Internet coverage

[Witchword]

Apparently I'll have "weak outdoor" 4G coverage from EE, but only 2G indoors. No coverage from Three. Is there a way of boosting the signal in the boat with some sort of device on the roof? Ideally, I'd want to connect a laptop and an iPad.

[ditchcrawler]

Apparently I'll have "weak outdoor" 4G coverage from EE, but only 2G indoors. No coverage from Three. Is there a way of boosting the signal in the boat with some sort of device on the roof? Ideally, I'd want to connect a laptop and an iPad.

I use a MiFi mounted in a wooden Pigeon Box, that way its outside the steel box to receive signals but inside to feed to the Laptop and I pad.

[Witchword]

What's a MiFi, please?

[cuthound]

What's a MiFi, please?

 

One of these.

 

http://shop.ee.co.uk/dongles/pay-monthly-mobile-broadband/osprey-2-mini-from-ee/details

[Jambo]

Some phones have sockets which you can connect an external antenna to via a patch lead. We use a 4G Samsung Galaxy S4 in this way. Picked it up second hand off ebay for not very much. The patch leads can be purchased here:

 

https://www.telcoantennas.com.au/site/catalog/patch-leads/mobile-phone

 

Ignore the passive ones. You want one that connects to the phone directly. Then you can pick up a little magnetic antenna for the roof for not very much.

[bottle]

or

 

you buy your own Mi-FI that has connections for aerials.

 

examples only;

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B011YZYWEY?psc=1

 

and one or two of these to go with it.

 

http://www.solwise.co.uk/3g-antenna-outdoor.htm

 

The aerials go outside, (magnetic mount), the cables brought through a mushroom vent and the laptop etc. are connected by wi-fi.

[ditchcrawler]

What's a MiFi, please?

Its a device that you put a data SIM card in, it then receives the internet the same as a phone and re transmits it into the boat via WiFi. You can normally have 5+ computer/pads running at the same time.

[Richard10002]

Some phones have sockets which you can connect an external antenna to via a patch lead. We use a 4G Samsung Galaxy S4 in this way. Picked it up second hand off ebay for not very much. The patch leads can be purchased here:

 

https://www.telcoantennas.com.au/site/catalog/patch-leads/mobile-phone

 

Ignore the passive ones. You want one that connects to the phone directly. Then you can pick up a little magnetic antenna for the roof for not very much.

These patch leads are OK if connected permanently, but connecting and disconnecting regularly will snap the connection terminal on the phone

 

How do I know?

[matty40s]

. You can normally have 5+ computer/pads running at the same time.

So you can pretend your really important.......

[Anna_Licorice]

http://www.satgear.co.uk/portable-satellite-kits/standard-kits/nk43-2

We have something like this- though not this brand I. It is a dish and a receiver if you want it you can have it. We also have a big antenna that the previous owners used but we don't watch tele and do not want reception when cruising-

​The offer for sat gear is open if Witchy doesn't want it.

[Witchword]

One of these.

 

http://shop.ee.co.uk/dongles/pay-monthly-mobile-broadband/osprey-2-mini-from-ee/details

 

Ah ok, I've seen those

or

 

you buy your own Mi-FI that has connections for aerials.

 

examples only;

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B011YZYWEY?psc=1

 

and one or two of these to go with it.

 

http://www.solwise.co.uk/3g-antenna-outdoor.htm

 

The aerials go outside, (magnetic mount), the cables brought through a mushroom vent and the laptop etc. are connected by wi-fi.

 

 

Its a device that you put a data SIM card in, it then receives the internet the same as a phone and re transmits it into the boat via WiFi. You can normally have 5+ computer/pads running at the same time.

 

Would this work to boost a weak signal? I'm a bit worried that we might only have 2G in the marina, which afaik isn't internet at all, only mobile phone signal. If I've misunderstood please feel free to explain!

http://www.satgear.co.uk/portable-satellite-kits/standard-kits/nk43-2

We have something like this- though not this brand I. It is a dish and a receiver if you want it you can have it. We also have a big antenna that the previous owners used but we don't watch tele and do not want reception when cruising-

​The offer for sat gear is open if Witchy doesn't want it.

Thanks Anna, that's really kind. Does it receive internet too or is it just for a TV signal?

[ditchcrawler]

 

 

Would this work to boost a weak signal? I'm a bit worried that we might only have 2G in the marina, which afaik isn't internet at all, only mobile phone signal. If I've misunderstood please feel free to explain!

I thought you had 4G outside

[Witchword]

Yes but the signal is weak.

[bottle]

 

Apparently I'll have "weak outdoor" 4G coverage from EE

 

My suggestion will improve the reception but of course it is costly.

 

My Mi-Fi unit can also be set to receive '4g only', this stops the tendency for the MI-FI to switch to a stronger but slower 3g signal.