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Best Option - On Boat Internet Services #35710
01/23/2015 01:44 PM
01/23/2015 01:44 PM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 34
NorCal
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jimp1234 Offline OP
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NorCal
I'm trying to figure out the best option for on boat internet access and I had some questions. First of all I spoke with Moorings and they recommended renting a "surf router pak" from Renport at $40 a day. Any one know what carrier they use? Also what kind of speeds are generally available and what the coverage area looks like? Also, given this is a bit pricey I was wondering if there are some lower cost options. Finally a couple of the guys on our boat believe they can finaggle either a Verizon or AT&T "mifi" router from their corporate IT dept. Will either of these carriers work ok in the BVI (probably need to add an international data plan)? Does one work better than the other? TIA

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Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: jimp1234] #35711
01/23/2015 02:16 PM
01/23/2015 02:16 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,228
Somewhere out there
kneafseym Offline
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Somewhere out there
We used to use Lime for our cell service on the boat. I now use my T-Mobile account, no international data cost and setup my phone to be a hot spot. Speed isn't blazing and you can't stream but that isn't an issue for us.

You have to force the phone not to try to connect to tmobile and stay on digicell when in range of St Thomas as the data coverage in STT is horrible, coverage in BVI is great, even on Anegada.

ATT will cost you a fortune even with a international plan.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: kneafseym] #35712
01/23/2015 02:31 PM
01/23/2015 02:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 189
Eastern MA
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tothedogs Offline
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On a recent 10 day trip I paid $60 for an AT&T international data package. I then tethered/paired other devices to the phone. Worked great everywhere with good speeds.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: tothedogs] #35713
01/23/2015 02:54 PM
01/23/2015 02:54 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,429
Villa Euphoria Leverick Bay, P...
mdoyle9999 Offline
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Villa Euphoria Leverick Bay, P...
High speed internet is free at TMM and it covers the entire area.


Mike
"The journey is the thing." Homer
Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: tothedogs] #35714
01/23/2015 04:05 PM
01/23/2015 04:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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Quote
tothedogs said:
On a recent 10 day trip I paid $60 for an AT&T international data package. I then tethered/paired other devices to the phone. Worked great everywhere with good speeds.


In STT maybe, no AT&T signal in BVI and data is very expensive. We got a Lime data card with our mi-fi works great about $50 for 5 Gigs of data for the whole boat. AT&T woks in BVI on the west side only

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: sail2wind] #35715
01/23/2015 05:23 PM
01/23/2015 05:23 PM
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Posts: 189
Eastern MA
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tothedogs Offline
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It worked fine in the BVI generally connecting to the Lime network. There is no need for international data in the USVI with ATT.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: tothedogs] #35716
01/23/2015 05:38 PM
01/23/2015 05:38 PM
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Posts: 189
Eastern MA
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tothedogs Offline
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see: ATT Passport

Other carriers likely have similar plans.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: tothedogs] #35717
01/23/2015 06:24 PM
01/23/2015 06:24 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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That's a joke right? $120 for 800Mb??

Better off buying a lime or digicell sim and router.


Matt
Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: maytrix] #35718
01/23/2015 07:01 PM
01/23/2015 07:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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Lime is 7 X the data for 1/2 the price.

to thedogs if you have AT&T through Lime calls are $2 a minute and data is the pink slip for your car, not sure what you are looking at. Yes, ATT cell service is free in STT, but data is limited

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: sail2wind] #35719
01/23/2015 07:37 PM
01/23/2015 07:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 81
Boston, MA
Joshua Offline
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Do any of the available wireless internet services support streaming Pandora or other music service? We have a 4G MIFI booked for our charter at Pro Valor but they say no streaming.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: Joshua] #35720
01/23/2015 08:43 PM
01/23/2015 08:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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We get Pandora through our iPhone and bluetooth to our stereo system. I could be wrong but i know XM does not reach BVI, same with Pandora? You can definitely stream with Lime and fast enough for Sling Box

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: sail2wind] #35721
01/23/2015 09:25 PM
01/23/2015 09:25 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
CottageGirl Offline
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Mike, did you use the wifi from TMM? How was the coverage?

Re: Best Option - On Boat Intennet Services [Re: Joshua] #35722
01/24/2015 03:56 AM
01/24/2015 03:56 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414
Memphis, TN
beerMe Offline
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Jimp,

I'm still trying to figure this stuff out but here is what I think I know.

