BajaNomad

Cheapest way to get email off-grid?

Santiago - 2-28-2014 at 01:02 PM

What is the cheapest way to get email off grid? Do not care about anything else other than to send/receive email. Can be mobile or fixed, week at a time, 4 or 5 times a year.

bajabuddha - 2-28-2014 at 01:23 PM

you can buy 'hotspot' units in the U.S. (Wallyworld or dollar stores); download 'gig' time and buy units by large and small quantities. (That's what i'm going to go to this summer after my next Baja stint.) In Mexico i use Banda Ancha through Telcel, it's a PC stick (USB port) that i fill by the month, week, or day, and choice of 'gig' quantity.
Or, find a neighbor with a router! :light:

Santiago - 2-28-2014 at 02:03 PM

no cellular

55steve - 2-28-2014 at 02:06 PM

Did Doc give up his Starband account?

WhackAMolE - 2-28-2014 at 02:11 PM

Use Gmail or Hotmail and access it at any Internet cafe that rents PCs by the hour.

DavidE - 2-28-2014 at 04:19 PM

Outernet cafe. Let someone else curse the lack of bandwidth, outages, etc.

SFandH - 2-28-2014 at 05:02 PM

I'm off the grid most of the time in baja and don't travel with a computer. I just drive into the closest town (Mulege) once a week and rent a computer for an hour at my favorite "Internet place". 20 pesos per hour. Real nice desktop computers, fast connection.

Alm - 2-28-2014 at 08:08 PM

Most NOB internet providers have a webpage where you can log in and retrieve your email from anywhere in the world, no need to switch to Gmail or Yahoomail. Make sure you remember username and password to login. I forgot, and had to go through the online chat with tech support to assign me a new username and password before I could log in to that server page. If you don't have a "normal" email NOB, then of course get one those free Gmail, Yahoo etc addresses. I don't like them, too much spam, but it would work.

But... You still need internet access. If this is really off grid, i.e. no cell coverage, then the cheapest temporary way is to drive to the nearest on-grid internet kiosk.

In some places the on-grid kiosk may as well be a satellite internet, and then it's slow and more expensive. For a more convenience AND if this is a long-term or permanent situation, you could get a lower-priced sat phone like Isat, and a prepaid card. Though - even without considering the cost of sat handset that is yours and theoretically can be used for many more years, or sold - I still doubt that sat email will be cheaper than paying for the kiosk, unless you are REALLY a long drive from anything.

[Edited on 3-1-2014 by Alm]

Santiago - 3-1-2014 at 07:41 AM

I didn't explain myself very well; I need to be connected to my work email all the time. When I'm at my cabin, I get up about 5am, answer emails from customers or staff, then go fishing. When I get back; I respond to all the answers questions. Currently, I have an access point and account with the town's wifi system that only costs $100pesos/month - cheap. BUT, about half of my trips it never works; or sometimes works; or quits working in the middle of an email thread; or, or , or.
Believe me when I say it is not possible to 'drive into town' 3 or 4 times a day to check email at the kiosk.
It seems to me I have two choices: a dish with a Starband account or similar or a sat phone and pay for the air time.
The dish gives me internet access and I assume TV unless they have internet only programs. The phone would only give me email but would then be mobile; very handy. I prefer the dish but that seems crazy to have an account that would be used 4 weeks a year; however, my costs would be known.
Anyway, I'm looking for advise from those of you who have these systems.
Thanks

DENNIS - 3-1-2014 at 07:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
unless they have internet only programs.



They do.

aguachico - 3-1-2014 at 04:27 PM

Why does your access point only work 1/2 the time? How a bout a repeater?

Riom - 3-1-2014 at 04:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
I didn't explain myself very well; I need to be connected to my work email all the time. When I'm at my cabin, I get up about 5am, answer emails from customers or staff, then go fishing. When I get back; I respond to all the answers questions. Currently, I have an access point and account with the town's wifi system that only costs $100pesos/month - cheap.


How does the town get their connection to the rest of the world? Is it a satellite system, or something else? Does anybody near you have an alternative private connection?

Are you totally out of range of both Telcel and Movistar, no cellphone reception of any sort, even with an antenna? Either of those would be the best option if at all possible, they both have prepaid plans where you can turn data on for just a few days or weeks. 2G data is slow, but enough for email.

[Edited on 2014-3-1 by Riom]

Neighbors

bajaguy - 3-1-2014 at 05:03 PM

Are your best bet.

If they have satellite, set up a directional antenna at their place, install an antenna at your place. I know several people who do this ..... not a big deal

Lengua - 3-1-2014 at 06:53 PM

Mi FI from T mobile or ATT . It will hit a asatellite and your in like flint

larryC - 3-2-2014 at 07:45 AM

Jim
You get what you pay for as you can see with the town system. Starband is expensive but you can put it on "vacation hold" for $15 a month when you are not using it. You could try the neighbor thing but in my case the 5am stuff would be a deal breaker. Sorry.
Larry

woody with a view - 3-2-2014 at 07:48 AM

i'd be willing to pay for 2 weeks a year.

Satellite or cell

bajaguy - 3-2-2014 at 08:17 AM

Methinks you need a cell signal for the Mi-Fi to connect with
Quote:
Originally posted by Lengua
Mi FI from T mobile or ATT . It will hit a asatellite and your in like flint


[Edited on 3-2-2014 by bajaguy]

Santiago - 3-2-2014 at 08:36 AM

OK, help me pencil in some numbers:
1. what are the hardware expenses for a dish, box, software?
2. What are the set-up costs and monthly fees for basic internet?
3. Why is everyone talking Starband; what about Dish or other satellite providers.
4. Does anyone use a sat phone for this? Looks like air time in Baja is in the $2/min range - way costly.
Thnx

bajaguy - 3-2-2014 at 08:43 AM

http://www.starband.com/

http://www.hughesnet.com/

http://www.wildblue.com/

http://www.dish.com/entertainment/internet-phone/satellite-i...

http://www.gizmag.com/iridium-go-satellite-hotspot/30711/

[Edited on 3-2-2014 by bajaguy]

El Jefe - 3-2-2014 at 09:00 AM

We live off grid too and without cell signal. But fortunately there is a local provider Alexanet that put a little dish on the roof that points at the mountain that hits his repeater etc.....Works quite well for 700 dollars per year.

