help

[paulysoanes]

Hi all can someone help i want to use a laptop in the middle of say the Atlantic or the pacific ocean what devices do i need to go on line???? any advise would be appreciated
Paul

[Orion Jim]

This is the classified section. Suggest you ask a moderator to move this to an appropriate section.

[72harley1000]

Originally Posted by paulysoanes

Hi all can someone help i want to use a laptop in the middle of say the Atlantic or the pacific ocean what devices do i need to go on line???? any advise would be appreciated
Paul

I do not know about "online", but by using my ham radio (or a SSB) with a pactor modem, I was able to send and receive emails and download grib files for weather routing.

[two-rocks]

You’ll need a lot of help. Start with forum operation.

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

[boatman61]

https://www.reviews.org/internet-ser...net-for-boats/

[JC Reefer]

What kind of speeds are you looking to have a n the middle of no where?

There are options these days for high speed Satellite internet, when in sight of those satellites. Very expensive option (+$1000/ month) and it requires some serious equipment to be permanently installed.

Starlink will be an option in the future, but not today.

Where are you cruising, how long would you be in the middle of the Atlantic? Unless you plan to live like water world person, you probably won’t be in the middle of the Atlantic for very long.

[JC Reefer]

Boatman has got the link there for VSAT. I don’t think the prices there reflect the usage cost or monthly cost. I think those are the prices for the equipment. Not sure, but it shows the high cost to get going either way.

I have not used that company for years but generally speaking you should expect holes in coverage.

Better to plan for coastal stuff if you NEED to stay connected.

Hotspot receiver in the vessel connected to an access point is a great option. Cell phone coverage is getting better at a much faster pace and 5G is extremely fast.

[Island Time O25]

About 10 years ago I was part of the crew that moved a boat from StPete to Palm Beach. We did a good portion of the sail offshore or at least far enough not to have any cell service. We did not have any hard deadlines and just went with the wind most of the time.

One of the crew was a Verizon IT employee at the time and had a work issued puck which gave us pretty good internet coverage. In fact it was good enough for him to work (one of the requirements for him to do this trip) which work required pretty good speed and bandwidth.

This topic got me thinking - how much was that puck, the size of the cigarette pack or smaller? And whatever the connection cost was 10 years ago it must've come down considerably since then? Or am I wrong to think that and that was something only Verizon could easily afford back then and it is still as expensive?

I vaguely recall that it was satelite based and definitely not cell based.

[JC Reefer]

A puck size device sounds like iridium go. Again, not something I’d expect to take a Zoom call from.

Iridium GO Unlimited Data and SMS

https://satellitephonestore.com/cata...SABEgIpFPD_BwE

[JC Reefer]

Data speed is 2.4 Kbits/s. Set your expectations.

“What is the Iridium GO Data Speed? The data speed is 2.4 Kbits/s. This is the same data speed as all other Iridium & Inmarsat Satellite phone services. At this data speed, the Iridium GO! is best suited for email and downloading weather data with the PredictWind Offshore App.”

[Brewgyver]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

(snipped)
This topic got me thinking - how much was that puck, the size of the cigarette pack or smaller? And whatever the connection cost was 10 years ago it must've come down considerably since then? Or am I wrong to think that and that was something only Verizon could easily afford back then and it is still as expensive?

I vaguely recall that it was satelite based and definitely not cell based.

At that time, and for a device the size you describe, it definitely was NOT satellite based, and in fact must have been cellular.

[JC Reefer]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

About 10 years ago I was part of the crew that moved a boat from StPete to Palm Beach. We did a good portion of the sail offshore or at least far enough not to have any cell service.

Saint Pete to West Palm is not what I would consider offshore. Even if you go all the way around Key West, which can typically be avoided, you’re talking about the first 2 days of the trip where you’d be forced so far from land that cell coverage would be lost.

The rest of the time you’d cruise the coastline.