In early December I rented from Renport at the Sunsail/Moorings base. They had a $120 wifi for 7 days. I made a deal with them for $150 (the next plan up) for 10 days, so $15/day. I don't know which carrier Renport uses. My experience was that it worked in some anchorages and not in others.

Since I plan to do this more in the future I plan to buy an unlocked wifi modem and then get a sim card from Digicell or Lime (they both have stores in Roadtown near the round-a-bout). You might look at data plans on mrsimcard.com although it seems you pay a premium on their sim cards for the convience. I am thinking buying my own wifi router will be cheaper than Renport in the long run.

If "the guys" can get a GSM wifi modem from IT (Verison is not GSM) and someone wants to figure out how to unlock it you might save the price of the wifi modem, not that expensive to buy one though and I think you can do a hard reset on it so it will be locked to ATT again, as I understand it.

These are just my musings, I'm sure others can help out with more detailed information.


Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: sail2wind] #35723
01/24/2015 07:51 AM
01/24/2015 07:51 AM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,450
Napa, California
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Teammac Offline
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Napa, California
Quote
sail2wind said:
Quote
tothedogs said:
On a recent 10 day trip I paid $60 for an AT&T international data package. I then tethered/paired other devices to the phone. Worked great everywhere with good speeds.


In STT maybe, no AT&T signal in BVI and data is very expensive. We got a Lime data card with our mi-fi works great about $50 for 5 Gigs of data for the whole boat. AT&T woks in BVI on the west side only



I must respectfully correct you on the ATT information. We have been on our boat in the BVI since November and I get my ATT signal at Sopers Hole, JVD and even at the Willy T! Not just the Bight but sitting on the Willy T. Was not this way in the past but now ATT seems to be much better even without being in sight of the USVI. Of course no ATT at North Sound, Road Town ETC. but if you plan properly.....


It's not what you've got, it's what you give, it's not the life you choose, it's the life you live.
Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: Teammac] #35724
01/24/2015 08:21 AM
01/24/2015 08:21 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
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Quote
Teammac said:
Quote
sail2wind said:
Quote
tothedogs said:
On a recent 10 day trip I paid $60 for an AT&T international data package. I then tethered/paired other devices to the phone. Worked great everywhere with good speeds.


In STT maybe, no AT&T signal in BVI and data is very expensive. We got a Lime data card with our mi-fi works great about $50 for 5 Gigs of data for the whole boat. AT&T woks in BVI on the west side only



I must respectfully correct you on the ATT information. We have been on our boat in the BVI since November and I get my ATT signal at Sopers Hole, JVD and even at the Willy T! Not just the Bight but sitting on the Willy T. Was not this way in the past but now ATT seems to be much better even without being in sight of the USVI. Of course no ATT at North Sound, Road Town ETC. but if you plan properly.....


I know someone who got a roaming bill of around $6,000 a few years ago. The U.S. carrier, maybe not att, said you were in the bvi. The fact you were on our towers is not relevant. The kind carrier permitted extended payment terms but no discount. So be careful.


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: warren460] #35725
01/24/2015 10:38 AM
01/24/2015 10:38 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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At&t doesn't have any extra charges if you are on their network in the virgins. I believe Verizon had additional charges though.

We get an at&t signal on the west side of the BVI and use as lime phone everywhere else.

I believe moorings uses digicel. At least when we used one provided by them, that's what it was.


Matt
Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: maytrix] #35726
01/24/2015 12:18 PM
01/24/2015 12:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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"I must respectfully correct you on the ATT information. We have been on our boat in the BVI since November and I get my ATT signal at Sopers Hole, JVD and even at the Willy T! Not just the Bight but sitting on the Willy T. Was not this way in the past but now ATT seems to be much better even without being in sight of the USVI. Of course no ATT at North Sound, Road Town ETC. but if you plan properly..... "

nothing to correct me about I agree 100%, plenty of AT&T signal on the west side, even in my post.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: sail2wind] #35727
01/24/2015 01:10 PM
01/24/2015 01:10 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 381
dayhiker Offline
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I was surprised to get ATT data last June while at Fallen Jerusalem, Key Bay (Peter Island), and JVD. We weren't able to pick it up at East End, North Sound, Trellis, or Marina Cay.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: dayhiker] #35728
01/24/2015 04:27 PM
01/24/2015 04:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,018
annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
hallucination Offline
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annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
Things are getting much better on the ATT front. many years ago it was just sopers and JVD. Now if we can see ST John, we get signal. I have been all the way up to spanishtown/baths and had signal on a iphone5s. true, we must be above deck to get. clear day, no rain, even heavy haze makes cooper a hit and miss deal.

