Wifi Boosters

[DHaranSailor]

I realize that your post is tongue-in-cheek, but it does hit on an interesting dilemma. Many of us go sailing to escape all this stuff. But for those who are parents of kids who might be easily bored and not so excited by sailing, we need to try to keep them wanting to come along, so some technology is helpful. Deciding where to draw the line is an interesting challenge.

First disclaimer - I am a new parent so I don't have the full life experience that some of you do.

Second opinion - I agree to keeping things interesting for them. I would argue that a lot of the conditioning starts with what they do on their shore leave time. I don't plan on letting my son become overly attached to his electronics. Having them and using them is 100% fine, but I want him to learn there are limits and times when they should be set aside. He will be required to have activities that are electronic free (sports, martial arts, etc) as well as leisure time that must be electronic free (model building, reading a physical book, etc).

So I would carry the same methodology to the boat.

My $0.02.

 

[Monterey385]

Yeah, tell them the technology is not available, and nip this stuff in the bud. You're the captain, not the Director of IT. And it's a boat, that's the ocean, and we're making our own movies.....something like that. You have to get this crew whipped into shape Monterey!

Gunni:
LMAO ... You obviously have not met my Admiral nor my crew ...

Everyone:
Kidding aside, as usual the feedback is awesome ... Thank you to all ...

 

[Monterey385]

First disclaimer - I am a new parent so I don't have the full life experience that some of you do.

Second opinion - I agree to keeping things interesting for them. I would argue that a lot of the conditioning starts with what they do on their shore leave time. I don't plan on letting my son become overly attached to his electronics. Having them and using them is 100% fine, but I want him to learn there are limits and times when they should be set aside. He will be required to have activities that are electronic free (sports, martial arts, etc) as well as leisure time that must be electronic free (model building, reading a physical book, etc).

So I would carry the same methodology to the boat.

My $0.02.

Ahh ... DHaran ... those were the days and I remember them fondly as if they were yesterday ... when my now 16 yo twins were newborns in the cabin ... then they learned to walk and in the famous line from Jaws we realized we needed a "bigger boat" ... the car seats bungied in the cockpit under the bimini ... teaching them to sail ...

At some point ... and I don't know when this happened ... they grew up ... now its teaching them to drive ... dealing with girlfriends and boyfriends ... college visits ... midterms ... finals ... you have all of this to look forward to ... and its great ...

I think the biggest realization that I have right now is that everything ... and I mean everything my kids and wife need to do is pushed to them electronically ... and mostly not by parents ... much of it is pushed to them electronically by schools and teachers.

Our current vessel has three TVs and we have complementary cable television at our dock ... they haven't turned a TV on all summer ... they are on the marina's complementary WiFi when they want to watch something ... I have found it positively amazing to witness.

Enjoy the ride ... its great ... electronics or no electronics.

 

[Gunni]

Your wife and kids "need" high bandwidth streaming service? I need a Porsche 911 Carrara. Red. It will get me to work quicker.

It used to be that complimentary marina wi-fi was just fine for the exchange of every slip holder's emails. Then folks decided to bring their landlubber lifestyle down to the boat and the wireless network slowed to a crawl with streaming and gaming loads. Tragedy of the Commons. Easily, the biggest complaint to my marina owner. He says he's running a marina, not a chat room. I agree, and am not interested in subsidizing a network buildout and bandwidth purchase. As noted, the golden goose is dead, the marina's are either throttling wi-fi, or locking the network and charging a fee. We gave up and bought our own 4G wireless service - Mom and Dad only. Very easy, reliable, and ours.

The kids are on their own. Abandoned to the terrible fate of strictly text messaging! It's all for the best, if I had to watch that screen stare on the boat they'd all end up in military school. Do you think they have Wi-Fi at the orphanage?

 

[alexco38]

Why WiFi

As someone mentioned above, free WiFi is getting less and less. Your Wifi booster may be worthless in the near future. Local stores like MacDonalds are likely aiming their antenna towards the premise instead of facing outside.

Another issue is would you use anything that's not protected? You don't want any body looking into your devices.

There are many cell plan that has unlimited data. I use Wind Mobile (same as T-Mobile) with unlimited data for $35 a month. I've got a Uniden cell booster with a Yagi antenna and use the smart phone as hot spot. Gets at least 2-3 miles off shore ok with Netflix.

http://www.amazon.ca/s/?ie=UTF8&key...vptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_20utxnmraa_e

 

[Gunni]

I realize that your post is tongue-in-cheek, but it does hit on an interesting dilemma. Many of us go sailing to escape all this stuff. But for those who are parents of kids who might be easily bored and not so excited by sailing, we need to try to keep them wanting to come along, so some technology is helpful. Deciding where to draw the line is an interesting challenge.

In the entire history of humankind, when did ANY self-respecting teenager WANT to spend their leisure time with Ma and Pa? On the other hand, how many of their little pals can pilot a 10 ton ocean-going vessel? Make them sail the boat, run the galley, plan the itinerary, navigate. Let them pick the crew and bring THEIR friends. Keep pushing them outside their comfort zone and help them find confidence. Get it right and they'll be asking you to go sailing. Get it wrong and they have a million ways to stink up the scene.

 

[Take5ive]

I never said teenagers.

 

[seafox]

Ditto! Using Bitstorm for 3 years. It' excellent. Great support if you need it. Recommend " metal jacket".

http://www.bitstorm.com/ is the booster that we use on our boat. Kind of pricey, but we have had great luck in getting a wifi signal in a mooring field and at the dock. If you choose the wireless option, you will have access everyplace on the boat. We chose the smaller power and it is fine. Once it is installed properly you will connect to it, then use your browser to go in and find the wifi you want; you can then add the passcode and it will remember it.

 

[CarlN]

As many have mentioned, virtually no marina wifi - free or not - will support streaming video.

Since the OP's question was primarily for his marina, he should do this test:

Locate the marina wifi antenna. Take the Ipad or laptop over to it so that you have the clearest possible signal. Now test the speed including streaming a movie (pick a busy time like afternoon or evening). If it's OK, then a booster will help you get the same performance back at the boat. If it's not OK standing right next to the antenna then a booster isn't going to make any difference.

 

[Monterey385]

I should have initially mentioned that last season we were halfway out the dock and were fine. This year we moved out to the end of the dock and the signal is weak. The marina is installing boosters ...

Thx for all the input