Access to the Web is all-pervasive, and an everyday "staple" to most of us. We use the Web to communicate with friends and business colleagues, to surf, to research information, and to play games, trade stocks and download music and movies.
By Mary E. Shacklett
Published: June, 2007
Recognizing this, most marinas now furnish DSL access for WIFI Internet, giving boaters who stay within 25 miles of these modems access to the virtual world. However, Internet WIFI access requires several logistical measures that land-based Internet does not.
Installing Internet Access on Your Boat
Most boaters first approach maritime Internet as a simple exercise of getting a laptop with a wireless card on board, figuring that they can tie into various marinas’ DSL services. It is not that simple, since WIFI access requires a clear line of sight, and sailboats and other objects passing through the line of sight will disrupt signaling. So will the unsteadiness of floating on the water and the radio-wave resistance of metal hulls − since most Internet users on boats prefer to do their work inside their cabins.
Especially if you are a cruising boat, staying in a good range for DSL connections with marina DSL modems is a challenge, said John Navas, a San Francisco-based technology consultant specializing in high-speed communications—and a long-time boater. Navas’s Website, www.wikia.com, focuses on WIFI on boats and is an open forum for bloggers who wish to contribute to the subject.
If you’re sitting on your deck and using a laptop with a wireless card to communicate with a marina DSL modem, you can expect a range of 300-350 feet if your line of sight for the communications remains clear, said Navas. However, if you are in the cabin of a metal-hulled boast, this range will be cut in half.
Navas recommends that boat owners who want Internet access install an antenna on the boat’s masthead so they can dramatically improve signal strength. By disabling your normal wireless access card, and purchasing an antenna and an adaptor, you can easily double your signal range, said Navas.
Antennas come in various sizes, and are measured by their dBi (decibels over isotropic antenna). The dBi is a measurement that indicates the degree that signal strength is boosted over that of a standard antenna. For example, a 6 dBi antenna will double the WIFI range of your laptop. The maximum dBi strength of current commercial antennas is 14 dBi. Navas says that most boat owners will be satisfied with an antenna in the 7-8 dBi range. Those going for the greatest quality possible with antenna-based technology can opt for antennas in the 12-14 dBi range.
There are two ways to use an antenna on your boat, said Navas. You can choose to go wireless between your masthead antenna (connected to a wireless cell) and the wireless card in your laptop—but this can cut communications speeds dramatically, and be difficult to install. A better option that is less expensive, with better communications throughput, is a wired solution that connects the laptop in the cabin with the antenna on the masthead with category 5 (cat 5) cable.
Sailing the Open Seas
Accessing the Internet on the open seas is another issue, since WIFI technology is limited to line of sight communications.
Open seas Internet access requires the use of satellite phones or short wave modems. These are fairly expensive and prepaid dial-up time can cost $1/minute. This gets into a lot of money since data transfer speeds are only a few thousand kilobits per second. At best, it is only advisable to send very brief and occasional text messages.
Maritime Etiquette
Finally, there are points of etiquette in maritime Internet access that responsible boaters should be sensitive to:
Avoid downloading movies, music and other large files that can interfere with Internet access for others in the marina you are in. Most marinas only have DSL modems with 1.5 megabyte data pipes—so it isn’t hard to lock other users out with a large file download. The best uses for maritime Internet are text-based email and Web surfing.
Maintain sound security practices. Viruses and hackers are threats at a marina, as they are at the office or at home. As soon as you log onto a WIFI network, you are in an essentially insecure environment. It is recommended that you always contract with a service provider who can provide you VPN (virtual private network) services as part of your Internet subscription package. Working on a VPN ensures that your messages and data are secure.
If you see someone else in the maritime community who does not have security, let him know. Everyone is using a wide-open WIFI at the marina, and it’s easy to see the music downloads and messages other boaters are doing if they aren’t using secure communications, said Navas. This can be very dangerous. As a matter of politeness, I always tell people that I can access their computer so they can take the appropriate steps to secure their communications.
Don’t just access someone’s accidentally open system. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of this going on, said Navas. If you want to piggyback and share someone’s antenna, ask first.
Mary E. Shacklett
