Internet on the boat

kloudie1 · Jan 9, 2011

Weasel, I am putting together a long range (maybe as much as a mile) Wi-Fi transmitter and receiver right now that I am building from an article that I saw in Practical Sailor magazine.. I should be finishing in a couple of days and will post here when done.. Don't know how DIY you are but the parts were only about $70 . It plugs into a USB port and bypasses the computer transmitter/receiver. It is a low enough power (1 Watt) that no FCC stuff is required.
don't know if that would let you communicate through the transient docks??

Stu Jackson · Jan 9, 2011

This helped me to choose: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=751935&highlight=wifi

Tim R. · Jan 9, 2011

I use a Verizon MiFi with unlimited data for $43/mon(fed. Emp. Rate).

Our marina has wifi and cable tv included in our rate. The wifi is pretty slow and I only get 1 bar where my boat is.

wonkodsane · Jan 9, 2011

Goofy looking and requires some DIY soldering type skills, but maybe worth trying. http://lifehacker.com/5728827/build-a-cheap-wi+fi-extender-out-of-a-tin-can

Sumner · Jan 9, 2011

Weasel said:
Our marina has a wi-fi hotspot about 3 docks away from us on the transient dock. It is free, but the marina has some repeaters on the power boat docks that will permit internet for a fee... $50.00 per nonth. (They also offer cable tv, approx 12 channels for $45.00 per month.) So you get the idea.

I travel a lot, and usually stay on my boat instead of hotels / motels, less risk of bed bugs, etc. I need internet. I dont care to get on their internet, would like to have my own hot spot. Anybody have any suggestions. (I have AT&T wireless provider).

Weasel

If you are trying to pickup and not broadcast then this might help (go down to the WiFi part)....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/Compter-Nav-index.html

....It is what we used in Florida this past fall. We were able to pick up a marina in Boca Grande from Pelican Bay 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 miles away reliably, but a little slow. I wasn't sure where the marina was there. Down by Captiva I was able to hook up to another marina that was .9 a mile away with a fast connection and other connections from people's homes there. On anchor at Punta Gorda I connected with it to a server in the closet on one of the floors of a Hotel there. I'm really happy with the setup.

It is a little more expensive to set up than the USB ones, but I think better suited to a boat. I have recently bought a 1 watt USB radio to use on the road and in motels and plan on taking it on the boat and comparing it to the Ubiguiti Bullet 2HP we are using on the boat and will report back on that next summer.

We are using the Bullet 2HP for our own use, but it can also be setup as a 'hotspot' others can use.

The upper right arrow above points to the Bullet attached to the bottom of the 8 dbi antenna. It connects to the ....

...ships computer via a Cat5 Ethernet cable. We also use the computer (above)...

...for navigation

Good luck,

Sum

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Zaphro · Jan 9, 2011

kloudie1 said:
Weasel, I am putting together a long range (maybe as much as a mile) Wi-Fi transmitter and receiver right now that I am building from an article that I saw in Practical Sailor magazine.. I should be finishing in a couple of days and will post here when done.. Don't know how DIY you are but the parts were only about $70 . It plugs into a USB port and bypasses the computer transmitter/receiver. It is a low enough power (1 Watt) that no FCC stuff is required.
don't know if that would let you communicate through the transient docks??

Looking forward to your post on this project. Sounds interesting.

kczach · Jan 9, 2011

Do you have 3G in your area? If you don't have big files to send why don't you consider an iPad with 3G? It would be portable for you to take on the road. You can even stream netflix movies as well. Would be a lot less clutter in the cabin.

Ed Schenck · Jan 9, 2011

I'm missing something here. You started by writing there was free wi-fi just three docks away. So why is that not available to you? Even the average Radio Shack transmitters are good for 3 or 400 yards. Maybe your docks are very big.

Maine Sail, did you ever say how good your Droid mobile connection works with your PC? I think adding mobile to a Verizon smartphone might be a solution. Then using it as the PC modem when you needed the big screen. While traveling south to Florida on the boat I was never out of tower range with my Verizon air card on the laptop.

RichH · Jan 9, 2011

I use an older RadioLabs marinized "WaveRV" powered WiFi antenna to USB ... and typically get signals over 1 mile away (direct line of sight) http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/wireless-marine-antenna.php

Most sailing folks who used these RadioLabs Wifi antennas seem to have upgraded to Ubiquiti "Bullet" antennas but they requires independent power supply, etc. http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-...ting-right-now-using-long-range-wireless.html

A sailing acquaintance of mine has a plug and play WiFi system from a Texas Firm that can get reliable WiFi from over 2+ miles ... but it costs a minor fortune.

