wi-fi and how to get it

N

notaclue

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2008
Messages
123
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
Vessel Name
CHRISTINA BEE
HEY NUTTERS, NEED SOME ADVICE FROM ANY ONE WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT COMPUTERS THAN I DO'[ THAT WOULD BE .....ALL OF YOU.] WHILE IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO WATCH THE SUPERBOWL ON A FIFTY FOOTER AND AT THE END OF THE GAME I TOLD OUR HOST I WAS WALKING UP TO THE MARINA TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR FREE WI-FI..... HE SAID IT WASNT NECESSARY AS HE COULD ACCESS IT FROM HIS BOAT BECAUSE HE HAD INSTALLED.... SOME SORT OF BOOSTER /AMPLIFIER, THINGY THAT ALLOWED HIM TO GET THE SIGNAL ON HIS BOAT, PROBOBLY IOO YDS FROM THE OFFICE. I GO THE THE IMPRESSION IT DID NOT INVOLVE ANY KIND OF A CARD WITH AN INSUEING CONTRACT,ETC,ETC. DOES ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SUCH A DEVICE??? YOU ALREADY KNOW I DON'T HAVE A CLUE ,,, SO WHATS AVAILABLE?? HOW MUCH?? WHERE : DO WE GET ONE?? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.. STEVE AND TINA,,,, SOON TO BE BACK IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ .. 😀 😀 IT WOULD REALLY BE NICE TO NOT HAVE TO HAUL MY PC TO THE MARINA CANTINA EVERY TIME I WANTED TO CHECK BUOY WEATHER, AND THINK OF WHAT I WOULD SAVE ON MY BAR TAB!!!
 
I just sent this information to Capt D down in Marathon. Jeff Siegel, the creator of Active Captain, installed and strongly recommends a solution developed by Island Time PC in FL. They've tested and bundled together devices which significantly increase your reach, and provide you with a network solution which can be used by more than one device on, or near, your boat.

You can learn about it here. Very reasonably priced. I was impressed by the screenshots, provided by a user, of access points he was able to pick up in the Bahamas. Check them out here.

We have a similar system installed on our boat - Networked Boat from Broadband Express - who provide a number of packages of various strengths. It works well, but the package offered by Island Time PC looks like a great value.

Cheers
 
THANKS BRUCE FOR THAT GREAT INFO. I JUST TOLD TINA TO SCURRY OFF TO GET HER CREDIT CARD. WILLL LET YOUKNOW HOW IT ALL WORKS OUT FROM THE SEA OF CORTEZ. THANKS AGAIN STEVE AND TINA ABOARD THE CHRISTINA BEE.
 
OK NUTTERS, HERE IS ANOTHER [PROBABLY STUPID] COMPUTER QUESTION, I AM GUESSING MY HP PC RUNS ON ABOUT 19 VOLTS. THE INTERNAL BATTERY SEEMS TO HAVE AN OPERATING TIME OF LESS THAN AN HOUR... WATCHING A MOVIE, MAYBE 15 MINUTES,, NEW BATTERY... MY QUESTION, BY RUNING OFF OF OUR INVERTOR , WHICH I UNDERSTAND USES QUITE A BIT OF VOLTAGE JUST BEING ON... I GO BACK TO USING THE COMPUTER ON ESSENTIALLY AC POWER... THEREFORE IS THERE ANY SORT OF ADAPTER I COULD PLUG INTO MY 12 VOLT RECEPTICLE THAT WOULD BOOST THE VOLTAGE TO RUN THE COMPUTER,,, NOT HAVING TO INVERT ALL THE WAY TO 110 THEN HAVE MY REGULAR PLUG BRING IT BACK TO 19VOLTS.. ESSENTIALLY, CAN I GET FROM 12 VOLTS TO 19 VOLTS WITHOUT HAVING TO RUN THE BIG CONVERTER ??? I HOPE THIS QUESTION ISN"T AS DUMB AS IT SOUNDS.... THANKING ANYONE WITH AN OPINION ON THIS IN ADVANCE,,, STEVE AND TINA :geek: :geek:
 
Check out trawlerbeachhouse.com. I have constructed the wi-fi booster shown via parts from the internet. The plans were written in an understandable form and it works! Cost approx. 120.00.
I spent one night in a local marina and was given the key to access the wi-fi. I have been anchored out the past week, one mile from the marina, and access their wi-fi each night. It works!!

