Folks, it’s time for me to own up to something. Generally when I talk about life on the water, I’m talking about the ocean. I’ll admit that a lot of yacht life takes place on the high seas, or the rivers that feed them. I’m guilty of not talking about another whole category of life on the water. Let’s face it, we have some great lakes in this country (especially the Great Lakes near our Detroit-area corporate offices.) There are plenty of folks who live the marine life without ever seeing a wave crash on the sand. This article goes out to you.
The challenges of life on the lake
Those coastal elistists may look down their noses at lake life, but it’s a big part of the luxury scene. There are a lot of watercraft on the lakes, and places like Lake of the Ozarks are genuine luxury destinations. That image you have in your mind of beaten-up houseboats on a dim green lake? Forget it. Today’s lake-bound boats are every bit as luxurious as ocean craft. And if you live on one, you deserve the same great life as those yacht rockers.
The biggest problem with any sort of marine life is staying connected. Sure, there’s cellular service, but that doesn’t cover as much of the lake as you think. Best case scenario, if the cell tower is right on the shore, you’ll get service three or four miles out. That’s nothing when you look at some of the larger lakes out there. It’s certainly not enough to feel like you’re getting the privacy you deserve.
Laying out the options
First, let’s admit one thing. You want to stay connected while you’re on the lake. The days of truly “getting away from it all” are gone along with carbon paper and fax machines. Today, you want to relax and still shop, surf, and socialize. It’s ok, that’s just the way life works today. I’m not here to tell you that’s a bad thing. I’m here to help.
When it comes to staying connected, you have two options. It’s up to you which one makes the most sense. Let’s take a look.
Cell phone signal boosters
You might have heard of cell phone signal boosters. You might have been told that they don’t work. The truth is, they do. Reliable companies like weBoost, SureCall, and Shakespeare have been selling them for decades. These are real, FCC-approved devices that do exactly what they say. They take weak signal outside, amplify it, and safely retransmit it inside. They also take your phone’s signal and multiply it so it can reach faraway cell towers.
With a cell phone signal booster, you can often get signal as far as 10 miles from shore. It depends where the cell towers are, of course. You’ll get clear calls, texts that go through instantly, and fast internet speeds. Today’s cell boosters are futureproof, too. They work with nationwide 5G from most major carriers. Cell boosters can be installed by most folks with just a little bit of skill, or can be professionally installed by most marine riggers.
Satellite internet (VSAT)
Suppose you’re on a really big lake. Lake Superior, for example. Ten miles from shore isn’t going to completely cover it if you want to stay connected. That’s why you should consider satellite-based internet. We call it VSAT, and it’s not the satellite internet you might remember from days past.
VSAT is a system that lets you get internet service anywhere in the continental US with a clear view of the sky. It’s less expensive and faster than you think. It’s fast enough to stream, shop, and surf anywhere you want. And there are multiple plans. One’s bound to fit your budget.
With VSAT, you use a satellite antenna designed specifically for marine use. It connects to a special router called a “BDU” that then lets you use virtually any Wi-Fi or wired system on the market. That means you can connect virtually any device and get always-on, always-reliable internet. It works when you’re anchored, it works when you’re moving. It just works.
Get to know your friend in the business
Whichever solution sounds best to you, there’s only one place that you need to know about. Signal Connect, the full-service arm of Solid Signal, has done more marine tech upgrades than anyone else in the world. We have a team of experts who are ready to help you. We provide white-glove service, the service you deserve. You’ll get a technical advisor who can answer all your questions, recommend a local installer, and get everything set up just the way you want.
It all starts with a call to 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. Once you get connected with your advisor, you’ll get their cell phone so you can call, text, or email whenever you need them. No phone trees, no voicemails. Just the service you want, when you want it. But, we do ask you to make that first call during East Coast hours so we can help you find just the right person. If it’s after hours, or if you just want to do business over e-mail, fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
Life on the lake is the lap of luxury. Now get the service you really need from Signal Connect.
