PBO wifi booster test

[laika]

Anyone else think that the "wifi booster" test in august's PBO was not quite up the standards we might hope for?

Apples were compared with various fruit with no meaningful metric applied. Did those people less familiar with this stuff feel that the differences between the bottom end kit and that costing more than 40x more were adequately explained?

Seems like something of a wasted opportunity: This is something many people have an interest in: The less technically oriented would appreciate some general guidance and those who know what the things do would like to see some useful numbers. Not sure that this article did either.

Anyone ever heard the phrase "powered bridge socket" before? I believe they mean a PoE adapter but it was a bit of unexplained jargon in there...

 

[rob2]

Maybe a bit harsh as it's a borad subject and as you say, they were comparing simple direction aerials with very expensive kit. I guess it was aimed at raising the issues in selecting kit should you be interested, but why do people go sailing if they will pay a grand NOT to get away from their computer? Personally, I tend to switch off the mobile as soon as I get in the tender...

Rob.

 

[laika]

I guess it was aimed at raising the issues in selecting kit should you be interested, but why do people go sailing if they will pay a grand NOT to get away from their computer?

I agree on both points but I suspect (and I'd be interested to know the views of non-technical folk who read the article) that it didn't explain factors to think abut in kit selection very well. From some of the questions posted here it's clear that this is an area people want to know about and PBO obviously have the right aim with this article, I just question whether it hit the mark. And before we leave that analogy...where was the Ubiquiti Bullet? One of the standard solutions in this space and well down the price range on test.

I too sail to get away from computers but clearly others feel differently. Maybe because it enables them to work from their boat and so spend more time there? Personally I got a mobile data plan for that but each to their own.

 

[ShinyShoe]

why do people go sailing if they will pay a grand NOT to get away from their computer? Personally, I tend to switch off the mobile as soon as I get in the tender...

Rob I often face that difficult decision... Switch off and pretend the world doesn't exist? Or stay on-line and deal with the world plus the sailing...?
sometimes I wouldn't be able to switch off - even if only for half an hour because I'm waiting on an email that might only need me to read it and confirm something is OK for someone else to action... something as simple as that could mean no sailing for the weekend if I had to be around to get it. I also want a weather forecast etc? or to order parts from an on-line chandler so they are there ready for me getting home etc...

Anyone ever heard the phrase "powered bridge socket" before? I believe they mean a PoE adapter but it was a bit of unexplained jargon in there...

Would have assumed it was one of these? http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1070754.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:8710717862|tsid:41408|cid:177979742|lid:55247173382|nw:g|crid:38920536662|rnd:17891727929839741398|dvc:c|adp:1o5 rather than PoE but haven't read the article to get the context...

Personally I got a mobile data plan for that but each to their own.

Mobile data only any good of there is mobile coverage. I find lots of places where even 2G is a struggle and even as simple as sending a tweet seems to struggle on "E".

I suspect what most people want is a device that can connect to another WiFi including doing any security it needs (either WiFi keys or any web page login) and then an internal network on their boat that they can connect their devices to. I've always struggled to find something that handles this although it doesn't seem a big ask! Then to make it more complex I'd want it to be run from 12V not 240v and have a detachable aeriel so I can put a directional on for better coverage...

 

[KAL]

Also vvv handy for getting grib files and looking at passageweather,etc

 

[Enya]

I read it as a non techy. Concluded that there can be a big difference in price without a compensating improvement in function and that none of them are much good anyway.