Sat TV vs Wi-fi vs 3G signal repeaters

[kcrane]

I'm taking the boat over to Jersey for the summer. Don't watch a lot of TV, on the boat or at home, but there are occasional things I like to see, 6 Nations for example. The current TV came with the boat, looks a bit old, the picture is OK and fits the recess (which is designed for 4:3 rather than 16:9 - if I got those ratios right) but the reception is a bit sad from a Status aerial on the coachroof.

First thought - get a sat dish with a Sky box and connect it to the current TV. With labour for moving a few things plus a dummy dish to balance it up, an M2 runs out at £4.5k, an amount that gives pause for thought when it isn't a necessity.

SWMBO and I are Apple mobile users, both with iPhones and iPads rarely more than 10ft from our sides. The phones are on the 3 network with "all you can eat" data and we can tether the iPads to the phones. In the main we get good connections, but occassionally the signal is too weak for streaming.

If we have a reasonable connection we can use the iPad with TVCatchup, iPlayer (and ITV equivalents), Netflix, Lovefilm etc. plus if we cared to we could get a Sky contract at home and then use the Sky viewer app. It rather 'wastes' the saloon TV but an iPad propped up on the table is OK and we can even watch different things if need be, and also watch in the cabins and on deck.

I've two alternatives and an add-on idea and wondered who has tried them?

Alternative 1 £300 (+ monthly data cost)
Get a Hubba 3G booster (either marine or standard) and put in a 3 SIM in the UK and a JT SIM in St Helier. Downside is we'll be paying extra for the data, but upside is simple installation and a on-boat wi-fi network guests can use etc.

Alternative 2 £500 (+ monthly data cost when in Jersey)
Get a 3G repeater (aerial outide, control box and repeater aerial inside) that would boost the 3g signal to the existing phones. Upside is in the UK we can use the existing iPhone "all you can eat" contracts and have two separate connections. In Jersey we can switch to a JT mi-fi (small phone sized dongle) that generates a 5 user wi-fi network based on a 3G internet connection. JT do a reasonable monthly 20GB allowance for £25 a month contract with the kit supplied free. Downside when in Jersey is both iPhones and both iPads would share this connection, but then they never get used all at the same time.

Add-on
Connect an Apple TV to the existing saloon TV, then mirror one of the iPads (we do this at home) so we get to use the larger screen and better sound.


Against these internet based alternatives where we get enhanced connections for regular internet use as well as access to TV I'm thinking the cost of the sat dish doesn't make much sense. We can also try the internet alternatives before splashing out if they don't work well enough.

Thoughts, ideas, experiences?

 

[mjf]

I think your reception is duff 'cos of a connection somewhere.

I get a fab picture at all times in Swanwick - same Status set up

I nowdays use a 17" laptop O/B with a great screen for TV and internet TV etc and the 4S teether thing seems to work well too. Sometimes I have to switch off the power on the status when anchored under the mast on IOW in newtown.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Hi K

It rather 'wastes' the saloon TV but an iPad propped up on the table is OK and we can even watch different things if need be, and also watch in the cabins and on deck.

Change the TV for one with an hdmi input and use this to watch the ipad.

Alternative 1 £300 (+ monthly data cost)
Get a Hubba 3G booster (either marine or standard) and put in a 3 SIM in the UK and a JT SIM in St Helier. Downside is we'll be paying extra for the data, but upside is simple installation and a on-boat wi-fi network guests can use etc.

This may have changed, but when I looked into the hubba for Vega it seemed that you were tied to their sim and contract - it wasn't simply a case of buying the (admittedly technically attractive) unit and then lobbing in your own sim.

Get a 3G repeater (aerial outide, control box and repeater aerial inside) that would boost the 3g signal to the existing phones. Upside is in the UK we can use the existing iPhone "all you can eat" contracts and have two separate connections. In Jersey we can switch to a JT mi-fi (small phone sized dongle) that generates a 5 user wi-fi network based on a 3G internet connection. JT do a reasonable monthly 20GB allowance for £25 a month contract with the kit supplied free. Downside when in Jersey is both iPhones and both iPads would share this connection, but then they never get used all at the same time.

I tried a variation of this, unsuccessfully - I didn't get on very well with trying to install a 3d aerial on the arch; you need really good quality cabling, and to know what you are doing, and I scored badly on both fronts. In fact this installation was finally removed a couple of days ago.

