Wireless broadband revisited...

J

JamesTXSD

Active member
Yesterday while I was practicing maneuvers in the Inlet, Joan was doing bookwork and paying bills on-line. From South Dakota to south Texas, to California and up the coast, there have been few times when we didn't have coverage. It's working out nicely, so far.

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Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim and Joan -
Interesting, isn't it, living aboard? While others are fishing, visiting, kicked back, liveaboards (a small amount of the time) are paying bills, writing friends, etc. Our Cingular air card kept us well connected until I kicked the antenna overboard by mistake. Another joy (?) of living aboard. If one drops an antenna at home in the den, you reach over and pick it up off the floor -- I dropped an antenna in 180 feet of murky water, and the 3 inch thing quickly was gone!
We didn't pick up coverage for Canada on our trip north this summer -- too pricey -- what about you folks?
 
El and Bill: Since we're going to try to make the Catalina gathering, I don't think we'll have time to get into Canada this trip. But, the PWN is so gorgeous, we know we'll get back here.

I know what you mean about dropping things... we have made many "offerings to Neptune" on the sailboats. Our antenna is a little pop-up thingy on the card itself - if that goes in, it means I dropped the whole computer overboard!

For flagold: we are using Verizon for our wireless broadband. We already had cell service with them, so it was less expensive for us to add it with them. All that's necessary is the wireless card and the monthly service (essentially a dedicated data line, with a separate phone #). In the past, we had tried using the cell phone as a modem, but the transmission was SO slow it was painful. This works. I can surf the net, send and receive photos, and get e-mail relatively fast. I'm sure we'll get to places that don't have coverage, but so far so good.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim --
My antenna was also a pop-up thingy attached to the card in the computer and it conveniently unattached and became a pop-out thingy that didn't know how to swim. Also, new computers (including my new Dell) only have space for an 'express' card and the 'old' air card doesn't fit into the slot. Of course, neither Verizon nor Cingular yet build an express card (as of two days ago) so my air card is in the old computer until either someone builds an adapter or someone builds an express card. Frustrating how new technology so often precedes practicality -- computer manufacturers make a slot for something that doesn't even exist.

FLGold -- Check out Cingular's air card, also -- from our experience traveling with others it seems to have better area coverage in the more remote spots than Verizon -- but they add/subtract daily.
 
James, Bill and El, I got the extension antenna for my Verizon Card. I am using it right now in a campground in the Sierras about 60 miles east of Fresno, CA. :lol: As it is in in other locations, the extension antenna (not the pop up thingy) is the difference between no signal and 116 mbps. You gotta get the extension antenna. :lol:

BTW, you guys will like this. I have a 1972 Venture Trailer Sailboat with an equally old 2 stroke Mercury 4 hp motor on it. :thdown I carefully prepped the whole shebang at home at 1500'. :embarrased I brought it up here to 5300', launched the boat and started the motor. The motor promptly died. :amgry The prevailing wind caught the boat and blew it into the marina. :disgust I was not able to restart the motor. :cry I put the boat back onto the trailer and sat on the shore with my C-Dory Brochure. :love I felt better when I could make wavy motions w/ the brochure with the water in the background. :idea The CFO just rolled her eyes. My friends thought that I was nuts. :smilep Whaddyathink?

Thanks for allowing me to momentarily hijack your thread. Now back to your regular programming. :teeth
 
While not a liveaboard (yet!), I use a Treo 650 cell phone with Sprint service. It interfaces with my laptop via a USB cable to provide Internet access on my laptop anywhere I have Sprint coverage.

The Treo has the advantage of being a PDA & a cell phone so I am able to get a lot of use out of it. (no, I do not make a commission on Treos haha).

I believe the Treo is available for other wireless services besides Sprint.
 
Sam, you're not nuts... just the natural progression of things. It starts with the discovery stage, progresses to the brochure stage, quickly escalates to the obsession stage, then the dreaming stage... for many, the next step is the begging stage ("Oh, please, Honey; I'll never ask for anything ever again." :mrgreen: ). I gotta tell you, early into it, this doing-it stage is the best.

Back to the wireless: we are in a marina in Bellingham, WA. Yesterday evening, I was chatting (on a sailing site), watching the boats come and go, enjoying a sundowner, and then actually watching the sun go down. Barefoot. In perfect weather. I know all the days won't be this ideal, but it sure is nice when real life is better than what they show on a TV commercial.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Hey Jim.... Thanks Man... I needed that nautical fix. To many days without being on a wet hull. Cheers....and Congrats on finally getting the boat...and being able to enjoy it.

Byrdman
 
Here's another "fix" for you, Byrdman: yesterday, we buddy boated with Joe and Ruth (R-Matey) out to the northeastern San Juans... oh my goodness, that is spectacular country! It was kind of an "introduction" to the area... our dinghy, generator, etc was still back in the truck (bit of an impromptu trip). The beautiful, protected coves, the breath-taking mountain vistas in the distance. It is SO easy to see why this is such an popular cuising area.

