GL: setting up an office on your boat

[Elliott Bray]

I do have a couple of comments/suggestions and one major disagreement with
most of the comments on this subject.

Comments/Suggestions:
[] Get one of the Canon flatbed scanners such as the CanoScan LiDE 20 ($50).
It works great and is easy to store. Even when kept in the original box for
added protection it is only about 18"x14"x3". The software will let serve as
a single page copy machine as well as OCR. USB connection and no power cord.

[] I have enough room and the inclination to install a small HP LaserJet
printer.
My office is close enough that I ran ethernet but wireless print servers are
relative cheat.

[] MyFax so far has done a fine job for faxes - gives you PDFs.

[] You may want something that will generate a PDF, perhaps the full Acrobat
program. The Canoscan software includes a rudimentary one. You probably
already have one.

Disagreement:
But only in degree. Verizion Broadband/National Access (in non BB areas) has
been  our internet access much more than wifi.

The 'But'...  For me a tethered cell phone makes much more sense than an
Aircard.
I have an additional phone when not in use (you are paying for a cell phone,
might as well have one), I can switch the internet connection between my
desktop and laptop, and the speeds are the same. I use a Motorola Q
smartphone (although I would get something with a touch screen next time so
I could load it with chart software and connect to a GPS).

This last year we found that a Digital Antenna cell
antenna/amplifier/rebroadcast system such as their PowerMaxT 4KMR-30M 50dB
Gain Wireless Repeater System (this is their current offering, not the one I
have) let us make internet connections in Northern Michigan that we couldn't
make two years ago.


An office on a boat is no problem. Internet access can vary though. I would
expect you will be without much of your Canadian time, at least in Georgian
Bay/North Channel.


HTH
****************
Elliott Bray, wintering in Austin,TX
M/V Letitia - Gulfstar 44 MC
In heated storage in Whitehall, Michigan
www.loopcruiser.com
****************


> From: "John Stewart" <johnstewart at sanctum.com>
> Subject: GL: setting up an office on your boat
> To: <great-loop at lists.samurai.com>
> Ladies & Gentlemen;
>
> I'm not ready to go cold turkey into  retirement and extended
> cursing. I have a small space on my boat I would like to use
> to be able to stay in contact with my office. I will need
> phone support, note book, fax and print  and an antenna for
> starters. If you have done this successfully, would you
> please share with me what you learned. Thanks John Law Office
> of N. John Stewart, Jr., P.A. 5435 Main Street New Port
> Richey, FL 34652
> (727) 847-2737
> Fax: (727) 847-1219