Computer Comms: 'Net access while cruising?

[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.

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

[Pixie Dust]

Other teachers?  I used to teach high school biology, marine biology and math.  Neat. 

[Rockdoctor]

NANP, Pixie Dust
    I teach geology and astronomy

[dock goody]

I taught Biochemistry and Cell Biology

[NANP]

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

[Rockdoctor]

gonna have to add a teachers lounge to this site

[Zen]

 ???

Does Martial Art teacher count ??  ;)

[Pixie Dust]

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.  :) 

[Rockdoctor]

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

[CapnK]

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...

[Zen]

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"

[Iceman]

Ill start thread here :)
Ive been away for awhile
Is there a post already for Computer Comms when at dock/anchor etc

[Oyster]

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?

[s/v Faith]

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

[Cmdr Pete]

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

[Captain Smollett]

Dumb question, Pete, but does the Smart Phone have coverage in remote locations, or is it basically an urban service?

[Cmdr Pete]

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?

[AdriftAtSea]

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.

[Zen]

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.

[Captain Smollett]

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?