savageseadog
Well-Known Member
We had mobile coverage as we approached and rounded the Fastnet rock
Coastal Mobile Coverage
- Thread starter prologica
- Start date
CM74
Well-Known Member
Height is (almost) everything!
If you're high up on a big ship you can usually get a reasonable signal 10 miles and more offshore, but low down on a yacht it's a much shorter range - I suppose it's down to if there's much in the way of the aerial.
There are boosters available but they are probably not practical for yacht use!
Though I wonder if one of those "my fi" portable hotspots hoisted up in the rigging might work well
at anchor at least.
Would be fine for data but not for phone calls unless you're using whatsapp or messenger I suppose.
If you're high up on a big ship you can usually get a reasonable signal 10 miles and more offshore, but low down on a yacht it's a much shorter range - I suppose it's down to if there's much in the way of the aerial.
There are boosters available but they are probably not practical for yacht use!
Though I wonder if one of those "my fi" portable hotspots hoisted up in the rigging might work well
at anchor at least.Would be fine for data but not for phone calls unless you're using whatsapp or messenger I suppose.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
Interesting comment on the use, or not, of mobile phones - don't you leave them at home to get away from it all.
Phones are no longer 'simply' a communication device. They have become the only camera for many, they offer a compact device to provide music, you can play chess for many they replace a wrist watch - leaving them behind means leaving much that was always common place behind. Mobile phones have developed but they are hardly new - they go back decades.
I for one would not go to our cat, let alone go sailing, without a camera or timepiece. Its easier to simply slip a phone into the dry bag than, now, remember to wear a wrist watch, take a camera, listen to the weather forecast (as I can do it on the boat).
Your phone can also be a barometer, give you angle of heal, boat speed, wind speed (if you have an attachment) measure hobby horsing (at anchor) - it has functions of which most people are totally unaware (but you pay for when you buy it - why pay all that money and ignore what you have bought - an indication of a surfeit of wealth??
When I go sailing my wife is with me - I don't need to phone her.
For those who want to get away from it all - do you simply not switch on your MFD, as well - have your lead line handy, trail a mechanical log.....
You can ignore the phone function - but too much of the rest is convenient.
But being contradictory - when I know I'm to take photographs - I have a real camera. The phone replaces the Brownie.
Jonathan
Phones are no longer 'simply' a communication device. They have become the only camera for many, they offer a compact device to provide music, you can play chess for many they replace a wrist watch - leaving them behind means leaving much that was always common place behind. Mobile phones have developed but they are hardly new - they go back decades.
I for one would not go to our cat, let alone go sailing, without a camera or timepiece. Its easier to simply slip a phone into the dry bag than, now, remember to wear a wrist watch, take a camera, listen to the weather forecast (as I can do it on the boat).
Your phone can also be a barometer, give you angle of heal, boat speed, wind speed (if you have an attachment) measure hobby horsing (at anchor) - it has functions of which most people are totally unaware (but you pay for when you buy it - why pay all that money and ignore what you have bought - an indication of a surfeit of wealth??
When I go sailing my wife is with me - I don't need to phone her.
For those who want to get away from it all - do you simply not switch on your MFD, as well - have your lead line handy, trail a mechanical log.....
You can ignore the phone function - but too much of the rest is convenient.
But being contradictory - when I know I'm to take photographs - I have a real camera. The phone replaces the Brownie.
Jonathan
Last edited:
Neeves
Well-Known Member
I'm surprised it has created no mention but
We never invested but there are boosters that, apparently, will improve your mobile reception (or at leas this is the claim in Australia). Some, or many, are banned as they boost your reception but destroy or drown out the ability of other users to use their devices when you transmit. I have no idea of the position in the UK.
Historically mobile phones (when they were largely, or exclusively, phones) they had a port to add an extra aerial (and we could send the aerial up the mast). This need was obviously a bit of a stumbling block it you wanted to market a waterproof phone and especially as most users lived in cities (with good coverage) and the aerial port was destined to history. We also had 'bush' phones which had better, or more sensitive aerials - but again a restrictive market - again most people live in urban areas - and I have not seen a bush phone for years (they were all the rage for sailors - but realistically - sailing is a minority pastime).
Maybe I can provoke some comment (on boosters).
Jonathan
We never invested but there are boosters that, apparently, will improve your mobile reception (or at leas this is the claim in Australia). Some, or many, are banned as they boost your reception but destroy or drown out the ability of other users to use their devices when you transmit. I have no idea of the position in the UK.
