Discover our Boat Internet Solutions

INTERNET ON BOARD

More and more boaters want access to internet afloat. Marinas and ports as well as a large number of cafes, hotels, restaurants and service providers offer WiFi connectivity but you may just miss that vital connection if you’re moored or anchored away from the dock. Internet access afloat really adds to boating.

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Why have internet on board?

Not only can you keep abreast of news and email, but it’s a great source of entertainment, TV and media when allowing you take advantage of the latest entertainment services such as Netflix and Spotify. It can also be used to download the latest weather information. Free GRIB files are available to integrate with PC navigation programs to provide animated weather forecasts with wind, swell, pressure and temperature information.

On board internet connectivity can also help to entertain children and family when undertaking long passages. The ability to stream their favourite movies or TV shows through numerous entertainment platforms can make those long journeys that little more entertaining.

Which solution to get internet on board?

Whilst on board, you can access the internet through Satellite, 4G systems and WiFi booster. Satellite provides a trans-ocean solution but at a high price and substantial running cost. Digital Yacht has a range of 4G Booster and WiFi Booster :

4G Booster

4G Connect Pro and 4G Xtream offer internet connectivity up to 25NM from the coast through 4G/LTE connectivity which fulfils 99% of the recreational boating industry’s requirement. Simply insert a SIM card and you have your own independent internet network without hunting for WiFi access points and passwords.

The 4G Xtream offers an ultra fast CAT6 modem with dual SIM card readers, built-in GPS as well as an NMEA 2000 interface for navigation app connectivity.

They create a local WiFi (or wired) network on board for other devices to connect and they can also connect to another internet source and switch between the connections.

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WiFi Booster

Digital Yacht make a range of high power WiFi booster (WL510) which offer easy and cheap data access with ranges of up to 5NM. WiFi is cheap, global and fast and for many coastal sailors, it’s ideal.

The WL510 will integrate with your on board PC system to provide internet access. The WL510 modem connects to an on board PC through a regular RJ45 CAT5 network cable for simple driver free installation. Connect the WL510 to a router and everyone on board can share the long range wireless internet connection.

Wi-Fi range depends on many local factors, but Digital Yacht has seen ranges of up to 4-6 miles with this low cost system. In general, using an internal Wi-Fi adaptor typically found on a laptop/smartphone, you’ll be lucky to find the signal at the end of the dock, so if you plan to access the internet whilst on board, the WL510 could be the solution for you.

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How to integrate our products together?

4G Connect and 4G Xtream have a WAN and LAN port so you can connect the WL510’s Ethernet cable to the 4G modem. This allows the 4G Connect/4G Xtream built-in WiFi router to share an internet connectivity from both LTE (4G) and WiFi hotspot.

By also connecting iKommunicate’s Ethernet cable, our universal NMEA0183, 2000 and Signal K interface, to the 4G Connect modem’s LAN port, the 4G Connect built-in WiFi router will also provide boat NMEA navigation, instrumentation and engine data on the WiFi network for use with navigation apps.

By integrating together 4G Connect, WL510 and iKommunicate or LanLink, this solution provides under the same WiFi router an internet connectivity through 4G and WiFi hotspot but also all the navigation data for use with navigation apps and software.

The most complete solution to get a perfect internet connectivity on board as well as all the boat’s navigation data.

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