Lap Top Use

[patfranks]

i am going to be cruising around greece in june and want to be able to use my lap top to access e mails and weather reports. i keep hearing how expensive using a lap top abroad can be and was wondering if there is any way round it.
finding wi fi places is ok but obviously this is impossible if you are at sea.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, patfranks.

[barnakiel]

A s/h laptop 50 bucks. Wi-fi at public spots - free. Total cost 50 bucks. Not expensive.

b.

[Dockhead]

Most people use the mobile telephone network for that kind of internet access. You can get a simple HSDPA dongle for your laptop with a local pay-as-you-go SIM card. I think the provider "Wind Hellas" is favored by cruisers there, but there are others, like Vodaphone.

It looks like Wind give you a gigabyte of traffic for 10 euros -- a bargain. See: Wind - Home Page

[four winds]

I'm using the Mifi device for the cell phone system, works well.

But I think the OP is indirectly referring to, or asking about a setup that works off-shore many miles. Just wasn't clear about it.

In that case, I think there is no inexpensive solution.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by four winds

I'm using the Mifi device for the cell phone system, works well.

But I think the OP is indirectly referring to, or asking about a setup that works off-shore many miles. Just wasn't clear about it.

In that case, I think there is no inexpensive solution.

Far out to sea he will need a satphone or SSB solution. But I don't think that's really what he was asking. In the Aegean you are hardly ever out of mobile phone coverage. A mobile broadband type solution will work very well there.

[four winds]

That seems reasonable, Dockhead.

I wasn't considering the cruising area properly. I focused on the last sentence, saying wifi is ok but impossible at sea. I thought that might be asking "What works out in the ocean?"

In this case, a cell phone signal. Same as I plan to use up the west coast of Florida soon.

[zeehag]

out in ocean sailmail via ssb radio works. not much else unless ye has a lot of money and wanna use satellite fone etc. there are systems usable at sea-- but , why would ye wanna do thart--is gorgeous out there -- tooo gorgeous to waste time online. i wait until i am in a port and use the free wifi... works geat, unless ye are a died in the wool internetz addict.

[barnakiel]

I find it more and more that a smart phone is a good way to go too - use wi-fi where there are free hotspots, use mobile access when there is no wi-fi. Equipment is from 100 bucks up and it doubles as a phone. A good deal.

If there is more Internet comfort expected, a pad with mobile functionality will be better than a smartphone.

b.

[boasun]

I've taken my laptop to sea. On it I've had a navigation program with charts and hooked up the the GPS. accessed the Net. Have done ship's business on it...

But word of WARNING !!! Lash that mother down. Computers don't fly at all and have hard crash landings when they are flung off your consol/chart table in rough seas/heavy wakes of other vessels. Loss three because of inattention to the sea conditions. So like Robbie the Robot. Warning Warning Warning. Lash it down securely.

[zeehag]

i keep my lappy and netbooks in a container while i sail... things have a gtendency to fly, and my good map stuff and chart stuff and radar and alladat are in my cockpit and easily accessible--i donot use my puters for nav. too much is able to and will go wrong.. so is best inm y puter case. but is just my humble opinion, as i resent having to replace stuff because of operator error or foulups.

[boasun]

Originally Posted by zeehag

i keep my lappy and netbooks in a container while i sail... things have a gtendency to fly, and my good map stuff and chart stuff and radar and alladat are in my cockpit and easily accessible--i donot use my puters for nav. too much is able to and will go wrong.. so is best inm y puter case. but is just my humble opinion, as i resent having to replace stuff because of operator error or foulups.

Yeah, I have to look into the mirror in order to chew out operator who made the error, or deleted the wrong thing, failed to save something.
Then there is that old man that I've never seen before looking back at me.
That can't be me... I'm NOT that old.... am I???

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by boasun

Yeah, I have to look into the mirror in order to chew out operator who made the error, or deleted the wrong thing, failed to save something.
Then there is that old man that I've never seen before looking back at me.
That can't be me... I'm NOT that old.... am I???

daaahhhlingk..., we are both older than dirt, younger than spit and full of life and i refuse to look into a mirror unless i HAVE to..LOL....