(Note: I expect this document to evolve as I get feedback on what I've written from the folks here. If you see changes in the future, that's why. :))
I'm the marinas resident Geek. I helped the guy who actually got *paid* to put in the wirless network, and now I am Johnny-on-the-spot when someone has trouble accessing our network. ::) Based on my experience, people who claim that IT is a high-paying career are liars. ;) However, getting someone online who's been having trouble with it themselves has been a good way to get a free Scotch or a cold beer while talking with other boaters.
It is easier and works better than pretending an interest in their stinkpot while trying to think of what honest-sounding question to ask next. While "Hey, have any free drinks onboard that gorgeous stinkpot thingy there?" will work some times, "Whew, typing makes me thirsty, but you're online now..." gets 'em every time. ;D Anyway, here are some observations from my point of view...
My troubleshooting role puts me in contact with the larger percentage of 'net using transients who come through our marina, which advertises 'net access and is convienently located just off the ICW. I make it a point to ask these folks about their other 'net experiences as they've traveled, mostly out of plain curiosity.
Wireless access is fairly widespread, at least along the east coast ICW. I think that if getting online from onboard is a priority to you, you shouldn't have too much problem finding marinas with 'net access as long as you do a little planning ahead.
You'll run into 2 different kinds of networks out there: unsecured networks and secured networks. I won't get into real techy stuff here, but here is a basic description -
Unsecured networks use no "encryption" - that is, your data is transmitted in the clear. Whatever gets sent across the network is just out there winging through the air. This could be bad if there is a person with nefarious intent and a good bit of geeky techknowledge in the area. They would be able to read your data much as you would.
Secured networks use encryption to "scramble" the data that is out there winging through the air. Yep, it's the same data, it's still there for the bad guy to grab and mess with, but it is a little harder for him to make sense of it. Basically, that's all it is, and whatever others may say different, I personally feel that you should be *very* cautious about transmitting any data wirelessly, even on an encrypted network.
A discussion about encryption security could take pages. No need to get into it here, there are plenty of websites out there if you want to discuss it, or read the mind-bending technical terminology used by those who can discuss it with some bit of competency. What remains is that, encrypted or not, on a wireless network there is a time when bad guys can grab what you are receiving and/or transmitting, and so it behooves you to be caustious whenever using wireless.
OK, lets get past that, and on to what you need to know.
You'll need a computer with wireless capability. This requires either a built-in wireless networking card, or one that you plug into the computer. Either way, try and get one that is "802.11G" compatible. The "G" is important - it is the current fastest hardware. A computer with "802.11B" capability will also work, it's just slower (and usually cheaper because of that).
OK, you've got the hardware. That means you should be able to connect. Connecting to an unsecured network is really easy. It involves turning on your computer, and then waiting a bit. Have a drink while it gets all booted up, then go ahead and start surfing. It's about that easy. Have fun, and don't send any bank account login info.
To use secured networks, you will need to be a bit more of a Geek. I'm not going into the subject in depth, except to say that life will be MUCH easier for you if you learn a little bit about how to set your system up to use encryption *before* you get out there away from a connection that you know works for you (ie; the one you are using to read this :)).
Their are 2 standards of encryption you'll be dealing with: they are named WEP and WPA.
WPA is more recent, and I think less places are using it at the moment. Mor e on that in a bit. First, WEP...
WEP encryption has been broken - that means that there *are* tools out there for bad guys to use to take your encrypted data and *de-encrypt* it. Yikes! But WEP is better than nothing, and is compatable with more hardware and operating systems, as well as, in my experience, being quicker. Most of you will be using a Windows operating system, and as far as I know, any and all versions of Windows since Windows 98 can handle WEP encryption.
Not so with WPA encryption. In fact, the only Windows you'd be likely to be running which has built-in support for WPA would be Windows XP *with Service Pack 2*. <- Pay close attention to that. No Service Pack 2, no dice. That said, you should be able to download a program which will allow you to use WPA if you don't have this one particular version of Windows. Again, this is something you would be best off researching and taking care of now, before you get Out There.
OK, so that is what you are likely to run into as you travel. Based on my informal surveys of transients, about 50% of marinas are using some form of encryption. This means you have to learn some stuff *before* you leave about how to enable your computer to use encryption. As far as I can tell, my marina is one of the few which has a Geek who will come to your boat and help you out (if he is available and feels like it). So you should learn about wireless encryption and how to make it work on your computer before you leave. Lots of people don't, much to their chagrin when they try to connect to an encrypted network. If you take the couple of hours (at most) it will take for you to learn how to use encryption on your computer, you will save many more than that once you start traveling.
