We've had excellent results with Island Times WiFi extender setup. It's
easy enough to install, great support (if needed, via Bob Stewart), but
does take a little bit of study to get the software tuned (there are a
lot of options). We've also recommended it to a lot of friends who are
pleased with its performance.

Check out:
https://www.islandtimepc.com/wifi-systems

<><><><><><><><><><><><>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 4/15/2019 03:53 PM, Jim Felds via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:

If you're geek-inclined, you can create your own using either a Bullet
or Microtik AP along with a generic router, that'll get you WiFi on
board from a marina's AP (access point).  If you want to take it a step
further and include cellular 4G access, a pepwave or cradlepoint router
will work with a 4G modem to provide 4G/LTE service on board. Addition
of an external cellular antenna and amp will improve your 4G/LTE range &
throughput considerably. Pepwave also produces a router with integral
4G/LTE by adding a SIM card. Can use external antenna and amp. Often
used by law enforcement for their vehicle systems.
If you're typically transient and trying to access marina-based WiFi
while cruising, you may be sadly disappointed. Marina WiFi nearly
universally sucks. There are far too many clients connected, every
booster is screaming at the AP at maximum power, the noise level reduces
throughput to dialup speeds. and there's not much that's 5G band,
although it's becoming more common. But, you have to have a dual-band
access point, Bullet doesn't make one that will connect to just any 5gHz
(5G) AP, only another Ubiquiti product. Although you may see a strong
signal and can connect, you may not get adequate throughput/bandwidth to
make it worth your while. It's a combination of lots of things that
conspire to make internet connections nearly useless. There are
exceptions, OnSpot is one. It always works, and it's always fast and
lots of bandwidth in "N"(2.4gHz) as well as 5G.  Home grown marina
solutions are pretty universally crap.
Hence, the justification for putting at least as much emphasis on 4G/LTE
as WiFi for cruisers. If you're always in the same marina, there may be
justification for the WiFi, and it depends on the marina's system and
client load. But 4G/LTE will ensure you have access when you want it.
Data costs are becoming more affordable, so it's a viable alternative to
WiFi.

We're currently in the Exumas, I picked up a SIM card for my iPhone 7,
and use the Bullet to connect to the personal hotspot, and then the
router distributes the connection to all the devices on board. Works
very well. The advantage with that is that I can place the phone in the
4G cradle/amp to improve the signal (by about double) and throughput.
The amp easily makes a difference between no connection and a usable one
here, and at many areas stateside. We've had usable coverage through all
but a few parts of the Exumas. $30/15G/2 weeks. Not horrible. Aliv is
less costly.
Pepwave makes a small, 12V wireless router (no ethernet connections)
that I set up for a boat neighbor that works really well, not
complicated, and can also utilize a 4G modem.  I had always had
Cradlepoint devices, but became unhappy with them due to some flakiness
that wouldn't resolve. They're more expensive, and IMO, not worth the
premium. I'm happy with the PepWave, more versatile, more modems that
will work, and better support. They'll work with you.  Cradlepoint not
so much.

Steve Sipe
Solo 4303 /Maerin/

On 4/15/2019 3:53 PM, Jim Felds via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote: