MacGregorSailors.com

Is there anything available to have satellite internet service on the boat?

Didn't find anything in a search that helped. Anything new out there?


jda

oops, on edit this should probably be in the pub. Sorry.

So far the only thing cost is very high. Set up and per 1k

Email on SSB yes.

You can find hot spots and use cell phone.

Some marinas have Web at docks.

If you want, I can find the sites and let you know.

I just use my cell-phone connected with a USB to my laptop. It's slow, but I turn off graphics in my browser and it works OK for mail and general browsing. No special service, just the usual phone.

all the major cell providers (att/cingular, sprint, verizon) have "wireless" cards that can be inserted into a laptop and used to get high speed internet where ever cell service is available.
it's an added expense of $39-59 per month on top of you monthly cell phone fee.
i'm using it at my home right now (no dsl/cable is available where i live, but cell service works great!).
at this very moment, measured by microsoft, i'm getting 969kbps on the download, and 402kbps on the upload. that speed will vary based on location, but in my Mac at the marina and along the shoreline it works better than ever.

IN the last three months the cell companies have gotten permission to up their internet speed to near cable modem performance like Bobby mentions above. I upgraded to Verizon's BB cell in October and have liked it.

$59 unlimited use (some cap like 300 Mb per day to stop you from streaming constantly I think)

Cingular has a pretty good deal for Smartphones. It is $19.99 for unlimited data and they allow the Smartphone to be used as a modem. So basically, I have an unlimited 230K Baud line that is usable almost anywhere. Not super fast, but good enough for checking email or flight status at an airport or the weather while on the boat.

Note that this is for Smartphones (e.g. Cingular 2125 or 3125) only, not PDA Phones which they charge $39.99 for the unlimited package.

If e-mail is all you need, why not go with a Blackberry. It is a lot smaller and you don't need to do expensive conversions.

Catigale,
What is your take on cell 'BB' from Verizon. I have been content with very slow usb cell, no additional cost except airtime. I wonder if it is worth a surcharge. In reality, is it close to broadband? Thx and Happy New Year!
Art

The verizon and cingular broadband cards are both very good.Near cable speeds if you have a good cell.

We have had both for my company laptops over the last few years. They keep getting faster too.

Art - MacaFee speed tests the Verizon BB and cable modem (Road runner) at the same speed on my Dell laptop, so I guess thats as good a measure as any....I did a report on this for the company, if I can find I will post actual numbers here.

Thanks for the input. My main interest would be internet (used for study and research for me), email would be nice, cell phone would be nice but not critical. With internet service (browsing) I would be able to get much of my work done on the boat. That way I can go out for a few days, sail around, spend the night, get my work done and then come back to civilization. Satellite will be necessary as I will be in locations where there is not cell service. Remote. I use Sprint right now and even while driving up here in NE Minnesota there are many places where there is no cell service. I'm at the end of the road (literally in some respects).

It appears most of you live in or near civilization and not rural areas. I'll keep checking and watching.

jda

Check this, somebody said that they was having some success. I do not know how it will be with a moving boat and it is new.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13 ... -6347.html