Internet and Telephony – Staying Connected

When we decided to move aboard, I did not want to move to the dark side of the moon.   I have already mentioned my obsession with converting our Movie collection to a digitized format. We also needed internet and phone for staying in touch with family and friends, updating the blog, and getting weather reports.

WiFi Extender

The Rogue Wave antenna allows the boat to pick up distant WiFi networks.  The only problem is mid-ocean generally lacks WiFi hotspots so this is an at anchor, near civilization strategy only.

Satellite dome and controller

Satellite Phone with dish

The KVH V3 TracPhone is a great bit of technology.  It provides both internet access and a phone.  The install price is not cheap but the usage charges are not too bad. And the internet is the fastest small ship solution.   We bought a back up satellite phone because the TrackPhone has a limited coverage range (major holes in the Pacific ocean) and the phone is not portable, in case we need it for the life raft.

Sat Phone

Portable Satellite Phone

This phone also uses satellites so it works mid ocean.    Call us anytime to check in!   This phone is not the internet hot rod that the KVH is, but it works almost everywhere on mother earth and is easy to grab in an emergency.

Single Side Band Radio

Single Side Band Radio (SSB)

This is one of the coolest usages of science.   This radio can transmit thousands of miles by using the ionosphere, a reflecting surface. A boat in the South Pacific can transmit to a station in Europe. Another boat can hold a conversation between the Carribean and Asia.    You get the idea – it can go a long way.   But too many sunspots and it might not work as the solar radiation can interfere with the signal.   The SSB (kind of a marine ham radio) can do a few great things for cruisers.  It can be a slow internet connection for retrieving weather forecasts, a great way to connect with other cruisers, and a way to get help in an emergency.

So how do you set up this huge phone and data network?   We got out a piece of paper and mapped it out slowly.   Gail’s artistic side came out in the below flow chart.   One great find was a wall plate that can hold 6 different inputs from phone to audio visual to radar. (Available at Ram Electronics).  Makes the navigation station look much cleaner.

Phone and Data Wiring Plan