Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 11-01-2019, 05:44 AM   #1
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
WI FI unlimited?

Here in FL many of my neighbors visit the Bahamas and are raving about the WI FI ther have there, island wi fi.

https://www.panbo.com/island-wifi-offers-u-s-service/

It is now being offered in the USA . $110 a month for an almost unlimited package.

Does anyone thin this is a good deal for WI FI at home and when traveling?
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2019, 06:23 AM   #2
Guru
 
menzies's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
Issue is this would be a totally incremental cost to your mobile cost. You would have to evaluate if you really needed that extra data over the unlimited that providers like AT&T provide with your phone plan.

The reason that this is so popular in the islands is that people either have to get a Bahamas SIM and pay as you go for data (15 GB per month usually) or use roaming with their US cellular carrier. With a Bahamas SIM they also now have a different number in the phone than what their contacts know. So an additional local WIFI plan then makes a lot of sense - especially if you are still working.

Here, I am not so sure. For example I am on AT&T's "unlimited" plan, and still have four of us on it including two grown children. I have never noticed any slowing down of service, if we have ever reached that point.
menzies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2019, 06:53 AM   #3
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
Retired , so only phone plan is Verizon $19.95 home style unit with unlimited phone usage. Works good for our snowbird lifestyle either in CT or FL or anywhere we plug in to 120V with Motor Home.

Our local service in FL is at almost dial up speeds , and using a different satellite style provider is similar cost , with the hassle of extended service contracts , and paying an equipment rental fee when not in use.

Tried a phone hot spot system but the wi fi radio at night 80KB ate too much.
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2019, 08:09 PM   #4
Member
 
NOGILLS2's Avatar
 
City: HAMMOND
Vessel Name: Fruition
Vessel Model: CHP/ Seamaster
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 8
I found a service https://www.otrmobile.com/ OTR provides a cell sim card data only with unlimited usage for $60.00 a month. I also purchased a Glomex Wi-Fi and Cell booster for sim card, About $500 dollars us. I have not installed it yet but claims you can stream tv and cell service connect to I-net up to 20 miles offshore. After I install it I will report how it works.
NOGILLS2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 10:54 AM   #5
DDW
Guru
 
City: San Francisco
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,094
An unlimited Verizon plan for a smartphone is only about $65/line. Includes voice, and also includes Canada and Mexico. It can be tethered to your computer, no need for another device. The will throttle the data rate each month if you've exceeded a threshold (20G is it?) but it is very hard to get there. Other carriers have similar service. Not clear to me the advantage in paying $110.
DDW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 11:11 AM   #6
Guru
 
Codger2's Avatar
 
City: San Diego
Vessel Name: Circuit Breaker
Vessel Model: 2021..22' Duffy Cuddy cabin
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,691
Quote:
Originally Posted by DDW View Post
An unlimited Verizon plan for a smartphone is only about $65/line. Not clear to me the advantage in paying $110.
All I have is a Verizon unlimited data plan, Nothing else. I use the hot spot for watching Amazon movies and can connect to the Internet when I need to. (Almost never!) For TV, I have a Glomex OTA antenna which picks up TV broadcasting stations within 40 miles (If no mountains are in the way!) Since i don't live on my boat, this is more than I really need.
__________________
Done with diesel power boats! Have fallen in love with all electric!
Codger2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2019, 11:15 AM   #7
Guru
 
Woodland Hills's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: Alzero
Vessel Model: Hatteras 63' CPMY
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,548
We have exceeded the limit on our unlimited Verizon plan nearly every month we have had it. Our hotspot limits are reached by the third week of the month which means no map updates on our navigation iPads until the clock resets which can be a safety issue if I cannot get the USACE surveys for Aqua Map.
We will be getting our kit from Island WiFi in a couple of days so I can report back on how it works. If it delivers, we will dial our Verizon plans back to the minimum. For two of us that will go a long way to recouping the $110.
Woodland Hills is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 12:26 PM   #8
Guru
 
Woodland Hills's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: Alzero
Vessel Model: Hatteras 63' CPMY
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,548
The Island WiFi modem arrived today and within 5 minutes of opening the box I had my Samsung tv streaming Netflix! I was going to connect the boat router to the modem and connect all of our devices to the boat network, but since we can connect up to 10 devices to the modem I’ve just hooked up directly and shutdown the boat network. For whatever reason ATT seems to be a bit faster than Verizon too.
We will have to return this modem to Island WiFi for another unit when we go to the Bahamas since this one is USA only, but that’s not a dealbreaker IMHO. We ordered the modem on Friday and it arrived on Monday, probably would have been a day faster if the weekend had not interfered.
Now I will have to see how it works out over the next month or so.......
Woodland Hills is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 06:58 PM   #9
Guru
 
Wayfarer's Avatar
 
City: Beaufort, NC USA
Vessel Name: Sylphide
Vessel Model: Kingston Aluminum Yacht 44' Custom
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,228
I have an At&t 'unlimted' plan for my phone, but they limit my hotspot data to 10 gigs per month, and they limit my connection speed when I use more than 22 gigs a month. Unlimited my ass.

I use a lot of mobile data, because I'm always mobile, and I found I was running into those limitations regularly.

I wanted a truly unlimited mobile cellular data package that would effectively replace the home internet connection that I've just given up. I signed up for a package from RVdataSat.

