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Cruising America's Great Loop and other inland routes
View all threadsWi-fi Internet on a Boat
Now that the Internet has matured, I am hearing rumours that charter
boats in some areas come with wireless internet available to anyone on
that boat. I was next to a cat broadcasting wi-fi in the BVIs a short
while back. Sadly, it was encrypted.
I know that I can broadcast wireless Internet around my boat using the
"portable hotspot capability" on my 3G Galaxy Tab as long as the Tab can
see a tower. The cost is about $10/GB on a pay-as-you go plan that
serves 30 day/5GB chunks of data for $36.75, tax incl. My Android phone
does the same for about $10/GB.
The Tab is pretty sensitive and I had coverage around most of the Gulf
Islands recently, and that that was with the Tab below decks, too. The
phone is a little less sensitive on receive. I had a Rocket Hub a few
years back, but that was a bit of a kluge and expensive to boot. I'm
sure that the market must have advanced in recent years and months.
The Tab and phone are an ad-hoc solution that works, but I am wondering
if anyone has found a dedicated system that installs on boats and is
designed to be wired in, has an antenna, and is designed to provide
boat-wide coverage for a variety of devices -- and if anyone can
recommend any particular one.
Allen,
There are a number of wi-fi systems available. We purchased the IslandTime
PC system a year ago and have been happy with it. At its heart is the
Ubiquiti bullet, but the fellow who put this system together has completely
marinized it and designed it to easily work on a boat, including external
marine antenna and all you need to tie into your internal 12 VDC system. You
can set it up as either a direct ether-net cable or a wireless local area
network.
We used to have marginal wif-fi signal even in our home marina, but the
IslandTime system gives us a solid 5-bar signal all the time. The system
comes complete and they will provide after-sales tech support.
Satisfied customer.
David Sorenson
Duluth, MN
Funny thing how "addicted" we've all become to getting data, regardless of the quality and reliability of the data.Frank
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:27:11 -0600
From: allendick@gmail.com
To: great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: GL: Wi-fi Internet on a Boat
Now that the Internet has matured, I am hearing rumours that charter
boats in some areas come with wireless internet available to anyone on
that boat. I was next to a cat broadcasting wi-fi in the BVIs a short
while back. Sadly, it was encrypted.
I know that I can broadcast wireless Internet around my boat using the
"portable hotspot capability" on my 3G Galaxy Tab as long as the Tab can
see a tower. The cost is about $10/GB on a pay-as-you go plan that
serves 30 day/5GB chunks of data for $36.75, tax incl. My Android phone
does the same for about $10/GB.
The Tab is pretty sensitive and I had coverage around most of the Gulf
Islands recently, and that that was with the Tab below decks, too. The
phone is a little less sensitive on receive. I had a Rocket Hub a few
years back, but that was a bit of a kluge and expensive to boot. I'm
sure that the market must have advanced in recent years and months.
The Tab and phone are an ad-hoc solution that works, but I am wondering
if anyone has found a dedicated system that installs on boats and is
designed to be wired in, has an antenna, and is designed to provide
boat-wide coverage for a variety of devices -- and if anyone can
recommend any particular one.
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David, Allen and GL List
Another eMail and Internet system we have used now for almost 10 years is the Verizon MiFi portable hot spot with excellent results everywhere we travel by boat or by land. It will run up to 5 devices at a time - computers, iPhones, iPads, etc.
The important thing to remember is to NEVER use "free WiFi" unless the system has "Password Protection". We have seen a "hacker" clone a Residence Inn WiFi site and then sit in the coffee/breakfast room and wait for Inn residence to log in and then steal their identity. According to our business computer consultant, there is no "firewall" that can prevent the hacker from gaining access to your computer if you "Leave Your Door Unlocked and Open"
John
---==============
On Apr 24, 2013, at 2:42 PM, davidsorenson wrote:
Allen,
There are a number of wi-fi systems available. We purchased the IslandTime PC system a year ago and have been happy with it. At its heart is the Ubiquiti bullet, but the fellow who put this system together has completely marinized it and designed it to easily work on a boat, including external marine antenna and all you need to tie into your internal 12 VDC system. You can set it up as either a direct ether-net cable or a wireless local area network.
We used to have marginal wif-fi signal even in our home marina, but the IslandTime system gives us a solid 5-bar signal all the time. The system comes complete and they will provide after-sales tech support.
Satisfied customer.
David Sorenson
Duluth, MN
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Frank and GL List,
After posting my previous reply to David, Alan and List I received the following recommendations from Life-Lock of which we are members: No stock in the company, just satisfied customers!
Whether it’s at the coffee shop or the airport, connecting to free public Wi-Fi on your laptop, smartphone or tablet is a convenient way to catch up on emails or do a little web surfing.
But that convenience sometimes comes at a cost: hackers and identity thieves can exploit these open connections to steal your personal and financial information.
