Staying Connected to the Internet While Cruising
Retreating to the boat and escaping from our daily lives sounds good, but how many of us would really leave our phones on the dock and go for an extended cruise? Like it or not Internet connectivity is ingrained in modern life. While I certainly advocate for turning phones off at certain times particularly on the boat, I also understand the importance of being able to stay connected. As an owner of a small business and a boat, I appreciate being able to get away on the boat but sometimes need to remain connected. Onboard Internet allows me to spend more time on the boat while continuing to keep business going. Tablets, phones and laptops help boaters like me make reservations at marinas, check fuel dock locations/prices, monitor weather, conduct business, communicate with friends and family and post to social media when there is a working Internet signal.
Wave WiFi provides easy to use connectivity solutions for all sizes and types of boats that help keep boats online. Their basic systems combine an ethernet converter and antenna in one housing which allows boaters to gain access to WiFi from further away. Their Graphic User Interface makes it easy to identify and connect to WiFi hot spots by showing their name, signal strength, frequency and whether they are encrypted or open. Systems like the Rogue Wave PRO DB (Dual Band) that I have used both on my boat and on recent deliveries, connects to both 2.4GHZ and 5GHZ providing access to the fastest connection available. The PRO works well plugged directly into my laptop via an Ethernet cable or can be connected to a router like the MBR 550, an onboard wireless router with a built-in universal SIM slot. The PRO connects into the MBR550 and then multiple devices can connect wirelessly to the Internet simultaneously. In a marina on an island that has notoriously bad cell coverage, and limited WiFi service, I was able to connect to the strongest 5GHZ connection in the marina. Multiple users aboard could not only get on the Internet but place voice over Internet calls since they had no cell coverage. When we left the marina and were out of WiFi range, the MBR 550 seamlessly transitioned to cellular, and with an optional external cellular antenna was able to pick up signal in areas where our phones could not.
If Internet connectivity is needed aboard your boat, Wave WiFi has a host of practical and effective solutions that can keep you connected so you can cruise more. When you want to listen to the waves and relax you can always turn the Internet off!