Author Topic: 3/4 G Data  (Read 2154 times)

JEN-et-ROSS

  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Posts: 326
  • Karma: +4/-0
  • Boat Model: Bavaria 38 Lagoon
  • Boat Year: 1990
3/4 G Data
« on: October 07 2021, 13:27 »
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... :)


SYJetzt

  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Posts: 320
  • Karma: +11/-0
  • Boat Model: Cruiser 46
  • Boat Year: 2005
Re: 3/4 G Data
« Reply #1 on: October 07 2021, 15:25 »
Great hint, but why look netflix while sailing in such an impressive surrounding  ;D ?

tiger79

  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Posts: 953
  • Karma: +10/-4
  • 2014 Cruiser 37
  • Boat Model: Cruiser 37
  • Boat Year: 2014
Re: 3/4 G Data
« Reply #2 on: October 07 2021, 16:48 »
Mobile phone reception depends largely on which network you're on, rather than the phone itself.  Which network are you on?

JEN-et-ROSS

  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Posts: 326
  • Karma: +4/-0
  • Boat Model: Bavaria 38 Lagoon
  • Boat Year: 1990
Re: 3/4 G Data
« Reply #3 on: October 07 2021, 17:10 »
Hi.. We're on Vodafone as apparently they cover most outlying areas..
Which is interesting because we don't actually get any phone coverage at our home as the house is beneath a cliff, we also own the land above the cliff where we get an excellent signal.... C'est la vie..
As for Netflix in Loch Scresort..??  Well why not, feet up with a bottle of nice plonk.....Eh? Perfect...

HappyAfloat

  • First Mate
  • ***
  • Posts: 53
  • Karma: +2/-0
    • www.happyafloat.com
  • Boat Model: Bavaria 38
  • Boat Year: 2003
Re: 3/4 G Data
« Reply #4 on: October 08 2021, 20:53 »
Hi.. We're on Vodafone as apparently they cover most outlying areas..

That's what we had been led to believe.  However, after this seasons trip to the Outer Hebrides, vodaphone rarely had a signal. Boats on the EE network had a much better experience.

Apparently, we were told, this is due to the government contracting EE to run/upgrade the Emergency Services Network.


Rampage

  • Able Seaman
  • ****
  • Posts: 167
  • Karma: +0/-0
  • Boat Model: Bavaria 38
  • Boat Year: 2000
Re: 3/4 G Data
« Reply #5 on: October 18 2021, 16:57 »
We’ve been using mobile phones as a hot spot for internet access for years now. This year we took the campervan round the Highlands and Islands Wyandotte were impressed with the coverage, which was at least as good as Greece: rarely without a signal even up some pretty remote mountains.
We are with EE mainly because their coverage of our home base in Cornwall was the only reliable one. No idea if they’re riding in the back of the Airwave contract or if they got the contract because their coverage was good.