WiFi

[Pye_End]

Having invested in a new toy (WiFi netbook) - where on the east coast (plus local France/Belgium/Holland) can I use it for 1/free or 2/for a cost?

Thinking initially of where people offer it as a service rather than people who have neglected to password protect their connection!

Would I be better off buying a Vodaphone dongle (don't anticipate being high usage).

 

[MoodySabre]

Shotley free
Ostend free
McDonalds free

There are several sites like this but they are detailed Free hotspots

 

[Cantata]

Recently found I could get on the Colne YC for free from the pontoon at B'sea although I do use a range entender.
I've found lots around but haven't kept a note of them. In Holland...Middelberg...Arne YC. I'll try and remember some more.
Lots of folk in towns still have no WiFi security but of course that is irrelevant to your question, isin't it.

 

[lyc]

Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club, Lowestoft has free WiFi

 

[Koeketiene]

RNSYC - Ostend. Free

 

[Vara]

Vodafone Dongle

Would I be better off buying a Vodaphone dongle (don't anticipate being high usage).

Vodafone dongle PAYG(Lite £15/Gb) won't work in Europe, but good for UK.

 

[Cantata]

Actually there are a lot of places where WiFi is now offered 'at a price' as well as the freebies.
Another free location I've remembered is Ipswich Haven Marina, where the marina offer a pay-for service but a business a few yards from the marina building offers a free one (or did when I was last there!).
MDL Marinas e.g. Woolverstone and Chatham offer a pay-for service but also have a 2-hour 'free trial', OK for a one-night stop for most people, I guess.
I do have a '3' network PAYG dongle which I used up the East Coast this month in a few places, you buy credit at £10 a throw which expires after a month. It was 'OK' but I was very unimpressed with the slow connection speed.

 

[wingdiver]

Foxs Yacht Club free but poor quality (surely not )
VW Arne yacht club Middelburgh in the clubhouse (free)
Colijnsplaat marina (free)
Hellevoetsluis Marina (at cost)

 

[Pye_End]

Thanks all - a usefull start to the list.

Does anyone know about Ramsgate; Dover; Burnham and Bradwell?

Dick - a useful page for your website?

 

[Vara]

Thanks all - a usefull start to the list.

Does anyone know about Ramsgate; Dover; Burnham and Bradwell?

Dover wifi shows 2 sites, but have not been able to log on using inbuilt WiFi, may need something a bit stronger.

Both 3 and Voda dongles work in Dover (Granville), 3 being quicker!!!!

 

[MoodySabre]

Bradwell?

No

 

[Koeketiene]

There's 'something' at Ramsgate.

Don't know whether it's free or not - never got a decent signal.

 

[wingdiver]

There's 'something' at Ramsgate.

Don't know whether it's free or not - never got a decent signal.

Have you ever considered your own wifi system on board to get better signals from wifi networks around the place? It makes life easier all round.

We have an omnidirectional aerial on the top of our mizzen which goes into Box one (bridge) which connects directly to Box two (router) which sends the signal around our boat (and beyond). It was pretty straightforward to put together.

The idea is twofold -

the aerial picks up signals far better than the little wifi widget in your laptop ever can (especially if you are down below) so you will get better signals or even pick up networks you couldn't otherwise

the wifi network you create means you can sit somewhere sensible to get the signal (e.g. chart table) rather than crouched under the sprayhood in the drizzle.

It even means you can pick things up from a yacht club whilst still on board rather than having to wander up with your laptop and have a beer.

 

[Cantata]

There's 'something' at Ramsgate. Don't know whether it's free or not - never got a decent signal.

The marina runs a paid-for service, Oceanwave. Small cafe (whose name escapes me) at end of arches at back of inner harbour used to run a free service. But from the West marina you'd need a range extender.

 

[jaak ennuste]

Generally there are 2 different low-budget ways to get Internet. First is WiFi. Usually, its a good idea is to use amplified USB WiFi extender or even WiFi-CAT5 router to get hi quality signal.

On the sea, only possible way is to use USB Internet dongle. I have post in my blog covering this method: http://sailinggadgets.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/usb-internet-dongle/

Jaak

 

[MikeBz]

Wifi is available on the pontoons at Brightlingsea (there is an access point on the end of the visitor's pontoon). Service provided by http://www.brightlingseawireless.co.uk/, access to a small handful of websites (inc. Met Office) is free, pay-as-you-go otherwise.

Mike

 

[Mariner69]

The O2 dongle gives better service on the East Coast where the Vodafone signal is very poor.

We, as a business, had been complaining to Vodafone since the mid 90's and were always promised a service improvement the following year. In 2002 we went to O2. The signal is better but still has a lot of fade out problems. Vodafone/O2 prepaid we found good for foreign trips, including west africa, but could be very, very expensive. One bill £4,000 for a month. Ouch....

The free ones seem to do the trick now.

 

[Pye_End]

Suffolk Yacht Harbour = £5 per day or £10 per month.