Wireless Access

[Rick D]

Having gotten frustrated at the paid wifi marina systems, but being too cheap to buy a Verizon wireless card for $60 or $40 monthly, I purchased a Virgin Wireless network dongle for $100. Virgin has a pay-as-you-go plan for as little as $10 for 10 days or $20 for 30 days. I just fired it up and so far so good. Works for me vs. alternatives for a bunch of reasons. Hope it works at my mooring in Catalina. We'll see soon enough. Just an FYI

 

[Ed Schenck]

Looks like a way to save some money. Worth the test. But the numbers are not really representative, depends upon your use. Ten or twenty dollars only gets you an average of 1/2 hour of web browsing per day. Could be good for e-mail but nothing heavy like spending an hour or two a day on SBO. I had the Verizon card for awhile and agree that it is too pricey.

 

[woodster]

Looks like a way to save some money. Worth the test. But the numbers are not really representative, depends upon your use. Ten or twenty dollars only gets you an average of 1/2 hour of web browsing per day. Could be good for e-mail but nothing heavy like spending an hour or two a day on SBO. I had the Verizon card for awhile and agree that it is too pricey.

does at@t have a plan for this perpose?????

regards

woody

 

[Rick D]

I think it's more than that, Ed....

Looks like a way to save some money. Worth the test. But the numbers are not really representative, depends upon your use. Ten or twenty dollars only gets you an average of 1/2 hour of web browsing per day. Could be good for e-mail but nothing heavy like spending an hour or two a day on SBO. I had the Verizon card for awhile and agree that it is too pricey.

But I'll let you know as I get experience. Also depends on how much downloading you do. My use on the boat isn't huge, so it suits me. I think. Even if not, I just select a larger plan, so the onus is on me. At least I control the expense.

 

[timvg]

I will await the results. Haven't been too happy with the local Marinanet service.

 

[MrBee]

Try "Pdanet" . If you have adata plan on cell you canuse that for you connectoin at no extra cost.

Brian

 

[Chuck Creel]

most of oyur wireless carriers offer data cards runnning 50 to 60 bucks a month. i have had AT&T, sprint, alltel cards and all seem abt the same. now they are not unlimited bandwith so i am seeking other alternatives that a cruising friend told me abt.


http://www.bitstorm.com/products.html

 

[MrBee]

Last season I used Verizons Broad band by tethering my regular cell phone to the Laptop and i used the $60.00 per month plan for 6 months, this was meant for the boating season only.
I have never been willing to pay the extra $30.00 per month that's needed when you have a smart phone just to have net on the phone then pay $60 per month for 5 - 6 months so I have it on the computer on the boat.
I just went into the store to sign up for the Broad band again for this season and we found out about an "App" that is NOT Verizons but can be used to tether a "Smart" phone to the computer and view the internet while only paying the $30.00 for the Data fee. So for about the same money...$60.00 per month for 6 months of Broad band by tethering my NON data cell phone, I bought the Droid and pay $30.00 extra per month for 12 months for the data plan and use an App named Pdanet along with the Pdanet software on the computer and and have internet access all the time, plus have the net on the Phone when not hooked to computer.
The speeds are suppose to be the same as a regular phone line, maybe a bit slower than Broadband but it seems to be working ok for the money.

I think the same company has the software for the Iphone also.

junefabrics.com is were to read up on it. Since most folks have a smart phone already, it's a cheap way to get hooked to a computer.

Brian

 

[hutch5151]

Try "Data Pilot" and subscribe to unlimited data on your cell phone plan.

 

[Berndahle]

I'm biased because I work for Sprint but we do offer 3G cards for free (after rebate) and the service depends on the plan you chose of course. I've had good coverage even in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, although north of Annapolis it gets a little iffy. If you're in need of higher speeds than 3G, we are now offering 4G in some areas (Baltimore for one, LA is coming soon) and a free Overdrive which gives you a wifi hotspot for your whole boat. you can also get the new Evo 4G phone which itself will give you a 4G hotspot for up to 8 devices. Just a few options to think about.

Bernd

 

[Chuckbear]

good sales pitch for Sprint if the coverage was not as bad as it is. North of Annapolis is Baltimore, so your coverage is iffy there? Chuck

 

[Berndahle]

North of the bridge on the other side of the bay it's a little spotty. Baltimore is not an issue. People have talked about Sprints coverage over the years but I would ask you to check into it again. Coverage for every provider changes constantly and you will see that recent independent studies and the media have concluded that it's a very different story now. But everyone needs to come to their own conclusions.

 

[zeehag]

my unlimited data transfer sprint card is 70 dollars per month no hidden fees. good luck--many others charge for data transfer over somany gb..i found out the hard way the sprint 50 dollar is only 2 gig--lol---my bill was 480 dollars..LOL..that was unacceptable so i had them do my unlimited usage..is 70 dollars. every month. no matter what i do online...

some areas i find roaming isnt up to some of thesprint coverage in SOME of the areas...but sometimes it is better than wifi closeby.....i willkeep it until i am out of country--then depends on where i go ......usvi, it works great!!!! works great on navy base north island --go figger---bad on my mooring but better than wifi which isnt there..LOL...

 

[Witzend]

Anybody ever try Cricket, $40 gets ya 5 GB/ month, USB modem is free. Upper Chessy coverage anyone know?
I'm not a data hound, just email and S.O.com, would like to see if I'm about the get slammed by a thunder storm though. Raymarine wants too much for their SR100 and then you have to get a subscription to Sirius on top.

 

[MrBee]

If a person already has a Smart phone with a "Data" plan that they are already paying for....how can you do better than FREE for connecting it to a computer and having regular internet. ??

Brian

 

[Chuckbear]

If a person already has a Smart phone with a "Data" plan that they are already paying for....how can you do better than FREE for connecting it to a computer and having regular internet. ??

Brian

Because not all smartphones can be tethered to a computer. Chuck

 

[Hermit Scott]

We have a company in Texas now called 'Clear'. It's like $30 a month for unlimited data $40 if you want it fast. So far it's the best deal for wireless I have found.
There is a very nice coffee shop a mile from my slip with fast free wireless. I will probably never get wireless on the boat because of that.

http://www.clear.com/coverage not is Ca yet.

 

[Rick D]

So far, so good. Seems to have enough capasity for my needs. Great in Shoreline Marina, as I expected. No steady signal in Catalina's Cat Harbor, but great coverage at Isthmus. So far, I'm happy. With my very portable netbook, life is good!