Router to access Marina WiFi

robertager1962

robertager1962

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www.sailing-south.com
We live aboard and have reasonably good wifi system at the marina. I am trying to find a router that can access the network, but am really struggling.

Can anyone help with some advice on one that will work please.

We currently use our phones as hotspots but lately it has been eating our data.

I don´t need a router with a sim in, simply one that can access a wifi network and then we can access it from our computer wirelessly.

I have just given up with a Link TP AC600 as I simply could not get this to work.

many thanks all.
 
By coincidence, i've just fitted a new one onboard. We also live aboard and usually use our phones as hotspots, we have unlimited date SIM contracts with 3. We wanted something that would work with either of our phones, switch to whichever one was present, or connecting to the marina wifi if neither of use was there. Once connected to a wifi source, the router gives access to other onboard devices via wifi and/or ethernet.

Looked at some pricey options and then found this, which, despite it's low price has some very good reviews, which ar justified, as it works very well.

Amazon.co.uk
 
I'm a bit confused her. At home I have a router, which is connected to the phone system by a cable and I can then access the internet on any of my devices by logging in to the wifi signal. With the same devices, at the marina I can log into the marina wifi system. No need for a router. And I don't use mobile data. The same is true in Marks and Spencer, many other marinas and even Oban High street, but not Boots and quite a few other shops.
 
I agree with Ken’s thoughts above-at our marina my iPad picks up the marina Wi-Fi normally but if not I just pair with the iPhone and use the virtually unlimited Sim in the iPhone. That said I have noticed many do have their own onboard routers sending out an access signal if only I knew the password🤣. I would have thought if the marina Wi-Fi is poor then apart from moving marina a booster to pick up signal better say hoisted higher like BAT or a system with own sim ie a home hub running off a sim as I tend to find the cable versions don’t act that well on board. I guess a Starlink from you local Costco might be the answer to create your own boat hub to which all your onboard devices pair ?
 
Is an Alfa AWUS036H 802.11 b/g Long Range USB Adapter what the OP needs?

If so, I have one to sell, cheap.

In its box , complete with disc and instructions.




1739733429916.jpeg1739733485810.jpeg
 
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Yes those do help with picking up poor marina Wi-Fi if you have a laptop usb port and better still if stuck out a porthole sometimes. I guess the OP needs a marina signal first though and I’m not certain that’s the issue. I think he wants to create a stand alone boat hub with its own SIM but speculation really at moment.
 
robertager1962 said:
We live aboard and have reasonably good wifi system at the marina. I am trying to find a router that can access the network, but am really struggling.

Can anyone help with some advice on one that will work please.

We currently use our phones as hotspots but lately it has been eating our data.

I don´t need a router with a sim in, simply one that can access a wifi network and then we can access it from our computer wirelessly.

I have just given up with a Link TP AC600 as I simply could not get this to work.

many thanks all.
Click to expand...

Look for a router with WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) mode as that will do precisely what you want i.e. use wifi to connect to the marina LAN as its WAN and create your own wifi LAN beneath it. TP-Link TL-WR902AC is a good example although there are plenty of others as it's only really a subtle variation on a wifi extender/repeater.

Prior to it being named WISP the Huawei MIFI routers e.g. E5577 have had this option for years: leave the SIM card out and configure the uplink via wifi and it will create its own wifi LAN below.
 
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I'm still using a Teltonika RUT950 on board.. It is nice to be able to share WiFi for any crew that visit.

It has the ability to set an external WiFi as it's primary WAN with fallback to a SIM card should you ever add one.

LAN side can be wired (useful if you have a boat computer without WiFi on board) or WiFi for friends and crew.

It saves telling them all the marina WiFi code..!
 
I second the Teletonika. Bought mine second hand off ebay for about £50. Great piece of kit. Works directly off either 12v or LAN. Use a cheap unlimited smarty card for out of WiFi range. Can be boxed in a water proof case and hoisted up your mast for those remote connections where you can only get a signal by going ashore and climbing up a hill with your phone.
 
We use a TP-link router with an external Poynting Puck antenna and use Smarty for the sim card which is cheap as chips.
We are able to use 2 Sonos speakers for music, phones, tablets and stream TV in the evening.
 
robertager1962 said:
We live aboard and have reasonably good wifi system at the marina. I am trying to find a router that can access the network, but am really struggling.

Can anyone help with some advice on one that will work please.

