Internet Availibility & GOM Boats

**Chris** · September 15th, 2008, 02:44 PM

Hi All,<br><br>I think Ive read most every post here. Great place. Thank you!<br><br>I have my TWIC, MMD, AB-Special LB, BST (minus the RFPNW). Dont worry.... no RFPNW rants here and will head to the GOM to seek my fortune in the oilfield the second week of January 09.<br><br>Now for the big question:<br><br>I have a sweet gig I do on the internet that nets me about $3,000 per month. It only takes up about 20 hours a month but I need 100 kbps web connection to make it happen. Id really like to work a 28-14 rotation on some sweet OSV and bank the $3K/mo.<br><br>What type of connection do some companines have for their deckhands?<br><br>Thanks and a hearty Argg!<br>Chris<br><br>

**anchorman** · September 15th, 2008, 03:18 PM

You can forget that. You have internet usage, yes. But, not the kind of bandwidth or availability to work or download tunes. Being able to conduct official business and stay in-touch with family is about as far as it goes, and connections are usually shared connections.

**Splash** · September 15th, 2008, 09:33 PM

Anchor, what kind of cell service do you guys have down there? Is coverage a problem, Im sure it is in the gulf, but as far as when you are @ port. Who has the best coverage; Verizion, AT&T,etc.?

**anchorman** · September 16th, 2008, 03:48 AM

I've always had AT&T for best universal coverage, even before I got the iPhone. Nextel is a favorite for service companies in the oilfield for the two-way service. So, Nextel usually work good and you can two-way from Brazil. T-Mobile and Alltel seems to be good. I have co-workers that have both services. The only complaints that I here are from those who have Verizon (just in Fourchon). Nothing bad other than that.

**Splash** · September 16th, 2008, 03:54 AM

Thanks!

**tengineer** · September 16th, 2008, 07:38 AM

**El Capitan** · September 16th, 2008, 09:16 AM

Tengineer - Thanks for sharing, that is a hell of a good piece of information! Nice find...

**anchorman** · September 16th, 2008, 10:34 AM

AT&T does have a GOM plan. I forget the exact reduction benefit in charges per minute for a monthly fee, but it's not worth it unless you constantly work in a specific place that has the infrastructure in place to get a signal. Right now, your lucky to get a signal in any coastal area hit by the recent storms.

**Jemplayer** · September 18th, 2008, 06:39 PM

Your best bet is with AT&T because you can get on petrocom's network and not be charged for it (data only, i still pay $.75 a minute with international calling on my plan), but don't count on it being 100kbs. Every now and then I can max out at 160kbs but that is a rarity. Plus coverage is spotty. I have a wireless repeater for my phone that helps greatly but its still not perfect. <br><br>If you end up on a boat that spends weeks standing by platforms in the deep water and ultra deep water areas, then don't count on anything. There might have some shared access through the boat but it wont be anything great. <br><br>A breakdown of the companies.<br>T-Mobil- a joke only work in major metro areas in the south. If you stand outside and point your head in the right direction and pray the wind blows in the right direction you might get a signal.<br><br>Sprint- I had them and didn't like them. There service is getting better supposedly. Still didn't work in Intracostal last time I was there.<br><br>Verizon- Once you get south of hwy 90 your on the extended network (Sprint Towers) and it gets spotty. Also if they don't synch up with there own tower every 30 or 60 days I dont remember which they stop working. Had this happen to one of the guys I worked with. Same as Sprint in that they didn't work in Intracoastal, again because they use the same towers.<br><br>Nextel- I've only seen them work reliably here in Fuchon, my dad talked my mom in to getting a family plan and my mom could never get her phone to work in doors or at thier house. My dads phone ever really worked when he was at work. <br><br>AT&T- In my opinion there the best, they work at every port I've been to. Because Petrocom uses the same technology as ATT&T you can use your phone offshore if you need to call home, and you can use thier data network with out getting in trouble, I have routienly downloaded over a gig of data a month for almost 2 years and have yet to hear about it.

**Splash** · September 19th, 2008, 01:42 AM

Jem how do you link up to them? With an AT&T wireless card? And what are the rates for calling offshore when you are useing the Petrocom network with your AT&T phone?

**Jemplayer** · September 19th, 2008, 02:50 AM

Any AT&T card, or in my case my phone. It doesn't matter, if you got a signal your good. <br><br>For calling if you don't have international calling its like $2 a min, but i have international calling for like $5 extra a month and it gets cut down to around $.75. <br><br>Remember data free, voice not.

**Shellback7** · September 20th, 2008, 06:51 AM

Hey Chris,<br><br> This is Kelly...<br><br> We crossed paths at Columbia Pacific awhile back...<br><br> Thanks again for turning me on to this site...It has been a wealth of information...<br><br><br><br> I do have a question for you ...<br><br><br> This gig on the web that you have going.................Is this for real?<br><br> I mean ,you can really get women to pay you for pictures of scantily clad sailors..??? ....lol...<br><br> 3 K a month..??<br><br> Good for you !...<br><br><br><br><br>.you know I'm just having fun with you...Take care and keep in touch...<br><br> <br><br>

**Chris** · September 22nd, 2008, 03:20 AM

<P>Howday Shellback,<br><br>Humm, must have me confused with someone else. Ive never been at pacific maritime. <br>And I wish my internet gig was somthing as racey as sailor pics for woman. Actually I just proof read documents for a couple insurance companies. Pretty boaring but puts bucks in the bank and really hate to give it up offshore.</P>
<P>But hey, thanks for the idea ! Maybe we could get a construction worker, indian, and a cop to pose with that sailor.......... <br>Chris</P>

**water** · November 13th, 2008, 08:22 AM

Any specific recommendations for internet access in the GOM? I just got done with my first hitch, and struck out with internet accsss on my laptop. Found one subscription service available for $10 / mo in Port Fourchon - which may work if that is the only port you are working from. Otherwise only found weak unsecured wireless in two other ports.
What is everyone using? I need to get something before heading down again in two weeks.
Got home last night, and am off to deer camp today - my wife is very understanding - so I'll be away from the forum for a few more days.
Many thanks

**seattlemariner** · November 13th, 2008, 10:16 AM

Forget wi-fi. It's too spotty and it rarely worth the time to open your laptop to check for service. I use AT&T's data plan and the service is usable if not fast in most ports. Sometimes you will get 3G service, but don't count on it. Offshore you may, depending on distance, time of day, WX conditions, etc. Get a week signal. My first hitch in the Gulf I spent three weeks standing by while the OSV I was working on provided deck storage for a rig. The OSV we were working with made regular trips to port and spent the majority of their time tied up to a dock. I imagine the people you work with would not be too happy if you couldn't get a document to them for three weeks. I hope this helps.
What about working on a research vessel or a survey boat such as Fairfield that would have Sat. Internet. I don't know if they would even let you use the service to send/rec. a doc. but it's worth looking into. Good luck.

Mikey55 · November 13th, 2008, 11:55 AM

KVH has a pretty cool product that has been posted on the blog and here on the forum: fixed rate broadband internet service at sea. Here is the coverage map.

Try this LINK for more information
They also have a banner at the top if you are not logged in...

**TMcG** · February 7th, 2009, 08:39 PM

Just FYI, but verizon seems to be the best along the whole west coast. The guys with Nextel do pretty well and AT&T works only near shore to the urban centers. I'd want an iphone, but I'd like to see the srevice get better first.

P.S.
Posted over a verizon mobile broadband connection approx 12 nm NW of LA.