Best UK internet access for the boat ?

[Richard10002]

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.

The Giffgaff £12 per month contract doesn't allow tethering. Not sure what they do if they find out?

The £10 per month allows tethering, but you only get 1 Gb per month.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The Giffgaff £12 per month contract doesn't allow tethering. Not sure what they do if they find out?

The £10 per month allows tethering, but you only get 1 Gb per month.

It is technically possible for tethering to be detected and blocked (I've seen a HTTP reponse code 200 Blocked, which means a) that there was a correct response from the web-server being contacted and b) that it was blockedby the ISP). Most mobile phone connections go through proxy servers at the phone service provider, which often process web-sites to be more suitable for phones. So even if tethering is allowed, you may not get what you expect.

 

[Richard10002]

It is technically possible for tethering to be detected and blocked (I've seen a HTTP reponse code 200 Blocked, which means a) that there was a correct response from the web-server being contacted and b) that it was blockedby the ISP). Most mobile phone connections go through proxy servers at the phone service provider, which often process web-sites to be more suitable for phones. So even if tethering is allowed, you may not get what you expect.

In 2006 I used to tether with T-Mobile then, in 2008, up popped a thing on the laptop telling me I couldn't connect unless I paid up some extra money.

Last year I dabbled with Giff Gaff but didn't need to tether as I have a 3 Mifi but, when they legitimised tethering on the £10 goodybag, I thought I'd have a go - Giffgaff can't tether on an iPhone, and they blame Apple.

Now I'm on the 3 One Plan with a new Samsung Galaxy S3 which allows unlimited data, tethering included. I log on with iPhone, iPad, and laptop, and notice no difference to when using wifi at home or at work. Sometimes get a mobile site on the iPhone or iPad, but you can usually ask for the full site.

 

[Richard10002]

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

I don't think there is a best option for the whole UK on a boat.... Merely best options for a particular location, or area.

I've found 3 pretty good, using a Mifi all the way up the Trent and Mersey Canal from Burton on Trent to Preston Brook, then The Bridgewater to Manchester. In fact 3 seems to be the most favoured amongst canal users, with the odd one suggesting it's not so good in their location.

T-Mobile was good in Glasson Dock in 2006 and 2010, and I think up the Irish Sea within a few miles of the coast..... But No T-Mobile on the Scilly Isles.

In Heckington, near Sleaford, only Vodafone seems to work, even for phone calls - not a concern to you as there is no sea!

I ramble on to suggest that one sim may not fit all..... So a series of PAYG options may be best.

You can have Giffgaff on a monthly deal, and you can get a 3 sim with 3Gb or 12Gb of data per loaded, so these are possibly sensible options to have in your locker. Giffgaff piggybacks on the O2 network, which I found a bit flaky in my part of Manchester.

 

[uxb]

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.

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

If 'far north of GB' is Scotland then once you are away from the central belt then you can forget about internet access unless you are in a pub/hotel with wifi. As has been said already you will struggle to get a phone signal never mind 3G which as far as I know does not exist west of Dumbarton.

Mind you, having to go ashore to a pub to 'check my emails' is fair and reasonable excuse to have a beer or three of an evening.

 

[Blueboatman]

Tmobile/EE inexpensive contract that allows data on dongle to full desktop on board and smartphone. Between the two I have never been without a useable signal and since the two devices cloudconnect, work is fine.
Just ditch the bloody landline, £ sorted

 

[CaptainBob]

If 'far north of GB' is Scotland then once you are away from the central belt then you can forget about internet access unless you are in a pub/hotel with wifi. As has been said already you will struggle to get a phone signal never mind 3G which as far as I know does not exist west of Dumbarton.

Mind you, having to go ashore to a pub to 'check my emails' is fair and reasonable excuse to have a beer or three of an evening.

That's not our experience at all. We had good net off Holy Island, up to the Tweed, in Peterhead and along the S. edge of Moray. In Inverness, all along the Caley, down past Oban, through the Crinan, all the way down and in Lochranza, then all the way over and down to Troon, and same again in N. Ireland. All on Three Mobile Broadband.

Did on occasion hoist it up the mast a bit. But we were rarely without decent signal.

 

[Jamesuk]

Network Three is defo the best deal on rolling contracts SIM only.