It used to be that folks set off for open waters to leave everything behind: no phone, email or outside world. That's still possible, but many modern mariners want to stay connected.

Internet service allows boaters to download charts and weather information, pay bills, keep a log, organize photos and remain in touch with friends and family. And there are an increasing number of Internet options available to enable all of that. From land-based wired connections to completely mobile wireless systems, Internet connectivity varies widely in price, availability and convenience, so it pays to study up.

Start by assessing your needs. Is Internet access an integral to your plans, as it might be if you are cruising full time or creating an onboard office? Or would you simply like to check the weather and send a few emails before you go out on weekends.

GLEN JUSTICEThe options for Internet access vary widely, from simple land-based systems to pricey satellite outfits. Which you choose will depend on how you use the boat - and Internet.Costs for equipment, installation and monthly fees can add up fast, so it pays to be honest with yourself. It also never hurts to do some research. Talk to the people who run your marina and to fellow boaters about what they are using. The best choice will often present itself fairly quickly.

WI-FI PROS AND CONS

The two best options for boat owners who split time between port and short coastal passages are usually Wi-Fi (for wireless networking) and cellular connections, both of which can be backed up with some kind of land-based system.

Wi-Fi offers free or relatively low-cost Internet access, if your computer is configured to use it. Most late-model laptops and many desktop PCs are already equipped. If yours isn't, you'll need a Wi-Fi card, available for about $100 at an electronics or office supply store. If you're using a laptop, buy a card that plugs into your computer's card slot or USB port. For a desktop PC, opt for a card that plugs into the USB port or the PCI slot, which is inside the housing.

Wi-Fi works by translating data, such as websites on the Internet, into a radio signal. The signal is transmitted by an antenna to a wireless router, which decodes the signal and forwards the information to your computer. It works the same way in reverse with outgoing data from your machine.

To access Wi-Fi, you need a "hot spot," meaning an area where you can receive the signal. As Wi-Fi becomes increasingly common, this is getting easier to do. But it is by no means universal, and there will be no connection out on the water.

You may be able to access Wi-Fi through your marina. More and more marinas now offer this service, though it's still the exception rather than the rule. Another alternative is to take advantage of free hotspots in places like coffee shops, libraries, universities and other public places set up for wireless networking. Some businesses also offer access for a small fee. Connecting is easy. Simply instruct your computer to search for existing networks.

Cell phones also use radio frequencies, but Wi-Fi's signal can carry more data. In addition, Wi-Fi can transmit data on any of three frequency bands, and it can quickly jump between the bands, reducing interference and allowing simultaneous wireless connections for multiple users (such as a marina full of boaters). But there are limitations. If too many users tap into the system at the same time, service can slow.

THE CELLULAR ALTERNATIVE

One very practical alternative is cellular service, which offers a mobile Internet connection that is fast and relatively inexpensive. Cellular networks often extend miles off the coast, making this a viable option for on-the-water Internet access in many areas.

This is accomplished most often via an "air card" that fits in your laptop's PCMCIA/PC Card or ExpressCard slot, or is connected via USB. Some expensive laptops have an embedded chip that performs the same function. The system can be bolstered with an amplifier and arch-mounted antenna, to boost reception in areas with poor signal power.

Cellular data service is not cheap. A card costs about $200 and monthly fees start at about $60. If you want an amplifier and antenna, you can spend another $300 or more. There is also the question of which carrier to choose.

T-Mobile and Cingular use technologies that will work worldwide. Sprint, Verizon and Alltel are U.S. systems, with limited coverage in Canada and Mexico. Based on its technology, T-Mobile has the slowest service, but it also offers the lowest price at $20, and it has an "A" rating for customer service from J.D. Power & Associates. Cingular's service is fast in most areas, but costs are higher and its customer service rating is a "D."

Verizon, Sprint and Alltel have comparable technologies, meaning the difference between these three providers may be customer service. Sprint has a "D" rating, while Verizon and Alltel are rated better.