Instead of staying away from public Wi-Fi, just stay safe. Following these five simple steps will help protect your private data from prying eyes:
Don’t make online purchases or access your bank account.
If you don’t want someone getting ahold of your banking information or credit card number, it’s best not to access your accounts when connected to public Wi-Fi.
Double-check the network name.
Sometimes thieves will set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots with legitimate sounding names. You access the fake network and they get access to your data. Double-check the network name with a server, barista or other employee before logging on.
Turn auto-connect off.
Many smartphones have a setting that will allow these devices to automatically connect to any open Wi-Fi network. Check your phone’s settings to make sure this feature is turned off and take control of what networks you access.
Switch up your passwords.
Don’t use the same password for all of your online accounts. This way if one account is compromised, the rest stay safe.
Look for the lock.
A locked padlock in the address bar of your web browser means the information submitted to that particular site is encrypted. While this provides an extra layer of security when connected to public Wi-Fi, it’s not fail-safe. Don’t share information online that you wouldn’t be comfortable sharing with the person sitting at the table next to you.
Relax. You're a LifeLock Member.
As a LifeLock identity theft protection member, you have peace of mind knowing our identity theft protection experts are working every minute of every day to keep you safe. If we detect the misuse of your personal information, we'll alert you. And should you fall victim to identity theft we'll take steps to help your recovery.
---======
Life-Lock appears to be a VPN host and that the five recommendations
they provide assume you're using their interface. There are some free
VPNs out there also, which we use whenever we jump on a free hot-spot.
"VPN" = Virtual Private Network.
Use google to find some of the free ones and give them a try (they're
free).
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/
On 4/24/2013 4:51 PM, John & Judy Gill wrote:
Frank and GL List,
After posting my previous reply to David, Alan and List I received
the following recommendations from Life-Lock of which we are members:
No stock in the company, just satisfied customers!
Bob and List,
Life-Lock does happen to be a VPN host, but their recommendations do not assume that you are using their interface. They instead assume (you all know what that word mean?). Therefore their recommendations apply to the coffee houses, restaurants, hotels/motels, marinas, etc. which offer "free" unprotected (no security code) access.
Bob, I think that you should tell the List how to access the free VPN's to make sure they are using "protected" WiFi sites which Do Not have Security Codes??? Exactly how are they identified???
John
---=======
On Apr 24, 2013, at 5:37 PM, Bob McLeran wrote:
Life-Lock appears to be a VPN host and that the five recommendations they provide assume you're using their interface. There are some free VPNs out there also, which we use whenever we jump on a free hot-spot.
"VPN" = Virtual Private Network.
Use google to find some of the free ones and give them a try (they're free).
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/
On 4/24/2013 4:51 PM, John & Judy Gill wrote:
Frank and GL List,
After posting my previous reply to David, Alan and List I received
the following recommendations from Life-Lock of which we are members:
No stock in the company, just satisfied customers!
http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com
To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address,
unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com
Bob:
I would love for you to tell me of any good free VPN providers you
are familiar with. My very lovely wife is so paranoid she uses a VPN
with her laptop on our personal (locked) wi-fi at home. It is
Astrill (not a free VPN), which was recommended a few years back by
Jeff Seigel of Active Captain fame. We always use Astrill on the boat also.
My concern is my iPhone. Every time I ask an Apple store employee,
they say it isn't really useful, but I feel I am exposed to theft
hacking if I am not very careful (turn off wi-fi away from home, etc.).
So, it would be good if an expert or two would voice recommendations
on this topic. Particularly the smartphone aspect.
Thanks,
Bill
At 05:37 PM 4/24/2013, Bob McLeran wrote:
Life-Lock appears to be a VPN host and that the five recommendations
they provide assume you're using their interface. There are some
free VPNs out there also, which we use whenever we jump on a free hot-spot.
"VPN" = Virtual Private Network.
Use google to find some of the free ones and give them a try (they're free).
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/
On 4/24/2013 4:51 PM, John & Judy Gill wrote:
Frank and GL List,
After posting my previous reply to David, Alan and List I received
the following recommendations from Life-Lock of which we are members:
No stock in the company, just satisfied customers!
http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com
To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address,
unsubscribe, etc.) go to:
http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3162/6268 - Release Date: 04/23/13
A couple of you have asked, so here's a list of free VPN software programs.
The one we like that runs on a windows-based PC, iOS and Android is
Hotspot Shield Free, so we use it on our windows laptops, Judy's iPhone
and my Android phone. It's #5 on this list:
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/vpn/tp/vpnsoftwarefree.htm
The site also has some info about VPN at the bottom of the page for
those of you who are curious.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/
On 4/24/2013 6:44 PM, Bill Donovan wrote:
Bob:
I would love for you to tell me of any good free VPN providers you are
familiar with.