Not to mention that your Scotch will last longer. :)
Kurt, coupla comments:
(1)
Quote
Have fun, and don't send any bank account login info.
Most 'respectable' banks do logins via ssl, which is encrypted. As a matter of fact, I think banks are now required by law to use SSL. This means it is no less secure to login via wireless than over any other network since the underlying protocol is providing the security. A much larger danger is the passphrases being stored/cached on the local computer (to be read by worm, virus, spyware, etc).
The danger in using unsafe wireless is bad guys reading net login info, reading emails, seeing web sites surfed, or anything done on an open protocol.
On a related note, Win XP Home Edition, even Service Pack 2, has a few very serious flaws. Among them is the inability to set a policy to delete the page file when Windows is shut down. This means someone could steal your laptop (or just the hdd out of it) and read everything that was paged out during the last session (or last several sessions).
If you have Win XP Pro, you need to set the policy to delete the page file upon shutdown. This is serious flaw in Windows default behavior.
(2) You might want to suggest that your marina use IPSec over the wireless link. It's pretty tight (modern IPSec implementations can use AES, for example, and 3DES is 'standard' for everything except Microsoft, which can be configured to use 3DES). A IPSec/L2TP box acting as the router for the network would work and would require only that Windows clients use a VPN connection rather than a 'standard' net connection. (I prefer straight IPSec, without the L2TP layer; L2TP does not add any security but for some reason MS uses it standard). There are IPSec-only free clients for Win XP, but that would require an extra config step on the Win clients.
If they really care about securing the link, IPSec is the way to go. I would not trust the wireless-only protocols, but that's just me. ;)
(3) Delete this post if you don't want technobabble clogging up the thread. ;D
Catching Geeks is waaaaay easier than catching fish - just simplify some security stuff, or make some overbroad generalizations, you'll get *at least* one, every time! ;) LOL
/me pulls John's leg
Yeah, I know that there are some arguable things in what I wrote (even said that in there somewhere I think :)), but in the interests of brevity and ease, I tried to keep it as simple as possible. :) I didn't want to get any more techanickal than I did. :)
Besides, do you think that if SSl is/were cracked (however probable or improbable that may be, I don't know much about it)
1) whoever cracked it is talking about it, or are they sipping drinks on their megayacht off of Fiji?
and
2) if it is cracked, the *banks/CC companies/Feds* would say so? Can you say "lost faith" and "market crash"? ;D
Wait, don't answer that, or we'll go farther OT. ;D LOL
Great info Capt(s). Thanks
Any info on how to connect say mid Atlantic or Pacific...?
Yea,
Actually, there is new hope. "SCAMP" is a new way of transmitting data across HF (HAM) without expensive equpment. It is just getting started, but the prospects look good.
Ham should be within reach to even the most lazy cruiser now that he code requirement is being removed (easy way to start a fight is to bring that up at around a bunch of hams).
Just google SCAMP HAM for more info.
As far as connecting via satellite, the info I have been able to glean by asking cruisers is that while it is possible, you are gonna hate the data rates - think very slow dialup - 9600 baud, or, IIRC, about 1/4 the speed of 56K (John, correct me if I'm wrong on that). That would be *painfully* slow, for me. :) Might not be to bad, if all you are sending/receiving is text data, like email, but for any graphics at all, no thanks...
(Hey! This is my 100th post! I need a life, but, lacking that, I'll settle for a cold brewski... :) )
Satellite access is getting better, at $699 for Globalstar, .99 a minute, $39 a month (40 minutes free a month) and with the compression they say the data tranmission is 'ok'.
Still (IMHO) for email Winlink across an HF set is probably the best option. I have looked at sets that would fit my boat, (Icom, manual tuner, backstay antenna, TNC, for around a Grand.
Tempting, but still not in the range where I am ready to do it.
Thanks Capnk, this is great information. My wife and I are just reeling for the possibility of selling our home and living on-board. We are going to take this summer and get the C25 ready for sale and start looking for a bigger boat. Thanks again for the info. Cheers.
