ditchcrawler Posted December 26, 2016 Report Share Posted December 26, 2016 Ever since we have had this boat I have used a Nokia 6310i with a Boaters Phone Co external aerial. The phone is getting tied, the buttons iffy and battery life getting shorter so I need something to replace it with. So what is available with an external aerial socket these days please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesWoolcock Posted December 27, 2016 Report Share Posted December 27, 2016 (edited) Hello Yes, I was the same until 3 Mobile introduced a MiFi with an aerial socket (actually two!) which is the same as the connection to the Nokia.. So out with 6310i and I joined the world of smartphones 18 months ago. Now I have continuous connection everywhere. Yes, there's always dodgy places like Audlem where connectivity is on and off, but in the last C.1500 miles cruising they are very, very rare. Through my old Boaters Phone Co 3G (?) antennae the MiFi feeds both my phone and my laptop. And you can just unplug it, pop it in your pocket and take it with you anywhere and get connected, even to those places with free WiFi, which smartphones use as well as 4G. Many places with Free Wifi don't have as good a connection as I get with my MiFi. Brilliant. Try it. James Edited December 27, 2016 by JamesWoolcock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland elsdon Posted December 27, 2016 Report Share Posted December 27, 2016 Very Techy for a man with a boat as historic as yours. Thought you would have a bit of string and a bell, or a voice tube to bark commands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top cat Posted December 27, 2016 Report Share Posted December 27, 2016 We use a Hauwie 5776s mifi router which has an external aerial port, that in turn talks to all our phones and tablets. A far better way of doing it. Also we found that when we replaced our old Nokia with a Moto G the reception improved so much an external aerial was rarely needed. Top Cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted December 27, 2016 Report Share Posted December 27, 2016 (edited) We use a MiFi which gives wireless internet to our phones and Ipads but in all honesty, I am very seldom stuck for an internet connection just using my smart phone (a Sony Xperia). I am with EE (as is the Mifi) and we have no arial, external or internal. We just hang the MiFi on a curtain rail sometimes to improve the service. It is years since I have had to go outside the boat to get a signal. I was with O2 for a short time but the coverage (phone and internet) was so appalling that I switched back to EE. haggis Ps I think Iains phone is an even older model than yours and I am trying to move him into this century :-) Edited December 27, 2016 by haggis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted December 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2016 I want to make and receive telephone calls, I have my internet sorted thanks. I just want a phone with an aerial socket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbfiresprite Posted December 27, 2016 Report Share Posted December 27, 2016 Have you tried an 'GSM Desktop phone'? Can be hardwired into the boat 12V, Full size handset and aerial socket. Useful if working abroad and take a lot of calls. Only downside is you can not just pop it in your pocket and go out. But as a boat phone it does the job. On sale from £40 upwards depending on model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted December 27, 2016 Report Share Posted December 27, 2016 I want to make and receive telephone calls, I have my internet sorted thanks. I just want a phone with an aerial socket. Ah, sorry. Misunderstood. I can actually use my phone inside the boat to make calls without an ariel and I was just trying to say (not very successfully) that phones are a bit better now and don't need an ariel where a few years ago, you always did. I am enjoying your Blog, thanks, Haggis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now