MARINE WIFI OVERVIEW
What you need to know to use WiFi in the Marine Market:
Here is the Essential Guide to BBX service(pdf)
Dowload this and keep it on your boat.
Here is an overview of the coverage in our marinas and WiFi equipment.
Click on The Image to EnlargeHOTSPOT
HOTZONE
A Hotzone is a large coverage area providing internet access up to 3 miles from a distribution point. BroadbandXpress creates these Hotzones in our marina markets by installing a distribution antenna usually from the marina building closest to the docks. In these large coverage areas, there are competing signals and interference. To bypass these interfering signals and access our wireless service, your computer needs BroadbandXpress Xtreme Power WiFi products.BUILT IN WIRELESS WILL NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY IN HOTZONEOur customers do not enjoy quality of service with low power cards or built in WiFi in a laptop. There are too many signals out in a marina to keep connected to us properly. In addition, low power devices do not have the transmit power to reach us. You can see us with our strong broadcast but we cannot see you with your low power device. Invest in at least a high power device: Our laptop package or USB package as a start.
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT WITH BBX XTREME POWER WIFI PRODUCTS
By increasing the power of the wireless hardware and increasing the gain of the hardware with a special antenna, your system will achieve superior wireless performance.
Power of built in WiFi and standard retail cards: 30 mW and 200-300 feet
Power of BBX USB device: 200 mW/ range 1500 feet line of sight(subject to outdoor environment)
With BBX external antennna- Long range USB Package has 2-3 miles line of sight range(subject ot outdoor environment)
Power of BBX Xtreme power card: 375 mW range of 1500 feet line of sight range(subject to outdoor environmnent)
With BBX external antenna- Long Range USB Package has a 2-3 mile range(subject ot outdoor environment)
The power of the BBX hardware is 375 mW versus 30mW for typical retail wireless equipment. This ensures optimal internet performance in our Hotzones. Pairing the BBX wireless hardware with our special 5 or 6 dBi antennas, customers can maximize the reception area of our equipment to 3 miles line of sight range. In addition, the BBX Smartscan utility locks onto our signal to improve performance. Lastly, all BBX equipment is MarineWiFi.org certified and is compatible with the major North American Marine networks of IDockUSA (www.idockusa.com) and Beacon Wireless (www.beaconwifi.com) providing a seamless equipment solution.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Long Range Laptop Package
Long Range USB Package
Networked Boat
We recommend any of these exterior mounted antennas solutions. The Laptop package or the USB Package is the minimum equipment package necessary for quality of service. Check out the data sheets in the Marine Broadband Packages. These packages will provide optimum service worldwide!