Wifi onboard... my solution

lisilou

lisilou

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After the numerous threads about wifi solutions for the poor reception in marinas etc, I thought I'd post what I've just gone and done.

Wifi reception for us where we're berthed is blocked by the big boat two pontoons up so I always have to tether my phone. That's always been fine for regular browsing and emailing etc but rubbish for streaming and downloads coz it eats too much data so...I researched and looked thru the options available including wifi boosters etc and have concluded the best option for us is to get one of these: http://www.coolsmartphone.com/2014/08/02/ee-launch-kite-4g-mifi-device/.

I've got it on a 30 day rolling contract for £20 pm giving me 15gb with EE.

I'm using it for the first time today onboard and can tell you it does the job perfectly! Streaming is perfect. We're in a 4g area and only occasionally will it flit back to 3g but I only notice that coz I've been checking the device info screen.

It's neat and tidy; slightly smaller than an iphone 4; I can pop it in a pocket and take it anywhere with me. Simple as.

So, if anyone is thinking along the lines of a mifi unit, this is one I can recommend.

L
:)
 
Not a bad price, but careful how much you stream - especially if it's HD. I watched film on Netflix onboard and used 4.4GB for one film. YouTube kills data too.

Anders
 
HD's a no-no for sure and it'll be interesting to see what I can do with 15gig. I think it'll be fine but I'm monitoring it. So far today I've used 500 MB for the usual browsing, 1 album download and a tiny bit of live tv streaming.
4G is pretty awesome I have to say (until it drops out).
L
:)
 
I'm near end of A pontoon, the transmitter for the pontoon isn't far from my boat, the reception is very limited, I'm down there midweek so the load on reception and speed is very low, I bet I'm the only one on board most of the time yet the speed is pathetic. I've done speed tests, it's under 2 meg which for wireless BB isn't on. I sometimes switch to 3G when it's bad and tether my iPad to my phone as a source of Internet, it's quicker.

My view on swanwicks wifi is that it was put into the marina to make money NOT to serve its paying berth holders, they offer upgrades if you pay extra, you only get 4 free hours per day, so this would not suit a business user who keeps there boat onsite and would like to escape the rat race and work from the boat.
I would have thought at least there would be free 24 hour useage , they don't put this in there adverts to attract berth holders, they really should! And it's run by another company that want premium rate phone call charges if you need to speak to them, for nearly 9k a year I think free wifi should be included. My personal experience is that 3 g is faster, it doesn't break down when watching videos, where the wifi does.
 
Free, unlimited wifi at all marinas will come sooner rather than later I think. To be fair, when the big Pearl goes out for the day, the marina wifi is very quick and uninterrupted. When they come back...I have to use 3G. This mifi unit suits me down to the ground and up to 10 devices can run off it wirelessly. (not that I'll be encouraging that lol).
L
:)
 
volvopaul said:
Yes I did wonder that, I guess it's all about a free share of it while it's available. Good point.
Click to expand...

It depends on the spec of the system, if they're dumb access points you can specify bandwidth limit per client as a fixed limit. If they have an intelligent access point controller that knows available bandwidth vs number of connected users then bandwidth can be scaled based on the number of wifi clients (users).
 
Anders_P42 said:
It depends on the spec of the system, if they're dumb access points you can specify bandwidth limit per client as a fixed limit. If they have an intelligent access point controller that knows available bandwidth vs number of connected users then bandwidth can be scaled based on the number of wifi clients (users).
Click to expand...

All I can say is that it's very slow. Also it won't support voice calls through my app from 3 to make calls via wifi. Infact it reminds me of my old days on dial up!
 
Interesting point very well made Paul.

Foulkes offer a first class Wifi at no additonal charge, just a brief ad for them when you log in. By my reckoning they are about half what the downstream marinas charge.

Yet my travels invariably mean p1ss poor wifi from most Marinas, and Paul is right - the service they provide is hardly a cheap one. No excuse in 2014 for inadequate wifi, or treating their punters like mugs.
 
