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Cap'n Ric Cap'n Ric is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 38
Default WiFi at Sea (technical, sorry)

I've got a 250 ma client bridge connected to a WIFI antenna mounted on my
radar arch, about 11 feet above the waterline. The client bridge is in a
stern lazarette connected just eight cable feet from the antenna. An
Ethernet cable connects it back to the nav table in the main salon. Since
the client bridge had a 120 VAC to 12 VDC power supply I just power it
directly from the ship's battery power.

I spent the summer in Maine and the reception was absolutely remarkable.
Several times like in Smith Cove, Castine, Maine I had hi-speed data and
VoIP in the middle of nowhere. I still cannot figure out where I was
receiving it from. I could see The Maine Maritime Academy's WIFI network
from Smith Cove and their closest transmitter was two miles away.. Even in
Tenants Harbor, ME we had uninterrupted internet and VOIP. Many times in
larger cities I had to look for a "Free" WIFI site since BEACON WIFI and
several other commercial ventures had the strongest signals. It is pretty
quick to get a selective SSID so working around the commercial folks was
pretty easy.

I also have KVH DirecTV/Hughes satellite on board.

Take care.

Cap'n Ric
S/V Sezaneh
2003 Beneteau 473