used to make the rounding of sopers, the big call grandma time call. now we have to turn the damn thing off all the time. nothing is worse than getting a phone call in the BVI. yuck

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: hallucination] #35729
01/24/2015 05:11 PM
01/24/2015 05:11 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 375
now - or when ?
C
CGB Offline
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now - or when ?
I've got a MiFi that I bought from CCT years back.
They say their system has changed... and this thing is useless.
Anyone know if this is useable for anything other than a coaster ?

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: CGB] #35730
01/24/2015 05:53 PM
01/24/2015 05:53 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 81
Boston, MA
Joshua Offline
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Joshua  Offline
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I'm still wondering about streaming music via MIFI (Digicel I think). I'm thinking of putting my IPhone on airplane mode so there would be no danger of racking up data roaming bills, sign on to the MIFI network and run Pandora. Has anybody been able to do this or is there another solution? Thanks

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: CGB] #35731
01/24/2015 06:05 PM
01/24/2015 06:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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"nothing is worse than getting a phone call in the BVI. yuck"

A very close friend who is a painting contractor got a $30,000 job sailing from STT to SVI, not a bad day. Sometimes phones can be a good thing. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: sail2wind] #35732
01/25/2015 09:39 AM
01/25/2015 09:39 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
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We stopped in to Spanishtown on Tuesday and hit the Digicel store to buy a router and a prepaid sim. It was a quick and painless exercise. We bought the Huawei B681 110V router and I'm impressed with the speed. 3GB good for 30 days was $55. Performance is pretty impressive.

We got ATT later that day at Cooper Island on our mifi and multiple devices.

Having both ATT and Digicel will let us spend more in de islands. With 9+ weeks scheduled sailing this year, leaving work behind is not an option.

Pandora, everything, works fine over the routers. For our smartphones we just leave data roaming off and use wifi when we do not have service. With unlimited data plans on our smartphones we try to keep them on ATT.

Cheers, RickG

Last edited by RickG; 01/25/2015 12:06 PM.

S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: RickG] #35733
01/25/2015 10:51 AM
01/25/2015 10:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 81
Boston, MA
Joshua Offline
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Joshua  Offline
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Boston, MA
Thanks RickG

That's helpful. There are a couple of people in our crew that would like to remain "casually connected" to the real world for our charter. I figured why not see if we could stream music as well.

Cheers

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: Joshua] #35734
01/25/2015 05:51 PM
01/25/2015 05:51 PM
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Posts: 210
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Tarroc Offline
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Pandora depends on which router and what connection. If you are on a US network, you'll get it but on a BVI network (or Antigua and Barbuda, as it says) you'll get a message from Pandora saying "This service is not available in your country." Tune-in Radio app works well, though.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: Tarroc] #35735
01/25/2015 06:09 PM
01/25/2015 06:09 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 925
Michigan
rhans Offline
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Quote
Tarroc said:
Pandora depends on which router and what connection. If you are on a US network, you'll get it but on a BVI network (or Antigua and Barbuda, as it says) you'll get a message from Pandora saying "This service is not available in your country." Tune-in Radio app works well, though.


That's what I got last year using LIME. Is there a work around? I'm kinda internet dumb <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: rhans] #35736
01/25/2015 06:16 PM
01/25/2015 06:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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Rick both XM/Sirius and Pandora's signal do not reach or work in BVI. It's funny some websites you go to say not available in your area?

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: rhans] #35737
01/25/2015 06:16 PM
01/25/2015 06:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 81
Boston, MA
Joshua Offline
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Boston, MA
Thanks Tarroc, I like Tunein so that works great!

