Wireless gets wet at harbor

Some sail the waters of Newport Harbor to get away from it all --

Internet included.

For others who want to stay connected at all times, here’s welcome

news.

A Laguna Beach-based wireless broadband Internet provider is

offering boat owners and harbor visitors the chance to surf the Web

while on or near the water.

“There are so many people who come on their boats and have no

Internet access,” said Mark Silvey, chairman of the Newport Beach

Chamber of Commerce’s marine committee. “With this service, it’s like

you are at home. You can do business and take care of personal tasks.

That’s attractive for visitors.”

The service, called Seven Seas Internet, is also available to

homeowners and businesses located on the harbor.

The system, known as a Wi-Fi mesh network, has been set up by

Laguna Broadcasting Network, which uses equipment from

Sunnyvale-based Tropos Networks.

There are numerous access points within the system, and users can

get wireless service even while in motion.

The Wi-Fi network is much faster than a l-up or DSL network, said

Ryen Caenn, president of Laguna Broadcasting Network. If one access

point goes down, the signal reroutes to another point.

Caenn said there are a handful of subscribers in Newport Beach.

Monthly subscriptions, offering unlimited Internet access, cost $25.

Users can also buy a $20 “Scratch and Surf” card for 500 minutes of

access.

Last fall, the company installed a series of access points in

downtown Laguna Beach. This spring, they installed about 20 more

along Newport Harbor.

Boats on the water can use these already-established access

points, Caenn said, but the service is faster if an access point is

installed right on board.

Thus far, one yacht has paid for that service. That’s Endeavor, a

luxury party boat operated by Newport Beach-based American Yacht

Charters.

“Many of our passengers are corporate clients, and now they can do

a presentation and have the ability to download everything they

need,” said American Yacht Charters President Stuart Sitko.

One computer is installed on the ship, and passengers are

encouraged to bring their own laptops that have wireless capability.

The technology will also allow Sitko or other users to monitor

what’s happening on the ship through a password-only website that

hooks up to a security camera.

“If a family member can’t come to a wedding on the ship, he or she

can log on to a computer and still see what’s happening,” he said.

“I don’t have to be on the boat to see what’s going on. From a

security standpoint, it’s good.”

Caenn said security cameras are the next wave. He is meeting with

Newport Beach officials to explain how the wireless system could help

them monitor various locations.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in Newport

Beach and the Newport Beach Lifeguards have both expressed interest

in hooking up to already-installed access points, he added.

Caenn said a security camera could soon be installed on the Balboa

Island Ferry.

Silvey said use of the cameras is controversial.

“It puts you under a microscope,” he said. “If you have a business

on the water, there is a chance people can watch you 24 hours a day.”

Silvey said the current Internet service has some holes to fill.

There are dead spots in the harbor, Caenn said. And wireless coverage

is stronger in the south end of the harbor than in the north end.

The company is working to install more access points to improve

the connection. Caenn said he expects more boat owners and renters to

sign up in the coming months.

“We can get people hooked up to Internet in a matter of minutes,”

he said.

o7* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment

reporter. He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

elia.powers@latimes.com.

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