How to have Internet connection on the seas?

July 15, 2005 5:45 PM

Is it possible to establish internet connectivity on a sail boat off land, and if yes, how?
posted by semmi to Technology (6 answers total)

Best answer: Well, if you just want e-mail and will be cruising in range of one of their repeaters, you can join SailMail and send plain-text mail over marine radio at low speeds. Otherwise, right, satellite and $$$.
posted by nicwolff at 6:19 PM on July 15, 2005

GPRS. If you get a decent cell signal, you can use your cell phone as a modem for your laptop.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 7:01 PM on July 15, 2005

Response by poster: Great help, thanks everybody.
posted by semmi at 10:42 PM on July 15, 2005

how far does the cell net extend off land?
posted by Iax at 1:13 AM on July 16, 2005

There's inmarsat, but they're expensive. Within 10 miles of land cell might be possible.
posted by Nothing at 3:42 AM on July 16, 2005

Many ham/amateur radio people have done work tunnelling TCP/IP over ham radio through gateways (aka packet radio). I haven't used these things at all; you'd need a ham license (well, maybe not in international waters, but it would still be advisable) and I have no idea how practical these sorts of set-ups are for day-to-day use.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 8:13 AM on July 16, 2005