Best UK internet access for the boat ?

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Boo2

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Hi,

My plan is to spend this summer on the boat, including cruising at the far North of GB and I will need internet access for work and weather etc. I don't want to take out a contract because I don't expect to need it after the 6 months is up, but I could consider a contract if that is the cheapest way to go.

Just wondered what other people are doing in respect of internet access and who/what is considered a good contender ?

Thanks,

Boo2
 
Generally I have found Vodafone to have the most coverage for phone based internet. There is 3G but it is pretty rare despite what they might tell you on any of the networks so dongle use will be patchy. The main town on Skye was without any mobile coverage for about two weeks around a month ago... the north, it seems, is not high on any company's commercially important list!

If you go for a BT Openzone method you will find the odd crofter dotted about that will give you hotspot access and some places will have unprotected wireless – most typically B&Bs for their guests, but if your aerial is good enough on the boat you might be able to pick something up. However, internet speeds up here are really very poor so even if you get a strong wifi connection, it is unlikely be that quick and may drop out. It is rare for a Highlander to be able to use BBC iPlayer for example!

If you have a BT account, I think that may well be your most reliable route for wifi connection – and you'll need a good cagoule and brolly to sit outside hotspots waiting for stuff to download!
 
I found that if you call 3 and talk to them ,you can get not bad deal, I am now on 10 gb per month, 15 pounds, pay by DD, it is contract but I can stop it any time I like and have to give them 1 month notice, of course their 24 and 38 months deals are much cheaper, but I do need it only for few months. Talking to them wasn't easy, my Russian English is different from their Indian English, but we understood each other at the end:))))
 
We're on contract so unsure about non-contract but have extensive experience of internet use round the UK. Vodafone is OK where it works, which is not very often outside the South. Three on the other hand absolutely gobsmacked us. We were watching iPlayer 5 miles offshore (anchored off some small island), in a gale, in the Scottish Islands.

I work on the net so our circumnavigation was punctuated by stops with good net. Three literally made it possible.
 
I used Orange and a dongle for our trip around the north and shetland didn't have a problem at all, in daily use up to 5 miles offshore. it only failed me when we reached Bristol, but worked all the way up the east coast over the top and down the west. Now on 3.
 
seastar777 said:
I found that if you call 3 and talk to them ,you can get not bad deal, I am now on 10 gb per month, 15 pounds, pay by DD, it is contract but I can stop it any time I like and have to give them 1 month notice, of course their 24 and 38 months deals are much cheaper, but I do need it only for few months. Talking to them wasn't easy, my Russian English is different from their Indian English, but we understood each other at the end:))))
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Just checked that out, it is a good deal, many thanks
 
Boo2 said:
Hi,

My plan is to spend this summer on the boat, including cruising at the far North of GB and I will need internet access for work and weather etc. I don't want to take out a contract because I don't expect to need it after the 6 months is up, but I could consider a contract if that is the cheapest way to go.

Just wondered what other people are doing in respect of internet access and who/what is considered a good contender ?

Thanks,

Boo2
Click to expand...

Don't expect an significant 3g coverage north of the Central Belt or away from the largest towns.

Tarbert was without Vodaphone for 4days in December, I now use O2 - the coverage is not bad and now better than Vodamoan in many areas.
 
ianj99 said:
Don't expect an significant 3g coverage north of the Central Belt or away from the largest towns.

Tarbert was without Vodaphone for 4days in December, I now use O2 - the coverage is not bad and now better than Vodamoan in many areas.
Click to expand...

Indeed - the theoretical maximum range from a base station is something like 30 miles and the data rate will be falling off significantly before you get anyway near that distance. The phone companies are not going to waste money by putting masts on the cliff top, knowing that half the coverage area will be open water.

I've never actually tried it, but it does occur to me that it might be possible to improve range by using a USB 3G modem and putting it on the end of a very long USB cable suspended high on a pennant halyard - obviously well waterproofed with plenty of self-amalgamating tape!
 
Having we 3 recently were going from Hamble to Lowestoft, not too far away from big towns though, but coverage was much better than in my home town, I was sending real time pictures updates on Facebook, had Skype video chats with family and friends, used Navionics and not once lost connection, do not know about North but for East it's seems very good.
 
maby said:
Indeed - the theoretical maximum range from a base station is something like 30 miles and the data rate will be falling off significantly before you get anyway near that distance. The phone companies are not going to waste money by putting masts on the cliff top, knowing that half the coverage area will be open water.

I've never actually tried it, but it does occur to me that it might be possible to improve range by using a USB 3G modem and putting it on the end of a very long USB cable suspended high on a pennant halyard - obviously well waterproofed with plenty of self-amalgamating tape!
Click to expand...

...connected to a land based aerial - I thought you were going to say..:rolleyes:
 
Agree with all those who say that connectivity - of any kind - will be patchy and slow away from the urban areas. Scottish West Coast is VERY patchy, but expect at best a GSM signal; 3G is unlikely. Many anchorages are completely shielded by surrounding rocks and hills with no signal at all. I'd work on the basis that anything beyond plain text is likely to be unworkable, and that you shouldn't rely on getting even that - you need to be able to go for a day or two without.

Incidentally, it isn't just Scotland; I know of a black-spot on the north Norfolk coast. Unlikely you'd be stopping there (it is an open coast), but remember that mobile phone provisions follows population density pretty closely, and there are some pretty unpopulated areas even in England.
 
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You should look at GiffGaff runs on the O2 network
Get a dongle on ebay and then giffgaff will give you a free SIM.
For data only packages you pay £5 - 500MB, £7.50 1GB and £12.50 3GB
No contract, data lasts a month and can be topped up at any time.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Agree with all those who say that connectivity - of any kind - will be patchy and slow away from the urban areas. Scottish West Coast is VERY patchy, but expect at best a GSM signal; 3G is unlikely. Many anchorages are completely shielded by surrounding rocks and hills with no signal at all. I'd work on the basis that anything beyond plain text is likely to be unworkable, and that you shouldn't rely on getting even that - you need to be able to go for a day or two without.
Click to expand...

I am currently in discussion (intermitantly) with Three about my lack of coverage. I am in a small backwater at the moment called Edinburgh and the coverage is abysmal. I have spoken with Three and their solution is to provide a booster using my Broadband connection. Unfortunately I don't have Broadband. Now I accept that the various providers don't feel it economically viable to cover less populated areas but the Capital of Scotland???
 
jordanbasset said:
I use Three when travelling around, buy the top ups on ebay, example here
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Three-3-P..._Home_Phones_Sim_Cards_CV&hash=item35bafa9b8f

You get 3GB of data, valid for 90 days and cost£14, have had good coverage
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JB

That looks like what I need for my laptop so I can use it when I'm away from home. But please excuse my woeful ignorance and tell me how the SIM card actually connects to a laptop. Will there be a slot to plug it into or do I have to buy something else before I can use it? :confused:

Percy
 
dslittle said:
I am currently in discussion (intermitantly) with Three about my lack of coverage. I am in a small backwater at the moment called Edinburgh and the coverage is abysmal. I have spoken with Three and their solution is to provide a booster using my Broadband connection. Unfortunately I don't have Broadband. Now I accept that the various providers don't feel it economically viable to cover less populated areas but the Capital of Scotland???
Click to expand...

You are wasting your time. I'm sure the big 4 have carved the less populated and 'difficult' areas up between themselves so only a couple of them have to provide a reasonable service. In much of Argyll, its Vodaphone and O2 and often one or the other and no doubt in other areas, its the same. Its win win for them - reduces their costs and minimises competition.

I blame Ofcom and the DTI - both are not fit for purpose and they are responsible for a similar fiasco with the Freeview licences. They should have required all the transmitters including the relays to broadcast all programs, but didn't. So in less populated and 'difficult' areas served by relays, you are stuck with Freeview Lite (or Skyopoly).
 
parsifal said:
JB

That looks like what I need for my laptop so I can use it when I'm away from home. But please excuse my woeful ignorance and tell me how the SIM card actually connects to a laptop. Will there be a slot to plug it into or do I have to buy something else before I can use it? :confused:

Percy
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You have to buy a dongle from provider of your choice, it looks like memory stick, you connect it to your laptop via USB port, as was stated before you can buy it on eBay , http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1311&_nkw=pay+as+you+go+dongle&_sacat=0&_from=R40
 
parsifal said:
JB

That looks like what I need for my laptop so I can use it when I'm away from home. But please excuse my woeful ignorance and tell me how the SIM card actually connects to a laptop. Will there be a slot to plug it into or do I have to buy something else before I can use it? :confused:

Percy
Click to expand...

seastar777 said:
You have to buy a dongle from provider of your choice, it looks like memory stick, you connect it to your laptop via USB port, as was stated before you can buy it on eBay , http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1311&_nkw=pay+as+you+go+dongle&_sacat=0&_from=R40
Click to expand...


Yes, you can either buy a Three specific one or a generic one that is unlocked. The latter can be used for most sim cards, not just the three net work. Should get one for not much more than £10 on ebay if you are patient.
 
We use GiffGaff, connect to the laptop via your mobile phone. £12 a month for unlimited data,250 mins and free giffgaff to giffgaff calls.You set the phone up as a hotspot and can connect a number of laptops-saves a lot of rows in a 2 laptop boat... Have found coverage amazingly good in the south west. Our son, who travels the length and breath of uk says he has never had a problem with reception!
Got all the kids on it too so free calls for a lot of the time.
 
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