TV/Internet

[markc]

This is the camera I have - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CB14GTB

I use an Android app with it and it pings me a notification on my phone if it gets set off - it saves a recording in the cloud which you can review on the phone, plus you can have a 2 way conversation with someone on the boat. Useful to say hi to the guardinage bloke when he does his inspection! Useful pan and tilt too like Hurricane mentioned.

 

[markc]

I also use a Vodaphone data SIM which costs me about £29/m with unlimited data

I've had a little look around at maybe switching to an Unlimited plan, but all the networks seem to put a cap at 20gb or 25gb pm when roaming if you're on an unlimited plan. It seems that if you are on a regular capped plan (I'm on 100gb @£23 pm) then the roaming cap does not apply and you can use all your data abroad. I would be interested to know if anyone finds an uncapped data plan with uncapped roaming.

 

[Hurricane]

I've had a little look around at maybe switching to an Unlimited plan, but all the networks seem to put a cap at 20gb or 25gb pm when roaming if you're on an unlimited plan. It seems that if you are on a regular capped plan (I'm on 100gb @£23 pm) then the roaming cap does not apply and you can use all your data abroad. I would be interested to know if anyone finds an uncapped data plan with uncapped roaming.

Yep - that was, essentially, what I found.
There always seems to be a catch.
That said, I have friends using a complete package from Vodafone (phone and data - using tethering) getting unlimited data.
Another friend bought a data only from Vodafone with an add on for specific streaming services but I think that may not be available now.

Who is your provider?
At the moment, I only get 50Gb per month - which is almost enough for my use so a little more would be great.

 

[markc]

Who is your provider?
At the moment, I only get 50Gb per month - which is almost enough for my use so a little more would be great.

I'm with Vodafone, a sim only deal, pay monthly 12 month contract, 100gb data, unlimited texts & calls. The plan is called 100gb Hero Red Extra with a 2 year £20 per month discount. The net cost is £23 per month

 

[GSL]

I have just canceled my last Vodafone SIM only deal after 12 months, and taken a new contract for the same money with unlimited Data included. The last one was limited to 100Gb per month.

This new deal includes unlimited Data roaming in Europe, it is an unlimited Calls, Data and Texts but I just use it in a router onboard the boat.

You must ensure you buy a SIM that does not limit the download speed, this one is also unlimited speed, obviously dependant on 4G signal. It will also go to 5G if there is a signal.

Happy days

 

[markc]

I have just canceled my last Vodafone SIM only deal after 12 months, and taken a new contract for the same money with unlimited Data included. The last one was limited to 100Gb per month.

This new deal includes unlimited Data roaming in Europe, it is an unlimited Calls, Data and Texts but I just use it in a router onboard the boat.

You must ensure you buy a SIM that does not limit the download speed, this one is also unlimited speed, obviously dependant on 4G signal. It will also go to 5G if there is a signal.

Happy days

Do you have a link to the plan because I can't find it on the Vodafone site? All I can find is this in their t&cs...

Roaming data on all unlimited data plans: capped at 25GB per month in inclusive roaming & £6/day roaming destinations. Terms, destinations & verification at vodafone.co.uk/mobile/global-roaming

 

[rubberduck]

Does no one use satellite such as sky. We are in the UK & have sky + internet on board, has come in handy when one or the other had poor signal.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Hi Chris

We have a Free.fr sim only contract - 19.99 euros a month which gives us 100gb a month which we use Google Chromecast on all the TVs on the boat, hooked up with via a mifi unit to give wifi throughout. You can get the sim card from a vending machine, just check the Free site. You do need a French bank account, but can give the marina address. We also have a tracvision - if you have one, a TNT box with free viewing card (about £20 off ebay for the card) will give you 100s European stations and some of them broadcast in English e.g. Nickleodeon for the kids, plus all the usual international news chans. It's also worth mentioning that for about £23 you can get a UK Vodafone sim only that gives you 100gb per month too, with roaming. My wife & I both have that, plus the free.fr sim will give us enough data to work and for the kids TV even if we're there for the whole month. Let me know if you want me to dig out any links for the above. On teh TV front I also have an Amazon Firestick and use a VPN, but it's pretty flaky