I've only just started using it a few days ago, but I have to say, I've been impressed with the quality of connection I've gotten. They use T-Mobile coverage, and so far I can't find fault with it. It's a bit of a buy to get the hardware and get set up, but so far I'm glad I went this route.
__________________
Dave
Just be nice to each other, dammit.
The Adventures of Sylphide
Wayfarer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 07:03 PM   #10
Guru
 
menzies's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
Do you guys ever just sit out back and watch the world go by?
menzies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 07:50 PM   #11
Guru
 
Woodland Hills's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: Alzero
Vessel Model: Hatteras 63' CPMY
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,548
Quote:
Originally Posted by menzies View Post
Do you guys ever just sit out back and watch the world go by?
What can you see when the sun goes down? Not much of a view out my windows after dark......
Woodland Hills is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 07:51 PM   #12
Guru
 
menzies's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodland Hills View Post
What can you see when the sun goes down? Not much of a view out my windows after dark......
You boat alone?

Do you have Kindles?
menzies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 08:13 PM   #13
Guru
 
Woodland Hills's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: Alzero
Vessel Model: Hatteras 63' CPMY
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,548
I read in bed. I watch tv in the salon in the evenings with my wife. Why, are you able to see out of your windows at night? The only way I could do that is sit in the dark and look out which sounded pretty depressing.
Woodland Hills is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 08:36 PM   #14
Guru
 
menzies's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodland Hills View Post
I read in bed. I watch tv in the salon in the evenings with my wife. Why, are you able to see out of your windows at night? The only way I could do that is sit in the dark and look out which sounded pretty depressing.
Although I am sure you are being somewhat flippant; for us sitting out back in the evening, dark or not, is very pleasant. It is very rarely "dark" to the the extent you cannot see each other.

In fact, by the time we get the anchor down, do our chores, get settled and dinner prepared and eaten, then cleared up, after an hour or two sitting talking or reading, we are ready for the bunk.

My question was really around why you feel you need so much data?
menzies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 10:01 PM   #15
Guru
 
angus99's Avatar
 
City: Signal Mtn., TN
Vessel Name: Stella Maris
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,742
Quote:
Originally Posted by menzies View Post

My question was really around why you feel you need so much data?
So I can get to 4,500 TF posts?
angus99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2019, 10:12 PM   #16
Guru
 
Airstream345's Avatar
 
City: Friday Harbor, WA USA
Vessel Name: FORTITUDE
Vessel Model: Kadey Krogen 54-8
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,015
Quote:
Originally Posted by NOGILLS2 View Post
I found a service https://www.otrmobile.com/ OTR provides a cell sim card data only with unlimited usage for $60.00 a month. I also purchased a Glomex Wi-Fi and Cell booster for sim card, About $500 dollars us. I have not installed it yet but claims you can stream tv and cell service connect to I-net up to 20 miles offshore. After I install it I will report how it works.
We've been using this service with a Netgear Nighthawk Mobile Hotspot router. So far so good. We're seeing between 7 mbps and 40 mbps down. I can work from home, including Zoom conference calls and this past Sunday we streamed the Seahawks game on YouTube.tv and still could surf, etc.
__________________
FORTITUDE
Blog: mvfortitude.com
Instagram: @mvfortitude
Airstream345 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2019, 01:40 AM   #17
Guru
 
catalinajack's Avatar
 
City: Edgewater, MD
Vessel Name: Catalina Jack
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,585
Quote:
Originally Posted by menzies View Post
Although I am sure you are being somewhat flippant; for us sitting out back in the evening, dark or not, is very pleasant. It is very rarely "dark" to the the extent you cannot see each other.

In fact, by the time we get the anchor down, do our chores, get settled and dinner prepared and eaten, then cleared up, after an hour or two sitting talking or reading, we are ready for the bunk.

My question was really around why you feel you need so much data?
Because they do and they want it. You don't so you don't. Read your books. They will watch TV. Choices. Here's a question. Why can't you get along with a smaller boat? Do you really need all the space a 53-foot boat offers? Can't you get along with a, say, a DeFever 44? My point is, and I say this respectfully, your observations are not helpful to this discussion.
catalinajack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2019, 05:15 AM   #18
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
The Island deal seems best for us , so we signed up.

Will report back in a couple of months .
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2019, 07:17 AM   #19
Guru
 
Woodland Hills's Avatar
 
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: Alzero
Vessel Model: Hatteras 63' CPMY
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,548
Quote:
Originally Posted by menzies View Post
Although I am sure you are being somewhat flippant; for us sitting out back in the evening, dark or not, is very pleasant. It is very rarely "dark" to the the extent you cannot see each other.

In fact, by the time we get the anchor down, do our chores, get settled and dinner prepared and eaten, then cleared up, after an hour or two sitting talking or reading, we are ready for the bunk.

My question was really around why you feel you need so much data?
I need so much data because I keep running out, as I stated earlier. We enjoy audio-visual media, we also don’t really care to go to sleep at 9:00pm. On a typical travel day we are anchored by 3:00pm, finished with dinner around 7:00pm and asleep by midnight and then up at 6:30. If there is nothing we want to watch on Dish or the OTA tv, we will stream for 4 or 5 hours a night and often for longer.

Why do you feel the need to comment/criticize our viewing habits? Beyond making you feel good about sitting in the dark, how do your comments add to this discussion? This is just “virtue signaling”, and nobody appreciates a holier-than-thou attitude.
Woodland Hills is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2019, 08:12 AM   #20
Guru
 
Dougcole's Avatar
 
City: Carrabelle, FL
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: '05 Mainship 40T
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,162
This is an interesting thread. Does anyone know how the coverage is in the more remote areas of the Bahamas? Do they use btc towers?
Dougcole is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:31 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012