[bootfast]

As mentioned above, there are numerous reasons for needing the internet on a sailboat. Some are practical, some are for fun, some are for your sanity. Being isolated from society is bad enough, losing face to face interactions entirely can be very emotionally draining. Having access to the internet can help relieve that somewhat. Whether it is just giving you access to whats going on in the rest of the world, or something as personal as video calling with family/friends. Being able to watch movies, television shows, sports, and the news at will is a privilege that we all now have but often forget. Once we lose the internet, we lost that privilege.

[phoebebright]

Hopefully, this article has answered any questions you may have had about the internet and sailing and how they interact. It isn’t impossible to get internet on your sailboat. It doesn’t even need to be hard. You might not even want it. But, you probably do. If that is the case, hopefully, you now have a very good idea about all the options available to you and how much they cost. There are some free alternatives to these options that could help you if you are tight for cash. But, they aren’t very convenient. First, you can simply rely upon your regular phone contract. And use this as a way to limit your internet usage. Or, you can rely on free wifi providers. These can be public libraries, coffee shops, or shopping malls. This is cheaper, but not ideal if you need the internet for work. If you need to take part in conference calls doing so in the library isn’t going to be the easiest.

[azadian]

Having something that will constantly provide you with a reliable internet connection is not a staple part of a boat inventory. Buying something capable of providing you an internet connection, whether its a cabled connection or via satellite, is going to be an aftermarket purchase. People who spend a lot of time on their boats, especially people who live on them full time, will go out of their way to secure an internet connection.

[joe]

It is entirely possible to get a reliable internet connection on your sailboat. It may not always be easy, or cheap, but it is possible. This article will show you how.

[tcatm]

We have found that although we still rely on the internet to help us figure stuff out, and to enable us to work, we aren’t relying on it for entertainment. This has been a great thing about having only limited internet when sailing. here

[BlackEye]

If you’re heading off on longer passages then it might be worth downloading some audiobooks (you can get a months free trial with this link) before you leave. We have found these to be amazing boredom savers while we’re out at sea and everything is running smoothly. We tent to alternate between a good audiobook and reading books on our kindles – you can find our favourite books for sailors here. here

[mar868lent]

This is a great option if you fly back to England semi-regularly, as many of the plans have a fair usage policy that means you need to be in England for a certain amount of time, or your data gets slashed or cut off. Many people we have met while sailing have found that if they keep quiet they can get away with longer, but taking out a new contract and hoping for the best may be risky as you will be tied in for the contract term. more

[marcelus23]

A satellite wi-fi hotspot, such as the Iridium Go!, is a cheaper option than the satellite phone (but still by no means cheap!). Although we have never used one before we have heard good things from others who have (bar complaints on the price!) here

[jimbobway]

In summary there are actually many different options for getting internet at sea. Not all of them are easy or cheap but if you are determined to make this lifestyle work, then you will find a way! And having that spare bit of data for the odd Netflix film every now and again can really brighten a wet and windy evening!

[Lexington]

More info: we have a great (free!) guide to affordable satellite broadband that specifically looks at usage cases for the Iridium Pilot. You can check that out here. more

[aaaxxx]

Satellite internet is still more expensive than any land-based internet you will find. How affordable (or not) it can be depends almost exclusively on how you use it.

[HarryStottle]

Please contact us for pricing on KVH equipment and airtime.

[allinvain]

Hardware cost: $3,295 for the AddValue Fleet One and $4,154 for the Sailor Fleet One.
Airtime cost: Prepaid and postpaid available. For $60 a month you get 10 MB a month within the home zone.
Estimated low-usage cost: Around $60 a month will cover you for email, downloading weather GRIB files, and doing limited web-browsing.
Estimated high-usage cost: Hard to calculate. There isn’t a graduated scale for Fleet One airtime so usage as high as 1,000 MB a month would cost you around $5,800 (for home zone) – not a great solution. If you plan on doing high data usage, consider a different system.
Coverage: Excellent coverage up to 70 degrees latitude. For worldwide coverage, consider adding an Iridium Pilot as backup. [links]

[wolfz0rz]

Peak download speeds of up to 21Mb/s are claimed with a peak uplink speed of 5.76Mb/s. Below decks the unit can be connected to the boat’s computer or a standard wireless access point (eg Cisco WAP4410N, £100 online) to provide a wireless hotspot for several devices.

[rmelanimek]

One of the longest-running products in this field on the market, Inventica claims that it produces the simplest and most reliable mobile and wi-fi marine systems using high-quality components. Additional features include firewalls and other security devices. These systems are designed to be professionally installed, but do come with a user-friendly interface and a high level of after sales support. [links]

[sidd]

If you can afford it, the key is to go for a system that gives the widest range of possibilities and offers the best chance of upgrading at a later stage. The more you pay, the better the quality of components and the less loss there will be in transmissions.

[insert]

Typical online prices

[ccdewsxx]

All prices include VAT at 20 per cent

[simplesharp]

Although this unit operates like the smart antennas, the big difference with the Pelagic MWB300 is that its brains are in a case that can be mounted inside the boat and uses an external antenna. It can also be fixed outside and doesn’t need the external antenna in this instance. An ethernet connection provides a direct link with the boat’s computer. The unit also acts as a base station, creating a wireless link to other devices. here