As a general observation, we are v similar to you - virtually never watch broadcast tv, but very very frequently online, devices everywhere.

I think the JT mifi sounds good; another alternative would be to survey your target marina for wifi, then get an appropriate contract to allow you to make use of it (in my location in SoF this is SFR for example). Then, stick a decent wifi aerial on the arch (Hurricane and Rickp are the experts in this) and rebroadcast to the boat.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[kcrane]

Change the TV for one with an hdmi input and use this to watch the ipad.

Think may well do that, we use same method at home.

This may have changed, but when I looked into the hubba for Vega it seemed that you were tied to their sim and contract - it wasn't simply a case of buying the (admittedly technically attractive) unit and then lobbing in your own sim.

I checked with them, you can put your own SIM in to it. The indoor version is very straightforward, SIM slot in the top, swap in moments. The X version with marine mount is less simple, as you have to get inside the casing, which if it is on the roof won't be easy.

I tried a variation of this, unsuccessfully - I didn't get on very well with trying to install a 3d aerial on the arch; you need really good quality cabling, and to know what you are doing, and I scored badly on both fronts. In fact this installation was finally removed a couple of days ago.

There is a UK manufacturer who does a 30 day money back, so I was thinking of trying it at home (very average 3G signal) then on the boat without proper fitting to see if it worked.

As a general observation, we are v similar to you - virtually never watch broadcast tv, but very very frequently online, devices everywhere.

Do you have your iPad 3 yet? We got two today. The old ones still sell well on ebay, so isn't as expensive as it sounds.

I think the JT mifi sounds good; another alternative would be to survey your target marina for wifi, then get an appropriate contract to allow you to make use of it (in my location in SoF this is SFR for example). Then, stick a decent wifi aerial on the arch (Hurricane and Rickp are the experts in this) and rebroadcast to the boat.

Good idea, and indeed I forgot rickp had suggested that in the past. Might be a way to avoid paying a per gigabyte rate, which could mount up streaming video.

 

[kcrane]

I think your reception is duff 'cos of a connection somewhere.

I get a fab picture at all times in Swanwick - same Status set up

I nowdays use a 17" laptop O/B with a great screen for TV and internet TV etc and the 4S teether thing seems to work well too. Sometimes I have to switch off the power on the status when anchored under the mast on IOW in newtown.

Um, will take a look, and maybe swap parts with you when you aren't looking!

Is it anyone I know that is going over to St Helier?

 

[Hurricane]

I'm not sure that WiFi is up to streaming.
You get lucky from time to time but the service providers cant be relied upon.

You may be unhappy with 3G for the same reason.

Another consideration with Internet TV is your location.
Channel Islands should be OK but if you are in a port other than a UK one, things get a little more complicated - you will need a UK Proxy for example to get any BBC TV outside the UK.

My WiFi antenna was an idea pinched from rickp. Its been OK but we have ?iss poor WiFi services in Spain so its really only been for email. Sometimes my voIP phone system works sometimes it doesnt - WiFi is really hit and miss.

I'm currently researching WiMAX which along with 4G will be the way to go IMO but I have no experience yet.

For me, the only answer for TV is Satellite.
The place to get all the technical info for Sat TV is www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk
BTW what about one of these http://www.leisurepower.co.uk/acatalog/MOBILSAT-68.html

My 60cm Raymarine domes work well receiving what they can - in fact they are very good but in Spain we need at least 80cm dish to get BBC1. I have an offset domestic dish on a tripod that I often use which works and is as cheap as chips.

On our last boat, I had a small 45cm clip on dish that really worked well in the Channel Islands.

Hope that helps

 

[Nick_H]

You can buy KVH M2 for under £2k, others cheaper I believe, so your £4.5k sounds a bit pricey. Why do you need a dummy dome for the other side, do you have a dummy helm in the cockpit

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Why do you need a dummy dome for the other side, do you have a dummy helm in the cockpit

It's always nice to get your hands on a matching pair.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[SJF]

I have documented my setup and experience with using Wifi and 3g dongles onboard here albeit on a yacht but the same principles will apply which you may find of use.

 

[Jonebarl]

I'm not sure that WiFi is up to streaming.
You get lucky from time to time but the service providers cant be relied upon.

You may be unhappy with 3G for the same reason.

Another consideration with Internet TV is your location.
Channel Islands should be OK but if you are in a port other than a UK one, things get a little more complicated - you will need a UK Proxy for example to get any BBC TV outside the UK.