We came back to Bellingham, provisioned, hauled the stuff to the boat, and we are just about ready to head back there for the next week or so... some time on the hook or a mooring ball is just the tonic we need.

If there is internet coverage to be had in the San Juans, I'll post something. In the meantime, here's a preview...

Nice view...
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Aerial photo from the E-80 (how cool is that feature? :thup)
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The obligatory "us by the sign" shot from Sucia Island (including Molly the cat, who attracted plenty of attention while walking on her leash)
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Wild Blue, loaded and ready to go...
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Quaint little boat behind us (they were plugging in 4 powercords when we came back from the store... sure would have liked to see them come in, since they are so close to our boat :disgust).

Best wishes,
Jim B.

I know how that time off the water can be. :cry: Hope you are able to get back out there soon.
 
Jim and Joan,

Welcome to our world! Isn't the PNW wonderful? We pinch ourselves every day to make sure we still live in this stunning wonderland.

We will probably pass you coming and going to the San Juans next week. We'll definately give you a shout on the VHF. We should pick up Dreamer at the factory Thursday, provision and head out Monday.

Your boat looks great and we wish you many happy hours aboard it. Remember to carry extra keys when Molly's aboard!

All the best, Roger & Janet
 
JamesTXSD":17xp9q59 said:
Wild Blue, loaded and ready to go...
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Click to expand...

Jim - I know you are fairly new to this powerboating and I know you really like all the nav features of that electronical stuff, so it is understandable how you might make the mistake illustrated above. But before you actually go, you need to take that blue canvas thingy off the front windows. You'll really see some spectacular scenery then!

Sure is neat to hear how much you guys are enjoying everything. If you want to stop by the lower Columbia on your way south, well, we don't have any SJ Islands, but there are some nifty sand bars you can run onto.
 
Hi Mike,
Those windshield covers are supposed to come off??? :shock: With all the nav stuff, I thought it was like flying IFR. Nahhhh - just kidding... this powerboating stuff scares me so bad, I have my eyes closed most of the time anyway... especially when docking.

Update on the wireless: couldn't get a signal in Fossil Bay on Sucia Island last night, but we are not anchored in Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island and... well, since you are reading this, you know we're getting a decent signal. Today was overcast, drizzly, and a bit of fog. LOVE that radar.We did get some wonderfully moody "island in the fog" images today.

Joan is quite fond of the windlass... it's not as pretty as the Blonde (our previous "windlass"), but she is happy to have been replaced. Today was our first real opportunity for actual use (besides testing it out). Nice!

The mooring float on Sucia banged against the hull last night. :evil: On the tri, we could set up a bridle to keep it between the hulls. I was about ready to go out and tie a life jacket around the metal stuff on the float... but thought better of that idea when I hit the cold air in my skivvies. :disgust Looking forward to a quieter night at anchor tonight. Joan and Molly are taking a nap right now.

Two weeks into this C-Dory powercruising, and we are loving it! :thup

Here's a shot of Wild Blue on the mooring late yesterday...
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Best wishes,
Jim & Joan B.
 
Man am I envious! You guys are having so much fun! Great pictures!

BTW: I have the Treo 700W on Verizon and it works great for simple postings and can actually be used as a modem for my laptop if I want. I was able to surf the web while in the middle of Nowhere in Nebraska a couple weeks ago. The nice thing is that my company helps me out with the internet service! Of course that means that I have company email at all times :crook

I do enjoy taking pictures of the catch and instantly sending an email to my wife right after catching the fish so that I can keep my wife updated on how the fishing is though!
 
Here's a photo-art image we shot today of the Patos Island Lighthouse...

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And Joan, after we dropped anchor at Prevost Harbor; chilly here, check out the vest and heavy socks...

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There is a light rain falling (hopefully it will wash some of the salt off from yesterday's rough water). Joan turned on the satellite radio (Radio Margaritaville) and we are settling in for the evening; Molly has already cashed it in...

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Our closest anchor neighbor is a couple hundred yards away... looking forward to a quiet night.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim - thanks for all the photos and text you posted of your adventures. Great photos especially of Joan.

I am so glad you are enjoying yourselves in the Northwest with your new boat. Hope you decide to make it a regular stop in your travels.
 
Hi Jim,

Prevost is one of my favorite places in the SJ's!

Have you heard about the school and the T-shirts. It is not too long of a walk and it is amazing how many people you meet who know where you got the shirt.

Steve
 
Oh oh.... did I see keys near the ignition up there where Molly, the push button cat, is napping? What new adventures might she be planning for you and your boat? John
 
Yippee skippy! Patty is picking Daydream up at the factory today, and we are launching at Bellingham Friday morning, will be out until Monday afternoon. We will keep any eye out for Wild Blue, if you are still in the neighborhood.
 
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