Mobile internet around Plymouth

[Glasto1]

We have our first mooring in Plymouth and although the marina had wifi when we are not at the marina I'm wondering what everyone else is using for their internet connection? We will be able to spend more time on the boat if we have a reasonable connection, wife works a lot on her laptop.

 

[Sandy]

If you mean what mobile phone network are people are using. All of them work. I use SMARTY as my network provider on the Tamar.

 

[Glasto1]

Thanks Sandy, if you go around the coast a bit how do you find the signal? I'm not talking miles of shore and I do expect some black spots. I'm just thinking generally.

 

[Sandy]

Thanks Sandy, if you go around the coast a bit how do you find the signal? I'm not talking miles of shore and I do expect some black spots. I'm just thinking generally.

On the rivers it can be a bit patchy, I don't get a signal at Treluggan where I store the boat over winter, but along the coast I've never had an issue with a signal from Lands End to Peterhead. Over the last 10 years I've use EE or providers that use their network. Friends use all sorts of networks, I hope that quietly network providers are sharing masts.

 

[Glasto1]

Sound promising ok thanks for your help

 

[TiggerToo]

I confirm what Sandy writes. The problems are usually when you are tucked away up one of those wonderful rivers and rias which make the area so special. Plymouth and the Tamar are not so much a problem.
Yealm, Fowey and Helford have been...

 

[oldmanofthehills]

As Sandy says no signal at Trellugan on O2/EE. However Navigator gets it there on Vodaphone. We both get signal if a bit poor in the Dandy Hole on the Lynher which is useful for booking the Halfway House, and I think signal was poor in Cellar Cove on the Yealm but fine on pontoons further up.

One can buy signal boosters to stick on a mast or pole and son used one in Bristol before he got internet, just "sticking" out of top window on a broomstick. I think they need 9V not not 12v but that should be readily sortable

 

[wonkywinch]

If you mean what mobile phone network are people are using. All of them work. I use SMARTY as my network provider on the Tamar.

Smarty is actually Three. I recently switched to Lebara (Vodaphone) where I pay £6 a month each for two sims with 12gb data. One in my Android tablet, the other in a 4G modem on the boat. My phone is O2 which I cam tether to if Vodaphone fails. 80gb for £8. £20 for 3 sims which is less than I was paying on my old contract.

 

[Sandy]

Smarty is actually Three. I recently switched to Lebara (Vodaphone) where I pay £6 a month each for two sims with 12gb data. One in my Android tablet, the other in a 4G modem on the boat. My phone is O2 which I cam tether to if Vodaphone fails. 80gb for £8. £20 for 3 sims which is less than I was paying on my old contract.

I've recently moved to SMARTY. I should have stated that clearer in my post. Looking at the Three coverage map it is the same is as all of the other providers. I do chuckle when they don't show any signal over water. I've never known a radio signal stop at the waters edge.

Currently on their 40 gb for £10/pm deal that they have kindly bumped up to 70gb for a year. Not that I use anywhere near 40 gb!

 

[V1701]

I'm on 3 which is a bit bargain basement in terms of bandwidth but usually ok. Might be an idea for one of you to have EE as well, their bandwidth tends to be a bit better and in some places you might get one network not the other. As said though there are places you'll get nothing whatsoever...

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Netgear Nighthawk with an appropriate provider SIM card, gives a wifi signal to pickup by your laptop. Might need a better aerial. Can be hardwired to a modem/router for hard connections to laptop etc.

Or even Starlink non-mobile system and tarrif

 

[Aquanaught]

My mooring is in Plymouth and I found the marina WiFi was fine for e-mails / weather reports etc but inadequate for streaming or serious working. My phone signal was also poor (GiffGaff O2) but I use an EE WiFi mini mobile which generally receives a good signal and has proved to be good for most coastal locations and visiting ports. However for work purposes where getting a signal is more critical then you may need to look at a 12v WiFi router with external aerial such as the Glomex or Digital Yacht offerings (and others).

 

[Sneaky Pete]

This may be of use, I have a motorhome and tour around Scotland it's fitted with a signal booster mounted on the roof connected to a Huawei router. If I can get a bar on the mobile phone I'm good, I use the sim card from the phone inserted into the router I'm on the EE system, I can get emails, WiFi and can phone using WhatsApp all works well. A signal booster on top of the mast may work well also.

 

[lustyd]

If you need it for work then Starlink is the sensible option these days. It costs more but the result is consistent broadband Internet. I’ve used 4g with some very good kit but ultimately it’s line of sight that kills it because the antennas are ground based and you can’t get the antenna high enough on the boat. Starlink just needs to see a patch of sky.
It does use more power though which is a downside. I can comfortably do Teams calls anywhere though so worth the trade offs.