[Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

[Bill Effros]

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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