Quote from: CapnK on December 26, 2005, 11:52:11 PM
you are gonna hate the data rates - think very slow dialup - 9600 baud, or, IIRC, about 1/4 the speed of 56K (John, correct me if I'm wrong on that).
I don't know about the sat services suitable for offshore, but I have researched the sat internet access via direct TV. It's my understanding that the issue is not bandwidth (bit per second) but latency. Either way, slow is slow.
I'll have to agree with the others and say probably the best (most reliable) option is HAM based. And the beauty, since you already have the HAM gear on board, is if you are proficient with code, it is the BY FAR the most reliable method of getting word out in an emergency. Down side is getting license to cover useful DX bands.
Ok, CapnK, let me see if I can make you a rich IT dude... ;)
First a little technobable translation for the uninitiated.
VPN = Virtual Private Network. Basically a VPN creates an encrypted tunnel through which you transmit and receive your data. It is decrypted on the other end. Bad guys can see the encrypted data but it would be extremely difficult for them to crack the encryption.
CapnK, you setup a company that provides a VPN service. Sell access to your fellow cruisers. They can then use any wireless network (encrypted or not) to securely connect to the Internet through your VPN. Result, our fellow cruisers are safe, you have an eternal cruising kitty.
BTW, I like rum. :)
Okay, I'll confess . . . I'm a bit of a net junkie. I keep two blogs, admin a forum, and have a regular round of boards I frequent. Like most, there's places online that would worry about me if I disappeared for weeks at a time . . . lol. ::)
Now, part of the attraction of taking up sailing is, for me, getting away from all that; the kind of peace and quiet and contemplation I currently get on out of town trips, or when camping.
But . . . extended trips, like the ones I'll be able to take during the summer (I'm a high school teacher) it'd be nice to be able to get online---what are the options? WiFi, cable access uplinks, cellular networks? Is anyone using any of these?
Thanks, NANP
NANP,
I thought you might get some of the info you wanted here. I started to just post a link but thought a merge would help keep everyone on the same page....
Hope this helps.
Ah hah . . . I see I should have used the search function FIRST, lol. ::)
Thanks for merging my post with the appropriate thread! ;D
NANP
NANP -
Ahhh, another Geek in our midst... ;D
Hope the info is helpful. As you know, its a safe bet that access is only going to get more widespread and easier. Barring a massive EMP, of course. ;D
That's my thinking . . . I've been seeing ads for those satellite TV pods in Cruising World and, while TV is the LAST thing I'd want onboard . . . I do know you can get internet through your dish on land, although sending still requires a landline, AFAIK. Not too many pieces left in that puzzle!
Marina WiFi will probably be sufficient to my needs for quite some time, though. By the time that changes, I'm sure the technology will have to. ;D
NANP
Hi Nanp, when you say Marine WiFi, are you reffereing to the HAM system? I am still a little confused about how I can get internet over HAM. I just called Verizone because I heard a commercial that said they offer high speed internet by cell phone. What it is, is a link to a local highspeed internet and you have to be in the location where the link is. They said that if I were docked on the Detroit River, I could get it, but as soon as I sailed into the middle of Lake Erie, I could not get it......that just does not comput in my small mind.
What kind of baud rates does HAM provide and is there a link to a Internet/HAM for dummies site? Cheers.
No, no, MarinA WiFi . . . just another term for wireless access; they probably call it something else now. It was mentioned earlier in the thread that a lot of marinas have it now, like coffeehouses do. I understand that in a lot of cities there are parks and such where it's provided as well.
I thought I was all tech-savvy when I finally switched from dial-up to DSL, lol. HAM I know absolutely nothing about, somebody else'll have to fill in the blanks on that one.
NANP
Hi NANP, yep I have WiFi at my slip. I think in a couple more years, it will be available anywhere.....that is my hope at least. Sorry for the confusion. Cheers.
My parents are cruisers, only they have a land yacht. They travel all over the country and have net access anywhere they get a cell signal. They use a laptop with a connection to their cell phone, and their cell company has free nights and weekends. He has an account with ISP in Pennsylvania and since he has free long distance, it doesnt cost extra. He uses it for all of his banking, messenging the grandkids and keeping up with his clubs and activities. Being the "frugal" man he is, I am sure it is very inexpensive, and he never complains about it.
NANP good to have another teacher aboard
Quote from: NANP on January 31, 2006, 01:43:06 PM
No, no, MarinA WiFi . . . just another term for wireless access; they probably call it something else now. It was mentioned earlier in the thread that a lot of marinas have it now, like coffeehouses do. I understand that in a lot of cities there are parks and such where it's provided as well.
