Internet Access - was Robert Fitzgerald intro
In a message dated 11/28/2005 6:25:26 AM Eastern Standard Time,
georgs@powercatamaranworld.com writes:
From: "Robert Fitzgerald" rfitzge1@tampabay.rr.com
I have a favor to ask. Has anyone come up with a satisfactory set up
to have access to the internet from their vessel, while underway?
Robert,
I've been looking into this myself (in anticipation of life aboard my 34
Powercat next year). There's been a lot of discussion of this subject on the
Trawlers and Trawlering List -
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering
(http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering) - check the archives.
My impression (from digesting the info) is that almost anything is possible,
if you want to throw enough money at it! But short of megabuck
satellite-based systems, and for coastal crusing, the cell-phone route seems to be the
way to go. Verizon appears to offer the best service along the East coast.
With the right phone and plan, you can get "Mobile Web" service which allows
you to read and send e-mail as well as to have limited web access for news,
weather, sports, etc.
The next step up is a Verizon "BroadbandAccess" PC card that you plug into
your laptop and, if you're in an area where service is available, you can have
unlimited high-speed Internet access similar to a Wi-Fi connection. For
more info see:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobileoptions/broadband/index.jsp (http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobileoptions/broadband/index.jsp) .
The downside is the cost of the card ($99) plus a min $59.99 monthly fee.
But heck, if it saves a night or two of marina dockage, it might pay for
itself. So far, the full broadband coverage is limited to selected metropolitan
areas. In Florida it includes Jacksonville, Tampa/St. Pete, Tallahassee, and
the SE coast from Jupiter to Miami - plus Key West. Once outside the
"BroadbandAccess" coverage area, you're automatically switched to Verizon's
"NationalAccess" service ("available in most areas", as they say) at a reduced
rate of 60 - 80 Kbps - which really isn't too shabby, but I guess we're all
getting spoiled nowadays.
Perhaps others can talk from direct experience, I'm still in the wannabe
category.
Henry
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Henry M. Clews
22 School Street Home:
(603) 643-2181
Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 USA Mobile: (603) 443-2781
http://www.geocities.com/snodoglog/ (http://www.geocities.com/snodoglog/)
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Henry Clews wrote:
I've been looking into this myself (in anticipation of life aboard
my 34 Powercat next year). There's been a lot of discussion of this
subject on the Trawlers and Trawlering List
Here's the the easiest way to search the archives of Power Catamaran
List and our sister forums:
Go to http://www.google.com and enter your search term, followed by
site:samurai.com (which is where the list archive is stored).
For example, to search for "PDQ power cats," try
PDQ power cats site:samurai.com
You will actually have better luck omitting the words "power cats."
In other words, the more specific your request, the more specific the
return
PDQ site:samurai.com
Try the example and see what wealth of information is available in
the archives.
Sometimes you will find that Google is out of synch with the archives
and you will get the wrong post. In that case, click on the "Cached"
link and you will get Google's own copy of the post.
--Georgs
Georgs Kolesnikovs
Power Catamaran World
http://www.powercatamaranworld.com