Making a choice often comes down to looking at costs–most providers offer discounts if you also buy phone service–and finding out which provider works well in your local waters. Talk to people in your marina before you buy.

LAND-BASED OPTIONS

Good old fashioned dial up connections, though long ago eclipsed by faster broadband options, still exist. Dial up connects your computer's modem to a telephone line, which enables you to dial into your Internet Service Provider (ISP). It is cheap–sometimes free–and relatively simple, making it an option for those who stay in port (you need a phone line) and use the Internet only on occasion.

But dial up is notoriously slow, even for routine tasks such as sending photos or downloading information, and most people now use it only as a backup for faster systems.

One such option is Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology, which relies on a high-speed, broadband network connection between your computer and a telephone lines. It transmits data much more rapidly than dial-up and does not tie up telephone lines. The DSL connection is always available and you can use the Internet and the telephone at the same time.

Your DSL modem, which is usually supplied by the ISP, connects to a modem at the provider's location, allowing data transfer over the phone lines. But the technology only works over a limited physical distance, and some areas have no service at all. Prices vary, but you can expect an installation fee of up to $150 and a monthly fee of $45 to $65.

Cable companies also provide broadband Internet service. The connection takes place through a cable modem, which uses cable television lines to obtain access. Using television channel space, data is transmitted over the lines, with different channels used for downloading and uploading.

Access to the Web is fast because the coaxial cable provides greater bandwidth than telephone lines, beating DSL speed by about two to one. However, that's not the whole story. Cable service is dependent on a shared bandwidth. You are sharing the space with other subscribers, which results in fluctuations in connection speed.

Some cable Internet providers charge a premium if you do not bundle the service with a cable television subscription. If you want cable television, you may be able to find an attractive bundled package. If you only want Internet access, you may look into companies that purchase access from cable companies and sell it at lower rates. Installation costs are somewhat cheaper than for DSL, running between $50 and $100. Monthly Internet subscription fees typically are $40 to $50.

SATELLITE SERVICE

Satellite Internet service is available worldwide, but it's the most expensive service to obtain, both in terms of equipment costs and monthly fees. It has less network bandwidth than either DSL or cable and slower transmission speeds, but it may the best–perhaps the only–choice if you are going offshore.

SEA TELMarine satellite systems require stabilization, which increases the cost.With two-way satellite Internet service, data is sent back and forth from your boat to a land-based hub, using an Earth-orbiting telecommunications satellite as the conduit. Most satellite equipment consists of a small dish, two modems–one for upload and one for download–and coaxial cables between the dish and the modem. Marine setups differ in that they need a stabilized antenna and a radome, which increases the cost.

Boats create unique reception issues. Being on the water itself doesn't impact satellite coverage quality, but the motion of the boat can affect the antenna's alignment. That's where the pricey stabilized platform comes in.

If something obstructs the "view" between the antenna and the orbiting satellites, service can be affected. The satellites remain in orbit over the Earth's equator. If you head north, an intervening mountain range, or even the earth's curvature, can affect communications. Still, these are minor irritations in a system that's largely reliable for offshore boating.

That said, be prepared to take a hit. The price for a stabilized antenna and radome varies tremendously, ranging from about $3,000 for a limited-capability unit to more than $100,000. Then there are the service fees, which start at $150, and hefty per-minute data transmission charges.

In the end, the service you choose will largely depend on how you use the boat, how you use the Internet and how much you want to spend.

If you live aboard and your boat is docked much of the time, economical land-based options may work well. Coastal and short-distance cruisers can take advantage of mobile systems like Wi-Fi and cellular that, while not cheap, are still within reach. If you hope to stay connected on a blue water passage, a satellite system may be in your future.

Linda Hoff is a former communications manager turned freelance writer. Her articles have appeared in Woman’s Outlook magazine and on Rezoom.com. She has won awards for corporate filmmaking and for her first full-length film script.