Just discovered this nifty device on the OCC Facebook site. It amplifies Wifi signals and feeds them into a router so that weak shore based stations an be accessed by all wifi device on board. Rogue Wave WiFi

On this subject, has anyone had any practical first hand experience of Bad Boy Xtreme Wi-Fi aerial system?
http://store.bitstorm.com/bad-boy-xtreme-kits/

Hi Simon

I used one of these (albeit the Ubiquiti Bullet http://www.wifiking.com/en/ubiquiti-networks/bullet/?gclid=CNGIzdeDj7YCFcbKtAod1XcAOw )with great success last year en route to Turkey. Sailing along coast of Spain we were able to pick up hotel wifi which is often unsecured along with many other hotspots. When anchored in a bay a trip ashore for a cold beer provides the password from your local bar which can then be accessed when back on board. The antenna was on a pole mounted aft and connected to a router to which was also connected a sat phone so we could choose which system to use.


Peter

Try contacting OCC member Ken Baker; I believe he has one.
John

We have used the Rogue Wave Wifi system on Tulu now for two years - Turkey, Greece, throughout Med, Canaries and so far all the Windwards up to Dominica (where we sit). System has been brilliant everywhere at anchor and in marinas, rarely failing to find an unlocked wifi access point or getting strong marina signals.

I made a small sunbrella sleeve for it to keep it out of the harsh sun , and this does not diminish capability at all, and will hopefully extend working life.

You can tell, I am a fan.

Chris

Thank you all very much.

This seems to be a very good solution. For several years I have used the Wave RV Marine produced by Radio Labs in California. My first unit failed after about 7 years and I replaced it by their new version last year. However, it was sent without the driver software and it proved very difficult to get the right drivers on a download. Radio Labs support service was non-existent - I was in Canada and as far as they were concerned in a foreign country.

My computer is a 64 bit version and it became apparent that they had no suitable driver and they just washed their hands of the whole problem. Surprising as their previous version had been supported for 64-bit.

The antenna is a good one (proved on Jenny 's computer) but I would not recommend anyone to buy it because of the non-existent support from the suppliers.

No drivers for the rogue wave system as 'bullet ' is connected via CAT5 cable to wifi router on the boat or direct cable to the computers network port. No usb connection or drivers, just brings up the connection page on internet browser on any computer - pc or mac.

the rogue wave or other bullet systems so much better than USB cabled boosters for exactly the reason stated - no drivers required!! Over the years, we went through half a dozen usb signal boosters that caused more problems than solutions.

we bought ours from Land and Sea Wifi in the US as a dealer and their responses were excellent shipping to UK. Cant comment

I guess most cruisers have from time to time camped on someone 's unsecured network; it is often the easiest connection available. However, in many jurisdictions doing so amounts to theft and is prosecuted from time to time - admittedly usually where the theft is repetitive or used to facilitate a second illegal act (e.g. downloading child porn).

A brief search will also return bulletin board discussions about unsecured connections being a source of risk from Trojans and key loggers etc camped equally unlawfully on the unsecured router.

It may be less contentious where you went to the bar/ cafe , bought a drink and obtained the password for later use but we all need to be aware of the risks we run.

I have a Bad Boy Xtreme, and like everything about it except the name. I have gotten reception good enough to download videos and upload photos when anchored in locations where I couldn 't even see other lights ashore. I would buy it again. On the boat it is 12vdc. Ashore it is powered with an old IBM computer power chord.
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II