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WiFi

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/06/2007 : 18:35:48

We plan to go up to the San Juans in August or this fall. I see there is a company called BroadbandXpress that has WiFi services at many marinas in the Puget Sound area. Does anyone have experience with them? Also, do any of you use externally mounted antennas for better WiFi reception? Help appreciated. I'd like to be able to get online while we cruise.

By the way, BroadbandXpress sells an antenna kit for about $400 that claims to get reception for a mile. I have to believe I could get an antenna for less.

We cannot direct the winds but we can adjust our sails.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 07/06/2007 18:36:41

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2007 : 19:37:42

"antenna kit for about $400 that claims to get reception for a mile. I have to believe I could get an antenna for less"

High-gain 16-24dB directional antennas sell for about $40.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2007 : 00:01:35

I checked my connection at Friday harbor and it was good in my slip a lOOOOOOOOng way from the shore. There is free wifi in many resturants in the Friday Harbor area if you want free.

This site is a Jem for accurate weather/tides.

http://bis_portal.apl.washington.edu/

As you can see, it is blowing like stink here.

Tom.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2007 : 10:25:09

Clam, don't I want omnidirectional so the antenna works even if the boat swings? Also, is there some sort of rule of physics that as gain increases the radio noise increases as well? Is there a sweet spot? I notice that the BroadbandXpress package is 10db and a well-rated RV/boat system from another vendor is 8db. Both are omni.

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2007 : 14:17:37

Pat,
Start here on this site for some information.
http://www.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm
If you have wi-fi built in your computer already just sail around the area your interested in and get some practical experience on reception would start out with a PCMCIA card wi-fi if you don't have a built-in or embedded system in your computer.
Note: On omni antennas the higher db gain the narrower the horizontal plain becomes, but I wouldn't worry about that you will probably move the antenna around like like rabbit ears on a TV anyway.
If you are docked some place I'm not sure why you would need a 1 mile
reception.
If you are gunk-holed some place well that is another matter and I've
never tried it.
I have not experienced any problems in US or BC with my built-in wi-fi.
Someday you will understand what FM really means when dealing with radio paths. and etc.
paulj

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2007 : 16:10:27

Randy,
Something else you might consider, is a wireless aircard, which is essentially a modem that you use to connect for data instead of voice. I can get 115k connections with the one I use at work, which, while not overly fast compared to cable or DSL, it works anywhere that you have cell coverage, and if you get a GSM card, will even work internationally.

You can pick up Sierra Wireless 860 cards on Ebay for around $50 each, and probably a similar price for one from Cingular or T-Mobile with a contract. These are GSM cards, but you should be able to do the same thing with CDMA cards from Verizon or Sprint.

I've also had good luck with Enfora GSM0110-01 aircards in a laptop only, I can't recommend them for PDA devices, I've never been able to get one to dial out from our Windows CE devices (which ironically is what we bought them for in the first place, long story, don't get me started).

This way, if you happen to be somewhere where there's a WIFI hotspot, you connect up to WIFI, if not, aircard.

Not sure of the economics, I don't know what our data plan at work costs, but I'm sure there are variations from "unlimited minutes" like we use to smaller increments.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2007 : 17:37:35

"don't I want omnidirectional so the antenna works even if the boat swings"

Well, that depends on if you want 1 mile or not!

In my experience, 6 or 8 db omnidirectionals will give decent LOS (line of sight) reception from an omnidirectional wireless transmitter (i.e. the wireless access spot) for about 1000 ft max. Beyond that, you have to start going with a higher gain directional antenna. Yes, directionals have to be aimed, and if you're swinging on a mooring, that's not going to work too well. Tied to the dock you'd probably be ok.

I have done quite a bit of business with these folks... good people.

http://www.hyperlinktech.com/

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2007 : 20:32:37

I have a $5 data plan with tmobile that allows me to tether my phone to my laptop using the phone as a data modem. It works everywhere but is very slow. 56k or so. BUT...it is only $5 a month and is unlimited.

The hotspots are good enough in the sanjuans to easily connect. Just pay the fee and surf away. I also resort to non-vacatoning friends for weather info I might want when I dont have the puter with me.

