Wireless internet access and 'hotspots'

[tworeefs]

Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

I was at the boatshow today and used Squaremile's shore-based wi-fi internet cafe. I was impressed with the speed of access to the internet. Having now done a little research I can see that Squaremile and others appear to providing Wi-fi access at an increasing number of marinas. I would be interested in knowing what experience forum members have of using this and is it really usable and effective when on a boat in a marina? Also, is anyone aware of coverage on the French side?

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[BrendanS]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

Do you have any connection with the companies in question?
Do a search on the forums (multiple) and you'll get a good idea of what can be expected

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[ashley]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

Squaremile do not have sites outside of UK yet, but hopefully this may change soon.
I've had quite a lot of experince with squaremile and wireless stuff in general and as far as i'm aware, there are only a couple of wireless marinas in France and I've set up one of those.
I'm heading to paris this winter where I'm hoping to sort out some of the marinas there.
Croatia now has a network along the coast in major bases and you'll probably find many access points popping up in or around marinas next year. take you access card and see where you can find access.
Wireless is obviously more profitable in hotels, stations and airports so only the brave are rolling them out in marinas
Ashley

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[Forty_Two]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

In La Napoule (South of France) WIFI was enabled earlier this year & is excellent. 600€ for the year for unlimited access. Several other ports have systems, more i guess next year.

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[ashley]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

jeez 600€!!

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[Forty_Two]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

Thats for the year. As i used 150MB of GPRS in 6 weeks logging on to office network before WIFI was available it looks cheap from my view. Depends what you need it for i guess.

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[tworeefs]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

No connection to the companies in question.

I had tried a search and had come up with very little information. Had another search this morning and still can't find much. If there something under a specific subject heading?
thanks

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[tworeefs]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

If you subscribe to a service provided by one company does that allow you to access the internet in any marina where there is a 'hotspot'? Or do you have to have a subscription with each different provider?

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[BustinAround]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

WIFI isn't GPRS however, 600 euros is extortianate!

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[pragmatist]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

I've looked long and hard - would make a big difference to us. The Premier Marina chain which includes Falmouth, Beaucette, Chichester, Brighton and some others have implemented it. My understanding is you can get a day rate or an annual - in fact I'm not sure someone in Brighton (kilkerr1) didn't say it came with the nightly berthing rate.

I'm also told that MDL are planning it.

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !

 

[tworeefs]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

I asked the guys at MDL about them implementing it and they said that they were trialling 3 marinas. Looking at the squaremile website it looks as they are Hamble Point, Mecury and Port Hamble.

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[Forty_Two]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

I disagree that 600€ for the year is expensive. It's about £33.50 / month fixed price. For this cost i can spend more time on the boat &. its not much more than the cost of a decent home broadband (unlimited). Speed is good enough not to worry about the difference between wired broadband.

You can use other hotspots but only if from the same company which is the only limitation. But its easy enough to buy day passes in other ports for different providers. I have no connection with the company (Tekworld) who provide this service.

With GPRS at anything upto £4+ /MB it's a nightmare for anyone who uses a lot of data, ie VPN to the office & keeping upto date on virus checkers etc. It's only advantage is coverage. I'm a total convert to WIFI.


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[pragmatist]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

Me too 42 ! Our office is in the wilds of Exmoor and we have 2Mbps symmetrical courtesy of wireless ! Love to have it on the boat too - at a reasonable price - did see a post on Liveaboard Link which quoted Croatian marinas charging £6/per hour !!!

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !

 

[pragmatist]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

HWMBO has just found this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.totalhotspots.com/>http://www.totalhotspots.com/</A>.

Enter town or post code to see all hot spots - Plymouth is covered in 'em. If the marinas don't always do it it looks as though you can have a pint and a browse in lots of places ! Our local town has its only hotspot on Macdonalds - think I'll give that a miss.

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !

On looking further - it's v pricey though - £4.50 to £6.00 (BT & McDonalnds of course ! !) per hour. <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by pragmatist on 17/09/2004 15:59 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[mikewilkes]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

Telephonica in Barcelona charge euros 12 per day and that is the only rate quoted at the moment in Port Vell.
Thats 4,380 pa so I guess 600 is cheap!!!

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[tworeefs]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

Congratulations to HWMBO. A very useful website. However, I don't know how up-to-date or complete it is, as I couldn't find any marinas listed!

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[Stemar]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

I have a mate in Haslar who had Sq Mile and gave it up because it often took him 2 hours to log on, and he found SQ M to be very unhelpful.

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[BlueSkyNick]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

That's helpful thank you, although I wouldnl;t take my laptop into some of the pubs shown in the areas I checked. They are Hot Spots in a different sense of the expression

<hr width=100% size=1>I'm H A P P Y, I'm H A P P Y...I know I am, I'm sure ...etc. (New engine works wonders!)

 

[pragmatist]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

Maybe as a chap you might get a different type of laptop ?!

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !

 

[pessimist]

Re: Wireless internet access and \'hotspots\'

I've told you before not to talk to strange men. You would not constitute a laptop, more a lap full, I may be absent from this forum for some while as I need to take cover.

<hr width=100% size=1>A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts