WiFiRanger Converge
WiFiRanger has been around a long time providing connectivity solutions for RVs and boats. Their new platform is called Converge, and is a mix of different components that can provide a whole solution for internet aboard.
Internet
Much of what I test and work on is around staying connected while on the water. These posts cover various ways to do that, networks that I’ve built, and systems that can help you stay online while on the water.
Poynting OMNI LTE antennas
I’m always on the lookout for new LTE antennas that could help improve my signal while on the water. Poynting has a couple of interesting marine antennas that I’ve been using for a while.
Low Data Mode helps boat WiFi use in iOS 13
As of iOS 13, there is a Low Data mode for WiFi! For many years, you’ve been able to limit cellular bandwidth usage, but iOS has not had a way to control the same thing for a WiFi network, until now.
weBoost Drive Reach cellular amplifier installation and testing
weBoost released the Drive Reach recently which is a more powerful and refined version of the venerable Drive 4G-X, the gold standard for cellular amplifiers since 2014. I have been using mine for a few months, and have some observations
Best boat Internet systems
Below are my recommended system designs for getting high quality Internet on your boat. There are several different choices depending on your technical ability and budget.
Rendezvous internet setup
Having a reliable setup has always been one of my top goals, usually leveraging several technologies. Rendezvous has a similar setup to some of my other boats, but with some modifications and improvements.
Managing internet usage on your boat
Managing your internet data usage on the boat is important both for a quality experience, and because of limited WiFi and cellular networks.
Rendezvous initial networks
In the last 4 months, I have been developing my overall network on board Rendezvous. I wanted a good WiFi/Ethernet network to connect me to the outside world, as well as a well developed NMEA 2000 network for marine equipment while underway. So far, here’s what I have…
MikroTik Groove step-by-step setup guide
Setting up the MikroTik Groove to boost WiFi on your boat can be daunting. With a few quick steps you can get the Groove up and running quickly on your network.
Modular, cheaper boat internet solution via Netgear and MikroTik
I’ve written a lot about my boat network, and in particular, Peplink products that offer a ton of functionality and features. For the last 6 months, I have been playing with configurations and hardware that cost less, but still provide flexibility and features that more expensive solutions offer.
Using an Intel NUC as a powerful boat server
I use an Intel NUC as a boat linux computer to run Grafana, SignalK, Zabbix and many more tools.
