Mobile WiFi
We use the PDANet app on our Android phones. It turns the phone into a
hotspot that can connect to multiple devices at the same time. Since we
have an unlimited data plan, there is no cost for using the WiFi.
Glen and Jill Moore
DeFever 40 Passagemaker Last Dance
Thanks to all so far for the responses on a mobile WiFi device. Excellent information.
We are not looking to boost a marina wifi signal because that wifi is still probably not secure. We are looking more to the “hot spot” arrangement. We have ATT service on our iPhones. Sounds like there might be more options via Verizon.
There appear to be devices that might be more powerful than using the cell phone to create the hot spot. Have you found that to be true?
Steve
Steve Bedford
maxmarineproducts.com
Home of the Super MAX Anchor
M/V No Regrets II, Legacy 42
Burgess, Virginia
Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function.
Steve
We use AT&T service with a Netgear Night Hawk Hot-spot and it works phenomenal. Operates on AC or DC (USB). We have an unlimited cell service plan and have at time streamed over 600 GB per month with no degradation in service speed. Thats watching streaming TV as well. The Night Hawk allows an external MIMO antenna which further enhances the connectivity.
I might suggest you peruse this following blog for further details and options, I found this blog to be helpful and confirmed my arrangement is fit for purpose and likely best in class for an AT&T arrangement. https://www.rvmobileinternet.com https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/ They are RV and Boaters and for a modest fee unlock a tremendous amount of technical detail, however the free content is excellent as well.
Steve McCreary
MV Last Laugh
52 DeFever Offshore Cruiser
Now lying Solomons, Maryland
On 5 Jul 2019, at 07:09, Steve Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering trawlers@lists.trawlering.com wrote:
Thanks to all so far for the responses on a mobile WiFi device. Excellent information.
We are not looking to boost a marina wifi signal because that wifi is still probably not secure. We are looking more to the “hot spot” arrangement. We have ATT service on our iPhones. Sounds like there might be more options via Verizon.
There appear to be devices that might be more powerful than using the cell phone to create the hot spot. Have you found that to be true?
Steve
Steve Bedford
maxmarineproducts.com
Home of the Super MAX Anchor
M/V No Regrets II, Legacy 42
Burgess, Virginia
Sent from my iPad. Please excuse misused words due to the "auto correct" function.
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There are a number of options, including getting a MiFi device from your
cell phone provider (AT&T in your case). My wife has one from AT&T and
thinks it is great - she even has it in England with her now during a
short vacation so she can connect her laptop/tablet if she wants. I know
Verizon has them, also. Downside is that you get to pay for another cell
connection. Upside is that they're generally faster than using your
phone as a hot spot and it simply stays connected to the internet via
cell towers all the time - nothing to bring online other than making a
connection to it via WiFi on your computer, tablet, or other WiFi
enabled device.
There are also devices available from non-cell companies, but you still
get to pay for another cell connection through a cell providers.
Cradlepoint is one such company that I'm familiar with.We used a
Cradlepoint device for a number of years before switching to the AT&T
provided MiFi. Google "MiFi device" and you'll find a lot of options.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler for sale Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/
On 7/5/2019 07:09 AM, Steve Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
Thanks to all so far for the responses on a mobile WiFi device.
Excellent information.
We are not looking to boost a marina wifi signal because that wifi is
still probably not secure. We are looking more to the “hot
spot†arrangement. We have ATT service on our iPhones. Sounds
like there might be more options via Verizon.
There appear to be devices that might be more powerful than using the
cell phone to create the hot spot. Have you found that to be true?
Steve
Steve,
I'm with you on the marina wifi, but I'd have to disagree that most are
not secure, they're just poor. Many marina wifi setups use single point
connections that are attempting to handle too many clients demanding too
much bandwidth, mostly using 2.4Ghz signal, and a lot of those clients
are using boosters that are creating a noisy environment. It's further
complicated by the inherent environment of the marina with so much metal
sticking up in the air to obstruct a clear signal. Getting wifi into a
boat is an uphill battle. OnSpot is one exception. It works. Having a
5Ghz radio will immensely improve throughput, and that's what counts.
Yes, I can get a great 2.4G signal, but it's limited in bandwidth, so
even though the signal is good, I still get a lousy "connection". 5G is
far better at connecting multiple clients and reducing noise, but it has
a shorter range. That's actually a benefit since it limits connection
from marginal signal. But typically 5-10 times the throughput. I'll see
20-30 mb/s on a 5G wifi compared to single digits or less on a 2.4G
connection. Most marina wifi is essentially useless except as a
marketing tool.
We use a combination of a Pepwave surflink SOHO router with a Mikrotik
dual wifi radio (2.4/5Ghz), and a 4G modem that connects to Verizon
LTE. This gives us the option to use any marina wifi, has the advantage
of 5G which is a huge improvement, and the 4G LTE provides internet most
any other time wifi isn't available. I also use an external antenna for
wifi as well as cellular, and a cellular amplifier. The cellular amp is
a Wilson Sleek 3g/4g cradle type. Although it requires placing the cell
phone or 4G/LTE modem in the cradle, it is effective. I have read too
many reports of problems with the automotive repeater type amps to want
to attempt it. The cellular amp is very effective, it typically makes
the difference between connecting vs. "no signal". I have gone through
three of the Ubiquiti Bullet radios, they seem to last about 18 months.
