What are you using for the internet? We need a reliable source because still working but planning to cruise extensively from New England to the Bahamas.
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flyinghen
I have been researching this myself. There is wifi range extending hardware available that will reach out and grab wifi signals at long distances, and will even combine multiple wifi connections. Apparently they work very well, but they do not come cheap! I can't bring myself to spend $1000 to get wifi.
You can also get similar signal boosting hardware for your cell connection. It is all pretty pricy from what I have seen.
I am interested if anyone has come up with viable low budget solutions.
Sent from my SM-G981W using Tapatalk
You can also get similar signal boosting hardware for your cell connection. It is all pretty pricy from what I have seen.
I am interested if anyone has come up with viable low budget solutions.
Sent from my SM-G981W using Tapatalk
Depends on what you need and how much one is willing to spend. Do you need email, text, voice, video, full web search, or just specialty downloads (like weather).
Full household speed satellite internet is extremely expensive. Superyachts can spend $10-$20k per month, believe it or not.
For unlimited texting, it costs us $75/mo for global coverage, via our InReach. This device also acts as a tracker, for shoreside floatplan monitoring, via a website.
If you just want Predict Wind downloads, consider an Iridium Go satellite receiver. Unlimited weather data is about $140/mo. These devices can also be used to make phone calls for additional fees.
If you want to browse the internet, the best is to wait until anchored and find free wifi ashore. It's getting harder and harder to find people giving it away and the more remote you get, the worse the bandwidth and performance. I've been in countless beach bars, where you can connect, but it's so slow it doesn't really work. You have to be very careful of absorbing malware like this too.
The next alternative is using one's smart phone, as a hotspot, if you have a data subscription to support it. When traveling, you can buy pre-paid sim cards, for local access, with a given amount of data. 5G really promises to revolutionize this.
Look up s/vDelos and see what satellite internet system they are using. I believe it's one of the newer vendors that are changing the landscape on how you pay for satellite internet service. It used to be that you paid for the amount of data you transmitted. Video takes a ton of data. Text takes very little. Pics and audio in between. It was cost prohibitive, because its hard to steer around the high data items. The trend now is to pay for the speed of your connection, with no limit on the actual amount of data. If you take the less expensive plan, it just may be impractical to download video or pics, but you still can, if the server doesn't time out.
Last thought is email. With a SSB radio and Pactor modem you and send and receive email for free world wide.
Full household speed satellite internet is extremely expensive. Superyachts can spend $10-$20k per month, believe it or not.
For unlimited texting, it costs us $75/mo for global coverage, via our InReach. This device also acts as a tracker, for shoreside floatplan monitoring, via a website.
If you just want Predict Wind downloads, consider an Iridium Go satellite receiver. Unlimited weather data is about $140/mo. These devices can also be used to make phone calls for additional fees.
If you want to browse the internet, the best is to wait until anchored and find free wifi ashore. It's getting harder and harder to find people giving it away and the more remote you get, the worse the bandwidth and performance. I've been in countless beach bars, where you can connect, but it's so slow it doesn't really work. You have to be very careful of absorbing malware like this too.
The next alternative is using one's smart phone, as a hotspot, if you have a data subscription to support it. When traveling, you can buy pre-paid sim cards, for local access, with a given amount of data. 5G really promises to revolutionize this.
Look up s/vDelos and see what satellite internet system they are using. I believe it's one of the newer vendors that are changing the landscape on how you pay for satellite internet service. It used to be that you paid for the amount of data you transmitted. Video takes a ton of data. Text takes very little. Pics and audio in between. It was cost prohibitive, because its hard to steer around the high data items. The trend now is to pay for the speed of your connection, with no limit on the actual amount of data. If you take the less expensive plan, it just may be impractical to download video or pics, but you still can, if the server doesn't time out.
Last thought is email. With a SSB radio and Pactor modem you and send and receive email for free world wide.
Good summary Minni.... my experience in LIS to Southern NE is that our unlimited T mobile plan gives is a mobile hotspot which allows me to use my NUC pc to access the WWW. We've watched YouTubes... If we wanted to see a full length movie we would bring a DVD and use the NUC. My plan is unlimited everything for 2 phones for $70 all taxes etc. included. We mostly access a few websites (weather, news, FB... etc.), email and YouTube for entertainment. I have done CAD and send the files via email underway in LIS. This seems more than reasonable and has added $0 for internet.
If you need the WWW for business... pay for it.
If you need the WWW for business... pay for it.
Re: cell service
What you are really seeking is a “bi-directonal amplifier.”
Wilson sells them. We use the Weboost.
There are some legal restrictions which restrict what you can use in a “mobile” environment. That is really geared for automotive use and the interior antenna signal requires you to be within a couple of feet of the antenna. And they use an omni external antenna.
The apartment units give plenty of interior coverage but guy give you a directional antenna.
All this is so that you don't get feed back between the two antennas. You then get the RF gersion of the squeally mic, will greatly annoy anyone around you trying to use a cell phone.
So what you do is buy an apartment unit and a separate external car antenna, you probably will also need an adapter between the two coax sizes.
You hoist the external antenna up the mast and move the internal antenna around so that the lights on the amp are not red.
Most external antennas want a piece of steel plate, very thin is OK, to work right. See if you can find one that is jot magnetic mount. Being steel I just plunk the thing on the coach rood. If rhat dosent work we hoist it and it works adequately well.
Ebay used for about $300.
What you are really seeking is a “bi-directonal amplifier.”
Wilson sells them. We use the Weboost.
There are some legal restrictions which restrict what you can use in a “mobile” environment. That is really geared for automotive use and the interior antenna signal requires you to be within a couple of feet of the antenna. And they use an omni external antenna.
The apartment units give plenty of interior coverage but guy give you a directional antenna.
All this is so that you don't get feed back between the two antennas. You then get the RF gersion of the squeally mic, will greatly annoy anyone around you trying to use a cell phone.
So what you do is buy an apartment unit and a separate external car antenna, you probably will also need an adapter between the two coax sizes.
You hoist the external antenna up the mast and move the internal antenna around so that the lights on the amp are not red.
Most external antennas want a piece of steel plate, very thin is OK, to work right. See if you can find one that is jot magnetic mount. Being steel I just plunk the thing on the coach rood. If rhat dosent work we hoist it and it works adequately well.
Ebay used for about $300.
I strongly recommend checking out the Seabits website, starting with the articles linked below. The author works from aboard and therefore needs extremely reliable internet. He has tested lots of gear and setups over the years and has some pretty solid recommendations for various needs and budgets.
Rendezvous internet setup
Best boat Internet systems
Rendezvous internet setup
Best boat Internet systems
I have found the only reasonable internet connection is throwing large amounts of money.
T-Mobile 'unlimited' "world wide' gets the slowest speeds of their partner telcos system. Its fine if you have nothing else but the data speeds are not good enough.
The best I have found is the SIM card from each new country / Island (etc) that I go to. I havent been to the Bahamas for a few years, but I remember it was an expensive WIFI system. Not very good. I hope the islands now have a better system.
Further, I don't think WIFI extenders, etc to have a great reputation from feedback from others.
I use local SIM cards and pay for the privilege (and the annoyance of having to get new ones often)
Mark
T-Mobile 'unlimited' "world wide' gets the slowest speeds of their partner telcos system. Its fine if you have nothing else but the data speeds are not good enough.
The best I have found is the SIM card from each new country / Island (etc) that I go to. I havent been to the Bahamas for a few years, but I remember it was an expensive WIFI system. Not very good. I hope the islands now have a better system.
Further, I don't think WIFI extenders, etc to have a great reputation from feedback from others.
I use local SIM cards and pay for the privilege (and the annoyance of having to get new ones often)
Mark
Ohhhhh man, You got me started........I currently specialize in this very subject.
Coastal intermittent connection only-
(1) If you are staying within about 8 miles of land and a connected modern city then any type of host country cell repeater works. Cell phone hotspot I've always had good luck with AT&T they so far have been everywhere I have been and had data available $10 a day depending on your plan. If this is preferred method then you can boost the signal you get by using something like the PLUM Kit its like a cell phone signal to WiFi converter booster in a pelican case. However they only work as good as the host cell phone tower its feeding from but it will generate a WiFi signal you can connect to locally on your devices. Again you must be close enough to a city for it to work.
Out of the question for a sailboat-
(2) Internet truly at sea in open ocean is dependent on the coverage of service, imagine a flashlight shining on specific areas of the planet from a satellite. These are different beams, sat coverage is not all global. These types of birds are geo stationary placed about every 5degress around the equator. Motorized tracking antennas are required to lock on to these and the bigger the better used on big ships and yachts. Which are BIG money and at best not even close to your home internet speeds we are talking. Think 1998 that old dial up modem on something running L band and a little better around 1Mb to 6 Mb if you are rich and have money pouring into the water running on mini m/ KVH - Ku /Ka band stuff. That's what you get speed wise. The ping at best will usually never be better than 500ms latency on a perfect day. (teleport and the boat) Not much room for this on a sailboat anyways. PLUS you have to think about cutouts -the sails being in the way line of sight of the bird, weather, sea-state and even atmospherics at the home based teleport. Oh yeah.. then how are you planning to power this monstrosity? OUT OF THE QUESTION for a sailboat.
What I would do- crossing an ocean or being far from land most of the time
(3) Near earth orbiting satellites like the Iridium constellation is a good idea low latency but its also expensive data wise for the regular cruiser. BUT the plus is that you don't need a fancy tracking antenna. All you need is clear open sky (top of the mast) and a small antenna much like a GPS and the associated network gear. Much less power usage. Global coverage too. (Orbiting satellites) but the speeeds.......... slow compared to what you are used to. iridium go with a service plan and download special iridium apps to surf the web and get email. At sea in the ocean, any ocean. Its not perfect though by any means.
Future what I would do-crossing an ocean or being far from land most of the time
(4) Just wait a while for Starlink to come online. This might work on a sailboat much better once they figure out the antenna requirements for a moving platform. This would be like the speeds you are used to at home. ............ still waiting
Coastal intermittent connection only-
(1) If you are staying within about 8 miles of land and a connected modern city then any type of host country cell repeater works. Cell phone hotspot I've always had good luck with AT&T they so far have been everywhere I have been and had data available $10 a day depending on your plan. If this is preferred method then you can boost the signal you get by using something like the PLUM Kit its like a cell phone signal to WiFi converter booster in a pelican case. However they only work as good as the host cell phone tower its feeding from but it will generate a WiFi signal you can connect to locally on your devices. Again you must be close enough to a city for it to work.
Out of the question for a sailboat-
(2) Internet truly at sea in open ocean is dependent on the coverage of service, imagine a flashlight shining on specific areas of the planet from a satellite. These are different beams, sat coverage is not all global. These types of birds are geo stationary placed about every 5degress around the equator. Motorized tracking antennas are required to lock on to these and the bigger the better used on big ships and yachts. Which are BIG money and at best not even close to your home internet speeds we are talking. Think 1998 that old dial up modem on something running L band and a little better around 1Mb to 6 Mb if you are rich and have money pouring into the water running on mini m/ KVH - Ku /Ka band stuff. That's what you get speed wise. The ping at best will usually never be better than 500ms latency on a perfect day. (teleport and the boat) Not much room for this on a sailboat anyways. PLUS you have to think about cutouts -the sails being in the way line of sight of the bird, weather, sea-state and even atmospherics at the home based teleport. Oh yeah.. then how are you planning to power this monstrosity? OUT OF THE QUESTION for a sailboat.
What I would do- crossing an ocean or being far from land most of the time
(3) Near earth orbiting satellites like the Iridium constellation is a good idea low latency but its also expensive data wise for the regular cruiser. BUT the plus is that you don't need a fancy tracking antenna. All you need is clear open sky (top of the mast) and a small antenna much like a GPS and the associated network gear. Much less power usage. Global coverage too. (Orbiting satellites) but the speeeds.......... slow compared to what you are used to. iridium go with a service plan and download special iridium apps to surf the web and get email. At sea in the ocean, any ocean. Its not perfect though by any means.
Future what I would do-crossing an ocean or being far from land most of the time
(4) Just wait a while for Starlink to come online. This might work on a sailboat much better once they figure out the antenna requirements for a moving platform. This would be like the speeds you are used to at home. ............ still waiting
What are the systems they use on the boats of the Vendee Globe that have those dome antennas mounted on the stern rail? They have internet and weather, and they do live video interviews. I realize they have corporate sponsors and big budgets. What do they use?
I looked it up. Delos uses the Viasat Sailor system. Their smallest dome and smallest plan is still $1,800/month, suitable for up to 5 crewmembers and with unlimited data.
maritime.viasat.com
Satellite Internet for Leisure Yachts
Learn more about Viasat's satellite internet for leisure yachts. Viasat is bringing the home internet experience to sea.
maritime.viasat.com
Ka band is faster, yes, isn't world wide, more like select coastal east coast USA, Caribbean, a slot across the Atlantic. Highly dependent on good weather because of the higher frequency it runs on plus you still have the high latency. The blue footprint isn't Ka as far as I know that's curiously exactly the same as the FleetBroadband footprint. Then you still need an expensive tracking antenna and the service plan. And... be heading north if you are north of the equator or headed south if you are south of the equator. ( your sails in the way if the antenna is mounted on the stern ) It needs direct line of sight with the satellite at all times. It will take a few minutes usually to acquire the signal lock on, receive, transmit, then burst into the network. I've seen Ku not connect if on the edge of the footprint and also immediately drop heading into squalls. Ka I hear is worse although faster if everything is lined up. New England to the Bahamas.... this would be a good choice if you have buckets of cash to burn and like to play with satellites. I wouldn't though.
