Internet on the boat

[kloudie1]

Tim is correct.. recently there was a release of some software that makes things much easier for the bad guys..
http://www.protechcomputersolutions...anger-of-unsecured-wi-fi-and-public-hotspots/

 

[Maine Sail]

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

NO WAY! That is the Verizon ploy & plan to get folks to jump off their unlimited data plans and get into a capped plan. They tried to bait & switch me but I caught it. For now I'll plug in and keep my unlimited plan. Besides I really don't need to be creating a hot spot for others...

 

[Tim R.]

NO WAY! That is the Verizon ploy & plan to get folks to jump off their unlimited data plans and get into a capped plan. They tried to bait & switch me but I caught it. For now I'll plug in and keep my unlimited plan. Besides I really don't need to be creating a hot spot for others...

Not from Verizon, but by rooting the droid and using the "wireless tether" application.

 

[Maine Sail]

Not from Verizon, but by rooting the droid and using the "wireless tether" application.

Tell me more!!!! Can you help me "root" mine? Can I keep my unlimited plan?

 

[Tim R.]

Tell me more!!!! Can you help me "root" mine? Can I keep my unlimited plan?

Sent you a PM.

 

[Craig Smith]

What I would really like is a device that will create my own hot spot then I could have instant weather on the lake where ever I could get a phone signal. (Would work for my wife's ipod too! I am an engineer, but not that type of engineer. Frankly I am baffled.

I don't understand, if you just want to use mobile internet then this is trivially easy. Most smart phones are capable of providing this feature, after all, all you need is G3/GPRS + wifi - Android 2.2 does it out of the box. Only, some networks don't want you doing it, and lock the feature on the phone, so you need to find one that provides the feature easily (or use a rooted Android).

It sounds like Tim R can help you, I don't know American networks. But for example, my Android LG Optimus One will do this out of the box, with the press of a few buttons. You obviously secure the resulting network, WPA2, and then your client devices connect to it just like a wifi router. Done.

 

[RonRelyea]

rooting

Sent you a PM.

Hey Tim ... sounds interesting to me too ... could you send me a copy?? email is my sbo name at optonline dot net.

Maine ---- I tether my Verizon phone too but down by my dock, there's a real weak phone signal .... do you know of any way to boost the phone signal ??? (other than stand in the foci of a large parabolic reflector aimed at the cell tower???? ;-) )

 

[jimmcgee]

Tim is correct.. recently there was a release of some software that makes things much easier for the bad guys..
http://www.protechcomputersolutions...anger-of-unsecured-wi-fi-and-public-hotspots/

Frankly it bugs the hell out of me to shell out another $45/month to a wireless carrier to be able to check email and browse the occasional sailing forum. I can find better uses for that $500/yr. Unfortunately I need to be able to check email on weekends :cussing:

I've been using a DDWRT WiFi repeater setup into a wireless router so I can use my laptop untethered anywhere on the boat and pick up our weak marina signal, but I still have days where signal strength is an issue.

I'm going to try something like the bitstorm this season.

As for people getting accesss to my computer, I should be fine as I'm behind the firewall on the wireless router so my IP address isn't visible.

Jim

 

[Tim R.]

A few folks have asked for this so I will post it here:

Setting up a wireless hotspot with your droid:

This requires rooting(unlocking) your phone. I believe this will void your warranty if you are still in the one year period. I have never done this because I already have the Mifi from work but I understand it works pretty well. Procede at your own risk ;-)

See this link:

http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/

 

[Tim R.]

As for people getting accesss to my computer, I should be fine as I'm behind the firewall on the wireless router so my IP address isn't visible.

Jim

It would be nice if this were true but you can still inadvertantly allow malicious traffic behind your firewall but this is true with any internet connection. And they do not need your IP. My point is that you are never really safe, even with a firewall. Especially if you have not configured it properly. Most of them work out of the box but are not truly optimized to protect your network from the bad guys. This is the exact reason why there are many free wifis around. Wireless routers generally work right out of the box and most people do not secure them. It is worth a few hundered dollers to configure a $25 device to ensure you are properly protected from the WWW.

Treat the internet as if everyone can see everything you can do. Do not expect online services to respect your privacy. They make lots of money by selling your personal information(SBO excluded of course)

 

[wonkodsane]

My point is that you are never really safe, even with a firewall.

He's right. The only computer that's safe from a network perspective is one that is completely disconnected. (-:

 

[Tim R.]

He's right. The only computer that's safe from a network perspective is one that is completely disconnected. (-:

...from the end user!

Sorry, could not resist.

 

[gettinthere]

If you want a plug N play WiFi booster with good tech support this is the way to go.

http://www.islandtimepc.com/

The owner is an ex-cruiser. I installed the system this summer and it works great. Easy to do, boosted my signal significantly.

 

[Bill Roosa]

computer security

a properly set up Linux OS is both very secure and low on the list of things that get hacked. Most of us have a spair computer that we are going to press into operation on the boat anyway. Install a free linux OS on it as the MS OS is probably dated anyway.
I've had my linux box up for a couple of years now and have not gotten hacked yet. And I don't run anti-virus software. Did scan the HD from time to time early on but it never found anything.
FWIW

 

[zeehag]

only problem with linux is you have to be able to understand and use code. i have to remove linux from a lappy i have as it will no longer function.

 

[CarlN]

I've been real happy with the Wilson Sleek as an under $100 booster for the Mifi (and Iphone).

http://www.amazon.com/Wilson-Electr...WGPS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1294771745&sr=8-3

The included antenna works well but I attached a masthead antenna (with low loss cable) for even better results. It doesn't have the same amplification as the $400 units but I've seen signal strength increases of over 25db when taking the Mifi in and out of the cradle. Mindless setup (put the mifi in the cradle and connect the cradle to 12v)

Carl

 

[Maine Sail]

Maine ---- I tether my Verizon phone too but down by my dock, there's a real weak phone signal .... do you know of any way to boost the phone signal ??? (other than stand in the foci of a large parabolic reflector aimed at the cell tower???? ;-) )

I use a Wilson Electronics cell phone amplifier and it works fairly well but is not a panacea. That being said I have been able to get on line and make calls in areas where I could not with the Wilson turned off. It's best if you can mount the antenna on the top of the mast for the best signal range.

 

[RonRelyea]

anyone use Cyfre cell phone amps/antenna

I use a Wilson Electronics cell phone amplifier and it works fairly well but is not a panacea. That being said I have been able to get on line and make calls in areas where I could not with the Wilson turned off. It's best if you can mount the antenna on the top of the mast for the best signal range.

Thanks a bunch Maine! In checking the Wilson Electronics, I also see a competitor unit called CYFRE ... anybody have any experience with that??

 

[Tim R.]

I use a Wilson Electronics cell phone amplifier and it works fairly well but is not a panacea. That being said I have been able to get on line and make calls in areas where I could not with the Wilson turned off. It's best if you can mount the antenna on the top of the mast for the best signal range.

Maine, send me the info on that. My mast is down and would be the perfect time to add this.

 

[Cest La Vie]

Re: anyone use Cyfre cell phone amps/antenna

For those looking to upgrade their Verizon service from the "old" 3G service to the new 4G LTE service, there is no option to keep the original unlimited data plan. Most of the carriers with 4G (or semi 4G) services, including AT&T and T-Mobile's HSPA+ technologies are equally moving to use-based pricing. The upside, however, is that the data speeds actuallly coming down the pipe where these new services are deployed is outstanding-better than I get on my home, big-pipe broadband fixed service. The new 4G service is not available everywhere, but your 4G devices (mostly data sticks today) are backwards compatible to 3G services.