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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Wireless on the water

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/24/2005 : 14:04:06

I am using our new wireless network here at our club. We are using a new broadband provider called wildblue.com they put a satellite up a couple of months ago and provide satellite broadband for cable modem prices. Now maybe I can post more often!

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2984 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2005 : 15:10:25

Cool

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2005 : 16:06:41

traditional 56k modems were always a pain on the hook

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2005 : 19:32:19

Ain't modern technology great!

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 00:48:03

<font size="4">Did you say satellite broadband for cable modem pricing? Sign me up and I'll dump 3 ISP's and a cell modem and surf all over the world while saving money? Can this be true????????</font id="size4">

After checking them out that is indeed too good to be true.....it's for a fixed location, with proper installation. I'm still considering it as I am stuck with a 28K dial up....

Still waiting for that mobile setup....

Edited by - Oscar on 07/25/2005 01:00:02

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2005 : 05:43:40

"On the water"... (in the slips). Thought that would reel you in Oscar.
Our installation was $300. that included the satellite dish, modem and everything. We opted for the 1.5 gig bandwidth for $79/mo but the standard 512 was $49/mo. Our local REI CO-OP is the agent as this is targeted to rural installations.
If you can buy a telescope that tracks, why not a mounted dish that tracks?

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2005 : 19:09:51

I'm at Page Point marina in Ladysmith BC and the wireless 802 is free......boy what a deal....just give them your computer number and away you go.
Just catching up on C250 news.
paulj C250 WK #719

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2005 : 20:48:35

Yes, a tracking dish exists for TV (on RV's).....so you give it an azimuth and declination...(I think that's right for the space equivalent of lat/long) and it tracks the appropriate satellite...

Big question is, is a dish a dish? Are there standards? How many? Will the wildblue modem hook up to the tracking dish?

If you ask wildblue they probably won't answer the question....but trial and error would be fun....anyone have a tracking dish?

I feel we are getting closer to the solution.....

I know of one sailor who has the tracking dish with the TV and the broadband....but it's a lot more than 49/month. He works on board (Irwin 60-something) and has the biz pay for it. Was in chatroom on Renegades board while 160 miles off shore...high speed...made me sick...!!

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2005 : 08:01:30

I profess ignorance here and maybe when my boat is in Casco Bay I will have a different opinion, but why would a recreational sailor like myself want or need net access on my boat?

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2005 : 10:35:51

Hi Swimmer. Weather (Radar in particular). Boards/chat. E-mail. Notices to Mariners. User Manuals for electronics. Aerial photography of Islands. In other words, information.

Edited by - Oscar on 07/30/2005 10:37:45

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2005 : 12:35:43

Here I sit on my boat, AC on, iPod playing Jack Johnson, beer in the refrigerator, peanut butter and crackers in the little igloo; what is out of context here about being connected to the internet?

This has been my project and there are only two questions I am asked; "when will the repeaters be installed so I can get it on my boat", and "I come out here to get away from all that, why would I want that here?"(Often "why are my dues being spent this way?")
The two perspectives have very little common ground, those of us who have attained the level of integration of the information technologies that expects these things cannot explain to the "others" that having technology available is not a burden, it is an integral part of living well today. And if you have not arrived at said level of integration then of course you at best don't care and possibly are vehemently against it; your prerogative. Wireless broadband connectivity is a doorway that some of us choose to go through because of the things on the other side.
World Wide Web
eCommerce
eBanking
Instant Messaging
email
Software Updates
file transfer (want some sailing pictures?)
Telephony
Others I'm too much of a Luddite to know. These are things I do, why would I not want to be able to do them?

So I have three bars and I'm happy. Yesterday I installed my new online West Marine auction Humminbird Matrix 10 with integral GPS... hmmm connectivity.

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2005 : 18:04:55

If you're happy Frank, then that is great! I never meant to imply any criticism in my question. I was simply wondering what I would use the connection for on my boat. I can definately see some of the things you and Oscar pointed out being useful to me when my boat is in Casco Bay and I'm staying on it for 2 to 4 days. Currently, those things aren't anything I need or want to do on the boat. Heck, I'm removing the (poorly installed) shore power plug, not that it was used by me anyway. <irony on> Should the connector housing have had sealant around it so as to keep water from coming into the lazerette? <irony off>

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2005 : 20:47:23

I am sorry if that came across defensive. I did not mean it that way. As I said these are questions I am getting at my club.

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