[Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

[Mark Kaynor]

Sorry - here's a better link:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobileoptions/nationalaccess/index.jsp?ac
tion=nationalAccess. The Broadband Access is only available in select cities
- the National Access is what you'll connect to most of the time.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Bill Effros
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 12:46 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

Philip,

I don't think satellite is faster than cell technology.  Its advantage is
that it's available in more remote locations.

Most cell phone companies offer Internet service.  It is provided on an
unused portion of the cell phone band, and there is a huge amount of over
capacity, as a result the service can be very cheap.

Essentially, all you are doing is using your cell phone number connected to
a modem in your computer.  Not technolgically different from any other dial
up system except that you don't connect through land lines.

Originally they tried to charge by the minute.  But since it is slow, that
was not attractive.

Different cell phone companies claim different speeds on their systems
ranging up to 75K bps. 

I use T-Mobile.  It costs $20 a month and does not require a yearly
contract.  I bought a special card that slides into the PC slot of my laptop
which functions as the cellular modem (some cell phones can plug into
existing inputs on some computers).  The card costs around $350.

I use T-Mobile because it is cheap and solid as a rock.  The software
provided repeatedly redials and reconnects with the carrier at the point
where it dropped off.  T-Mobile is supposed to be the slowest of the lot,
but there is neither a time nor a byte charge--it costs me $20 a month no
matter how long I'm on line, so I use it in such a way that time is not a
factor.

Because of this list I get a lot of email, but the speed of email uploads
and downloads is not significant.  I also use it whenever I travel in the
US.  I download the entire New York Times every day I'm on the road
(typically 2 to 6 MB a day) and do all of my normal web surfing.  Yes, it's
slower than my high speed modem, but what a convenience!  (I no longer scout
out Internet cafes when I'm traveling.)

I also sometimes sign up with GoToMyPC which allows me to connect to my PC
at home, and operate the home machine as if I were sitting in front of it.
In this mode I can use the speed of the home unit.  The only information
transmitted to the laptop is a screen shot of what is going on in the home
unit.  Using this service I can also upload and download files--so
everything on the home unit is available on the laptop no matter where I am.

I am planning to bring my laptop on board more this year, to see if I use it
for charting, emailing, or anything else.  I made a Pelican waterproof case
for my laptop, which has protected it extremely well to date.  It is heavy,
but almost literally bulletproof.

Bill Effros



Philip Esteban wrote:

>Bill,
>
>Who sells the interface?  Though, I like the satellite idea since it 
>has to be faster than dialup.  Don't truckers have some sort of 
>satellite?  I know we used it in the Army Intelligence during the War.  
>Ground setups are around $500.  Mobile setups may be more.  
>Subscription prices aren't much on land, but may be more for mobile setups
if they are readily available.
>Thanks
>
>Philip
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
>[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of Bill Effros
>Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 12:17 AM
>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?
>
>
>Philip,
>
>If you can get cell phone service where you sail, you can easily and 
>inexpensively get Internet service on your boat.
>
>Bill Effros
>
>Philip Esteban wrote:
>
>  
>
>>I saw a reference in an artile in Good Old Boat to a German device 
>>that let the owner access the internet while on his boat.  Does anyone 
>>have any information on it.  What is it?  Price?  Are there other methods?
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Philip E.
>>
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>>    
>>
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