Free WiFi for Little Egg boaters reports wanted

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Billylll

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Hello all fellow Little Egg boaters, I have installed 2 high quality high power HotSpots they are called HotSpot-Total Marine 1 & 2. Total #2 covers our marina, Sheltered Cove and the back bay all the way to the Garvey race areas. System #1 gives coverage out towards the end of the sticks and Rutgers area. To make the best use of the HotSpots at a minimum you really should run an exsternal WiFi antenna and high power card. I have been able to easily do 5-6 miles off of both but I have a high power AP on the boat with the antenna mounted high on the hardtop. I really would like some feedback from any users in the area or transiting the area. Again there is no captive portal page or access fees your cost is -0- to use them. But in return I would like opinions on performance/distance.
Thank you. Bill
 
Can't see em from up here in the Jersey mountains Bill but I'll sure check them out as I get closer to the area this summer.
 
I'll be up there in June for the Belmar Seafood festival. I'll let you know my experience then.
 
Have a house on Parker Road in Tuckerton. Marine 1 and 2 worked great from August 2009 until around November. What happened?
 
Just a guess but perhaps he moved them south to where he's bringing his boat?
 
Actually both have the DSL's turned off until the boating season starts. I also had Sprint Wireless routers as back ups but when they took away the free unlimited plan the backhaul charges killed me. You should be able to see Total #2 it should say no internet available. The #1 is moving up to Belmar/Neptune #3 will be at Total Marine in Ct and the 4th will be in Merritt, North Carolina. The economy has hurt us all and I have had to cut back since I provide the service to boaters for free. Thanks for the report I assume you know the AP's are at Total Marine on Great Bay Blvd. With my high power Syrens I have been able to use #2 pretty easy with decent speeds to the Red Tower cut.
Bill
 
I will be setting one up real soon in Waretown at Spencers Marina. It will be a high power unit with a 120 degree panel facing out towards the inlet and a 90 degree facing up the creek. Spencer seems like a really nice guy. I have a feeling it will cover out well past the B1 in Barnegat. I'll post when it is on air and hopefully get some propagation reports. The AP should be on early March.
Bill
 
I'll see if I can get it once it warms up! Thanks for the heads up Bill
 
Total 2 (Tuckerton) is back on air we are on the boat now. Also in Waretown Spencers Marina should now be providing free access. I'd like reports from both areas.
Bill
 
That is great Bill, you are very generous and I hope people come up and thank you in person for this.

They should meet the person that spends his own hard earned money to give back to other people.

Good job, carry on.
 
Bill -
Is Tuckerton on the tower or at a marina? (You sending out QSL cards?) Wish some adventurous soul up here would do what you're doing!
 
It is located at Total Marine at the mouth of the Tuckerton Creek. Spencers is at the mouth of the river leading into Barnegat Bay from Waretown. I need to change out antennas at Spencers later this week but it is on the air. It is a 2 sector site located on top of the 2 story marina in the lighthouse cupula. The antennas are currently (2) 45 degree sectors and will be changed to (2) 120 degree panels. However like I said both are on air.
Bill
 
Actually my understanding from Ben Elison (Panbo) is that Camden Harbor in Maine is well covered with WiFi but you have to pay for access. All of my installations use the Wave High Power Access Points with commercial grade sector antennas.
Bill
 
Update I just turned on another free Hotspot on the Mullica River it is located on the Green Bank Bridge. The speeds may be a bit slow because the only available backhaul is Sprint EVDO rev.A. The AP is only a 600mw unit but I expect improvements once I change the Omni antenna to 2-90 degree sector panels looking up and down the Mullica River. Enjoy and QSL reports will be appreciated. The open AP is called Green Bank Bridge / CIA LLC.
Bill
 
This is wonderful for you folks and very kind and generous of Bill.

Not near enough to take advantage unless Bill can focus about a thousand mile beam, but I still want to express appreciation.

This ties into the "why are we here?" thread: To share, to give, to receive. My experience has been that I can usually not reciprocate directly to those who have helped me, I can only "return t the marketplace."

Thanks again, Bill!
 
Total Marine Tuckerton just been rename Total Marine, no longer 1 & 2. I am using the same sectorization just one AP.
Spencers has been on air with the correct antennas for 1 week now I'm looking for reports, we still have backhaul speed issues at Spencers but it is very usable.
Bill
 
I will be adding 2 more 2 sector sites one is Hope Springs Marina in Stafford, VA this should be on air by the end of 5/2010. The other Pentagon Marina in Arlington, VA, yes the marina right across from the Pentagon in will be on if we can get approval from the historic society using stealth antennas by July.
Reports are always welcome.
Bill
 
Any reports from the Waretown area? The Hotspot should say Spencer's Bayside Marina.
Bill
 
Bill
I am looking to setup a wireless system for a marina. I am looking to use a Hawking Router with an external omnidirectional 15dbi antenna. It will be mounted on the 2nd floor of a bulding in the center of the marina. Will this give good performance? Is 15dbi overkill? Is there anything I need to look out for? It seems pretty straight forward. I understand this is your business so please don't give away any secrets.

Thanks,
Glenn
 
I would never use a 15dbi Omni. Higher gain Omni's squeeze the signal from a tire tube to a pancake pattern. If you want an Omni look for an 8 - 10db gain 2.4GHz Omni with 10 to 12 degrees of electrical down tilt. Otherwise you will shoot most of the signal over the boats and not into them. How far will the Hawking be located from the antenna? Use no more than 25 feet of low loss Times Microwave LMR400 for the connection. The ideal situation is to use 90/120 or 180 degree sector antennas with mechanical downtilt and an AP mounted on or near each antenna, keep the channel spacing for each AP needed at channels 1. 6 or 11.
Bill
 
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