My setup locates the Bullet inside, I have a cabled connection to the
wifi antenna, but direct connection is superior. The Mikrotik radio can
be more complicated to set up, but far more versatile. Island Time PC
has a pre-set system that's good, but doesn't have AFAIK the 3G/4G
option. Pepwave also offers a Surf on the Go router that's wireless
only, e.g. no ethernet ports for wired LAN. It doesn't do 5G wifi, so it
has some limitations in that regard, thus it is about end of life. But
it will use a 4G/LTE USB modem and create a hotspot on board. I got one
for a boat neighbor and it does a great job.
The USB modem (aka mifi) is effective, but if you can include a cellular
amp, you'll improve your connection capability. In the Bahamas, we used
the cellular amp to great advantage. Even in the Exumas there was LTE in
most locations. If you can get within 5 miles of a tower, you can
generally get LTE coverage.
It's a jungle trying to navigate the options of on board internet. Carry
a machete. <G>
Steve Sipe
Solo 4303 /Maerin/
Ocracoke
On 7/5/2019 7:09 AM, Steve Bedford via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
Thanks to all so far for the responses on a mobile WiFi device. Excellent information.
We are not looking to boost a marina wifi signal because that wifi is still probably not secure. We are looking more to the “hot spot” arrangement. We have ATT service on our iPhones. Sounds like there might be more options via Verizon.
There appear to be devices that might be more powerful than using the cell phone to create the hot spot. Have you found that to be true?
Steve
Steve Bedford
maxmarineproducts.com
Home of the Super MAX Anchor
M/V No Regrets II, Legacy 42
Burgess, Virginia
Steve
We use AT&T service with a Netgear Night Hawk Hot-spot and it works phenomenal. Operates on AC or DC (USB). We have an unlimited cell service plan and have at time streamed over 600 GB per month with no degradation in service speed. Thats watching streaming TV as well. The Night Hawk allows an external MIMO antenna which further enhances the connectivity.
I might suggest you peruse this following blog for further details and options, I found this blog to be helpful and confirmed my arrangement is fit for purpose and likely best in class for an AT&T arrangement. https://www.rvmobileinternet.com They are RV and Boaters and for a modest fee unlock a tremendous amount of technical detail, however the free content is excellent as well.
Steve McCreary
MV Last Laugh
52 DeFever Offshore Cruiser
Now lying Solomons, Maryland
Steve,
We use a verity of ways to gain internet access. A cell-phone bases solution tends to be the most reliable, and is certainly secure. Be it any of the major carries, it seems that depending on the area one is 'better' then the other - and while traveling you may well be fine with any one of them, just expect some spots may drop when away from cities.
Using your Cell phone for the 'hot spot' will work, depending on your plan. We use the Personal Hotspot mode on our iphone from Verizon with good results, and also have a proper hot-spot / MiFi device for T-Mobile. The major difference comes down to your phone plan. Some phone plans will restrict the amount of data available when using the cell-phone as a hot-spot, or they may cap the speed. Just check it out with your provider. And also, just try it and see how responsive it is to you. In our chase I am typically OK even when some sort of fall-back (ala, fall-back to 3G speeds) are imposed; but my Wife uses the Face Book and has a hard time during those situations and is a bit happier when there is no throttling. (Example, with our 'Unlimited' T-Mobile MiFi device, we get 6Gb of 4G access, then fall into the 3G 'penalty box' for the rest of the month)
One thing you did not mention was a booster. We find it very important no matter which provider is used. Even at times in the cities it helps. At present we are using the 'WeBoost' 4G-X device (https://www.weboost.com/products/drive-4gx ) with very good results. We have upgraded to an external antenna. Make sure it is able to hanle all the 'bands' you will be needing. This is the one we use: http://shop.proxicast.com/shopping/proxicast-3g-4g-lte-9-dbi-omni-directional-fixed-mount-fiberglass-antenna.html And also upgrade the cable between the booster and the outside antenna. We used LMR-240 style cable and sourced it with the correct ends here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/TIMES-Microwave-1-30-LMR-240-Silver-Plated-N-Male-to-SMA-Male-Pigtail-Cable-US/131145302349?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
In use we find that the best idea is to literally place the cell-phone on the internal weBoost antenna (looks like a flat candy bar). Especially in low-signal areas. Thought depending on where you are that may not be necessary. Another great thing about this booster is it works with more than one phone at a time, will work with the proper stand-alone hot-spots (MiFi) devices, and both data as well as voice and text. (Funny story: After we installed this we were in a cove that historically was a total dead-zone. Nothing, even with our older booster. Well the phone rang! Surprised me, but once I picked it up and started to pace around I got about 5' from the booster's inside antenna and the phone started to cut out. Sigh, phone worked but I had to stand at the bridge station to use it!)
OK, hope this helps. In summary: my suggesting would be get a weBoost amp and external antenna upgrade for it. Then just try using your existing phone in hot-spot mode and see how you like it. If some issues you can see about upgrading your existing plan, or get a MiFi device from perhaps a different carrier (Like we do - increases the odds of one or the other getting a strong signal).
Best of luck and let us know how things work out for you!
-al-
Viking Star
45' Monk Sr. / McQueen
mvVikingStar.blogspot.com