What is the SeaByte Wireless Internet Service?

SeaByte are bringing broadband Internet access to marinas. Internet access is nothing new but SeaByte provides this service using wireless technology (called WiFi).

The advantage of WiFi is that no cables are required to connect the computer you use to the Internet, this is all performed using a special WiFi card you can install in your computer to communicates to an antenna that SeaByte has installed in the marina.

So what's so great about that? Well if you are a boat owner, you probably don't have Internet access on your boat, or if you do you are using slow and expensive mobile phone services or even more expensive satellite services.

With the SeaByte service you can get fast unmetered broadband access directly to your boat, freeing up your mobile phone to make phone calls not Internet calls.

The SeaByte service doesn't stop there, the founders of SeaByte are boat-users themselves, so have developed services tailored to the marina environment. These services are available through SeaByte's unique marina portal, offering free access to the latest weather information from the MetOffice, local tidal information and information not only on the local marina's services but on other marinas on the SeaByte network. Thus assisting you in your passage planning.

SeaByte offer a number of subscription and pay-as-you-go packages enabling you to decide how best you want to use the service. Please see the berth-holder section for more details.

So what is a Wireless Network (or Wifi)?

Recent advances in computer networks have enabled computers to communicate on a wireless network. The technology is known as 802.11b or as WiFi. It is a networking standard that was developed two years ago with the intention of making computers more accessible to each other via wireless networks.

802.11b technology is also being used to distribute the internet to computers in public spaces such as airports, coffee shops and other locations where the public desires to have an internet connection. These public networks are commonly referred to as a "Hot Spots". You can learn more about 802.11b technology and their use in Hot Spots at http://www.80211-planet.com/

Hot Spots are being created throughout the country to allow users to access the Internet. SeaByte is creating a HotSpots in the marinas to allow boaters to browse the Internet and send/receive e-mail.

How long has this technology been available?

The technology was originally patented many years ago. However, it wasn't until recently that manufacturer's and the IEEE standards committee convened to build a new wireless standard. Currently, there are millions of users of this technology. It is forecasted to be a high growth industry in the next 3-5 years.

How does this technology differ or compare to cellular technology?

It is very different technically. Cell phone data transfer rates are limited to 144 kbps. In many cases, data rates are only 14.4 kbps. This bandwidth is also shared on each node. WiFi is limited only by the internet backbone connection.

Cell phone companies are recognizing that WiFi is an extremely cost effective solution and are beginning to include it in their development plans in the coming years. Chip manufacturers are beginning to design and manufacture chips for cell phones that would enable cell phone users to access the internet using WiFi istead of the slower cell phone data transfer technology.

Other questions?

If you have other questions you want answering please contact SeaByte customer services, by: