Need Internet on Board!

[saw77]

Originally Posted by mausgras

I have to agree with you.

We now have the choice of a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, an ebook reader and a smartphone a chartplotter and a GPS - 7 different machines, which is at least 5 too many. There has to be a convergence of some of them. You might even want to throw in entertainment such as video, music, games and camera.

I think the desktop is already on its way to join the dinosaurs. It might survive in a few specialist environments.

As a traveller and a writer a simple Tablet just does not have enough grunt. I need a full keyboard and high capacity HDD that gives me access to my files where ever I am no matter how remote. As for a kindle or ebook reader why bother, there are plenty of emulators around. We need a fusion of these ... say a "Laplet" - there are some already emerging.

I find the Galaxy Note, so called phablet. (I prefer to call it a phonelet) a great compromise. Sure, its a big phone but it still fits quite comfortably into your hand, it is very lightweight (most important) and fits into a shirt pocket. The 5 inch screen is very readable and I love the S-pen. It is very easy to use with navigation around the screens and keying input. Handwriting recognition has come a long way since the early iPAQs and Newtons (anyone remember them). The alternate SWYPE keyboard for input is also very accurate and speedy.

My phonelet gives me access to mobile broadband and wifi data connections and I can tether it to the laptop super easy.

The range of apps is excellent. I run Navionics charts on it when I am out on the boat. I find I use it more than the dedicated chartplotter because it is always in my pocket when I need it. (I think dedicated chartplotters are an endangered species too).

Its also a pretty good point and shoot video and still camera and music player.

One downside, the voice recognition software is getting better but not there yet.

I have settled on having only two appliances in my backpack. My ultrabook laptop for grunt and my Galaxy Note for convenience. I dont need anything else.

I would like to go in that direction too. Being an Mac kind of guy, I'm waiting to see if Apple will put the retina display in the MacBook Air. If they do, that will probably be my next laptop and my iPad will likely be relegated to replacing my boat's chart plotter. The difference in weight between a light laptop and a tablet really isn't enough to make a difference to me and if I'm going to carry a computer in my backpack I'd rather it be one that I can actually do my work on.

[Inquisitive]

Anyone know about Hughes net? How much can you download etc

[daddle]

Originally Posted by Inquisitive

Anyone know about Hughes net? How much can you download etc

Had that for a while at the mountain cabin. Pathetic. The latency of satellite Internet connections makes for an unpleasant experience. Same on some islands, like Palau, where they have no undersea cable. The satellite connection just barely works.

[bobofthenorth]

Hughes has got a lot better lately. That may just mean they are losing users and their satellite loads are dropping but whatever the reason it is better than it used to be. We used to see 70 -100 K up and 6-700 K down. Now 1.2 down is not impossible and the uploads are in the low 100s. 3 or 4G is still a much better option if it is an option but for some locations satellite is still the only way to go and its a lot better than no connection at all.

Our Hughesnet is on seasonal hold right now but I think our rolling bit bucket is 300 megs in 24 hours now. That's on their lowest rate plan - more expensive plans will have larger buckets. The way the Hughes bucket works is you can refill your bucket capacity in roughly 20 hours. So in theory anyway, you could download 2X your bucket size in 24 hours if you started with a full bucket and finished with an empty bucket. In the real world we can count on using 300 meg day after day with no worries about going into the dreaded FAP zone.

[Inquisitive]

Bob thank you very helpful!

[smaarch]

anchored, and occasionally underway (coastal and inshore)i use a netbook with a blackberry connection. the software is tetherbridge. Occasionally i may lose the cell signal but its never really been a problem. Its used for email and some simple browsing. It is not fast but it works.
the real advantage is there is no additional equipment and no additional expenses. I think the software was $20 and there is a demo version.
Here's the link
TetherBridge BlackBerry Tether Bridge (Tethering Like a Modem)

[Wavewacker]

Even though I have a Ham ticket, I'm technologically deficient, I know more about boats than computers so that's pretty sad.

I.m using a Toshiba netbook, it has a camera and I have used it. I did Skype years ago but not on this machine, but I assume it would work, at that time I was hooking up with a cell phone too, not sure if that makes a difference.

Another thing is that you can get on line with your HF/UHF ham rig, not sure how that is done but that's been around awhile.

So, good news, I don't need a chart plotter, just get the software!

[smaarch]

Originally Posted by Wavewacker

Even though I have a Ham ticket, I'm technologically deficient, I know more about boats than computers so that's pretty sad.

I.m using a Toshiba netbook, it has a camera and I have used it. I did Skype years ago but not on this machine, but I assume it would work, at that time I was hooking up with a cell phone too, not sure if that makes a difference.

Another thing is that you can get on line with your HF/UHF ham rig, not sure how that is done but that's been around awhile.

So, good news, I don't need a chart plotter, just get the software!

Wavewacker:
I'm not sure what you are asking but........
try OpenCpn.
OpenCPN | Official OpenCPN Homepage
I've been using it and following it for years now.
It is open source.
A great program with great development advances and great folks contributing to it.
US charts are available for download from NOAA.
the only thing you need is a usb capable gps to plug into from your netbook.