[Rhodes22-list] Internet from your boat?

Tue May 24 11:45:31 EDT 2005

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
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- 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
> 
=== message truncated ===

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