I think the generally accepted term is now "hotspots" or "wifi-hotspots"...
Basically just an area where you can get free wireless highspeed. Here's a handy link: http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com
Pretty common around marinas and touristy places (ie- Key West)
I think I'm going to go with a cell-phone dialup adaptor as a backup for when I can't get a wi-fi signal... won't work in the bahamas, but I plan to be busy... any work I do on the computer, I'll archive and upload at a later time anyway..
Quote from: djn on January 31, 2006, 01:56:33 PM
Hi NANP, yep I have WiFi at my slip. I think in a couple more years, it will be available anywhere.....that is my hope at least. Sorry for the confusion. Cheers.
That's what I'm hoping too, although I'm not quite sure what would be involved in getting signals out in the middle of the ocean . . . are transmissions "line of sight" like radio? Is a tower network needed like cell phones? ???
I dunno. Probably for the best if you can only get online in port anyway . . . could be distracting, lol . . . ::)
Rockdoctor, thanks for the welcome . . . what do you teach? I have a friend with the Red Cross who travels extensively and uses the same setup your folks do, btw. Works great.
NANP
Other teachers? I used to teach high school biology, marine biology and math. Neat.
NANP, Pixie Dust
I teach geology and astronomy
I taught Biochemistry and Cell Biology
High school language arts, here, primarily reading. Yeah, that really IS a high school class, lol---basically, I help 9th graders make that "step up" to high school level work.
NANP
gonna have to add a teachers lounge to this site
???
Does Martial Art teacher count ?? ;)
Sounds like we have the subjects all covered... especially the sciences! KEWL
Wish I had paid more attention to my HS astronomy class. Hated it then, fascinated by it now.
Zen- of course it counts! :)
I am a nurse now. Teaching involved with that field as well. :) Now that I sail, wish I had those summers, Christmas and Spring Breaks again. :)
Absolutely Zen.
We could all get together and make an at sea educational program for sailing kids. Call it an at sea charter school and appy for a grant! That way I dont have to wait 20 more years for retirement
There's a long-term transient in the marina who owns a software company, they sailed in to here about a month ago on their Beneteau 47, having come up from South America without a landfall, via the eastern route around the Carribean. I was talking to him the other day, and found out that what his company made was some high-end stuff that is used by big giant corporate customers, giving them access to their bank accounts on a preferred basis by the banks themselves. He said that he and his business partner had decided a couple years ago they'd had enough, and so told all their customers to find a different solution, because they planned no more upgrades or enhancement to their software. They've run the software long enough on enough different systems that there basically are no more bugs to worry about, but they just don't want to improve the product.
Well, their customers just won't leave, won't quit using the software. :D In fact, one just made them commit to a 2 year extension of the service contract, which they've agreed to, making a chunk of change in the process. Not a hard decision for Mike to make, since when he sat down and figured out how much he'd had to actually work in the past 2 years (while still making money) amounted to a total of 5 hours. Not a bad ratio, eh? :D
Anyway, it's an interesting story that sounds like the *ultimate* way to work from the boat and keep the kitty full, thanks to wireless and the internet...
http://www.marinecomp.com/
USB to WiFi w/external antenna connection
8.5Db gain marine antenna w/mount
10' antenna extension
1000mW amplifier
These items were Group priced $525"
Ill start thread here :)
Ive been away for awhile
Is there a post already for Computer Comms when at dock/anchor etc
Great to see you pop up. I would love to see the latest goings on from down there. Which ice breaker is down that way this year?
Quote from: Iceman on December 18, 2006, 06:00:05 PM
Ill start thread here :)
Ive been away for awhile
Is there a post already for Computer Comms when at dock/anchor etc?
There is, so I went ahead and merged them. ;D
Hey Ice!
Here is a post I came across by "A.C" in Maine. Talking about using a Smartphone as a modem:
You really should consider a PDA Smart Phone with unlimited broad band because it's much less money overall. I use Verizon service and then downloaded a software called PDA Net from June Fabrics Link submitted by author that turns my Motorolla Q smart phone into a high speed modem. The unlimited data package with a smart phone is only $45.00 (vs. $60.00 + $10.00 for the additional line charge) a month plus you can get e-mail on your phone anywhere and without your laptop. The software is great and very easy to use. I paid $29.00 for the software and love, love, love it.
