Connecting to the internet, alternatives from the mainstream

[Corpse Cruncher]

I'm seriously considering down-sizing and moving to an alternative form of accommodation, a boat namely.

One problem first is that there obviously isn't any land-line (phone) connection or cable availability.Moorings, sadly rarely come with main household phone or cable provisions.

So how or what else is there available so I can connect to the Internet and at what speeds would be expected. Will I be able to download security patches/ program downloads etc or is it brief e-mail grabs at best?

There is also the power usage and voltage to consider. 12 volts when under own steam so to speak and 230 volts(fluctuating on a main's hook-up.) Will this effect anything and limit what I can and cannot do?

I would like to be able to surf and download/upload as though I was in a normal household supplied enviroment. Please bear in mind this is for a UK base.

[brodski]

You can look at mobile internet links. T mobile do one, which is meant to have pretty good coverage, but it's expensive at £29 a month for a 1.8 meg connection.

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/eshop/personal/internet-on-the-move/data-plans.do?WT.mc_id=ON_QM_S_Google&WT.srch=1

The power thing shouldn't be a problem, given that you're looking at living on a boat space is going to be an issue so I think that a laptop would be your best bet anyway.

[Corpse Cruncher]

Good grief! That other package T'mobile has is pricey. At least it is unlimited and the cost of £29.00 pm is not that prohibitive. I pay about that anyway with mine currently. It is only 2meg at best due to being on the outer edge from the wotist.

Speed obviously is not going to be as home broadband connections are but 1.8 is not that slow is it? In real time how long would say a 1k download take, compared with a 2meg broadband connection?

I was considering going to go down the laptop route, space is a premium, with my collections of frying pans less space other things take up the better. :D

[stormer]

Oh cool! Just wanted to say that I have always wanted to live on a boat. Even started to do some wiring works for people at a yacht club to get closer to the water.

Sorry, no can help on the internet connection, but you still high on my coolness list. :)

[Smike]

A little bit about speeds:

from the link:

Our national mobile broadband network offers speeds up to 1.8mbps
(emphasis mine)

This is 1.8 mega bits per second.

When you refer to a "2meg" broadband connection, you probably mean a 2 mega bit per second connection, as those are the units that companies like to use, because it sounds like more than "a quarter of a megabyte". Hence the 1.8 mpbs would be comparable in speed to a home broadband connection.

However, in reality, even a home 2 mega bit connection will not be anything like that fast. I would expect to be able to download at around 80 kb/s (kilo bytes per second) with this kind of connection (about 2/3 of a mega bit per second).

Obviously a mobile connection will be more variable, but it should be fine for surfing.

I'm not sure what you mean by a 1k download...

[Blight]

I have to disagree with smike about home broadband speeds, a 2mbit connection can get 250kbyte/second if you're downloading from a fast site and your ISP is reliable.

As for download using a cellphone modem, speeds vary from technology/location, but most new cellphone tech is pretty fast and a 1k download should take under 1 second (if you have good coverage of where you're at).

Another solution is WiFi, but that depends on where you're docked. I believe some docks have WiFi connections. Most laptops have integrated wifi, so it shouldn't be a problem checking if there's a network (or just calling up the dock management to ask).

Good WiFi connection will be cheaper and more reliable than a cellphone modem.

[Corpse Cruncher]

Ahh alas, some areas are not wifi enabled and if they are charge a ludricous amount. The areas I am looking wifi is still just a pipedream so a mobile is what I have to look forward to.

Although having a wifi type of modem would probaly be beneficial?

As my planned craft is steel will that hamper or aid such things?

[Corpse Cruncher]

Oh cool! Just wanted to say that I have always wanted to live on a boat. Even started to do some wiring works for people at a yacht club to get closer to the water.

Sorry, no can help on the internet connection, but you still high on my coolness list. :)

Ruled out yachts, too pricey and somehow don't appeal to me as much as barges. Although I have seen a dinky looking small yacht type thing. One I may buy as an alternative dog house to send the horde too if they annoy me.:D

London is out, the pricing the moor is ludicrously high. Not rivers unless I get a proper Thames type barge. As I can't weld this option looks out.

Most happening areas, regarding wifi etc, are river based. I'm looking to canals which remain steadfast in the dark ages apparently.

[geni]

Most happening areas, regarding wifi etc, are river based. I'm looking to canals which remain steadfast in the dark ages apparently.


Dig down a couple of feet in the midle of the towpath and there is a fair chance you will find a fiber optic cabel.

[Azure]

Dig down a couple of feet in the midle of the towpath and there is a fair chance you will find a fiber optic cabel.

lol....and after you find a way to get internet from it, give me a call because I have a fiber optic cable running underground 2 feet from my condo.

[ChristineR]

Satellite? I think there might be a problem if you have to move your antenna, but isn't satellite TV pretty common on boats and in RV's?

If you can get TV you should be able to get internet.

[Hagrok]

I have a friend who has some kind of satellite internet for his bus (yeah, he lives in a school-bus. It's a very nice school-bus, though; has hardwood floors!)

[Azure]

I have used satellite internet before and found it very slow.

But if you're only browsing the internet, and checking your email, it might be good.

That is if it stays on. Mine had habit of going off for days at a time. I gave my ISP hell over it.

[Corpse Cruncher]

Dig down a couple of feet in the midle of the towpath and there is a fair chance you will find a fiber optic cabel.

:eye-poppi I think not. What am I supposed to do with the spoils of the hole?