Satbeams - World Of Satellites at your fingertips
In case you feel like diving in a very deep rabbit hole. Behold. Ye' ol footprints of geostationary/ synchronous satbirds. If you happen to be near the equator on a hot dark clear night look up in the sky toward the equator and you will see in the sky flashing before your eyes every 5 degrees along the equators line a few of these satellites hovering. You will know its them casue they flash brightly and look like they change colors rapidly. AWESOME
In case you feel like diving in a very deep rabbit hole. Behold. Ye' ol footprints of geostationary/ synchronous satbirds. If you happen to be near the equator on a hot dark clear night look up in the sky toward the equator and you will see in the sky flashing before your eyes every 5 degrees along the equators line a few of these satellites hovering. You will know its them casue they flash brightly and look like they change colors rapidly. AWESOME
@J_S_W Thanks, I didn't realize viasat was so geographically limited. What is currently the best offshore world wide satellite internet systems for recreational boating? IridiumGo? Let's assume one's needs are weather, voice, email and general web browsing (such as this forum, or researching/ordering parts), but not necessarily video content.
While these cost a small fortune, to put the cost in context, it would be far more expensive for us to fully retire early, as opposed to pay for one of these expensive systems and work part time remotely.
While these cost a small fortune, to put the cost in context, it would be far more expensive for us to fully retire early, as opposed to pay for one of these expensive systems and work part time remotely.
To Elon Musk on twitter:
(3) Trevor Chapman on Twitter: "@elonmusk Could we connect to starlink from our sailboat in the middle of the Pacific while we circumnavigate? Five kids need int connection for school. https://t.co/raj4jLIede" / Twitter
Could we connect to starlink from our sailboat in the middle of the Pacific while we circumnavigate? Five kids need int connection for school.
Elon Musk
Nov 3, 2020
@elonmusk
Replying to
@jtrevorchapman
Yeah, that will be relatively easy, as so few users out in the ocean
Sorry aboutt he formatics above... crazy
Read this
SpaceX Starlink: Will it work at sea? Elon Musk weighs in (inverse.com)
Mark
(3) Trevor Chapman on Twitter: "@elonmusk Could we connect to starlink from our sailboat in the middle of the Pacific while we circumnavigate? Five kids need int connection for school. https://t.co/raj4jLIede" / Twitter
Could we connect to starlink from our sailboat in the middle of the Pacific while we circumnavigate? Five kids need int connection for school.
Elon Musk
Nov 3, 2020
@elonmusk
Replying to
@jtrevorchapman
Yeah, that will be relatively easy, as so few users out in the ocean
Sorry aboutt he formatics above... crazy
Read this
SpaceX Starlink: Will it work at sea? Elon Musk weighs in (inverse.com)Mark
I recently read an article that 5G is too close to GPS signals and there are fears it will cause issues. I think it was BoatUS and others pleading with FCC to either stop it or look into the issue before it gets out of control. I'll look to see where I read that... I try to cite my sources!
Here in the leewards Digi cell and flow are the recharge providers. I have a t-mobile plan that allows unlimited 2 g, not horrible afloat and I can use what's app for calls then squat on WiFi at the market or cafe. Starlink will be the game changer, but not With current Hardware. fair winds, Christine aboard Mahalo.
I just participated in the the World Cruising Club's Sat Comm webinar. It was very helpful. The moderator supported what I thought I understood about Starlink. Most satellites they've launched to date can not communicate with any other. Therefore, mid-ocean connectivity back to land internet stations isn't yet possible. Maybe several years out, but all the sats would need to be replaced then. This inter-satellite comm is being tested right now.
I suspect it will come, but it's a way off. Years.
Is anyone familiar with RedBox? Sounds like a great tool to manage satellite data usage.
I suspect it will come, but it's a way off. Years.
Is anyone familiar with RedBox? Sounds like a great tool to manage satellite data usage.
Here's an informative summary of motion compatibility (the lack thereof), data caps, lack of inter-satellite linking (oceanic use) and power consumption (> 100 watts) in the current beta version. For myself, I'd just mount the dish on my dock piling and not expect the service to work underway -- or the dish to survive salt spray exposure.
They are not sure that 5G doesn't threaten GPS, I forgot to post the info.
Pentagon official: FCC decision on 5G threatens GPS, national security
Could 5G cause GPS problems?
FCC approves 5G network despite military saying it will harm GPS [Updated]
Pentagon official: FCC decision on 5G threatens GPS, national security
Could 5G cause GPS problems?
FCC approves 5G network despite military saying it will harm GPS [Updated]
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