When I want to use my laptop to get on line I just connect my phone to my laptop via the USB 2.0 wire and click connect! One phone line, one data package it could not be easier. Verizon and others will lie to you and tell you that PDA phones can't be modems, this is totally false, because they just wan't you to have multiple lines of service with them...
http://www.junefabrics.com/pdanet/index.php
Dumb question, Pete, but does the Smart Phone have coverage in remote locations, or is it basically an urban service?
Oh Boy. I'm just starting to try and figure this out.
Hopefully, somebody will respond who understands this stuff
I think....
If you're in a wifi spot all you need is a computer with a wireless card
Otherwise, you need to connect the computer to a cell phone
The newer "smartphones" offer faster speeds, but your still limited to cell phone range
Is that right so far?
Basically correct. Some of the newer GSM phones do offer higher speeds, and the better ones can connect to your computer via BlueTooth, which means you can power them via a 12VDC charger, while using them to connect. :D
If you've got any specific wireless questions, let me know, I've setup plenty of the networks, both cellular and 802.11-based.
As Dan says, the basic is right. In a wifi zone, with a laptop with a wireless card, you can just connect, unless it is a closed system where you need a password. eg: I can take my laptop to the marina and get connected to the interent however, to use it I need a password. In Japan sitting at the airport with my laptop I can just turn it on and be connected to the interent and use it, no password needed.
Other wise you will need a way to dial/connect to the interent. eg: a cell phone connection.
But my point is that you need Cell/WiFi coverage to use it. There's not a lot of microwave towers in the mid Atlantic or South Pacific. And unless I misunderstood Iceman's original comment, the need is for communcations in Antarctica.
So, this solution is good if you happen to stay within cell range (ie, probably less than ten miles line-of-site) of the US, European or Australian coasts, but probably of little use elsewhere. Or am I still missing something?
In Antartica, even satellite communications are going to be a bit sketchy...
I apoligize for the confusion
I was looking for internet access info when I get home
Down here we have a IP dome/dish that provides 24hour web/IP phone service its pretty amazing
FYI Palmer Station is on Anvers Island which is on the peninsula south of Cape Horn kinda where Shackleton lost his ship
This time of the ocean is pretty ice free..hence a lot of tour ships ply these waters
The Icebreakers usually work the other side of the continent McMurdo/Ross Island
For over the horizon the cell/wifi is not usable. that is why ssb is best at this time unless you can get good satellite service below the roaring 40s. There are issues about satellites being too low on the horizon to adequately cover receivers.
I was in Maine several years ago with satellite comm and a row of trees stopped my comm. had to move a couple of hundred feet to "see" the satellite.
SSB is practical everywhere there is ionosphere. Costly though. the radio and modem are $3k to $5k
Where are you sailing when you get back? www.jiwire.org also has a good list of both paid and free wifi hotspots.
here are links to the two parts of the system. I am sure there are cheaper to be had but I only did a quick search since I am a long ways out from needing such stuff...
The SSB complete setup: http://www.landfallnavigation.com/99802.html
The Pactor modem for the above radio: http://www.docksideradio.com/Pricing%20&%20Ordering.htm
Admittedly, you really have to want your e-mail to do this. Over the horizon comm is nice, for them that goes there...
the jiwire link is a dud :(
try here:
http://www.wififreespot.com/
My bad, it's www.jiwire.com not .org. They also have a nice mobile version of their database you can load onto your computer...so you can look for access, without access.
Quote from: Iceman on December 19, 2006, 04:49:06 PM
I was looking for internet access info when I get home
Where is home? I believe in an earlier post you mentioned "summering over" in Belmar, NJ. That's reasonably close to me.
good link!
Ok, lets see if I can take a few more baby steps.
Seems like most of the newer cell phones will allow you to connect a laptop to the internet. But, the connection speed is very slow.
Not only is this aggravating, but you need more time on the laptop which uses alot of power.
So, how can you get the fastest connection for the least amount of money?
Is it the newer smartphones that give you a fast connection, or the data plan, or both?
