Over the years, as Broadband and WiFi coverage improved we have used it as a resource for weather, news, Email etc.
But despite using 'boosters', specialist antennas and so on the range was always pretty dismal, the best we probably achieved was about half a mile, so it really only worked in a marina, harbour or anchored off some remote hotel or waterside pub.
This year I took out a subscription for 'Unlimited Data' on an old iPhone 7....The coverage is phenomenal, Despite our living, working on the Scottish West Coast (on an Island) We can get weather info. News, Emails and internet AIS in the middle of the Sea of The Hebrides, half way across the Minch. We were even watching Netflix anchored off Kinloch on Rum using the iPhone as a 'hub' and our laptop as the screen.......I'm seriously impressed...