boat Wi-Fi for laptop

[dreamer*65]

I've read most of the posts relating to getting Wi-Fi access on my boat (2013 R 27), but am still a little confused. I would like to have Wi-Fi access preferably for my laptop while on the water. Do I simply buy an antenna or router and install (or get installed)? Do I need to subscribe to a Wi-Fi "provider" once installed? Or is it easier to buy a smart phone and connect my laptop to that for Wi-Fi etc. etc. ?

I really prefer to work on a laptop (which I will have to occasionally do 🙁 ), and I'm not opposed to joining modern times by purchasing a smart phone and learning that darn thing if that is the easiest way to do it.

But, the simplest, easiest solution to getting Wi-Fi on the boat will be my favorite solution🙂

Thanks!

 

[Red Raven]

My vote would be to buy a smart phone for yourself and use that as your personal phone as well as the the boat's internet access. Discontinue any other cell phone you have. Set up your new phone up with a Verizon data plan on that matches your needs and the hotspot (phone acts as a WiFi router) feature is free. When you turn the hotspot on on the phone it will look just like a WiFi router to your laptop. Select the phone on your laptop's WiFi connection enter the phones hotspot password and you are done. No wires, nothing extra to buy but a smart phone you can use for all your other needs, and only one data plan. This is what we do on our boat. We run two iPads and two iphones (we each have our own) off of one two line plan.

Note: If you need wifi on the boat (security system etc.) when you are not there you will need an additional device and data plan.

Curt

 

[Scuffy]

We use a Verizon Elippis WIFI hotspot/ jetpack. It shares the same data plan with our phones. For us we like the idea of a separate device that we use while on the boat and while trailering that is separate from our phones. We typically run a 400 watt inverter while on the boat or in the truck with a six way power strip to power the hotspot, charge phones, power laptops Ipads or camera batteries. We use Coastal Explorer on a laptop to navigate with and the internet connection provides us with weather ,conditions as long as we have an internet service. We have had good luck with Verizon's network. But that's just us. Been using the same basic setup since 2009. Lose the phone, get it wet, stolen, the phone gets weird we still have internet.

 

[rick.southard]

We are currently doing the loop. About 4 months ago I purchased a Wirie and have had wifi everywhere we have been. We connect 2 laptops, 2 smart phones and a tablet to the Wirie's wifi router and have the added security of having our own onboard network.

http://bit.ly/2qjdCvA

I have no connection to the company (other than sending them my money) but I do think their product is exactly what I needed.

 

[Scottfree]

Which model wirie did you purchase? We are planning on starting the loop in mid August and want access to lots of data. Are the plans reasonable priced?

Thanks

 

[Cutwater28GG]

this long article is worth a read on some of the tech if you are interested.
https://sailbits.com/projects/marina-wifi-hard/

there are a few options out there for range extenders. wifi extenders or cell phone boosters.
if you are going to be in normal cell phone range of good LTE data than just get a good cell phone data plan and use your phone as a hotspot for the laptop.

if however you will be in weaker coverage you will need a aerial and booster. there are a bunch of options on the market. i.e. small businesses who will package up a set of very similar parts into something more ready to go.
the above mikrotik gear is very good value but this guy does go to the extreme on the other equipment - its the royal royce implementation - I think he's a networking professional as a day job 🙂

the main question is whether you are targetting cell data or wifi or both as the source.