Internet connection onboard

LymingtonPugwash

LymingtonPugwash

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 Aug 2004
Messages
451
Location
Med & Warm waters please
Visit site
I know that this has probably been covered in the past, but here I go anyway!

I need to find the best way of having a good high speed internet connection on the boat in the Med....

The boat has all the communication gear imaginable, but not sure how to get online at a decent speed! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Any recommendations and experiences to share would be much appreciated.
 
I am also very interested in this, its being discussed here already.

To bring you up to date after you have read through the link - I am waiting for a supplier to say he has stock then I rekon on buying the Repeatit unit and then propose reporting back.

Unless someone has a better solution ?
 
Hi guys... I did look at the other thread running but that seems to be discussing picking up on wireless etc in the marina or the off chance of having some distant wireless network one could tap into....
I want a stand alone system.... perhaps like the GPRS which gives autonomy almost anywhere the boat is without having to worry about whether there is a wireless network available anywhere. I know that it could cost an arm and leg, but if that is what is needed, then fine.... I just need to know the best systems.

For example, if we consider GPRS or 3G, what is the difference between them and which is preferred? Also, are there other alternatives? Do all of these run at fast speeds?
If it were for you and the cost was not a consideration, within reason, then what would you go for?
 
Don't know about in the Med - but here 3G gives "almost" broadband speeds whereas GPRS is much slower - exact speed depends on number of channels telecom makes available to you - in practice normally very slow as they don't want you monopolising their network- maybe upto 28K if you are very lucky

Both charge by the amount of data transferred (note this involves up and down - so is more than you think). In UK and Europe - most packages allow you to use either service depending on what is available.

What you probably don't want to do is use UK service such as Vodafone internationally for any significant use - as its very expensive. Get a local telecoms card.

You can use GPRS (or even 3G) via bluetooth onto a phone - but if using a lot a dedicated 3G PCMCIA card is much smoother - in my experience at least

P.S. 3G coverage is far more restricted than GPRS - in practice often end up using both
 
I know this is a “how long is a piece of string” question but typically what sort of money are we talking about here?

Say for 10 min access to a weather site per day and perhaps a down load of a GRIB file once a day?

Just a guess?
 
In the UK on Vodafone - depends on package but ...

£2 / MB for PAYG to £45 / month for "unlimited" (1GB fair useage)

Abroad - £5 - £10 / MB - but difficult to predict as it depends whether you are on a partner network

Maybe 1-2MB a day for a GRIB file and a quick web browse if you are careful - but watch out for all those images - could easily be more - remember its total data traffic - not just download.

I use it to VPN to office and collect message headers - then full messages for ones I need - this is quite cost effective for me.

Currently on PAYG - but would up to Unlimited if I was out and about much - I believe - but not tested - that you can switch up and down month by month
 
P.S. The thing I've never completely managed is to avoid laptop rusing off and trying to collect av updates, and everything else that needs to phone home - especially when on 3G - so I try and log on and off quickly before they all kick in.

Anyone any ideas ?
 
[ QUOTE ]
For example, if we consider GPRS or 3G, what is the difference between them and which is preferred? Also, are there other alternatives? Do all of these run at fast speeds?
If it were for you and the cost was not a consideration, within reason, then what would you go for?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm using T-Mobile Web n Walk as we speak, (in Manchester).

3G speed feels just about as good as 512 broadband, and it's fast enough for almost anything you might want to do.

I used to use orange World unlimited GPRS for £1 per day.... it was/is a bit slow, but fine for emails, and OK for most browsing.

I have an Option Globetrotter Fusion PCMCIA, (or whatever), card which the SIM slots into, and an aerial which is velcroed onto the lid of the laptop.

There are some more advanced OPTION cards now, but the one I have does the trick.

There's also something called HDMPDA, (or whatever), which T-Mobile can provide, which gives access at speeds upwards of 1Mb.

So that's the technology.... all you need is the Best SIM for the country you are in, and away you go.

In Spain, I hear that YOIGO offers unlimited GPRS for 1.20 euros per day.

In Italy, WIND offer something like loads of Gb's for about 30 Euros per month, (and I think 16Mb per month roaming). I used to use WIND when they offered 200Mb per month roaming for 20 euros per month, but that deal ended in December.... Good deals always end when I get involved. people should pay me not to get involved.

So Spain, Italy and the UK can be dealt with at reasonable cost..... just waiting for France, Portugal, Malta, Greece and points east to come up with something.

Hope this helps,

Richard
 
[ QUOTE ]


There's also something called HDMPDA, (or whatever), which T-Mobile can provide, which gives access at speeds upwards of 1Mb.



[/ QUOTE ]

HSDPA? Vodafone definitely have an HSDPA service (There's a Vodafone 3G doofus sitting about ten feet from me which supports it) and I'm pretty sure O2 and Orange either support it already or are in the process of rolling it out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

wonkywinch
Interlinked Carbon Monoxide alarms
Replies
12
Views
310
PaulRainbow
PaulRainbow

Share this page

Top