[Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

Tue May 24 09:40:02 EDT 2005

Mark,

Have you seen this site?

http://www.alternativewireless.com/cellular-antennas/wilson-antennas/wilson_cellular_amplifiers/building-cell-amplifier-800-43.html

About half-way down they have an antenna splitter for
$89.  Couldn't you split the signal to the computer
and the cell phone?  Also, (And let me remind you I
claim no expertise with computers) could you feed the
signal to the computer with the card and then network
that computer to the other one so you could both be
online?

I hadn't really thought about the 3 watt energy field
issue.  The Inteligain option with the travel
accessories is attractive because it's not a permanent
installation.  I move my XM radio between vehichles
and the boat and plan to buy a mapping GPS that I can
do the same with.  Moving the amp between vehichles
would be a bonus.

Whose PC card do you use?  I can get a Sierra Wireless
AirCard through my company discount with Cingular for
$80.  Through the surfing I've done that card keeps
appearing.

Brad
--- Mark Kaynor <mkaynor at gmail.com> wrote:

> Brad,
> 
> We just used the stock stick on antenna he provides
> and held it above the
> car roof for testing last night. In real life, I
> expect we'll mast mount
> something like a 9-15 db  omindirectional antenna -
> that'd really boost the
> signal, I'm thinking <g>. The amplifier works very
> well - I was impressed.
> In several locations we were unable to get enough
> signal to connect w/o it,
> we were able to browse the web at an acceptable
> speed w/ it plugged in. We
> didn't have any bandwidth testing tools on my wife's
> laptop, so can only
> report  subjectively.
> 
> We thought about a repeater, but 1) they cost a lot
> more, and 2) I wasn't
> too keen on having a bunch of cell phone electrons
> bouncing around the cabin
> all day every day. The amplifier connects directly
> to the card, so almost
> all the energy is at the antenna. We also have
> concerns about the speed of a
> shared connection - I believe we're each going to
> need our own card, amp,
> antenna, etc. until someone comes up w/ a dual-card
> router - that'd be
> pretty cool.
> 
> Mark
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On
> Behalf Of brad haslett
> Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 9:52 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Internet from your
> boat?
> 
> Mark,
> 
> How effective is the amplifier?  Where did you
> locate your external antenna
> and what type?  Is yours hardwired or wireless?  I
> found the best prices
> last night on WMJ Marine, on amplifiers and other
> electronic items.  Every
> map of my lake by every provider shows a "black
> hole" along the course of
> the river, probably because of the terrain.  The
> idea of having a repeater
> so that the cellphone and laptop can be used
> anywhere on the boat is
> appealing.  We have been looking at satellite or DSL
> for our shop building
> near the lake at $70 per month.  I already pay $10
> per month for NetZero
> dial-up while travelling.  Cell service may fill all
> three squares: 
> boat/building/travel.  I hadn't really looked at it
> for about a year but
> things seem to have progressed quite a bit.
> 
> Brad
> 
> 
> --- Mark Kaynor <mkaynor at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > Brad,
> > 
> > We paid $175 - regular price from the guy is $190,
> but I got a 
> > discount because I'm a "member" of this forum:
> > http://www.evdoforums.com/about129-0.html
> > 
> > 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 6:44 PM
> > To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> > Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Internet from your
> boat?
> > 
> > Here's another link to some simular products.  The
> cost has come down 
> > from the article date, now around $225.  Brad
> > 
> >
>
http://www.consumersmarine.com/products2/productdetail.cfm?i=910001&c=91&loc
> > =PL&m=5&sc=91&v=0&sb=0&p=0
> > 
> > --- Mark Kaynor <mkaynor at gmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> > > >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
> 
=== message truncated ===

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