[Richard10002]

Dave,

I use both TIM and WIND on my boat, but connect by putting the SIM in a datacard which sits in the PCMCIA, (or whatever it's called), slot in the side of the laptop. I also have an aerial which I got from Options who make the datacards for most operators.

I bought the TIM in Pompeii, but didnt get connected until Amalfi, then signed up for their 9GB per month in Stromboli where I bought a 30 euro top up card = got good GPRS in Stromboli and Vulcano, as well as at sea all the way from Stromboli to Vulcano then through the straits down to Riposto.

I then got a WIND SIM in Riposto, (well, Giarre), so that I can use their 5GB during the daytime. get a good always on GPRS signal in Riposto marina, and a reasonable, (1 or 2 bar), 3G signal at anchor in Taormina. TIM gets 4 bar 3G in Taormina, andonly 1 bar 3G in Riposto.

I have a feeling it might be more to do with your bluetooth connection rather than WIND. Can you hardwire the phone to the laptop and/or PDA. I wonder if the bluetooth times out if it doesnt see any traffic, perhaps to save on battery life. It might, of course, be due to WIND.

In England, when I had left my datacard on the boat, I hardwired my HTC TyTN to the Laptop and got always on 3G using a T-Mobile PAYG SIM - had trouble making the bluetooth work.

Are you planning to come down the East Coast of Scicily - Riposto marina is a nice place for a day or 2 of R & R, and the anchorage at Taormina/Naxos is enormous, good holding in mostly sand, and Taormina is a must see up on the cliffs.

I'm in Riposto till Saturday midday, then back to Taormina, (spent 3 weeks there up to last Monday), for a few days probably, then on to the anchorage at Syracusa.

How are you getting on with the anchorage at Vulcano - Porto Levante 50m to 5m in almost a couple of boat lengths, or are you on the other side.

If you come down this way, I'm in a white Moody 44 with the orange danbuoy flag flapping at the stern.

Cheers

Richard