Thanks Pete Another "dumb techno phobe' here that doesn't know a gigabite from a harddrive , but owns a samsung cell phone that can recieve e-mails (no ..I don't know how)..would like to know the cheapest,easiest,simplest way to connect to the internet via cell phone to laptop while on holidays. Could you smart 'tech' guys help an ole 'dumb ass' out in a way my simple mind can understand. PS ...T Y P E V E R Y S L O W L Y thanks ;)
With the advent of wifi cards for laptops, why go through the cell phone at all? Why not just get an appropriate card for the lappy and 'eliminate the middle man'?
It seems that just about anywhere you'd get cell coverage, you'd get wifi coverage as well....or SOON will. I good friend of mine was on the ground floor of bringing wireless broadband to a relatively remote area of central SC a couple of years ago - if that area is got it, surely the major areas along the coasts have it as well.
I know Verizon offers a broadband service. Others may (probably) do to. If you wanted to get really cute, run a VOIP application on your laptop and use the COMPUTER for the PHONE. ;D ;D
Probably a real dumb question...but where would a guy get one of them there WIFI cards ??
Hi Frank, just about anywhere, really.
Most of the big box stores that carries electronics have them, as well as the big office supply stores (Staples, Office Max, etc..)
Almost any stores with an electronic department will have them, as well as some drug stores that also sell small electronics.
The trick here is to know which card to get! So to answer that, one need to know what kind of computer you have (laptop, desktop or tower) and what operating system you are running on it.
How do you want to use the wireless connection?
Keep in mind that just having a wireless connection doesn't mean one can have instant internet connection.
I'm guessing, but in your case, if you don't have a laptop, I would not bother with wireless. If you do have a laptop, then having a wireless card is worthwhile if you take your laptop everywhere with you.
If you like going to coffee houses, some place you have to pay for the wireless connection (Starbucks), while others are free (Tulley's & Caribou).
Some Marinas have wireless, again some you have to pay for, while others are free (as in Kurt's marina I think).
In many cases you might see private wireless connections, most will be secured and thus unavailable to you, while a few is unsecured and accessible, BUT, connecting to those "free wireless" is a legal grey area right now. Many will say, if you can access them go for it, however the local cops might think otherwise.
There are other alternatives, it depends on how much you are willing to pay for them though.
Yes, just because you have wifi does not mean you can get "on" the internet.
I have a wifi card on my laptops, someplaces I can get on for free, some places I can not.
There is a plan here to make the whole city of San Fransico free wifi, but it is not in operation yet. I think AT&T is doing this.
I was able to get on the Internet out in the countryside in Japan for free, but they wanted me to pay at the oakland airport.
Ofcourse if you want to do it without a computer you can buy a blackberry or is it a blueberry and do the online thing without a computer.
;D Don't bet on it. We traveled MILES of the Gulf Coast ICW without even cell phone coverage. Eastern Texas and Western La are no mans land. So is large parts of Eastern Louisiana and both Alabama and Missippi. Lots of that is undoubtedly due to the hurricanes, but still it's iffy. The FIRST place we found wireless connection after leaving here ( and it isn't available here) was P'cola. And we had to sit in the laundry room next door to the office to get that.
So DON'T depend on either WIFI or Cellphones along that area. And south of here, probably around Corpus you'd have cell phone, but south of there, fugedaboutit til Brownsville.
One thing to be aware of if trying to connect your laptop to the internet via a regular cell phone is that some cellular carriers cripple the phones they sell you so that they won't work without buying another service.
Cell phone companies are tricky that way. I believe both Verizon and Cingular will cripple their phones so you can't load your own ring tones or games or use various other features that would ordinarily be built into the phone without paying an extra fee. Because of this an industry has popped up who's sole purpose is to restore cellphones to their non-branded state; at which point everything that used to work still works, and everything that didn't work, now does.
Quote from: s/v godot on December 20, 2006, 08:52:52 PM
Because of this an industry has popped up who's sole purpose is to restore cellphones to their non-branded state; at which point everything that used to work still works, and everything that didn't work, now does.
Change industry to community and you've just described in an nutshell the entire F/OSS community for computer equipment in general.
Sorry....even with the past several days I've had with some software issues, I still think F/OSS is a net productivity producer.
Quote from: s/v godot on December 20, 2006, 08:52:52 PM
Because of this an industry has popped up who's sole purpose is to restore cellphones to their non-branded state; at which point everything that used to work still works, and everything that didn't work, now does.
More info, please! Have tried a couple of software programs to attempt to use my cell phone foe a modem without much luck. Any suggestions welcome.
