A boat with Wi-Fi can use meteorological websites even when you are in the middle of the ocean. If you don't, you will only have the boat's radio when you leave the port. We will tell you everything you need to know about the internet for boats in this article.
Wi-Fi connectivity onboard offers several advantages, such as access to meteorological websites for checking the forecast for rain, temperature, and swell, receiving AIS data, sending emails, and receiving nautical information in real-time. When you leave a port and disconnect from the Wi-Fi network, you are no longer able to access the internet. However, there are still options. We will go over all the options so that you can decide which is right for you.
You can use Wi-Fi on the boat even when you are in the middle of the ocean.
Is There An Internet Connection In The Open Sea?
Depending on how far you sail from the coast, it becomes increasingly difficult to connect to the internet, and the options that you have available to you will be greatly reduced. Wi-Fi boosters are generally installed by the companies that operate this service on land and have a limited range of coverage.
There are a variety of ways to extend this signal as far as possible, but there will come a point where having an internet connection on board becomes impossible. In this case, the only option available is to rely on satellite internet equipment for boats. It requires special equipment and it is a relatively expensive service that can only handle a very small amount of data. Nevertheless, it can be extremely useful in the open sea.
How To Get Wi-Fi On A Boat
There are various possibilities, however, none of these is possible without an adequate telecommunications system on the boat These options not only allow you to continue enjoying internet access, even several nautical miles away from the nearest port but also allows interconnectivity between devices onboard. It is possible due to the fact that all of the devices are connected to the same wireless router, which means they can communicate with each other and read the information on other connected devices.
A great way to enjoy Wi-Fi on your boat is to make the most of the port's WiFi. Nevertheless, it cannot ensure continuous internet access all the time. To achieve that, you will need one of the following alternatives:
Marine Wi-Fi
To strengthen your marine Wi-Fi signal for a longer time use a WiFi antenna/extender.
Although the marina Wi-Fi signal is often strong, its strength quickly diminishes when you pull away from the marina. It will help you strengthen your Wi-Fi signal for a longer time by using a Wi-Fi antenna/extender. You can use a 4G Wi-Fi router to support multiple users browsing the internet at the same time. It also has a feature that automatically switches the boat to marina Wi-Fi when it reaches the shore.
Wi-Fi Extender. When it comes to how far this Wi-Fi extender provides you with a strengthened signal, it will depend on the product/company’s claim. To get the maximum distance or the maximum range claimed by the company, you must have a much stronger hotspot signal, direct-line-of-site, low intrusion, and good weather conditions.
A wireless Wi-Fi router. This can be a conventional router, meaning one identical to those used in homes. It connects to the antenna using a Pol Ethernet cable and it distributes the Wi-Fi signal inside of the boat. Computers and mobile phones can connect to this during the voyage in order to use the internet.
Mobile Data
You have probably used your phone as a Wi-Fi router to give internet access to a friend or family member whose data plan had run out on at least one occasion. This is an alternative that most current devices allow and it can be very useful for browsing the internet in the open sea.
Generally, the operators’ boosters give internet access several nautical miles from the coastline to smartphones and tablets that have a data plan. If you do not often venture into the open sea, this could be a useful option. You only need to activate the option to convert your device into a WiFi router to give coverage to the rest of the boat’s terminals.
A Mobile company's data plan can be used to connect a boat to the internet using the following equipment:
- Sim cards with a bigger data plan that fits what you need.
- Wi-Fi router that works with sim cards
- Mobile antenna to better receive the signal
- A mobile signal booster to the strength of the phone signal
Internet From An Antenna
The boat can be equipped with an external antenna to receive an internet signal. Image: allconnect.com
Your boat can be equipped with an external antenna to receive an internet signal. Using this outside, you will get a much more consistent and better signal. Despite being the most difficult option to set up and install. It requires tech-savvy, willingness to learn, or paying someone to do it. There may even be a need to drill some holes to make it a permanent fixture since wires need to run back inside the boat! The following options are available:
Omni-directional antenna
This stays permanently connected to the aforementioned Wi-Fi access point. It can face any direction, with the objective of capturing the signal. It is therefore necessary to install it on the ship deck.
Directional antenna
In this antenna, the signal is picked up only from one direction. It is therefore necessary to position it physically so that it points towards the cell tower you are using. Even though you have to keep moving the antenna, it gets a much stronger signal than an Omni-directional antenna.
Satellite Internet For Boats
Satellite internet gives you internet access in the open sea from any part of the world. Image: vsatmarine.co
The last alternative left to mention is how to install satellite internet. This is the only option that will give you internet access in the open sea from any part of the world, given that its operation does not rely on boosters on land, but on satellites that orbit the Earth. An internet service provider's hub is connected by wireless satellite internet, and one dish is attached to a physical location, namely your boat or property, and the other dish is connected to the internet service provider's hub. Companies have adapted some tools for boats so that you can enjoy internet services while moving at sea. Satellite internet services are suitable for voice calls, messaging, HD television reception, and browsing the web.
But how can you get satellite internet? The first thing you have to do is to sign up for a plan with a company that provides this service. It is difficult to use satellite internet while on a boat due to the cost of satellites, the movement of the boat, and the distance. On top of this, you will need compatible devices, for example, satellite telephones and internet signal boosters for satellites.
Stay Connected Onboard
I hope this guide helps you decide which internet-connected device suits you best. You have many options for internet solutions for your boat, but it depends greatly on how often you plan to use it, where you are travelling and how much budget you have afloat.
