stay in touch with family and friends, but definitely it would not be sufficient for business. I did get dropped calls, I just called back. Also voice came in and out at times, like louder and softer, but for communication, it worked everywhere I went in the Atlantic. There were some remote areas where it took a long time, like up to two hours, to connect. But it always connected. I would run with it off and then turn on at certain times of the day. It's a game changer in my opinion.The "cheap" antenna is used OUTSIDE 24/7, rain, shine or snow, on RVs, home and some boats, worldwide. Seems to work fine outside getting wet, otherwise there would be 2 million complaints and a recall.
The actual box portion is obviously installed out of the weather.
The new 2.0 version is less complex, and lacks the motor drive for alignment. I would think that would be more reliable, but we own the previous version, so can't say how well version 2.0 is built. But it also is designed to be outside in all normal weather, 24/7
I wouldn't rely on it for offshore emergencies. Hard for a small dish to get a good lock on a small boat when underway. At anchor ? Good enough.
OP specifically asked about WORKING from a boat along the PNW coast. Not sure why emergency use and related comm gear applies to that.
Starlink is the best option for internet. Cell phone tethering for internet is a unreliable option if you need to work any distance from land settlements.
@Terry Cox nailed the details.
If you need high speed access everywhere all the time, the bigger antenna might be needed. No direct experience.
dj
Popular Science said that you could use a laser and bounce those signals off of Echo 2 and was included with purchase of every flying car.
Thanks for the real world experience. I’m thinking of getting just the RV ROAM set up, and see if they honor their ad “anywhere in the United States“ out to at least the 12 miles of shore zone.
But, really, I’d be perfectly happy if it works within sight of Land. I will not be happy if it requires me to be 3 miles away from shore ON THE LAND SIDE! ;-p
I, like OP, would like this thing so I could have reliable Internet when at anchor or in port: to download software updates, new maps, new weather/forecasts, keep up with friends and family via FaceTime like interactions, hoe through email, etc…. But I absolutely do not want to have a 50GB limit! It would be a langniappe if I could have 50GB while seriously offshore, but I would rather the system just not give me any data out there, and give me unlimited data when I’m at anchor.
I have other solutions for *emergency* comms, and would never dream of depending upon STINK for that!
But, really, I’d be perfectly happy if it works within sight of Land. I will not be happy if it requires me to be 3 miles away from shore ON THE LAND SIDE! ;-p
I, like OP, would like this thing so I could have reliable Internet when at anchor or in port: to download software updates, new maps, new weather/forecasts, keep up with friends and family via FaceTime like interactions, hoe through email, etc…. But I absolutely do not want to have a 50GB limit! It would be a langniappe if I could have 50GB while seriously offshore, but I would rather the system just not give me any data out there, and give me unlimited data when I’m at anchor.
I have other solutions for *emergency* comms, and would never dream of depending upon STINK for that!
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I think it cuts you off about a mile or two off the coast line. It certainly will not give you 12 miles. That's what friends of mine have said - no direct knowledge.
dj
As long as it's okay with me being in the water, but within sight of land, I'm fine with it. As I indicated, I have other *emergency* communication options for offshore/while sailing. I just want unlimited Internet when I'm stopped, and not to be cut off because I accidentally went over some arbitrary limit. ;-) It sounds like a boat will be treated as an RV as long as it's "close enough" to shore, but can stay afloat--at least for now. (I read a couple of places that STINK is cracking down on cruisers "abusing" the system "made for automobiles".)
Again, thanks for all the data, y'all!
PS: it's nice to be back. For the last couple of days I've been getting this "you are not authorized" message locking me out of Forum altogether.
Again, thanks for all the data, y'all!
PS: it's nice to be back. For the last couple of days I've been getting this "you are not authorized" message locking me out of Forum altogether.
Can't comment on what's "close enough to shore".
But you seem hung up on "being cut off". If you opt into the option where if you go over the limit you pay for the overage. You simply have to pay $2 per GB over the limit. You don't get cut off.
dj
Starlink geofences the Roam Accounts. The Geofences are hexagon shaped, thus the distance off shore will vary based how the hexagon's fall, thus the conflicting reports of how far offshore you can go before being cut off. There is a Starlink on Boats FB group and also groups on Reddit. Both are good sources within the limits of those platforms.
Thanks for the hexagon info. I wonder if there's a map we can see of the pattern overlayed on the land/water boundary.
I'm on week FOUR of STINK's "preparing for shipping". I'm leaning back toward cell system, especially as I recently discovered two "cell amplifier" devices that might make coastal cruising a fully-connected experience.
I'm on week FOUR of STINK's "preparing for shipping". I'm leaning back toward cell system, especially as I recently discovered two "cell amplifier" devices that might make coastal cruising a fully-connected experience.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,141
This link may be helpful regarding Cell Service.
www.planhub.ca
This link shows maps of individual carriers. In thi s case Rogers has been selected as the carrier.
Cell Phone Plans Available in British Columbia in October 2024
Compare cell phone plans offered in British Columbia to find the best and cheap options. Compare the prices of cell phone providers, including Freedom Mobile, Telus ,Virgin Plus, Rogers, Fido, Bell, Koodo, Lucky Mobile, Public Mobile, and more.
www.planhub.ca
This link shows maps of individual carriers. In thi s case Rogers has been selected as the carrier.
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www.nperf.com
Things change fast in Elon's world. The Hexagon Maps have been history for a month or so. The latest map more or less follows the land contours.
There are several active FB groups for Starlink, including one entitled StarLink on Sailboats.
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www.starlink.com
There are several active FB groups for Starlink, including one entitled StarLink on Sailboats.
In the last year I sailed from southern New England up to Penobscot Bay Maine, then south throughout the northern and central Bahamas south to George Town, and back, using a Starlink $150 mobile roam package and 2nd generation (articulating) antenna. When at anchor we always had great service, when underway I would activate the “mobile priority” option at $2/GB and we always had great service even 60 nm offshore. Very few but occasional dropouts, we could almost always reconnect within a minute or two, but it did poorly in heavy rain when visibility was affected also. If you need do an online meeting I would suggest you tell participants you’re mobile and will reconnect if you drop out. It would not be a problem and extremely unlikely to drop out except in heavy rain.
We’d cache and update data when we were at anchor and the plan was unlimited. When mobile priority was activated (metered at $2/GB) we made sure our mobile devices were set for metered connections (to inhibit cloud sync and background updates) and refrained from using streaming services or video calls.
Starlink is truly a game changer. However, you should also have other options for emergencies if Starlink goes out. We also carry an Inreach, and had local cell service options in the Bahamas and of course in the US.
We’d cache and update data when we were at anchor and the plan was unlimited. When mobile priority was activated (metered at $2/GB) we made sure our mobile devices were set for metered connections (to inhibit cloud sync and background updates) and refrained from using streaming services or video calls.
Starlink is truly a game changer. However, you should also have other options for emergencies if Starlink goes out. We also carry an Inreach, and had local cell service options in the Bahamas and of course in the US.
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One more thing to add - we found Verizon cellular data coverage was very poor in Maine. Voice service was spotty but OK, whereas data was so slow it was almost unusable in most places.
Starlink was also a game changer there. It was nice to be able to stream or have a video call when we wanted.
Starlink was also a game changer there. It was nice to be able to stream or have a video call when we wanted.
