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WiFi Gear

  • August 24, 2012 9:48 PM
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    Message # 1055992
    Deleted user
    Has anyone used the Wirie AP company system or the 
    NautiCloud? Any opinions on either? Both look solid and well thought out but we were wondering if there were any major differences?
    Rob

  • August 25, 2012 5:41 PM
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    Reply # 1056607 on 1055992
    Anonymous member
    The Wirie uses a RealTek drive on an (I believe) an Alpha WiFi network adapter.  If you have a Mac the RealTek drivers are just OK and the interface is poor. If you have a PC the interface is much better.

    Be aware that you will end up with more then one way to connect. Currently we have WiFi in our hardare,  two high gain antennas for the Alpha network adapter, one Ubiquity  "Bullet ", and two USB dongles as well as an iPhone.

    Every place you cruise will be demanding something different.  For example in Sapzurro, Colombia there was no WiFi in the anchorage amd only one phone provider. We'll actually a cruise ship pulled in and I had free wifi for a day. :)  So I had to get a phone card. Put it in my Dongle and only connected up on the EDGE network.  Slow. Put in my iphone and connected with 3g; Fast.  So used the phone as a hotspot and connected up with the 3g Network.

    Thus be prepared. Have several options and then no matter where you are you'll be able to watch the world go by from your boat anchored in Paradise.
  • August 26, 2012 8:04 AM
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    Reply # 1056949 on 1055992
    Anonymous member
    I forgot to add to make sure you have USB extensions for all the connectors. On individual has a powered USB to GSM antenna and can connect about 15 miles from the Tower. Antenna is at the top of his mast.

    Be that as it may; I seem to always need to reposition the antenna to avoid boat masts, hills and simply to get a good line of sight to the access point.
  • August 26, 2012 8:57 PM
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    Reply # 1057356 on 1055992
    Deleted user
    Dave,
    Thanks for the info. I did contact the company Wirie and asked for a comparison of theirs and the other company, they responded (see below).
    Happy Sailing, Rob & Sophia

    ------------------------------------
    Thank you for contacting us about The WirieAP.

    The overall basic functionality is very similar between the products (built in local access point, long range remote connections, compatibility with any WiFi enabled device). Bear in mind we have been selling The WirieAP for well over 1 year (our original product, for over 3), have many customers all over the world using our products, and the price difference is fairly significant between The WirieAP and Nauticloud. I do not know the level of components that are used in their systems, but we have customers still using our original product, The Wirie, from more then 3 years ago with outdoor installations (in the Caribbean sun) for their entire life to date. We are very careful and have engineered our products to truly stand up to the marine environment. Practical Sailor magazine even submerged our system in a bucket of water for 30 minutes and it still worked fine.

    As far as performance, we have not tried their equipment, but would expect the performance to be similar between the two systems based on the hardware they are using in their product.

    We hope this answers your question. Please let us know if we can provide any more information.