F.me we lost wqifi for tree mufs and they blame the supplyer if its free how can we comlain ad rarfer pay and cuplayne if ronng
 
lisilou said:
After the numerous threads about wifi solutions for the poor reception in marinas etc, I thought I'd post what I've just gone and done.

Wifi reception for us where we're berthed is blocked by the big boat two pontoons up so I always have to tether my phone. That's always been fine for regular browsing and emailing etc but rubbish for streaming and downloads coz it eats too much data so...I researched and looked thru the options available including wifi boosters etc and have concluded the best option for us is to get one of these: http://www.coolsmartphone.com/2014/08/02/ee-launch-kite-4g-mifi-device/.

I've got it on a 30 day rolling contract for £20 pm giving me 15gb with EE.

I'm using it for the first time today onboard and can tell you it does the job perfectly! Streaming is perfect. We're in a 4g area and only occasionally will it flit back to 3g but I only notice that coz I've been checking the device info screen.

It's neat and tidy; slightly smaller than an iphone 4; I can pop it in a pocket and take it anywhere with me. Simple as.

So, if anyone is thinking along the lines of a mifi unit, this is one I can recommend.

L
:)
Click to expand...

Absolutely brilliant solution Lisa!

And yes, I do work for EE so am rather biased :encouragement:
 
lisilou said:
After the numerous threads about wifi solutions for the poor reception in marinas etc, I thought I'd post what I've just gone and done.

Wifi reception for us where we're berthed is blocked by the big boat two pontoons up so I always have to tether my phone. That's always been fine for regular browsing and emailing etc but rubbish for streaming and downloads coz it eats too much data so...I researched and looked thru the options available including wifi boosters etc and have concluded the best option for us is to get one of these: http://www.coolsmartphone.com/2014/08/02/ee-launch-kite-4g-mifi-device/.

I've got it on a 30 day rolling contract for £20 pm giving me 15gb with EE.

I'm using it for the first time today onboard and can tell you it does the job perfectly! Streaming is perfect. We're in a 4g area and only occasionally will it flit back to 3g but I only notice that coz I've been checking the device info screen.

It's neat and tidy; slightly smaller than an iphone 4; I can pop it in a pocket and take it anywhere with me. Simple as.

So, if anyone is thinking along the lines of a mifi unit, this is one I can recommend.

L
:)
Click to expand...

Lisa, another option is to move your home broadband to EE and they give you 10GB 4G for your mobile for free.. that's what I have done and have never used up the 10GB.. their broadband is reliable and fast I am currently connecting at 40MB/sec so as I would have to pay for the fibre BB with another company anyway, I am effectively getting free 4G on the phone.
 
volvopaul said:
I'm near end of A pontoon, the transmitter for the pontoon isn't far from my boat, the reception is very limited, I'm down there midweek so the load on reception and speed is very low, I bet I'm the only one on board most of the time yet the speed is pathetic. I've done speed tests, it's under 2 meg which for wireless BB isn't on. I sometimes switch to 3G when it's bad and tether my iPad to my phone as a source of Internet, it's quicker.

My view on swanwicks wifi is that it was put into the marina to make money NOT to serve its paying berth holders, they offer upgrades if you pay extra, you only get 4 free hours per day, so this would not suit a business user who keeps there boat onsite and would like to escape the rat race and work from the boat.
I would have thought at least there would be free 24 hour useage , they don't put this in there adverts to attract berth holders, they really should! And it's run by another company that want premium rate phone call charges if you need to speak to them, for nearly 9k a year I think free wifi should be included. My personal experience is that 3 g is faster, it doesn't break down when watching videos, where the wifi does.
Click to expand...

Use the feedback link!!!
https://www.premiermarinas.com/uk-marina-locations/swanwick-marina/about-swanwick-marina/wifi

The original wifi statement - guess they had to add the charging option due to the provider
 

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With Lisa, went the EE route. Negotiated the box free when I brought a new laptop for pc world.

Agree with other comments, for the fee's we pay as birth holders you would expect a decent wifi service but I guess it comes down to the marinas trying to squeeze every last penny out of us
 
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