Frank and Pam
 
tuggin aweigh":1atk0m7f said:
Check out trawlerbeachhouse.com. I have constructed the wi-fi booster shown via parts from the internet. The plans were written in an understandable form and it works! Cost approx. 120.00.
I spent one night in a local marina and was given the key to access the wi-fi. I have been anchored out the past week, one mile from the marina, and access their wi-fi each night. It works!!
Here is the link for that booster..... http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com ... sited.html
Frank and Pam
Click to expand...
 
notaclue,

Here is a link to a company that makes 12v computer power supplies. They were recommended to me by an electronics expert. Otherwise, I have no experience with or connection to this company.

http://carnetix.com/CNXP1900.htm

Larry H
 
We currnently use a Sprint "MIFI" on Karma. While this is great as it allows up to five others to connect, it is limited to the range of a cell phone. We traveled to the San Juans and back and only experienced issues in two locations with not being able to connect.

The other drawback that most people will not like is the cost. We pay $60.00 per month for unlimited service. If you were using the marines wifi, it would cost you nothing in most cases.

A plus to the MIFI though is you can use it anywhere that you can get a cell signal. If you are a passenger in a car, you can connect. If you are at an airport that does not offer free wifi, you can connect. If you are in one of those many hotels that now charge $10-$12 per 24 hour period to use their wifi, you can connect!

I am considering putting one of the bridges on Karma to allow us to connect when we are in one of those out of the way remote marinas that is using a land line to broadcast a wifi signal.
 
David,
We have the same kind of set up as you. But I will be putting one of these wifi boosters on for sure. I will be waiting to here what Steve reports from his next trip to Mexico. We to have had that issue in the san carlos marina Mex where you just can't quite pick up the signal.

I have a slip rented in the Everett marina starting the 10th of march for a month. We will be on O dock. What was the date of the seminar? We may see you in the area.

Stuart.......... Just a few more days! 😀
 
Stuart,
The Points North Seminar is March 13th. I am not sure, but I think it is full.

Mac? Can you get anyone else in????
 
No worries! I knew it was full and figured we would be over whelmed with getting the boat in order anyway. To be honest I have not even read up on what it is all about. I was thinking it was prep for a cruise that you all were doing in the later part of the year anyway, A cruise that we will not be able to attend. I could be wrong. :?

Stuart
 
Seems, at the very least, we could all say hello at the planned lunch break. Not sure what time it's scheduled, but we'll be at the Milltown Sailing Club.
 
Sounds Great! 🙂
 
If your cell phone is Windows Mobile based you can get this http://www.wmwifirouter.com/.

It's cheap and acts like a MiFi (makes your cell phone into a wifi router). Disadvantage if you have not cell phone service where your boat is. Other then that it works perfectly and you are not limited to a specific number of devices. Total cost: 19.99 euro. I just put it on my credit card.

Make sure you pay attention to the specs required of the phone. There is a free trial too.
 
I'm not sure if this will be something others may be interested in... check out autonetmobile.com

It says it is available at BestBuy and many other dealers (i just checked the Seattle area). it's a wifi router made to use in a car but I'm sure it would work in a boat as well, and can be moved from one vehicle to another cost is around $400 for the unit and 29-59 per month depending on the level of service you want. Don't know what installation costs.
 
Something new to add to the subject.........
We just purchased a smart phone from verizon. For $30/month you have unlimited internet access through your phone. You can also use this connection with your laptop for those web sites that are flash based. If you connect to your laptop there is, however, a limit to how much data you can transfer per month.

So, you can have internet access anywhere you have cell access. In the PNW we can get the ferry wind speeds and NOA almost anywhere. Nice to be able to get the info. while you are underway instead of at the dock.
 
unlimited download over the at&t 3g network to our iPad is $30/mo. We just returned from our first RV trip using the iPad instead of the laptop and are very pleased.
 
Trinity, do you know if this flat rate of $30 includes Canadian waters as well?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top