Wifi booster question

[Jeff Delbuono]

I port in keyport new jersey in a little dumpy marina. I do not get any wifi at the boat. Was thinking of installing a apple tv to my current tv but its wifi based. What is a good wifi booster to get or can i just add a hot spot to my phone to make it work. Kinda dumb with this kinda stuff and would still have my flip phone if i wasnt forced to change

 

[bobeast]

A WiFi booster may increase your range, but is unlikely to increase the speed, as I'm guessing the speed is limited by the Wifi source itself. Find out where the marina's WiFi antenna is and do a speed test from that location, using your phone. Then go to your slip and do the same. If the speed is the same, a booster will not help.

Our marina's WiFi is crap when it even works. I went with a hotspot on the boat to get decent speeds and reliability.

 

[KevinC]

I just run the hotspot on my phone. You should note that many times the hotspot you get for free with your phone plan is not adequate and may need to be upgraded.

-Kevin

 

[be_prepared]

Fyi - If you're on Verizon Wireless, they have been providing an extra 15GB of hotspot data to your plan for free during the height of COVID, to help folks working at home/boat/wherever. (Also to get them hooked on hotspot perhaps?) I received a message at the end of May indicating that the extra hotspot data ended May 31st.

 

[dtfeld]

I'd skip the Wifi altogether and go strait to cellular. Were you are, you should get plently of signal strength except offshore. But you will need a truly unlimited cellular plan, HD TV is about 3GB/hour so that 15 GB plan 4-5 hours of watching, then they throttle you and you can't watch anything the rest of the month. I use these guys https://www.otrmobile.com/. No limits, no throttling.

I have a Netgear LB1121 Cellular Modem powered by a 12VDC to 48VDC PoE injector and that is plugged into a cheap wireless router and a wired switch (all run off 12VDC, no genny required). You can connect an Apple TV wired or wirelessly with this. I run multiple smart TV's and security cameras off of this setup. You can buy these components for $300-$400. We have switched to Youtube TV and we can access it anywhere including the house, the boat or anywhere on the road. Sports options are plentiful.