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: Joshua] #35738
01/25/2015 07:25 PM
01/25/2015 07:25 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 164
USA, Kentucky
loony Offline
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Look at ALG link, we instilled them on our boat for wifi in the bvi and works GREAT! it sounded affordable for week long charters too.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: sail2wind] #35739
01/25/2015 08:08 PM
01/25/2015 08:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 288
Kansas
Chriskal Offline
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Haven't tried it in the BVI, but I had the same issues with Pandora and Sirius in the Abacos last summer. Spotify worked fine though, so that might be another option.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: Chriskal] #35740
01/25/2015 08:45 PM
01/25/2015 08:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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can someone please explain the ALG link, when I Google it this is what comes up:

An ALG (Application Layer Gateway) is a security component, commonly found in a router or firewall device,

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: sail2wind] #35741
01/25/2015 08:48 PM
01/25/2015 08:48 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 288
Kansas
Chriskal Offline
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Kansas

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: CottageGirl] #35742
01/25/2015 09:35 PM
01/25/2015 09:35 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,429
Villa Euphoria Leverick Bay, P...
mdoyle9999 Offline
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Re: TMM, yes we use it frequently. We own a boat in their fleet. WiFi is pretty fast and as far as I know, it works everywhere in the BVI, even Anegada.


Mike
"The journey is the thing." Homer
Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: mdoyle9999] #35743
01/25/2015 11:04 PM
01/25/2015 11:04 PM
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Posts: 210
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Tarroc Offline
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Renport has one option where the router has 2 SIMs so it can get Lime or Digicel depending on which has the better signal

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: Tarroc] #35744
01/26/2015 03:40 PM
01/26/2015 03:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 34
NorCal
J
jimp1234 Offline OP
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NorCal
Thanks all for recommendations. One or two more questions if I may. It appears that while mainland carriers are providing some internet service the better option might be to pick up a local 30 day sim card from Lime or Digicel. So at the risk of getting a little geeky does anyone know if let's say a Lime sim card would work in a "global" (supports both cdma & gsm) Verizon mifi device? I spoke with Verizon and they said it should but couldn't say for sure. RickG, I presume you purchased the Huawei B681 110V router in the BVI? (I couldn't find it on Amazon). Care to mention the price? Finally, is there an inexpensive mifi router I could buy and bring with me that would work with a Lime sim card? If yes, what'd it cost and where could I find it? TIA

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: jimp1234] #35745
01/26/2015 05:13 PM
01/26/2015 05:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 11
Orange County, CA
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ItsAllGood Offline
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Orange County, CA
From here http://www.mrsimcard.com/lime/s-limebvi.html

LIME BVI uses the 850Mhz/1900Mhz GSM band so make sure you have a quad band GSM phone ready for your trip.

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: ItsAllGood] #35746
01/26/2015 06:17 PM
01/26/2015 06:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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We have a Huawei Wind mifi model #E586E bought on Ebay for $30 works great

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: sail2wind] #35747
01/26/2015 06:37 PM
01/26/2015 06:37 PM
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Doesn't anyone go on vacation/sailing/relaxing anymore to "get away from it all"? Not judging, just wondering. I am so happy that my phone doesn't work there so my constant barrage of emails and calls from work ceases. That all by itself is a vacation. We do check up on things at the bars at night at each anchorage since you get free wifi almost every place you go. But this is limited to sending pictures back to everyone to rub it in. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: jboothe] #35748
01/26/2015 07:26 PM
01/26/2015 07:26 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
jboothe, I can go on a one week vacation and not check in at the office. But, my boss is a jerk (self employed with two companies) and I've got to stay in touch if I'm gone longer than a week. I'm a lot happier keeping up with email and I'm the first one up in the morning. I got away with only one work call during our recent two week trip thanks to email.

The router I bought was from the Digicel store. The price was as listed on their site, $159 for pre-paid option, $55 for 3GB - http://www.digicelbvi.com/en/phones/phones_list.php?manufacturer=28

I tried to get an old unlocked mifi to work with a mail order sim card, but never got it to behave. The guys at LIME store probably could have made it work, but we weren't taking a day to go by the store. Talking to their phone tech support, it sounded like they needed to do a quick setup on their side to for a device new to their network.

If you plan on stopping by the store to pickup a pre-paid sim card, make certain you call in advance to make certain they have what you want in stock. Mrsimcard.com worked fine for voice/text for my old unlocked iphone 4.

I haven't tried to get a cdma/gsm phone work on LIME or Digicel. I'd give them a call and ask. Their staff I've met in the stores for both companies are competent.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: Best Option - On Boat Internet Services [Re: RickG] #35749
01/26/2015 08:18 PM
01/26/2015 08:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
Traveler
sail2wind  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
When I first got the mifi, Lime store did have to set it up. Jboothe, we own our business and travel 3+ months a year, staying in touch is what allows us to own a boat in the Caribbean. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

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