Internet on the boat?

E

ErikE

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2020
459
Northern Michigan
Boat Info
1986 Sea Ray 340 SD
Engines
Twin 454
Being I work from anywhere, I plan to spend some weeks up on the boat during the work week. My marina has WIFI, but I want to have a backup should the marina's go down.

What are any of you using for internet?

I am with AT&T, and I see they have hotspot routers, but all seem very low for data plan limits. Being I do video conferences most of the day, high data limits or unlimited is needed.

Any other solutions any of you have come up with?

I looked briefly for similar threads and didn't fin any....feel free to point me if this has already been discussed.

Thanks!!
 
DO you have a good unlimited data plan with At&T? I just use my I phone hot spot to access the internet when using my Lap Top or streaming movies.
 
Carpediem44DB said:
DO you have a good unlimited data plan with At&T? I just use my I phone hot spot to access the internet when using my Lap Top or streaming movies.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I do have an unlimited plan with AT&T, and have used it in hotels for streaming movies - and it worked good as you said. I'll use this to begin with as my backup, but am looking for a more robust solution incorporating a local access point (home router) that will make it easier to connect multiple devices without much fuss.
 
Have been testing out this product for about a month now. Can’t say one way or the other yet but what attracted me to it was the unlimited plan that I can cancel anytime. I’m on the pink plan which is T-Mobile.
http://nomadinternet.com/
 
I use my phone as a hotspot when needed when I'm out on the water.

Unlimited plan with Xfinity on the Verizon network.

I haven't tried streaming a movie yet but I can get onto CSR when needed. ;)
 
ErikE said:
Thanks! I do have an unlimited plan with AT&T, and have used it in hotels for streaming movies - and it worked good as you said. I'll use this to begin with as my backup, but am looking for a more robust solution incorporating a local access point (home router) that will make it easier to connect multiple devices without much fuss.
Click to expand...

I find my Apple iPhone hotspot to be approximately 80.6 times more reliable and robust than any uptime commitments I may get from Comcast/Charter :)

Before WiFi came to our marina I'd regularly use my phone, and my wife's, to let 3 kids play games/watch videos in the mornings while also using the phones. They truly are impressive. Save your money on a router and maybe just update your phone?
 
I have, but haven't installed (yet) the Winegard 4g system on the radar arch. It's also a wifi extender if you use marina wifi, but I'm more interested in the 4G cellular internet for work as well. Then I'll just have a router and lan on the boat. Once I get up and running I'll report back on how well it works.
 
AT&T just announced a "great deal" plan which is a 100GB data only plan for $55/mo. I just saw this, and will probably spend some time researching it. Seems like it could be a decent addition to my home internet.

It's listed on this page, but looks like you have to go in-store to get it.
https://www.att.com/prepaid/plans/
 
AT&T has also adjusted their mobile plans. Now you get 100GB of data at full speed and 30GB of hotspot data with the unlimited plan. If you're on AT&T you may already have 30GB of hotspot data based on which plan you're on.
 
I just switched from Verizon to Tmobile for all 13 of my business phones. Reduced my monthly $100 and got a hot spot with 100g of data for $55 monthly.
 
I find cell data very slow. I have infinite plan that slows down after so many GP. OK for email but not much else.
 
northern said:
I find cell data very slow. I have infinite plan that slows down after so many GP. OK for email but not much else.
Click to expand...
It’s pretty common that unlimited plans get throttled after X much usage. The speed depends a lot on the carrier, equipment, and towers. Speed on my Peplink router was great at home (about 40 mbps). But variable on my trip from SC to NY.

upload_2021-4-28_8-48-19.jpeg
 
northern said:
I find cell data very slow. I have infinite plan that slows down after so many GP. OK for email but not much else.
Click to expand...
Sometimes I get great speed, and sometimes it's crappy. Depends on how close to a tower I am and how busy that tower is.

Either way, I'm going to give this a try. I have to attend several teleconferences each day and if this allows me to work from the boat, I'll be happy.
 
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For video (internet TV or video conferencing), you would likely be better off if you have a wifi connection at your marina (if they have it). If you want to be away from the dock you will need an unlimited, unthrottled and non network managed cell plan. They are not cheap. With everyone attempting to work remotely, the prices have gone up substantially (50%++ in the last year). 100GB would likely work for watching a few hours of internet TV and some surfing for a week-ends on the boat, but full time video conferencing, that 100Gb will not get you very far.

The Peplink modems would be a good alternative as it can use a Wifi connection and (I believe) all have 2 SIM slots (allows multiple carriers). The units can be set up to use the best connection and will automatically and seamlessly switch between the best signal.

Go here and read up on the latest...these guys are doing exactly what you are trying to do and you can get an idea of what would be required, especially if your talking mission critical, must have data. --> https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/gear/cellular-data-plans/
 
My wife and I both work from home, my son does virtual school from home, all of our TV watching is streamed and we play VR games online. Our total monthly use over cable is about 70gb. 100gb should be fine. If the speeds are high enough.
 
I guess we are heavier users here! Working from home, two kids in high school...but we have cable TV still!

upload_2021-4-28_9-59-56.png


That said, both my wife and I worked from the boat full-time last summer and 100GB of cellular per month got us by, including some streaming.
 
100GB in two days? Are you downloading an archive of pornhub? :)
 
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