Historically mobile phones (when they were largely, or exclusively, phones) they had a port to add an extra aerial (and we could send the aerial up the mast). This need was obviously a bit of a stumbling block it you wanted to market a waterproof phone and especially as most users lived in cities (with good coverage) and the aerial port was destined to history. We also had 'bush' phones which had better, or more sensitive aerials - but again a restrictive market - again most people live in urban areas - and I have not seen a bush phone for years (they were all the rage for sailors - but realistically - sailing is a minority pastime).
Maybe I can provoke some comment (on boosters).
Jonathan
Mister E
Well-Known Member
Same here in North Wales, some places on the Llyn and estuaries to the south have no signal. Yet go half a mile to sea and get full signal.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Am I the only one that turns one's phone off & puts it in a locker with keys & wallet when one goes sailing?
I do not find the need to call & the tell the wife where I am. She can look at marine traffic & she gets an email when I depart or arrive at each end of a trip. Apart from that I rarely have a need for the darned thing.
I do not find the need to call & the tell the wife where I am. She can look at marine traffic & she gets an email when I depart or arrive at each end of a trip. Apart from that I rarely have a need for the darned thing.
Buck Turgidson
Well-Known Member
Weather radar overlay on windy with lighting activity has been very useful in the past for me trying at night to work out exactly where the thunderstorms were in relation to my marina and also where they were moving over time.
AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
Such things have two modes of operation. One kind (which, as you surmise, is illegal to use in the UK and Europe) increases the signal strength beyond that legally permitted. There is an odd glitch in UK law in that it is legal to sell such equipment and even possess it, but it is illegal to use it! The exact situation is that you may not use it without a license - but a license will not be granted except exceptionally (for example, to investigate the effects of such equipment on other users). As you also surmise, such equipment has the potential to deny access to other users.
The other kind, which is perfectly legal, is a directional antenna that will use the signal more efficiently. However, they depend on the accurate pointing of the antenna at the cell's mast, and would be in chocolate teapot territory on a moving boat in anything of a sea.
st599
Well-Known Member
A directional antenna is only legal if it doesn't cause the signal to exceed the quoted ERP.
There's a third way which is legal in the UK using a 4G femtocell to extend the range of 4G onto your boat.
Prologica1
Active Member
That's very true TSB240!!!
Alfie168
Well-Known Member
That explains why the submarines use the sea and not the A78.
fifer
Well-Known Member
Height is (almost) everything!
If you're high up on a big ship you can usually get a reasonable signal 10 miles and more offshore, but low down on a yacht it's a much shorter range - I suppose it's down to if there's much in the way of the aerial.
There are boosters available but they are probably not practical for yacht use!
Though I wonder if one of those "my fi" portable hotspots hoisted up in the rigging might work well
Would be fine for data but not for phone calls unless you're using whatsapp or messenger I suppose.
I have put my phone on hotspot mode then hoisted it to the top of the mast in a washbag to get signal whilst anchored off Ardnamurchan. Worked great and was able to stream the football onto a tablet down below. Unfortunately I misjudged how much friction there was in the spinnaker halyard system and realised the bag would not return itself to deck. A session in the bosuns chair was required to remedy the situation!
edit: It would be feasible to use the call features if you have a siri/google assistant enabled bluetooth headset connected whilst the phone is up the mast
Alfie168
Well-Known Member
Note to self...if I ever try that one make sure there is a downhaul as well ?
Full marks for ingenuity though ?
onesea
Well-Known Member
I searched this post up as was thinking similar as considering a second net work for data.
Mobile phone signals varies on so many factors.
One not mentioned is the number of users in the area.
On my boat on my home mooring in winter I can below having coffee and use my phone below. Good data signal, good phone calls at high water or low water. Then when the tourists are in town… I get little below and need to be on deck for decent prolonged signal. It’s generally better at high water than low water.
At home I have a similar situation in my back garden.
Another thing that makes a difference is the size of your bill or contact. If you use one of the secondary networks Tesco ID Lybra or whatever when it gets busy and they are struggling for signal you data/ calls will be dropped first.
They prioritise the most profitable.
Mobile phone signals varies on so many factors.
One not mentioned is the number of users in the area.
On my boat on my home mooring in winter I can below having coffee and use my phone below. Good data signal, good phone calls at high water or low water. Then when the tourists are in town… I get little below and need to be on deck for decent prolonged signal. It’s generally better at high water than low water.
At home I have a similar situation in my back garden.
Another thing that makes a difference is the size of your bill or contact. If you use one of the secondary networks Tesco ID Lybra or whatever when it gets busy and they are struggling for signal you data/ calls will be dropped first.
They prioritise the most profitable.