[Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

Mark Kaynor mkaynor at gmail.com
Tue May 24 15:04:21 EDT 2005 

Brad,

The cell phone option is out for us since we're generally online a minimum
of 8 hours a day each - that's 40 hours a week or 160 hours a month - we'd
need a plan that included 9600 minutes / month  each. And it would have to
be with Verizon, since they've got the best coverage on the Bay as far as I
can tell. Verizon offers a 6000 minute plan for $299 / mo. - a bit more that
unlimited data use for $80 / mo. 

Technology changes constantly, especially in this field. Satellite's going
to get better and more affordable, WiMax will be here soon, etc., etc. -
there are loads of hacks and homemade Linux based stuff we could do - we
just don't have the time. It's bad enough that work is impinging on our boat
time <g>. We decided to go w/ Verizon for a year or two and see what's
available then - the investment is worth it to us if we can work AND cruise.

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 1:27 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

Mark,

Here's a good article on your service vs Cingular and what's happening down
the road.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1770717,00.asp

Now here's something else that's interesting; beating the system.

http://www.lawtechguru.com/archives/2005/03/19_free_wireless_internet_via_yo
ur_3g_cell_phone.html

If I'm smart enought to put it together the low-tech solution would work for
us until the next level of technology comes out.

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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