[Wylug-help] Mobile broadband

[Christopher McLean]

Hi Roger,

> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: 01 October 2013 01:56
> Subject: [Wylug-help] Mobile broadband
> 
> Having retired, I'm planning to buy a narrow boat and to spend a couple of years cruising the inland waterways.  
> However, I need to remain connected!

If you need a live-aboard sys admin, I'm happy to dig out my resume - will work for beer ;)

> Google searches suggest either a "3G data only dongle" or using a mobile phone to create "a 3G hotspot" (whatever that might be). There's also a firm offering a 500 quid marine water proof 'solution' that still needs a 3G data-only SIM.
> Keeping in mind that I'll be cruising inside a steel hull with relatively small windows, on which rain will inevitably fall, does anyone know practical details of how I can stay on-line.
> Cost is, of course, a factor, but when the boat will cost 33k, *almost* any cost will be in proportion.  I'm still a tyke, so unnecessary expense is still to be avoided.

I've found giffgaff to be a very cost effective provider. It's community run as well. However, they piggy back on O2, YMMV compared to the coverage of the big providers. That being said, I've never had an issue with them.

Your main concern here would be the fact that you will inevitably be outside of towns and other built up places. I don't think the environ of a boat will play a big part (external antenna?). I'd check the coverage maps of the main providers to see who has the best rural coverage. Once you've decided on one, you should be able to get a 3g/hspa/4g repeater thing (no idea what they are called, but they are basically a wifi access point with a sim card in it).

> Incidentally, can anyone recommend a network monitoring tool that is Fedora compatible, so I can measure my current (land based) usage and select an appropriate contract?

http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/Tools.html ?

Chris