Boat networking

[ksanders]

Do you have a network on your boat? If so what equipment do you use, and what do you use to connect to the internet?


I’ll start...

For our boats network we have a wired and wireless LAN.
For the connection to the internet we have cellular from two different carriers, plus a satellite backup since we are in a remote area.
The internet connections are set up in a preferential order to minimuze cost.
For equipment we use a Cradlepoint MBR1200B router.

The end result is that we have internet and telephone while onboard anywhere we travel.

[Cptmorgan]

I've been using a Huawei B890 4G LTE Smart Hub (on Telus) for a couple years. It's been great. The internal antenna appears to be way better than a normal iPhone.
iPads, iPhones, and Nav suit are connected via Wifi.
Fusion stereo is plugged in through LAN. (no wifi)
Landline phone plugged into the phone jack of the hub (the boat now has its own phone number...)
Everything seams to act just like broadband in our home.
Our guest like the wifi hostspot onboard. We find the Hub and boat phone get better reception and data speed than handheld mobile phones..
We also run an AppleTV through the HUB. HD Netflix no problem most of the time. Watch out, the data volume is crazy heavy. We go through a Gb / hour watching TV. We use a 15Gb/month plan so the kids can watch cartoons.

[boatworkfl]

Last summer in Seward, AK we now get free internet the city is providing, it would be easy to set up a wireless security system.
Also through the wireless phone system.

[Dadrock33]

. . . reading and following with interest . . . . I've got a Vesper XB-8000 AIS unit that needs an antenna (doesn't HAVE to but would work better with one - or so I read) and that's all I've got right now. I think I need a modem/router(?) to attach to the antenna so that I can get internet and I'll put a laptop in line with all that. The new Garmin 1042xsv is on line with the Vesper, both wirelessly and via the NEMA2000 network. . . . . most of the time, I know just enough to be dangerous . . . .

[boatworkfl]

I have a Garmin 7612XSX that I will be needing to link to the internet as well as anything I intend to buy between now and next May.