A PITA problem with marinas is all the rigging and masts form effective shadows and barriers to WiFi .... get your antenna as high and as clear as possible when around 'sailboats'.

The real barrier to good WiFi nowadays is that almost everyone is using encryption on their wireless routers. ;-)

cbsailor · Jan 9, 2011

You Might Try This Adapter

Fellow snowbirders highly recommended the Alfa adapter to me while in FL. I purchased one and have been impressed with its range. We use it on a netbook and a laptop with excellent results. We bought the 2000mw version with the 5db and 9db antennas. We've used hot spots over a mile away with excellent results. Check out the one at
http://www.amazon.com/High-Gain-Long-Range-Alfa-9dBi-Strongest/dp/B0035BGNWU

http://www.alfa.com.tw/in/front/bin/ptdetail.phtml?Part=AWUS036NH&Category=105463

stephen Penny · Jan 9, 2011

Weasel,

Get yourself a Sprint phone with a "hot shot". It allows you to access the internet.

Deadhead · Jan 9, 2011

I also have the Verizon MiFii. Like Tim said it works great.

Chuckbear · Jan 9, 2011

Here is what we have been using for the past few years both at the dock and while cruising,
http://tinyurl.com/daz4wf
http://tinyurl.com/qkjw7o
Chuck

Maine Sail · Jan 9, 2011

Ed Schenck said:
Maine Sail, did you ever say how good your Droid mobile connection works with your PC? I think adding mobile to a Verizon smartphone might be a solution. Then using it as the PC modem when you needed the big screen. While traveling south to Florida on the boat I was never out of tower range with my Verizon air card on the laptop.

Yes I tether it to my laptop with Verizon and it is damn near as fast as my broadband at home. I pay $45.00/mo for unlimited. Takes about 15 seconds to connect the phone to the computer and get on-line...

WARNING !! If you have a Verizon data plan with broadband and it is the old UNLIMITED plan DO NOT get suckered into a plan bait & switch when you are in the store. You are grandfathered into your unlimited plan unless you AGREE to change plans. Don't do it!!

Verizon employees are incentivized to get people off the old & no longer available "unlimited" data plans. If you have a Verizon UNLIMITED data plan KEEP IT!!!!!!

chuckwayne · Jan 9, 2011

Weasel,
the bitstorm works great! we put one on Escape last year and it pulls in signals through the marinas in paces we had horrible connectivity before. Like many of the newer wifi systems, it's based on the ubiquiti bullet, and it uses ethernet instead of usb. that means you can run a much longer connection and put the antenna/bullet assembly in a better (higher) position without signal loss. It also uses POE (power over ethernet) so there's just one wire.

Chuck Creel · Jan 10, 2011

Weasel said:
Our marina has a wi-fi hotspot about 3 docks away from us on the transient dock. It is free, but the marina has some repeaters on the power boat docks that will permit internet for a fee... $50.00 per nonth. (They also offer cable tv, approx 12 channels for $45.00 per month.) So you get the idea.

I travel a lot, and usually stay on my boat instead of hotels / motels, less risk of bed bugs, etc. I need internet. I dont care to get on their internet, would like to have my own hot spot. Anybody have any suggestions. (I have AT&T wireless provider).

Weasel

I also use the bitstorm product called bad boy express. It has served me well and i hardly use my ATT laptop data card anymore at all.

WiFi is line of sight but I mounted the antenna on my arch and it does fine.

Speed is good also.

http://store.bitstorm.com/products/BAD-BOY-Express-%2d-Device-&-Kits.html

Bad Obsession · Jan 10, 2011

While sailing on the Chesapeake Bay I have been using my Verizon cell phone (Blackberry Storm I) and tethering it to my laptop. It works great and the only place I haven't had a signal is at Tangier Island. It does cost me $45 a month for the ability to do so and the 5G of data, but that is okay because I can use it in most of the places that I go.

There is nothing better than being able to sit in the anchorage and check the local weather radar when a storm is bearing down on you. That is unless you spend the money to put radar on your boat.

Tim R. · Jan 10, 2011

All you wifi hackers beware. It is very easy for someone to advertise a free hotspot and hack their way into your computer when you use it.

MaineSail, you should be able to enable mobile hotspot on your droid thus eliminating the tether.

Internet on the boat

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