[Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

raz razsail at gmail.com
Mon May 23 13:22:16 EDT 2005 

Do you have an idea of the bandwidth (baud)?  Is it noticeably faster
than dialup (58K)?
raz

On 5/23/05, Robert  Quinn <rjquinn at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Kathy and I have been using the Verizon wireless card for the last 18 months
> with good success.  Yes, there are spots where your reception will not be
> satisfactory but that is true of most cell phones as well.  We find that if
> it is not critical, we will wait until we move to connect again.  If it is
> critical, we'll move to a location where we can receive and transmit with
> not problems.
> 
> Bob and Kathy on the "NoKaOi" and the Lazy Daze RV
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Kaynor" <mkaynor at gmail.com>
> To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 11:50 AM
> Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?
> 
> 
> Brad,
> 
> The card that plugs into your computer is assigned it's own phone number, so
> two cell phones would be redundant. We looked into satellite and decided it
> was too expensive and too slow - on top of the equipment costs, they charge
> by the minute and we're online all day for work. We looked at
> Winlink/Winmail - this still remains a viable email-only, offshore option as
> we're both general-level hams, but we didn't want to spend the $1000 on a
> Pactor modem until we really need it - the available technology changes so
> quickly. I read that the WinMail guys are actually working on using the PC's
> speaker circuitry instead of a Pactor - that'd get the in-the-door cost
> down.
> 
> Sprint also offers wireless Internet service as do most of the other players
> these days - if they're signal is better in the area your friend expects to
> use it I'd suggest checking them out.
> 
> We live 4.5 hours from the boat, so the only way we get to spend much time
> on her is to work while we're here.
> 
> Mark
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of brad haslett
> Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 11:33 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?
> 
> Mark & Bill
> 
> I took a look at the Verizon site and that may just be the ticket!  Last
> year a buddy went with me on a trip to the lake and he lost his Verizon
> signal most of the way and had spotty coverage while on the lake while my
> Cingular performed flawlessly.  However, I'm going to "borrow" his phone and
> see if the coverage has improved.  We had Sprint for two years and it worked
> OK provided you climbed half-way up a transmitter tower, wrapped your head
> in aluminum foil, and stuck your arms out like Mr. Bean.
> 
> The existing marine satellite systems rely on gyro-stabalized attennas, are
> quite expensive and bulky.  But for most of us, cell phone coverage would
> work just fine.  Boeing has developed airborne internet access and while the
> development was slowed by 9/11, it is now becoming available for both
> airliners and general aviation.  With the introduction of the Very Light Jet
> market in the next year or so, the price will come down as the volume of
> consumers go up.  Right now its still expensive. The FAA MUST update their
> communication and separation technology to handle the expected traffic
> increase and have some works in progress, but then this is the Federal
> government afterall. The advertised speeds for Verizon are about the same as
> Boeing's service which uses Imarsat, same as the marine systems.
> 
> Actually, we've had satcomm onboard our aircraft for about ten years but use
> it for datalink only because of the cost.  I ran into a friend of mine at
> DFW a couple of months ago that had just shut an engine down on approach
> because of severe vibration.  He called back to Global Operations Command to
> report the incident and was told they already knew about it.  The jet had
> downlinked to maintenance fifteen minutes earlier that it was suffering from
> an incipient engine problem and MX was monitoring it.  Thanks for the
> heads-up guys!
> 
> What my broker buddy wants to do is be able to accept calls from clients
> while on the boat and look up their portfolio and current prices.  That may
> take two phones, we'll have to look into that.  He trades very little for
> himself or his clients so occasional access to the net would probably
> suffice.  Personally, I find myself turning my cell phone off more and more
> while on the boat.  If you can't drink beer and sail in peace, what's the
> point?
> 
> Brad
> 
> --- Mark Kaynor <mkaynor at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > 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.
> > >>
> > >>__________________________________________________
> > >>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> > www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >>
> > >>__________________________________________________
> > >>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> > www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >__________________________________________________
> > >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> > www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> > >__________________________________________________
> > >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> > www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> > www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> > www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> __________________________________
> Yahoo! Mail Mobile
> Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone.
> http://mobile.yahoo.com/learn/mail
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> 
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>

More information about the Rhodes22-list mailing list