Check out http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,122094-page,7/article.html for a short article on this. And then do a google search. I believe you can buy unlocking codes are kits for most phones for about $30. According to the above article, depending on your vendor you may be able to talk them into unlocking your phone. Also according to the above article, Verizon Wireless doesn't lock CDMA phones; but I'm not sure that means they don't cripple them with their branding.
Quote from: s/v godot on December 20, 2006, 08:52:52 PM
One thing to be aware of if trying to connect your laptop to the internet via a regular cell phone is that some cellular carriers cripple the phones they sell you so that they won't work without buying another service.
Cell phone companies are tricky that way. I believe both Verizon and Cingular will cripple their phones so you can't load your own ring tones or games or use various other features that would ordinarily be built into the phone without paying an extra fee. Because of this an industry has popped up who's sole purpose is to restore cellphones to their non-branded state; at which point everything that used to work still works, and everything that didn't work, now does.
There are actually two different things going on... one is phone to network locking. This is only done by the GSM-based cellular companies, like T-Mobile, Cingular, etc. This makes it impossible to use the phone with a different provider's SIM card. However, some of the carriers, especially T-Mobile are very good at providing the unlock codes for a phone, so you can use another providers SIM card in them. This is extremely useful if you're going overseas and want to use a local provider in Europe, rather than roaming with your US-based provider.
Verizon and Sprint don't have to do this as they are the only carriers in the US market using their carrier communications technology, CDMA and PCS respectively, IIRC. Their phone are not useable on other carrier networks...so there is no need to network-lock them.
The second thing that is going on is custom-firmwares for the phones, based on the requests by the provider. Verizon is most notorious for doing this, often doing things like crippling the Bluetooth file transfer capabilities on camera phones, so you have to use their paid services to transfer files from the phone, rather than using a free BlueTooth connection.
The GSM-carriers also customize the phones with network-logos, like the obnoxious orange thing for Cingular.
Restoring an "uncrippled" firmware to a phone usually requires a special cable and software. There are also services that will do it.
ok, specfics, I have a motorola with cingular. I want to be able to hookup my laptop via internal modem to access the internet from a marina I am visiting, lets say Boston. Who/what do I need to see/ do, to do that beside cingular who wants me to use their interent access $ervices?
Quote from: Captain Smollett on December 20, 2006, 05:06:57 PM
With the advent of wifi cards for laptops, why go through the cell phone at all? Why not just get an appropriate card for the lappy and 'eliminate the middle man'?......
Maybe I am just too much the stereotypical 'blow boater' but I view any monthly expense as a 'leak'.
I want as few of them as I can manage. I
barely have a cell phone ($20 a month, and never use my minutes, calling instead on free nights and weekends). My dial up isp is 6.95 a month, and uses my sub$20 land line (no long distance needed since I use my 'free minutes' on my phone for long distance calls.)
It's not that I can't afford a $80 a month cell phone, and another $69 for broadband... I choose not to be a slave to the high fees for the ability to not be a slave to these kind of expenses in the future.....
I just can't justify a $100+ for comms.....
... If I could get cell phone data, and comms for half that I might consider it.
Quote from: s/v Faith on December 21, 2006, 08:27:27 PM
Maybe I am just too much the stereotypical 'blow boater' but I view any monthly expense as a 'leak'.
{snip}
I just can't justify a $100+ for comms.....
... If I could get cell phone data, and comms for half that I might consider it.
Oh, I agree with that. What I'm not clear about is if the data link with a cell phone IS cheaper than wifi in a laptop. With many places offering free wireless, and more to coming all the time, this will DEFINITELY be more cost effective than carrying a big cell phone plan. For me, an Internet Connection is preferable to a phone (I hate phones on the best of days).* That is, IF you are cruising in a covered area. But that goes with cell service, too.
As Charlie pointed out, it will do little good to rely on the cell phone, whether for voice or for data, if the coverage is not there. And it would do me NO good, as my long range plans have me going places where people cannot afford to eat, much less have toys like mobile telephones.
Of course, another point in the comm issue is if you plan to supplement your cruising kitty with writing or some similar activity that will require connectivity to the "paycheck provider." Then, I think the monthly expense is justified if it yields a net gain for 'the cause.'
* My current business requires an Internet connection. So, if I can use a wireless laptop to provide for my clients, I can justify the need for wireles broadband...but I can foresee not needing a telephone. As a matter of fact, when I lived in Colorado, I did not have a phone. I loved it.
