WI-FI ON BOARD
Wi-Fi on board
The Internet has become an essential part of almost all our lives,
so how can we keep connected when we’re afloat? Duncan Kent
checks out various onboard methods of getting online
A
lthough many of us go
sailing to get away from our
hectic everyday lives, the
Internet can have a variety
of uses on board – from
keeping in touch with friends, family
and (dare I say) work, to downloading
the latest weather, streaming music or
videos for the kids or even downloading
the manual for the newest bit of kit that
stubbornly refuses to work. But how
can you connect to the Internet from
the water?
Excluding expensive satellitecommunication systems, there are two
common ways a coastal cruiser can
access the Internet while on board:
Q By receiving Wi-Fi signals from a marina
or some other nearby open source
Q By using mobile Internet via GSM
(2G/3G) or LTE (4G) cellular network.
The former is fine if you tend to stop
each night in a marina and have a
reasonable signal, and if you only want to
do the occasional browsing and emailing.
The second method is more suited to
those who prefer to anchor off, or want to
use it on the move.Next comes the choice of hardware you’ll
use to access the Wi-Fi signal – and
here’s where it becomes more
complicated. If you’re in a marina you may
just need an antenna to make best use of
the available signal, or one that’ll search
for the strongest local signal to patch into.
Or maybe you’ll need a router and
booster if you intend to make use of more
than one Wi-Fi enabled device at a time.
And if you’re at sea you’re probably going
to need a router hub that make use of the
mobile phone network. Read on to see
what you’re going to need...Timbismedia