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ATT wifi device results
#61894
07/14/2015 02:42 PM
07/14/2015 02:42 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414 Memphis, TN
beerMe
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I had hoped to try out a couple of cellular wifi devices while we were in the BVI and report back on how Digicel and Lime compared as far as signal strength in different locations. Well, BVIYC told me they were closed on Sunday so I didn't get to try that. Anyone know if either is open on Sunday or not?
Since we were going to be spending some time in the BVI, USVI and SVI I did get a chance to try several locations and see what signal we got from ATT. We got 3 bars or better in Great Harbor, Peter Island, at the Byte, about half way up while in Sir Francis Drake channel, from about 1 mile NE of JVD, in Great Harbor, JVD and in Sopers and Lenister Bay and St. Francis Bay.
We got 4 bars or better off of St. Thomas, behind Water Island, Culebra, Culebrita and Sun Bay on Vieques.
It seemed to get an extra bar by putting the device in a bag and hoisting it up with the flag and in one place it didn't get a signal until I did that.
The device was a ATT Unite-Pro (Netgear Aircard 781S), I like this one because it has a huge battery, nice user interface and can even send/receive messages. The unlocked version was $89 and I added 5 Gigs for $50. The price for two weeks from BVIYC would have been $250 (but that would have covered the BVI).
I really enjoy having this to check weather, email, flight status and generally keeping up with the world. The only downsides might be if you have someone aboard who's addicted to the internet (they become non-present) and you have to limit the amount of video/apps that sync large files, like photos, to the cloud or you'll be using a lot of data quick.
Hope this was somewhat useful to someone.
Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: beerMe]
#61895
07/14/2015 04:57 PM
07/14/2015 04:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,956 St. John, USVI
RickG
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I use the same device Unite device on ATT. A few differences I've seen on a half-dozen uses: - only the outer balls have signal at Leinster Bay STJ - Coral Bay and south shore STJ now have coverage with the addition of a new - Coverage to Cooper is pretty good - Coverage to Virgin Gorda, Spanishtown is weather dependent - Diamond Cay/JVD is pretty good - Cane Garden Bay/Tortola is pretty good
Basically, assuming line of sight, from Spanishtown to Diamond Cay.
Generally, my Digicel router does better than ATT east of the Bight and Great Harbor.
Cheers, Rick
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: jbuch02]
#61899
07/17/2015 12:36 PM
07/17/2015 12:36 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414 Memphis, TN
beerMe
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jburch02, If you see this before you go... would you mind asking them if they are open on Sundays? BVIYC told me they are closed but I just wanted to double check.
I just checked the specs on the Unite mifi and the info Digicell gave me and it looks to me like the device should work on their network. I might try it next time. It looks like ATT and the passport plan is a good fit for you.
Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: ItsAllGood]
#61904
07/17/2015 05:18 PM
07/17/2015 05:18 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414 Memphis, TN
beerMe
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ItsAllGood said: Curious, what are the specs that Digicel provided you? I have a Mifi, hoping it is compatible. Thank you. Digicel said 850/1900. Technically 4G (HPSA+) speeds, not LTE but that is fast enough for anything you'll want to do with it including streaming.
Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: maytrix]
#61907
07/17/2015 11:20 PM
07/17/2015 11:20 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,956 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Digicel's flagship store is at Wickhams Cay. They're good there, but call ahead at (284) 300-0001 to make certain they have sim cards.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: jbuch02]
#61910
07/24/2015 12:28 PM
07/24/2015 12:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 604 Jacksonville, FL, USA
onlymedication
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jbuch02 said: The $120 I spoke of up thread is for the Digicell mifi and a data package . Oh, OK, then yup, we are on the same page. I just wasn't totally clear from your previous statement. Sorry about that. jbuch02 said: Thinking back on this, the Digicell mifi and data pkg may be the way to go. The AT&T passport plan is fine for your phone device (voice and data) but if you want data for your ATT mifi that has to be purchased separately is $30. For 120mbs. With just email checking and some looking at this forum, the 120mbs went fast.
