Boating and laptops and WIFI
 

I purchased a small gateway from my Wifi ISP in Baltimore and it has a real
antenna as well as uses twice the power (still legal) of the normal laptop
units. I've been able to get a usable service from 2-3 miles. I'm using it
at the moment (somewhat closer) and the Google ping time is 37 ms.

As a backup I've got the ATT cellular wireless card - it certainly isn't the
fastest thing around 150kb. However, I've been able to check email when I'm
10-15 miles from shore.

Things have really improved over the last several years. I also find it
amazing at how inexpensive things have become Wifi is $25 per month and
the cellular is $80 for unlimited bytes.

Dave


"RG" wrote in message
m...

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 13:50:12 -0700, "Dene" wrote:

Sprint offers broadband service, useful anywhere within their cell phone
service range, for $79.99. $59.99/mo. if you already are a customer. I
intend to subscribe when we move, using it for home, business, and marine
applications.

Yes, I have internet access through my Sprint phone but it is too slow
(400 msec ping latency) to support a virtual desk top environment.

It is fine for casual web browsing and EMAIL however.

How is your ping time to something like google.com ?


Wayne:

I subscribe to Verizon's Broadband Access service, using an air card with
my notebook. I've run numerous speed tests with it. If I'm a
metropolitan area, I'll usually be in range of Verizon's EVDO signal,
which delivers download speeds in the range of 750-850 kilobits per
second. Not exactly the 2000-3000 kilobits per second that I get from my
cable modem, but quite usable when I'm out and about. While I'm out on
the boat I only have a 1xRTT signal, which results in speeds of about
150-170 kilobits per second. A bit tedious to be sure, but much better
than the days of dial-up, which was never available on the boat to begin
with, and I'm damn glad to have it while on the water. I just pinged
google.com using the air card with an EVDO signal, and the ping time
averaged 207 ms (193, 216, 189, 230). My cable modem averaged 80 ms.

The original post asked about wi-fi offshore, but that is simply a pipe
dream. Wi-fi would only be appropriate in a marina setting, assuming the
marina was set up for wi-fi. Anywhere else, including offshore, one of
the cellular broadband services is your best bet, short of a broadband
satellite service.

Boating and laptops and WIFI
 

thunder wrote:

On Sun, 18 Jun 2006 23:03:56 -0400, Wayne.B wrote:



You will typically lose even a good WiFi signal beyond 1/4 mile or so but
there are a few exceptions. Most are good for only 100 yards or less from
the access point. It depends a great deal on what kind of equipment and
antenna is being used, both at the AP, and also on your boat. My best
success on the boat has been with a Netgear Rangemax USB adapter (WPN111)
mounted about 20 feet in the air and relayed into the cabin via USB
extension cables and a USB hub.


Haven't tried a Pringles Cantenna, have you? ;-)

http://www.binarywolf.com/249/pringles_cantenna.htm

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

Know of any good plans that use a USB wireless
adapter, so I don't have to try and hook up coax
to my laptop?

DT

Boating and laptops and WIFI
 

Dave Isherwood wrote:
I purchased a small gateway from my Wifi ISP in Baltimore and it has a real
antenna as well as uses twice the power (still legal) of the normal laptop
units. I've been able to get a usable service from 2-3 miles. I'm using it
at the moment (somewhat closer) and the Google ping time is 37 ms.

2 miles sounds like a really huge distance when it's a Wi-fi
connection. What kind of an effect does water have on radio waves
again?

I figure WiMax would be optimal for boaters, when considering
radio/internet technologies currently available. Long range, low
latency, high bandwith. (More on WiMAX, eg.
http://www.intel.com/netcomms/techno...imax/index.htm)

Varis

Boating and laptops and WIFI
 

Not really sure - this is Inner Harbor Baltimore and I'm able to see base
stations a full 2-miles away and I don't even have an eternal antenna! From
what I can understand the issue is the transmission strength from the device
to the base station - normal laptops us approximately 50% to save power.

Overall, I'd just like to make the observation that the last 2-3 years have
been a major change in capability. Wifi @ $30 per month and cellular @ $80
would just have been a wet dream in 2003!

Looking forward to WiMax but even current services outrun my ability to both
type and read!

Dave

"Varis" wrote in message
oups.com...
Dave Isherwood wrote:
I purchased a small gateway from my Wifi ISP in Baltimore and it has a
real
antenna as well as uses twice the power (still legal) of the normal
laptop
units. I've been able to get a usable service from 2-3 miles. I'm using
it
at the moment (somewhat closer) and the Google ping time is 37 ms.

2 miles sounds like a really huge distance when it's a Wi-fi
connection. What kind of an effect does water have on radio waves
again?

I figure WiMax would be optimal for boaters, when considering
radio/internet technologies currently available. Long range, low
latency, high bandwith. (More on WiMAX, eg.
http://www.intel.com/netcomms/techno...imax/index.htm)

Varis

Boating and laptops and WIFI
 

RG wrote:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 19 Jun 2006 13:50:12 -0700, "Dene" wrote:

Sprint offers broadband service, useful anywhere within their cell phone
service range, for $79.99. $59.99/mo. if you already are a customer. I
intend to subscribe when we move, using it for home, business, and marine
applications.

Yes, I have internet access through my Sprint phone but it is too slow
(400 msec ping latency) to support a virtual desk top environment.

It is fine for casual web browsing and EMAIL however.

How is your ping time to something like google.com ?


Wayne:

I subscribe to Verizon's Broadband Access service, using an air card with my
notebook. I've run numerous speed tests with it. If I'm a metropolitan
area, I'll usually be in range of Verizon's EVDO signal, which delivers
download speeds in the range of 750-850 kilobits per second. Not exactly
the 2000-3000 kilobits per second that I get from my cable modem, but quite
usable when I'm out and about. While I'm out on the boat I only have a
1xRTT signal, which results in speeds of about 150-170 kilobits per second.
A bit tedious to be sure, but much better than the days of dial-up, which
was never available on the boat to begin with, and I'm damn glad to have it
while on the water. I just pinged google.com using the air card with an
EVDO signal, and the ping time averaged 207 ms (193, 216, 189, 230). My
cable modem averaged 80 ms.

The original post asked about wi-fi offshore, but that is simply a pipe
dream. Wi-fi would only be appropriate in a marina setting, assuming the
marina was set up for wi-fi. Anywhere else, including offshore, one of the
cellular broadband services is your best bet, short of a broadband satellite
service.

Last year we installed a couple of Air cards on desktop machines on
board two lightering tankers running up an down the Calfornia coast.
At the time we installed them, San Diego was the only market in
California that was running EVDO in production. The crew reported that
they were getting close to 1Mb/sec transfer rates in the lightering
area 20 miles offshore from San Diego.

Offshore wi-fi isn't going to exist. Wi-fi is what you find in
Starbucks. While you can set up wi-fi links to cover long distance (in
my previous job we had some in Wyoming going over 40 miles), I can't
see a wi-fi service working more than several hundred feet from any
access point.