[Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

Mark Kaynor mkaynor at gmail.com
Mon May 23 16:00:32 EDT 2005 

>From the Verizon web site:

"NationalAccess is capable of data speeds bursting up to 144 kbps,
delivering average speeds up to 60 to 80 kbps. Speed claim based on our
network tests with 5 MB FTP data files, without compression. Actual
throughput speed and coverage vary." 

There are two major factors limiting performance - signal strength and
number of users. 

If we have 2 bars it's about the same speed as dialup - perhaps even a bit
slower. Without having done any actual performance tests, I'd say we
probably see 70-100 Kbps with a good signal, depending on the number of
users using that cell. Upload speed is slower. 

Cellular Internet access is like cable Internet access in that it's shared
bandwidth, so the more users online at one time, the slower the connection.

In DC we got to use the Broadband Access at 400-700 Kbps - that was nice.

Mark


-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Robert Quinn
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 12:31 PM
To: raz; The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

Raz:  Right off hand I do not have the speed but it is set at a data rate. 
I'll hook it up tonight if I have time and get the speed.

Mark may have it at his finger tips as he is a bit more "techie" than I. 
{:>)

Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "raz" <razsail at gmail.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 12:22 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?


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.
> > >>
> > >>__________________________________________________
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> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
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>
>
>
>
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