Tom.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2007 : 08:03:27

There was a thread like this a few months ago when I reported buying an antenna from www.radiolabs.com It works great! I ran it up a halyard as far as the cable would go for even better results. I bought the RV Marine version and am very pleased... The software driver that runs the USB Antenna scans and reports the strength of the signal, the speed of the connection and whether encryption is on before you spend the time trying to connect to it. The pay per month services I have used on the East Coast are blazing fast from the anchorage in places like Atlantic City, Annapolis, New York, Newport, etc... when using this antenna. Granted the free wifi connections are there,but sometimes they are not as fast as you want them during peak periods. Save big downloads for late at night.

Sten
PO C25 Zephyr
SY Lysistrata - C&C 39

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2007 : 15:49:49

T-moble system works with Windows CE.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2007 : 06:52:43

The T-mobile unit I have will alert presence of wifi spots as I drive around.
Useful, but I turn it off as in my area, it beeps every few hundred yards, they're everywhere!

Paul

Edited by - on

dwoo
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2007 : 21:39:02

You might consider looking in to Verizon Broadband. We are Verizon wireless cell customers and the broadband hookup costs $60 per month in addition to the cellular charges. It will work wherever Verizon is available. I believe it is available to non-Verizon customers for $80 per month.

We just spend 5 weeks in Puget Sound and could access the internet anywhere. We were moored at Sucia for 3 days and could access the net easily. We can also access while driving down the freeway! Its neat.

Hope this helps.

Doug

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2007 : 22:19:20

Thanks all! I think I still lean to the WiFi approach because it is cheaper than the cellular modems even if not as ubiquitous. We have wired broadband at home so I only need the connection while traveling and the WiFi outfit has plans starting at the daily level. Sten, that antenna setup looks very good and is less than 1/2 the cost that BroadbandXpress wanted for their setup. I will probably go with that.

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2007 : 23:52:10

The reason I've been posting a lot lately is I'm Beta testing Clearwire's new Wireless Datacard with a PCMCIA interface.
Using three laptop computers in the Anacortes,Mt Vernon,Bellingham and the islands area.
Everytime I stop someplace I pullout the laptops.
Test runs until September 2007.

If you are in the Seattle Puget sound area and you want to see speed
on a wireless data card checkout ATT 3G network.

If you want regular common speed that you all are experiencing now I would go with ATT EDGE wireless data.
Good all over the states and Canada except Rogers of Canada roaming charges are not cheap.
So when you go to Canada,BC .....Wi-Fi is the way to go and you would be surprised how many places are FREE.
My boat was tossed coming across the border to USA and could not find the CD I made with all the info.
I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed....But I don't want to hear about backing up data and files.
I'm not an expert in this field just a tester
paulj

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2007 : 06:57:40

Paulj, generally the G3 networks are pretty awesome, that was another reason I just signed a contract with ATnT for my office, my T-Mobile service will be up in a year. If you hear about G4, don't be in a hurry, it's not being adopted as much as the G3 and will most likely be eclipsed by one of the other types of newly developing networks. A lot of my work is showing on the road, so I use WiFi whenever possible and have been using a not so fast Air Card - couldn't pull myself to switch over to sprint, but their air card is pretty good. I have done a few live web broadcasts from my truck sat outside open WiFi coffee shops.

Paul

Edited by - on

KD4AO
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2007 : 07:31:57

I am having pretty good luck with SPRINT Siera 595U, USB modem. I found very good speeds in most cities on a recent motorhome trip to Colorado Springs. Roaming is included at no charge, but I only used it 1 time and that was in the NE area of New Mexico. In places where EVDO Rev.A was not yet implemented, the standard speed was better than dialup and quite adequate for email. I canceled my plans to go to the Seattle area mostly because of the price of gas, retired you know. I recently cancelled my DSL and the best thing is I no longer get a ton of Spam everyday and the sites that identify your approximate location by your IP address think I am in Kansas or somewhere up north, fine with me. I have to say that I am not familiar with Sprint coverage in the NW although a few years ago the cell coverage wasn't bad around Seattle but not so good across the mountains in Eastern Washington.

Edited by - on

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