Internet Connection for working remote while living aboard/sailing?

[Sailing-FC2023]

What do you all recommend for the best reliable and AFORDABLE internet service for working remote while sailing? We won't be in marinas much longer than a day or so and I need something that will provide coverage while out to sea or anchored off remote islands? Still have to work for a few more years but would like to also start living the dream thanks!

[mvweebles]

It depends. What do you consider affordable. Where are you. What apps do you need to run. What level of reliability do you need.

[Sailing-FC2023]

we need daily reliability mostly emails, send and receive files for the work week. don't want to spend thousands of dollars a month. income is only $3,000/month

[Networker]

Starlink.

[jordanbigel]

I'm not sure how much research you have already done on this topic, but the question begins and ends with Starlink. There is no other affordable option than the StarLink RV plan. But, it won't meet your requirements of internet access WHILE sailing (ie. "out at sea") if by "out at sea" you mean more than (about) 100 miles from land - (the exact limits depends on your exact location on the globe).

The only options for internet while "out at sea" is the Starlink Maritime version which costs $5,000 per month, so not an option.

The only other option is Iridium GO which could not be considered real "internet access" at all, but works globally and costs about $150/month. GO can be used for emails, but if you need ability for large file transfers, or actual internet access (say, for an application making REST calls) you are out of luck with GO.

Additionally, as of today, Starlink lacks legal rights to operate in some countries, and, is still building out ground stations which are required in each region of the globe. They have a map showing when new ground stations are coming on line and where. Currently they are pending in much of the S Pacific but the schedule says they will come online in mid-2023.

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by Sailing-FC2023

we need daily reliability mostly emails, send and receive files for the work week. don't want to spend thousands of dollars a month. income is only $3,000/month

Well, seeing as your location is a State Secret, there are roughly two choices in that budget. Starlink or cellular/tether. Cost and coverage depend on location.

Starlink is $135/mo in US for RV plan, half that much with a Mexico service address. A 100gb data card for cell is around $50/mo in US, no idea in other places.

[Zanshin]

I'm using Starlink RV in the Caribbean. I have serval daily conference video calls and am working online each weekday, the latency is good enough for typing in a remote session and I'm very happy with the $135 fee to get rid of the tethers associated with local MiFi and SIM cards and providers. I can be out of cell range, in the remotest anchorages and still have fast internet. I've been getting 150mbps to 200 but don't that bandwidth. There is now a monthly limit of 1Tb of data before possible connection slowdown could occur; I've never even been close to a tenth of that!

[Nicholson58]

Many Salty Dawg cruisers in the Caribbean this year have the Starlink RV set up. They are thrilled with the speed and flexibility. Note, turn off the tracking motors when it’s not in use and sometimes in use at anchor. This reduces power consumption and long term wear. Like a light, turn if off when it’s not in use.

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

Many Salty Dawg cruisers in the Caribbean this year have the Starlink RV set up. They are thrilled with the speed and flexibility. Note, turn off the tracking motors when it’s not in use and sometimes in use at anchor. This reduces power consumption and long term wear. Like a light, turn if off when it’s not in use.

How does one turn off the motors without warranty-voiding surgery?

[Zanshin]

@mvweebles - you cannot. The unit is sealed and you need to drill a hole into the back in order to reach the motor connectors. There are several YouTube instructional videos.

The motors only need a couple of seconds to reposition the antenna. The power consumption is less important to me than the temporary interruption of services as the antenna goes horizontal and then to the correct angle.

[ThereAndBack]

Originally Posted by Networker

Starlink.

This. 100%. Total game changer.

Originally Posted by mvweebles

How does one turn off the motors without warranty-voiding surgery?

We have found that the motors will orient the dish once when it is turned on and then it is rare it adjusts. We've spent a lot of time at anchor and the motors just haven't been a problem even in tidal anchorages that swing around a lot. I think people over think this. I'll disable them if I need to one day, but I say just see if it works like it is.

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

How does one turn off the motors without warranty-voiding surgery?

You can't. Some people have added a switch.

[Nicholson58]

I don’t know how they turned motors off. I thought maybe a software option, otherwise they have figured out how to add a switch. Warranties don’t mean much in the third world. More important to get it done.

[mvweebles]

I recently setup Starlink and didn't find anything in the settings to disable the motors. I have seen folks disable them, but my sense is the newer square Dishy uses half the power (or less) of original antenna so I suspect need to disable is reducing.

Dishy appears to be a pretty tight enclosure. Idea of hacking it with a penetration was not appealing. I too don't mind breaking a warranty, but "the juice has to be worth the squeeze." Didn't meet that threshold for me .

[Cheyne]

I haven’t found a good reason to disable the motor. It barely moves. I did convert to 48v/12v and replaced the stock router with a Mofi 5500.

Cheyne