I totally agree. And once you have the device, it's just $25 for future trips. If you don't want to or care about having connectivity, I totally get it. But if you do, this is the most reliable and cost effective method I have found. We've used our mifi to watch Netflix on a rainy night, to watch a bowl game on the boat when we were crowded out at CGB by Midwestern fans that wanted to watch Iowa or something and got them to change the channel off the Clemson (my wife's team, not mine) game we were watching because there were more of them. We also like to email and text back home with dog-sitters and with friends and family to let them share in our fun and not worry about us when they hear of rough weather, etc. To us, it's just worth having. Add in $10 or $20 worth of credit on a burner phone and you are as in touch as you want to be. And when you don't want to be in touch, you turn them off!
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: onlymedication]
#61911
07/24/2015 12:47 PM
07/24/2015 12:47 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
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If you don't need to share the internet with others on the boat, then a phone with internet sharing would work fine too. Doesn't have to be a mifi. So you could have one device that covers internet and calls.
Matt
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: christianb]
#61914
07/26/2015 08:42 PM
07/26/2015 08:42 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414 Memphis, TN
beerMe
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christianb said: I'd like to try being some help since I did some research on LTE/4G frequencies before I last entered the US (I'm from Europe). The ATT Unite Mifi can handle 3G speed in the areas we're talking about - of course if it's not SIM locked. Talking of highspeed (LTE/4G) it's far more complicated but as far as I know right now the BVI does not have real LTE/4G. What they offer (afaik) is really optimized 3G. They should have some real LTE in the first half of 2016.
Then, you would need not only a unlocked MIFI - you need to have one with the right 4G bands. The Unite Mifi uses 4G bands: 2,4,5,17 - for example in Antigua&Barbuda Digicel uses Band 17 while Lime is on Band 4.
To wrap up my first lines: For the trip to US I ended up buying an used unlocked AT&T Unite Mifi for 25$ since my european Mifi lacked the nec. bands... Complicated world. Thanks for adding that. I think an unlocked ATT Unite is able to handle the Digicel/Lime frequencies while in the BVI. Before 4G/LTE, companies in the US started calling it 4G when it was technically advanced 3G (HSPA+) and now the same in the BVI's - it's a marketing thing. But, apparently you can stream music as Evan (sailtowind) has reported and I think it will work with video, I believe 2Mbs download should be expected with a good signal which is good enough for me. One thing I figured out about the Unite device, to change the APN setting, which someone will need to do for it to work, you need to login to the device from a computer - you can't do it from the user interface on the device itself. As you said, to do this it needs to be unlocked.
Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: Will_L]
#61922
08/17/2015 07:55 AM
08/17/2015 07:55 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,956 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,956
St. John, USVI
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For Digicel its best to turn your device before you topup and buy your plan. Otherwise, as soon as you topup the device will use some of your funds at the higher per MB rate.
Another lesson learned, turn off the router at night or your devices will use bandwidth even in background mode.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: RickG]
#61923
08/17/2015 11:49 AM
08/17/2015 11:49 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 604 Jacksonville, FL, USA
onlymedication
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RickG said: For Digicel its best to turn your device before you topup and buy your plan. Otherwise, as soon as you topup the device will use some of your funds at the higher per MB rate. Rick, can you elaborate a bit? Sorry if I'm being dense, I'm just not following. I believe you do need to stop in the Digicel store to set up the mifi the first time. At least, that is what I was told.
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Re: ATT wifi device results
[Re: RickG]
#61926
10/21/2015 10:34 PM
10/21/2015 10:34 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 167
Jccarr
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RickG said: I use the same device Unite device on ATT. A few differences I've seen on a half-dozen uses: - only the outer balls have signal at Leinster Bay STJ - Coral Bay and south shore STJ now have coverage with the addition of a new - Coverage to Cooper is pretty good - Coverage to Virgin Gorda, Spanishtown is weather dependent - Diamond Cay/JVD is pretty good - Cane Garden Bay/Tortola is pretty good
Basically, assuming line of sight, from Spanishtown to Diamond Cay.
Generally, my Digicel router does better than ATT east of the Bight and Great Harbor.
Cheers, Rick Rick, what is the model number of your Digicell router?
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