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Cell phone use offshore

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by PropBet, Oct 15, 2009.

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  1. PropBet, Oct 15, 2009
    #1
    PropBet

    PropBet Senior Member

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    Not promoting the product, but wanted to post to gather comments if anyone is using / has any experience with the use of KVH's latest technology.

    At first glance, it seems the topology would route calls from your [quad band presumably] cell phone with the KVH SIM card installed, +/- a hundred or so feet depending on the size of boat / vessel, to the ships system, then up to the birds, then back down to land based systems.
    I guess in one sense, the ships system thereby becomes a relay station, in effect, one could use this from land, (on the hook or in a marina) to the boat, then up to the birds.

    Anyone have any experience or familiarity with the KVH V7 system?

  2. Henning, Oct 15, 2009
    #2
    Henning

    Henning Senior Member

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    Hmmmmm..... I use T-Mobile for this reason. T-Mobile offers UMA service on some of its smart phones like the Blackberrys. What this is is a VoIP service when the phone has a wifi connection. As soon as the phone sees a wifi connection that supports it, it will automatically switch off of tower mode and into VoIP mode. So here on the boat in Australia or wherever we have a satellite link, my phone works. People call the same Ft Lauderdale number I've had for years and it rings through, so effectively I have a satellite phone at data packet price, and since we have an unlimited data plan on the Vsat, my phone only costs me my monthly bill with T-Mobile. Now it's not a perfect connection and has all the typical issues of a satellite phone, latency, poor quality voice depending on weather, dropped calls.... but these are issues you always see with satellite coms. All in all, I'm pretty happy with it.
  3. CaptNeil, Oct 15, 2009
    #3
    CaptNeil

    CaptNeil Member

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    Wow I didn't know that they could do that. T-Mobile really snuck in there with that. How do you keep the other phones on the dock from stealing off the the boats router? I can't wait to see what the Bahamas does with this. Every time we get new phones or systems Batelco changes the system.
  4. PropBet, Oct 15, 2009
    #4
    PropBet

    PropBet Senior Member

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    Interesting.
    I know the BlackBerry will do VOIP, as I do it when I get to the house, (and web surf) which it does effectively the same thing, (sees our WiFi and connects to it) however I never thought of doing it on the boat in the same manner.

    Good input.

    I guess in that same regard, one could pipe Skype through it as well and then out the data connection.
  5. bahamasyacht, Oct 15, 2009
    #5
    bahamasyacht

    bahamasyacht New Member

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    offshore cell phone bahamas

    uneeded. all you need is a wifi connection and magic jack and you are in business. works like a wonder. you can buy a long range wifi system from most anywhere. including charteryachtsupply has one for under 1k. \as well as you can buy a digital antenna cell phone range extender for about 500 bucks. both work well even as far south as ggt.

    good luck
  6. Henning, Oct 16, 2009
    #6
    Henning

    Henning Senior Member

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    Basic WEP or WAP security as with any wifi router. I have 12 access points in the boat including the engine room and pump room as well as an external antenna that works out to about 200' with the BB and about 3 times that far with a laptop. The UMA service is why I use T-Mobile. To the best of my knowledge, they are the only company in the US that supports it. I also have a jailbroke iPhone that I use for my local phone where ever using a local provider SIM that the boss pays for.