Tangent:
One of my regular clients is the captain of a 61' sportfishing boat which winters down in Florida. This is the first year he's had a laptop and wireless (802.11 wireless, not cellular). He called me last week from his marina there, a ways south of Canaveral. The marina has wireless, but it is *outrageously* expensive, and uses a proxy connection for 'net access. These prices are not exact, but reflect what he told me: Something like $5 for 30 minutes, a period of a day or days for $50-couple hundred, and multi-month prices up to around $500.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::) ::) ::) :P :P :P :-\ :-\ :-\ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The company hawking this "service" apparently has lots of contracts with municipalities in the southern half of Florida. He read me quite the long list of places where they have their claws ripping out peoples wallets setup installed as the only access.
At those prices, I would just go visit a net cafe which offered free access along with a cuppa joe and a bagel...
The amazing thing to me is that this guy is paying $2,900 ***PER MONTH*** for the slip. Seems like for that kind of mega bux, you wouldn't have to also pay and arm and a leg (and most of a third appendage, your pick) just for 'net access.
Quote from: Zen on December 21, 2006, 06:48:28 PM
ok, specfics, I have a motorola with cingular. I want to be able to hookup my laptop via internal modem to access the internet from a marina I am visiting, lets say Boston. Who/what do I need to see/ do, to do that beside cingular who wants me to use their interent access $ervices?
Zen-
Why would you want to use your internal modem. If your phone is BlueTooth capable or has a data cable available for it, you can set it up and use it as a modem. Used to do this for reporters and photogs all the time when I worked for a news wire service. :D T-Mobile has a flat-fee ($19.95) for unlimited internet access, and it doesn't use any phone airtime minutes. Cingular probably has a similar plan.
If you have specific questions, pm me with the phone/laptop make/model and I can do a bit of research for ya.
CapnK-
He could probably get a cable TV connection and cable modem for far less. Many marinas with long-term slips allow cable TV installations...and he could easily use one for a high-speed internet connection. DSL is also an option at some marinas, but due to distance limitations (3 miles between location and central office) not as readily available.
S/V FAITH-
The cost of a higher-speed (mind you this varies with your location) cellular connection and phone service can be as little as $80 per month or so. That's about what I was paying for 1000 any time minutes, free nights/weekends, and unlimited internet via T-Mobile. If you dump the landline and the ISP, that's $27 towards the $80 already.
Capn Smollett-
The big problem you'd probably have is bandwidth. The current 2.5/3G connection is not really broadband speed. It's more like ISDN speeds in most locations....in the newest, most upgraded urban areas, it it like a low-end DSL connection.
Hope that helps. Any questions, let me know.
Quote from: CapnK on December 23, 2006, 03:03:40 PM
Tangent:
One of my regular clients is the captain of a 61' sportfishing boat which winters down in Florida. This is the first year he's had a laptop and wireless (802.11 wireless, not cellular). He called me last week from his marina there, a ways south of Canaveral. The marina has wireless, but it is *outrageously* expensive, and uses a proxy connection for 'net access. These prices are not exact, but reflect what he told me: Something like $5 for 30 minutes, a period of a day or days for $50-couple hundred, and multi-month prices up to around $500.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ::) ::) ::) :P :P :P :-\ :-\ :-\ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The company hawking this "service" apparently has lots of contracts with municipalities in the southern half of Florida. He read me quite the long list of places where they have their claws ripping out peoples wallets setup installed as the only access.
At those prices, I would just go visit a net cafe which offered free access along with a cuppa joe and a bagel...
The amazing thing to me is that this guy is paying $2,900 ***PER MONTH*** for the slip. Seems like for that kind of mega bux, you wouldn't have to also pay and arm and a leg (and most of a third appendage, your pick) just for 'net access.
Holy enima batman :o
An idea that I got from CapnK, but I have not seen posted yet.
My PMCIA slot went bad on my laptop, so I have switched to a USB adapter. Kurt recommended using a USB extension to get the adapter a bit higher. I am sitting on the boat right now, and have actually attached 2 USB extension cords together and have the antenna on top of the boom. I can get the signal from a good distance away with this set up.
USB does not like too many extensions, but the 12' total seems to be working fine.
Thanks Kurt!
There are some "boosted" USB cables that are 15-20' long. They have an amplifier in the middle of the cable. You might want to try one of them and see if you can get the antenna a bit higher. :D