That said, in your case I would be thinking, can I rent a sat phone for the few weeks I will be down? What will be the cost to rent and cost per minute. And is there an app I can use that lets me download all new emails at once and then work on responses off line. Then go back on line to send my responses off all at once. Would save a lot of air time. If that would work with your business needs perhaps it would be one solution.

Good luck.

Alm - 3-3-2014 at 01:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
It seems to me I have two choices: a dish with a Starband account or similar or a sat phone and pay for the air time.
The dish gives me internet access and I assume TV unless they have internet only programs. The phone would only give me email but would then be mobile; very handy. I prefer the dish but that seems crazy to have an account that would be used 4 weeks a year;

Yes, dish or sat phone. A sat phone not with a plan, but with a prepaid card - since you only need it for 4 weeks a year. The handset still costs $500 or more.

The choice #3 would be a repeater linked to the neighbor's home network, as somebody suggested. With the neighbor's consent and for appropriate fee. You will slow their speed down, but they might agree if money is good and it's only 4 weeks. Or just run a $30 network cable from your cabin to his, there is no need in repeater for distances under 200ft, if I'm correct.

Edit:
I forgot to mention the Choice #4, my favorite - no emails during vacation.

[Edited on 3-3-2014 by Alm]

BCSTech - 3-23-2014 at 07:29 AM

Quote:
OK, help me pencil in some numbers:
1. what are the hardware expenses for a dish, box, software?
2. What are the set-up costs and monthly fees for basic internet?
3. Why is everyone talking Starband; what about Dish or other satellite providers.
4. Does anyone use a sat phone for this? Looks like air time in Baja is in the $2/min range - way costly.
Thnx


The current satellite Internet systems offered for US customers by Dish Network (dishNET) and HughesNet (Gen4) use spot beams and will not work anywhere further than about 80 miles south of the US border. HughesNet still supports an older technology that does work throughout Mexico on a 0.74 meter dish.

Hardware cost for a new 0.74 meter HughesNet dish, radio and modem is about $400. Monthly fees range between $90 to $200/mo, depending on plan level.

I don't think Starband will last much longer. They haven't kept pace with current technology, and they operate on just a couple of satellites with limited coverage in Mexico.

The other alternative is commercial V-Sat but this is more money for the gear up front, and higher monthly service cost.

BCSTech - 3-23-2014 at 07:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
It seems to me I have two choices: a dish with a Starband account or similar or a sat phone and pay for the air time.
The dish gives me internet access and I assume TV unless they have internet only programs. The phone would only give me email but would then be mobile; very handy. I prefer the dish but that seems crazy to have an account that would be used 4 weeks a year;
Most satellite Internet systems in Baja are not a good choice for TV/streaming video. You'll burn up your data allowance before you can finish watching a show. Better to get a dedicated TV system; Dish or Shaw Direct. Or, if you're further north, DirecTV will work.

Jack Swords - 3-23-2014 at 04:18 PM

http://www.sailmail.com/

We use the ham radio version of this (Winlink) in our boat and when driving/camping in remote areas. The ham radio version is free, after you get a SSB radio and the Pactor modem, otherwise no limitations EXCEPT cannot be used for business purposes. For business use, Sailmail is the one. No problem connecting to a gateway station to access the Internet via HF radio. May not be what you are looking for with limited use. It is an excellent system.

willardguy - 3-23-2014 at 04:31 PM

I had no idea such a thing existed! how cool is that!:tumble:

Alm - 3-24-2014 at 03:01 PM

Sailmail via SSB is interesting, I didn't know it existed.

For emails only, Sailnet via SSB is cheaper than sat dish or sat phone - I understand that you still pay $250 annual membership. Plus, one-time cost ~$900 of transceiver and antenna. Installation and setup looks more technical than with sat equipment though nothing that can't be learned if one has to. Never liked paying to those corporate monopolists like Hughes. Too bad you can't have internet via SSB, only email.

Doug/Vamonos - 3-27-2014 at 03:37 PM

hey Santiago. I compose all my emails on my laptop in camp, then grab a couple cervezas, fire up the quad and ride over to Doc's, turn on his wifi, drink a couple cervezas, and eventually it connects, sends/receives emails, I turn it off, and go back home and read the emails, and drink some more cervezas. I know you're a wine snob so maybe the cervezas won't work for you! What is working faster for me than emails is to use iMessage (I'm a mac guy). If your friends/family all use iPhones/Macs, they can register with Apple's iMessage for texts and you can use a computer and wifi to send/receive text messages as if you had a cellphone. They go much faster than email on Doc's connection.

Alm - 3-30-2014 at 12:07 PM

Doug/Vamonos - is Gecko camp so big that you have to fire up the quad to go to the camp owner's casa? :) I recall the camp is some miles from the town though.

Btw, do they have any electricity yet on the camps, other than Diaz?

Doug/Vamonos - 4-4-2014 at 07:49 AM

Alm - electricity goes about 1/4 mile south of town now and stops there. And yes, it's nice to ride the quad to Doc's. Especially in the heat of summer. It's tough to carry a laptop and a couple cervezas in your hands and they'll warm up before I even get there!