My WiFi antenna was an idea pinched from rickp. Its been OK but we have ?iss poor WiFi services in Spain so its really only been for email. Sometimes my voIP phone system works sometimes it doesnt - WiFi is really hit and miss.

I'm currently researching WiMAX which along with 4G will be the way to go IMO but I have no experience yet.

For me, the only answer for TV is Satellite.
The place to get all the technical info for Sat TV is www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk
BTW what about one of these http://www.leisurepower.co.uk/acatalog/MOBILSAT-68.html

My 60cm Raymarine domes work well receiving what they can - in fact they are very good but in Spain we need at least 80cm dish to get BBC1. I have an offset domestic dish on a tripod that I often use which works and is as cheap as chips.

On our last boat, I had a small 45cm clip on dish that really worked well in the Channel Islands.

Hope that helps

No need to worry about proxy servers etc. for beeb, ITV, chnl 4 etc I use FilmOn plus. Free app on iTunes, and works a treat. I still can't believe how good it is, live TV on iPad or iPhone, and simple to pipe thorough apple TV for larger screen viewing. I watch it in Norway, as do others I know. I even know of someone who watches UK TV in Kiev using this app. So far extremely reliable, just seconds behind live TV signal. Only issue is just how long they can "get away with it". Good luck whichever solution you go for.

 

[kcrane]

You can buy KVH M2 for under £2k, others cheaper I believe, so your £4.5k sounds a bit pricey. Why do you need a dummy dome for the other side, do you have a dummy helm in the cockpit

Yes, gives SWMBO something to do...

As you say M2 is about £1.7k, then the rest is mostly fitting plus receiver, mounts, VAT etc etc which more than doubled the basic cost of the kit, hence looking at alternatives

 

[kcrane]

No need to worry about proxy servers etc. for beeb, ITV, chnl 4 etc I use FilmOn plus. Free app on iTunes, and works a treat. I still can't believe how good it is, live TV on iPad or iPhone, and simple to pipe thorough apple TV for larger screen viewing. I watch it in Norway, as do others I know. I even know of someone who watches UK TV in Kiev using this app. So far extremely reliable, just seconds behind live TV signal. Only issue is just how long they can "get away with it". Good luck whichever solution you go for.

Will take a look, I use TVCatchup website which has also been OK

 

[kcrane]

The place to get all the technical info for Sat TV is www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk
BTW what about one of these http://www.leisurepower.co.uk/acatalog/MOBILSAT-68.html

Useful, thanks. An idea I hadn't thought of was to put a cheap dish on the pontoon they give us at St Helier, not try and carry it around or fit it to the boat.

 

[henryf]

No connection to the company but Landau UK are currently advertising the M2 supplied and fitted for £2,875 plus vat.

Cheaper than £4,500

Henry

 

[DavidJ]

No need to worry about proxy servers etc. for beeb, ITV, chnl 4 etc I use FilmOn plus. Free app on iTunes, and works a treat. I still can't believe how good it is, live TV on iPad or iPhone, and simple to pipe thorough apple TV for larger screen viewing. I watch it in Norway, as do others I know. I even know of someone who watches UK TV in Kiev using this app. So far extremely reliable, just seconds behind live TV signal. Only issue is just how long they can "get away with it". Good luck whichever solution you go for.

Can't find anything called FilmOn from the App Store on my iPad, or when I go onto itunes, what am I doing wrong?

 

[volvopaul]

Kevin, have a look at mesltd website there doing the trakvision m3 which ive fitted before so easy just 1 cable to the dome and a sat box req.

 

[jimg]

Can't find anything called FilmOn from the App Store on my iPad, or when I go onto itunes, what am I doing wrong?

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id465127107

 

[DavidJ]

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id465127107

Thanks Jim that works

 

[MapisM]

Why do you need a dummy dome for the other side, do you have a dummy helm in the cockpit

LOL, actually there are some lucky boaters which could answer yes to such question...
...see below (the wheel can be swapped)!

 

[kcrane]

Thanks for the helpful advice - the FilmOn app works fine on both the iPhone and iPad over 3G, as does TVCatchup.

I've ordered a repeater/booster for mobile signals. The company builds its own gear and offers a 30 day guarantee, so my plan is to try it at home (where the mobile signal is at best average) and then on the boat. If it works I'll fit it permanently, if not it can go back and I'll revisit the sat TV option.