WiFi on the East Coast.

FullCircle

FullCircle

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I wonder if you would all do a bit of experimentation and reporting for me and the Eastcoastpilots for inclusion in the next revision, and probably on the site.

I am trying to survey the Crouch and Roach for different areas where you can pick up WiFi signals to operate your internet.

I have tried out Rochford on the Roach, and you can get 54Mbps (excellent) signal for BT Openzone, which you have to pay for.

I will survey the rest of the Crouch on my way round.

Thanks all.
 
If anyone has BT as their ISP at home, then 'opt-in' to their FON service. Its free, and when your registration is accepted you get free access to all UK based BT Openzone hotspots, plus any other FON hotspots. The additional FON channel opened in your BT Homehub is secure.

Worked for me last summer at Weymouth where the marina charge for BT Openzone.
 
Just to expand on FC's initial post....quite a few people have suggested that we do this, provide a directory of what I'd call "where's hot, where's not" in terms of places afloat where internet access works well, works OK, doesn't work at all, and what kit (from standard PC internal wifi adaptors to smart-phones) was involved.
The directory would be built from contributions from all over the EC on a basis that those interested in internet access might share what they've found in exchange for info about access at other locations.
We've made a start at building it at the 'internetafloat' page on our website. We'll give it a go for a year and see if it grows into something worthwhile.
 
Gillingham marina

Gillingham marina have just installed WiFi. Haven't tried it yet . Will do so later this week and report back.
Andy
 
AJB43 said:
Gillingham marina have just installed WiFi. Haven't tried it yet . Will do so later this week and report back.
Andy
Click to expand...

Gillingham is using Spectrum:

http://www.spectruminteractive.co.uk/marinas/sites/

You'll need to pay for it, but I gather that once you do so you can also log in at the other sites.

Got a good signal when I tried it, but didn't feel the need to part with cash at the time.
 
Cantata said:
Just to expand on FC's initial post....quite a few people have suggested that we do this, provide a directory of what I'd call "where's hot, where's not" in terms of places afloat where internet access works well, works OK, doesn't work at all, and what kit (from standard PC internal wifi adaptors to smart-phones) was involved.
The directory would be built from contributions from all over the EC on a basis that those interested in internet access might share what they've found in exchange for info about access at other locations.
We've made a start at building it at the 'internetafloat' page on our website. We'll give it a go for a year and see if it grows into something worthwhile.
Click to expand...

FYI, Shotley isn't always good. Often it doesn't work at all and sometimes it's very weak. Other times it's fine.

When it doesn't work, i always get a good signal with my mobile on Vodafone dial up. Not broadband, just pay per minute on my contract. It isn't contract internet or broadband, as i rarely use it. For the months i don't use it there is no cost, if i use it for an odd day there is a small charge. Really handy for checking the weather when no wifi is available.
 
it should be free

OK so it's south rather than east coast. Actually it's not really coast at all... but Helsinki Airport has free WiFi. i'm typing this on it, on my mobile phone.

If coffee shops (average transaction = £2) can offer free WiFi, how come a marina (average transaction = £20) cannot?
 
If you sit in a coffee shop for a few minutes (average) you'll only download a few emails, and use very little bandwidth. A very few people will try to stay for hours and use MB or GB of bandwidth, and they will fall foul of fair use limits.

Many people in marinas are business people, and will want to be online for hours at a time, or even days (there are liveaboards in marinas) and could use GB of bandwidth weekly or even over a weekend. Given free access, many people abuse it. The costs then become significant.
It's manageable when people only spend a small amount of time in one place. When they are there for many hours, days, weeks, often with little else to do......
 
BrendanS said:
If you sit in a coffee shop for a few minutes (average) you'll only download a few emails, and use very little bandwidth. A very few people will try to stay for hours and use MB or GB of bandwidth, and they will fall foul of fair use limits.

Many people in marinas are business people, and will want to be online for hours at a time, or even days (there are liveaboards in marinas) and could use GB of bandwidth weekly or even over a weekend. Given free access, many people abuse it. The costs then become significant.
It's manageable when people only spend a small amount of time in one place. When they are there for many hours, days, weeks, often with little else to do......
Click to expand...

Fair comment.

I don't know if this includes 3G dongles, if so I'll send reports as I get them. As it stands, I can get 3G signal using vodafone usb dongle (Linux or Windows) in Walton backwaters, but not in Levington marina (GPRS there). I get 3G in Lowestoft, but GPRS in Wells next the Sea.

FWIW I gave up trying to get usable WiFi signals in SYH, Ramsgate, Lowestoft, as the signal strength was so poor when it reached my little netbook that even if I'd paid, it would have been unusable. Why did I go for the Vodafone? For £50.00 I got the dongle and £15.00 (1GB) of use, but not restricted in time scale. I don't pay a monthly fee, and don't have to use it within a month. This was bought last july and Ive still got £6.00 left. OK so I don't download youtube videos, but do check all my emails, weather sites and any OU stuff. Not bad I reckon

Ian
 
We were sitting in Titchmarsh Marina yesterday with 54 Mbps (with Spectrum). They lost a central aerial last winter and now have installed multiple aerials on the pontoons which seem to be excellent. Cost was £7.50 for 24 hours - sliding tariff up to £125 for a years use.
 
Last edited:
DipperToo said:
If anyone has BT as their ISP at home, then 'opt-in' to their FON service. Its free, and when your registration is accepted you get free access to all UK based BT Openzone hotspots, plus any other FON hotspots. The additional FON channel opened in your BT Homehub is secure.

Worked for me last summer at Weymouth where the marina charge for BT Openzone.
Click to expand...

I've got a BT HomeHub at home and in theory you can get onto any one who also has a BT HomeHub(250minutes free from memory) but I've found in practice that it was very iffy. Last year in St Katherines dock in London I got several good signals but very soon after logging on the signal dropped out - it was very frustrating and gave up in the end.
 
When in St Kat's for a couple of weeks this month I had the berth next to Starbucks. I was worried it might be noisy - then I realised that as a Starbucks loyalty card holder I get free wi-fi in Starbucks - or on a boat parked outside! And they don't turn off their router when the shop's closed.
 
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