|
Wifi Logistics
#53906
05/09/2015 06:46 PM
05/09/2015 06:46 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331 Deep East Texas
Ontheboat
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331
Deep East Texas
|
After reviewing the recent posts about WiFi, we've come to the conclusion that Digicel is going to be our best choice. We are arriving at West End pretty late in the day and heading to Nanny Cay.
Is our best bet to head to the Digicel office (Asson Electronics) near West End, or run into Road Town the next morning?
Capt D (Caribguy) s/v Mollie Jean "When I go to heaven, I want to go from the islands..it's closer"
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: warren460]
#53909
05/10/2015 08:35 AM
05/10/2015 08:35 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331 Deep East Texas
Ontheboat
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331
Deep East Texas
|
Thanks. I'll give them a call Monday.
Capt D (Caribguy) s/v Mollie Jean "When I go to heaven, I want to go from the islands..it's closer"
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: Jaustex]
#53911
05/11/2015 12:56 AM
05/11/2015 12:56 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331 Deep East Texas
Ontheboat
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331
Deep East Texas
|
Jaustex: Don't go all logical on me! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> I can barely wait the 7 days as it is!
Capt D (Caribguy) s/v Mollie Jean "When I go to heaven, I want to go from the islands..it's closer"
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: Ontheboat]
#53912
05/11/2015 01:09 PM
05/11/2015 01:09 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 50 Austin
Jaustex
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 50
Austin
|
Ontheboat said: Jaustex: Don't go all logical on me! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> I can barely wait the 7 days as it is! I'm with you there -- leaving in 5 days. Can't come too soon <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: onlymedication]
#53914
05/11/2015 02:02 PM
05/11/2015 02:02 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 50 Austin
Jaustex
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 50
Austin
|
onlymedication said: I would not pay $125/week for internet service. With Digicel, you can buy a mifi and a pretty decent amount of data for less than that. Once you have the mifi, you can get a good amount of data for around $50.
To the OP. I would go to the Digicel store in Road Town, but that's me and I have never been to the authorized retailer in West End. I just have found you are usually best off going straight to the service provider. The West End store may be great though, for all I know. How much does the mifi device costs and how much data does $50 cover? Also how much to cab it to digicel and how long do you have to wait in line at the store to get it activated? If all that adds up to $50 and it only takes 15 minutess to purchase the mifi device and have it set up - then I'm in - otherwise $125 split four ways and no hassle is what I'm sticking with. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: Jaustex]
#53915
05/11/2015 02:19 PM
05/11/2015 02:19 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 610 Jacksonville, FL, USA
onlymedication
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 610
Jacksonville, FL, USA
|
Sorry Jaustex, not making any judgment on you! Just said that I wouldn't pay that much. Your time is in all likelihood more valuable than mine, to be perfectly honest!
Digicel gives you 30 days and 3 GB of data for $55. That should be more than adequate for a week or ten days in our experience. You can get 1 GB for just $25.
The mifi is $80 if you buy it from Digicel. As others have mentioned, you can get one cheaper (~$50) if you buy it on eBay and bring it with you.
We always rent a car, so rarely do we do the cab thing. We also use the car to do most of our shopping. I bought the mifi and a cell phone while my wife was doing the shopping last trip.
Long story short, it would be about $135 for the device and 3 GB of data first trip. After that, just $55 top up for future uses.
You had a great suggestion in checking with the charter company, I was just offering some additional detail on the alternative. Some would say avoid the internet all together, to each their own! We like to have it, even if just to rub our friends' faces in our good fortune... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: Jaustex]
#53917
05/12/2015 11:58 AM
05/12/2015 11:58 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 610 Jacksonville, FL, USA
onlymedication
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 610
Jacksonville, FL, USA
|
Jaustex said: even though I will most likely be sitting on the boat sipping a Carib listening to Jimmy Buffet and doing absolutely nothing. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> Cheers- Capt J Cheers to that!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: socamon]
#53919
06/04/2015 12:02 PM
06/04/2015 12:02 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 610 Jacksonville, FL, USA
onlymedication
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 610
Jacksonville, FL, USA
|
Terry (socamon), here is what I bought a couple trips ago, from Digicel. http://www.digicelbvi.com/en/phones/view_phone.php?id=7893This is not a dongle, although you can get those as well. It is a router and can provide data for up to ten devices. It has its own battery, so you can take it in the car, whatever, but the battery won't last all that long (a couple hours maybe), so we usually just keep it plugged in when in use. Bought it for $70 or $80 on previous trip, added $25 for a month of service and 1GB of data. When we returned several months later, stopped in the Digicel store and added another $25 and were in business. You can also top up online, once you have an active device. You can also search for the same or similar device on ebay or amazon and get them for around $50-60, but be sure they are compatible with the BVI networks and that they are unlocked. Then, you still have to stop in the Lime or Digicel store to buy a SIM card from them and activate service. It took us no more than 20 minutes to buy a phone SIM card, activate our phone and add data to our Mifi at the Road Town Digicel store on our last trip. D Best Cup is right there as well and my wife loves their coffee, so we don't see it as a major inconvenience. Hope you find this helpful.
