We have long argued that a well-chosen and properly-equipped smartphone can replace a computer aboard for many common onboard tasks. It boots up faster, takes less power and is far more portable.

But there are times when phone and laptop can work together.

Using some simple software and cabling, you can "tether" your smartphone to your laptop and use it as a modem to connect to the Internet, eliminating the need for Wi-fi hotspots and expensive aircards. We’ve been doing it for several years now and find that it saves us money and works extremely well.

It is not a perfect solution. There are some misconceptions and some limitations, and some boaters may find that this system does not suit their needs. But for the majority, this is a solid and economical solution – and it will improve as the technology continues to mature.

SAVING MONEY

While your smartphone may be able to supplant your laptop for many common applications, there are simply times when you need a larger screen to get the job done. There’s nothing wrong with carrying both.

Unlike a smartphone, however, your laptop requires a strategy to get online. Some boaters rely on Wi-fi hotspots to connect, but this strategy can be hit-or-miss. Wi-fi coverage is not universal, and many spots have been locked down due to security concerns. A few years ago, while anchored off Melbourne, Fla., we found 200 open Wi-fi spots. Two years later at the same anchorage there were still 200 spots, but none were open.

Many boaters have also turned to aircards for their Internet connection. An aircard is a device that uses a USB port, PCMCIA card slot, or an ExpressCard slot on your laptop and allows you to access the Internet wirelessly using cellular towers. They typically work great and are generally good solutions.

Aircards can be a good solution, but using a mobile phone for Internet access can be cheaper.The biggest disadvantage of using an aircard is the cost. Not only will you typically need a second data plan for your aircard – usually another $50 to $80 monthly charge – but most plans require that you sign a contract as well. Often it is a two-year contract. If you are like us and are only able to cruise for part of the year, you are forced to continue to pay that monthly charge even when you have no use for it, or you will be hit with a large penalty to back out of the contract.

Adding a data plan to your smartphone, however, often does not involve a contract. By using our smartphone to connect our laptop to the Internet, we are spared the charges associated with a second data plan. It also allows us to turn the service on and off as we need with no penalty. Together, that adds up to quite a savings. Of course, the services and data plans offered by the mobile carriers can vary widely, so you must check with your provider for specific details.

DRAWBACKS AND LIMITATIONS

There are some limitations that come with using your phone as an Internet connection. The single biggest argument we hear against this system is the inability to answer an incoming call while on the Internet. A few years ago this was a true statement. Older smartphones did not allow you this flexibility. Today, most smartphones do allow you to pick up a call while you are on the Internet, though this is handled in a few different ways.

If you have a CDMA 3G EVDO system and receive an incoming call while connected to the Internet, you will have the option of either accepting or rejecting the call. If you accept the call, your data session will end and must be restarted when you complete the call. Any files being downloaded when the call was accepted will need to be re-downloaded.

With Verizon Wireless, this works a bit differently. Verizon has implemented Circuit Precedence Over Packet Data (CPOP) which is implemented on all of their 1xRTT connections (today this includes most Verizon data connections). With CPOP, your call can be accepted and the data connection is maintained until your voice communications are over, then full data flow can continue uninterrupted. However, this still does not allow you to browse the Internet while also talking on the phone.

To tether your smartphone to your laptop and browse the Internet while simultaneously accepting an incoming call requires a 3G WCDMA/HSDPA network. While these networks are widely available internationally, they are still fairly new in the U.S. AT&T currently offers UMTS and HSDPA networks in major metropolitan areas in the U.S. This allows you to use the same phone to speak with someone while also accessing Internet information.