Sunday, February 28, 2010

Wifi on the boat. Tenecatita Bay

This afternoon, motoring into Tenecatita Bay,
about 150 miles south of Puerto Vallarta

I've been exploring ways to get wifi for free when I'm cruising and one setup I'm using today is getting the job done. I was given an old TV/satellite antenna and I mounted it on the aft arch I built to hold my solar panels and my wind generator. Instead of the usual LNB, I have an Alfa USB wifi amplifier and antenna for wifi.



So, does it work? Yep. I'm posting this now from the boat... maybe a quarter mile from shore. I've also been able to place a call using my Magic Jack telephone.

6 comments:

Allan S said...

How is it when the boat rock, rolls and bobs?

I really enjoy your blog BTW.

MxSailor said...

Thanks Allan. I get occasional drops, but the software seems able to compensate for the imperfections. It certainly beats packing up the laptop, loading it into the dinghy and motoring to shore (and I've been known to crash & burn in the surf more than once).

MxSailor said...

BTW, if you have Google Earth, here's my current Lat/Lon: N 19° 18.11' W 104° 50.08

Chrissy y Keith said...

Very cool. And I know exactly where you are without Google earthing you.

1st Mate said...

So glad you're finally getting that breakthrough moment -- wifi at anchor!

Jim and Heather on Meerkat said...

We found if we anchored way out in the bay we could pick it up from the restaurant at El Tamarindo. Everyone always thought we were dragging anchor because we were so far out there. The wifi method of anchoring. Enjoy one of my favorite places in the world.