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: onlymedication]
#53921
06/04/2015 12:11 PM
06/04/2015 12:11 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545 Here and There
rita_irvine
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545
Here and There
|
Did you buy the Select or the Flex. What is the difference? Seems like this would be sufficient for my needs and give me access land based as well. We should start a lending library of these devises!!
Rita It is better to be happy than it is to be right
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: onlymedication]
#53923
06/04/2015 01:15 PM
06/04/2015 01:15 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545 Here and There
rita_irvine
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545
Here and There
|
I am going to look into this. I would be happy to share it with others going down as long as it can be re-registered. I am going to email the Roadtown office and ask some questions!!
Rita It is better to be happy than it is to be right
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: warren460]
#53925
06/05/2015 12:02 AM
06/05/2015 12:02 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331 Deep East Texas
Ontheboat
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331
Deep East Texas
|
Just to followup from my original question: I ended up not getting a "mifi" "mobile access point"..... We had AT&T access at: Peter, Norman, Horizons base (Nanny Cay), almost to the Baths, all of JVD, Cane Garden Bay and West End.
I used my bullet H2 to pull wireless at: Marina Cay, multiple locations in North Sound, and Anegada.
So, in effect, I had access everywhere. So much different than the "phone booth to make a call" of the 90's.
Capt D (Caribguy) s/v Mollie Jean "When I go to heaven, I want to go from the islands..it's closer"
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: Ontheboat]
#53927
06/05/2015 03:05 PM
06/05/2015 03:05 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 60
mayjong1
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 60
|
Ontheboat said: Just to followup from my original question: I ended up not getting a "mifi" "mobile access point"..... We had AT&T access at: Peter, Norman, Horizons base (Nanny Cay), almost to the Baths, all of JVD, Cane Garden Bay and West End.
I used my bullet H2 to pull wireless at: Marina Cay, multiple locations in North Sound, and Anegada.
So, in effect, I had access everywhere. So much different than the "phone booth to make a call" of the 90's. nice. you were getting at&t local (long distance)? what were the at&t charges you incurred? any info would be great, I'm thinking about just taking my at&t phone and paying regular charges, with no "international" plan...
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: mayjong1]
#53928
06/05/2015 05:02 PM
06/05/2015 05:02 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331 Deep East Texas
Ontheboat
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331
Deep East Texas
|
I was getting AT&T voice and cellular data (NOT roaming..that was turned off) at all those locations, with no extra charges. I even logged into my AT&T account at one point to make sure.
My son has T-Mobile, so he had zero access the whole trip, but I brought my business AT&T hotspot and set it up in the cockpit when able to connect to AT&T so he would stop getting the "I can't communicate with my friends!" shakes. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
Capt D (Caribguy) s/v Mollie Jean "When I go to heaven, I want to go from the islands..it's closer"
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: Ontheboat]
#53929
06/06/2015 03:16 PM
06/06/2015 03:16 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,961 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,961
St. John, USVI
|
With the new ATT on east end St. John we were getting Internet at Cooper and 2G voice and text at Spanishtown. As always, need line of sight to the tower. On the north side of Tortola and for much of JVD we can get the STT tower.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
|
|
|
Re: Wifi Logistics
[Re: RickG]
#53930
06/06/2015 04:12 PM
06/06/2015 04:12 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331 Deep East Texas
Ontheboat
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 331
Deep East Texas
|
This is just a bit off topic and going into geek mode:
Out of curiosity, are there very many "IT" people in the BVI's that setup site wireless? I only ask because I noticed that many WiFi sites had the same fingerprint for configuration. In our group, one would be able to connect but the rest could not and I would have to override the wifi configuration to make people work.
Capt D (Caribguy) s/v Mollie Jean "When I go to heaven, I want to go from the islands..it's closer"
|
|
|
|
|