Just to clarify, you don't need a Fr bank account to use free.fr - I used to have one of these, and it was charged to my UK credit card. Free.fr used to be the best option for a UK user in Fr, but since the advent of unlimited euro roaming on UK contracts, it's easier to just hotspot using your UK phone as others have said (I do this with my Vodafone account, very straightforward). The other big issue with Free.fr is trying to cancel it: it's almost impossible, you have to call them to get a cancellation code, and then you have to serve notice in writing. They don't let you cancel using the online portal. Very hard work. I used to recommend Free.fr a lot, but not any more.

 

[Hurricane]

Does no one use satellite such as sky. We are in the UK & have sky + internet on board, has come in handy when one or the other had poor signal.

Not in the Med, I'm afraid.
You can't receive the main Free to Air channels - with one exception - Sky News.
And I have the bigger 60cm domes.
Not sure about the subscription channels but I suspect most are transmitted over the UK beam/footprint.

That said, there was a whoop of joy from SWMBO last summer when she suddenly found her craft channels on the satellite system.

When we do get satellite channels, the signals are generally quite strong - the Eurobeam footprint is like a floodlight, lighting up the whole of Europe.
The UK beams are more like a torchlight - aimed specifically at the UK.

So, out in Spain, I mostly get news from Sky and then stream whenever we want to watch the usual Free to Air TV.
We don't yet subscribe to Netflix or Amazon - that time will probably come though.

 

[rubberduck]

Not in the Med, I'm afraid.
You can't receive the main Free to Air channels - with one exception - Sky News.
And I have the bigger 60cm domes.
Not sure about the subscription channels but I suspect most are transmitted over the UK beam/footprint.

That said, there was a whoop of joy from SWMBO last summer when she suddenly found her craft channels on the satellite system.

When we do get satellite channels, the signals are generally quite strong - the Eurobeam footprint is like a floodlight, lighting up the whole of Europe.
The UK beams are more like a torchlight - aimed specifically at the UK.

So, out in Spain, I mostly get news from Sky and then stream whenever we want to watch the usual Free to Air TV.
We don't yet subscribe to Netflix or Amazon - that time will probably come though.

Thats a bummer.

 

[GSL]

Do you have a link to the plan because I can't find it on the Vodafone site? All I can find is this in their t&cs...

Roaming data on all unlimited data plans: capped at 25GB per month in inclusive roaming & £6/day roaming destinations. Terms, destinations & verification at vodafone.co.uk/mobile/global-roaming

I buy SIM deals from here Vodafone SIM Only Deals | Pay Monthly SIM | Mobiles.co.uk

Once you have signed with them, very easy on the phone, it is all charged and accounted for on your existing Vodafone account.

Very easy

Graham

 

[jrudge]

Good deals but shame about the cash back nonsense

 

[markc]

I buy SIM deals from here Vodafone SIM Only Deals | Pay Monthly SIM | Mobiles.co.uk

Once you have signed with them, very easy on the phone, it is all charged and accounted for on your existing Vodafone account.

Very easy

Graham

Good deal, but still subject to a 25gb pm data cap when roaming I'm afraid.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Another way to do it similar and can be zero cost

If you switch you broadband provider to Vodafone 4G/5G with unlimited data you get a Gigacube 4 g router. When you go to your boat and if no one is left at home you can just pack you 4g router with you and plug it in when you get to the boat...… 4g portable internet

 

[Bigplumbs]

John - I did have a play with the RPi as a security camera - I think I used the same camera as well.
I found that the RPi got a bit hot and the failed after a few hours.
But whilst playing with the RPi's camera, I came across these:-

It is a ESCAM G02 - probably better models available now (I've been using then for a couple of years) but a quick search on eBay finds them in China for about 20 quid.
Includes full pan and tilt - if you want a remote camera its a no brainer - no need for a VPN but be careful about security.