We currently use our phones as hotspots but lately it has been eating our data.

I don´t need a router with a sim in, simply one that can access a wifi network and then we can access it from our computer wirelessly.

I have just given up with a Link TP AC600 as I simply could not get this to work.

many thanks all.
Click to expand...
To access the internet via marina WiFi do you need to log in via a web page after connecting to WiFi? This is called a “captive portal”, and not all WiFi routers/ repeaters make it easy to connect through these. The one recommended by PaulRainbow does allow WiFi repeating via captive portals ( GLi.net ones that I have tried all work).. e.g. cheaper versions like the Slate plus or really expensive ones that have 5g modems in as backup like the Spitz AX, all allow connection directly to WiFi or via a captive portal..
 
Jerbro said:
To access the internet via marina WiFi do you need to log in via a web page after connecting to WiFi? This is called a “captive portal”, and not all WiFi routers/ repeaters make it easy to connect through these. The one recommended by PaulRainbow does allow WiFi repeating via captive portals ( GLi.net ones that I have tried all work).. e.g. cheaper versions like the Slate plus or really expensive ones that have 5g modems in as backup like the Spitz AX, all allow connection directly to WiFi or via a captive portal..
Click to expand...
You are correct, the one i linked to does allow you to connect to marina wifi that needs the login page.

I use mine differently to the OP. Everything onboard connects to the router and guests can do likewise (the MT-6000 also has 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz guest networks). Internet is provided by a mobile hotspot with unlimited data, which my partner and i both have. An issue we previously had with a Teltonika router was, a particular hotspot had to be configured, normally my phone. If i wasn't there the router could not switch to another mobile hotspot, as a failover device, least not any way that i could find. The Mt-6000 allows me to setup both of our mobiles and the marina wifi, if one of us leaves, the router switches to the other hotspot, if we both leave it switches to the marina wifi.
 
harvey38 said:
We use a TP-link router with an external Poynting Puck antenna and use Smarty for the sim card which is cheap as chips.
We are able to use 2 Sonos speakers for music, phones, tablets and stream TV in the evening.
Click to expand...
Another vote for a Poynting puck antenna. I added another 5m extension and hoist it up a flag halyard to improve reception. There are a few versions of the Poynting depending whether you want to receive 4G/5G/ Wifi/GPS.
 
Thanks everyone for helpful advice. I think the way to go is certainly a router with an external aerial. I tried a Wavelink AC600 and used it as an extender. This worked perfectly until you switch it off or lose signal and then you need to do another full search on available WiFi, so just didn't work out. We do use our phones as hotspots but as we are currently living in Spain (where the mobile packages aren't as generous as the UK) we do try to keep an eye on our data. Once again thanks everyone.
 
robertager1962 said:
Thanks everyone for helpful advice. I think the way to go is certainly a router with an external aerial. I tried a Wavelink AC600 and used it as an extender. This worked perfectly until you switch it off or lose signal and then you need to do another full search on available WiFi, so just didn't work out. We do use our phones as hotspots but as we are currently living in Spain (where the mobile packages aren't as generous as the UK) we do try to keep an eye on our data. Once again thanks everyone.
Click to expand...
Ignore my recommendation in post #2 then Roger, it doesn't support an external antenna (although the fixed ones have an extremely good range).
 
Here's a suggestion - that actually goes further than just picking up Marina / External WiFi ...

NMEA2WiFi .... NMEA4WiFi .... these units serve both data distribution on board - connecting instruments / plotters etc into a common stream USB / WiFi / NMEA ... but also can detect ... link to and re-broadcast external WiFi ....

I use the NMEA2WiFi unit to pick-up my home internet ... its quite a distance from home router to my boat at bottom of garden ... and this unit helps immensely.

just google : NMEA4WiFi ...
 
You might look at the GL.iNet and similar "travel routers" - I haven't used this model, but the GL-MT300N-V2 is €27.50.

I tend to find marina wifi quite unreliable though.
 
In my experience very few marinas wifi can be relayed by a router I too have the 950 but it only works if the marina provide a password. If they spawn a webpage where you have to accept terms and conditions o0r enter an email address you are snookered.
 
I want to replace the 950 as it does not support captive portal connections. The one that Paul Rainbow links to does not allow a sim to be added.

What I would like is 1 or 2 SIM card slots, 5G compatibility, captive portal support and allow me to connect an external aerial. Any suggestions?
 
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