Alex
We fitted a Digital Yachts WL510 a get years ago which works well for us. Not sure if they still make this model but it’s a good piece of kit.
Simon

Hi All
we are in the immediate market for WiFi antenna and on board router. I note this thread is now over five years old. Does anyone have any updateson equipment recommendations?
We spent the past two seasons in Spain and Portugal. With the sole exception of RCN Vigo, reception in marinas was non-existent - forget about when at anchor. We both resorted to using mobile data via our smartphones.
Any advice will be most appreciated.
thanks in advance
Alex

Hi Simon

Currently sitting on board on the Hamble River and logged into the Universal Marina 's wifi Spark ( free so far). More importantly, using an Alfa system from Crucial Wifi. Antenna, adapter and router all for £90. So far so good.
Excellent service and advice from Crucial Wifi.

Peter

We all want robust installed systems. I strongly recommend the Rogue Wave, have used it for some time now. Check the original review story here, and a recent update regarding the improved antenna base here.

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

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.

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

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.

Thank you all very much.

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