This pic taken whilst typing this post - dark out in SC at the moment!!!

View attachment 85345

Who is that person in the pic you can just see peeking low down from behind the curtain

 

[Hurricane]

Another way to do it similar and can be zero cost

If you switch you broadband provider to Vodafone 4G/5G with unlimited data you get a Gigacube 4 g router. When you go to your boat and if no one is left at home you can just pack you 4g router with you and plug it in when you get to the boat...… 4g portable internet

Yes - but what about when you move the router outside the UK.
I think you will fiend a data limit would be applied.

 

[markc]

Yes - but what about when you move the router outside the UK.
I think you will fiend a data limit would be applied.

Yep, you're right - I have a Vodafone 5G GigaCube in the office as a fallback in case we loose our regular connection. As I thought it could be a good option for the boat, I checked with Vodafone and it only works in the UK, zero roaming permitted.

 

[GSL]

Good deal, but still subject to a 25gb pm data cap when roaming I'm afraid.

Not the one I bought

I checked very clearly with them, there is no cap whatsoever.

 

[markc]

Not the one I bought

I checked very clearly with them, there is no cap whatsoever.

Hey GSL - sorry for being a 'dog with a bone', but I have genuinely been looking for an unlimited roaming package, with zero luck. All mobile phone companies are very adept at obfuscating their small print, which is bad for all of us consumers. So, the last thing I would want is someone reading this thread and then assuming that Vodafone offer unlimited roaming, when I can find no evidence that they do. Mobiles.co.uk are part of Carphone, and AFAIK they are just re sellers of Vodafone's normal packages, and they simply refer to Vodafone's T&Cs which clearly state that with global roaming, unlimited packages are capped at 25gb per month. I promise I'm not trying to be a d1ck about this, but it may be worth double checking directly with Vodafone as, if you are like me, and don't use that much data in the UK, but loads abroad, the unlimited package may only be giving you a 1/4 of the roaming data that you had on your previous package. On the other hand, if you can find anything in black and white that confirms unlimited data roaming, then I'm all in!

 

[GSL]

Hey GSL - sorry for being a 'dog with a bone', but I have genuinely been looking for an unlimited roaming package, with zero luck. All mobile phone companies are very adept at obfuscating their small print, which is bad for all of us consumers. So, the last thing I would want is someone reading this thread and then assuming that Vodafone offer unlimited roaming, when I can find no evidence that they do. Mobiles.co.uk are part of Carphone, and AFAIK they are just re sellers of Vodafone's normal packages, and they simply refer to Vodafone's T&Cs which clearly state that with global roaming, unlimited packages are capped at 25gb per month. I promise I'm not trying to be a d1ck about this, but it may be worth double-checking directly with Vodafone as, if you are like me, and don't use that much data in the UK, but loads abroad, the unlimited package may only be giving you a 1/4 of the roaming data that you had on your previous package. On the other hand, if you can find anything in black and white that confirms unlimited data roaming, then I'm all in!

Hi Mark

No problem with you being "a dog with a bone", that is exactly what long wet winter Sundays are for.

I can only relate to the last Vodafone sim I bought just on a year ago from Mobiles.co.uk.

That one had 100 Gb of data and on many occasions, several times in the last year I used over 95 Gb in a week down on the boat in Spain. I kept a watch on the Data usage using the My Vodafone app on my phone, and if I needed more I simply set up a Hotspot off my Vodafone mobile which also has 100 Gb of data. Never ran into a problem on either. My partner also took the Sim in a dongle to Austria on several of her long visits, and always used it without problem to watch UK TV.

I was very specific when I upgraded to this new one, and I really don't believe I will have a problem.

I have been through these terms and conditions, and see no limits. Please do point out whatever you find that says they can cap what I get, as said, over the last year, never a problem, but always happy to cancel in the next 14 days if they have misled me.

https://media.secure-mobiles.com/tandc/www/paym/vodafone.pdf

Graham