Marina operators across the US and Caribbean have a number of choices when it comes to deciding who builds and manages their wifi.
However, there are two names that pop up more regularly than others. These are Beacon Wifi and OnSpot. Both serve marinas in the regions, but they are very different from one another.
Because of this, we’re going to compare them. By the end of this post, you’ll be able to determine which organization is better for your needs.
Beacon builds across four approaches. This includes fiber, bridging, hybrid, and extensible.
Fiber installation, in particular, is offered as a standalone service rather than just a component of wifi install. This is excellent as each fiber deployment is designed around the specific site, not just the wifi installation itself.
OnSpot describes itself as “wireless network designers and marine electronic technicians”.
They primarily rely on managed 802.11ac wireless backhaul. It’s a proven approach, without question, but fiber, bridging, and hybrid setups aren’t part of their public service list.
Beacon offers cloud-based digital surveillance systems with HD recording, night vision, motion alerts, and 24/7 monitoring. Footage can also be stored in the cloud, which doesn’t clog bandwidth or throughput, while being accessible on mobile devices.
OnSpot provides “Marina Cams” that use their managed 802.11ac backhaul to deliver HD video coverage. It’s a simple design that’s cost-effective and works well for marinas wanting a more basic surveillance system in place.
Beacon provides cloud-managed access controls covering gates, doors, docks, restrooms, and restricted areas. It also supports mobile credentials with no additional fees, allows role and schedule-based permissions, and uses marine-rated hardware.
Something else worth mentioning is that their access controls integrate with their wifi, surveillance, and the NOC, all under one dashboard. Therefore, monitoring access controls on-site or remotely is effortless.
OnSpot, on the other hand, doesn’t publicly offer access control installation. They only provide their customers with wifi and surveillance. In this case, access control installation will require a third party or the operator to install the equipment themselves.
Beacon procures broadband circuits on behalf of marina clients and offers cellular and Starlink failover as backup. Pricing is also positioned to beat retail ISP rates, which is massively beneficial for marinas in remote or island-based locations with limited coverage.
OnSpot’s public service materials focus on the wifi network itself. Circuit procurements aren’t part of their offering. As a result, it seems like OnSpot-installed marinas source their own broadband while OnSpot handles the wireless distribution layer.
Beacon runs a 24/7 Network Operations Center with a 15-minute response SLA on critical alerts. The NOC can monitor both third-party and Beacon’s equipment as well.
On top of that, Beacon offers enterprise ticketing, a direct line for marina staff, a 24/7 call center, SMS, email, live chat, and a help desk. This is all centralized through their bespoke Beacon LS mobile app, which can be installed on iOS and Android.
The app itself isn’t just for support, either. It gives marina staff a bird's-eye view of their system, helping them report, track, and resolve issues in real time.
OnSpot’s support, on the other hand, runs through a Zendesk-based helpdesk at support.onspotwifi.com. Zendesk itself is a proven, industry-standard ticketing platform. It works well, but it isn’t purpose-built for marinas.
Beacon has 20+ years in the business and has completed over 750 installations. Some notable clients include Safe Harbor, Palm Beach Marina, Constitution Marina, Blue Harbor Management, and Grove Point Marinas.
Adding to this, they have around 30,000 slips under management at the moment, and roughly 70% of their clientele is backed by private equity. They also have a national technician network across multiple regions in both the US and the Caribbean.
OnSpot started as Remote Island Communications, a Caribbean-based wifi company. The company started providing wifi to remote islands, and they later expanded to the Bahamas and on the US East Coast over time.
They’ve partnered with some well-known docks as well. Their public partner list states names like Compass Cay Marina in the Bahamas, Admirals Cove in Florida, and Osprey Point in Rock Hall.
Most marinas don’t have on-site IT staff. That means every outage, camera failure, or access issue presents huge delays.
Beacon solves that by being an entire IT department for your marina. Wifi, surveillance, access control, internet circuits, NOC monitoring, and the Beacon LS app all sit under one contract, one team, and one point of contact.
If something breaks at 2 am, there’s no scrambling. You simply call us, and we fix it, either remotely or on-site. We’re available 24/7 and have a response SLA of just 15 minutes, so your wifi issues get resolved fast.
Both companies do honest work in the marina space; they just angle themselves differently.
OnSpot is a strong fit for single-site marinas that want great wifi, a simple support model, and don’t need extra features like access controls.
Beacon, on the other hand, is a better fit for marinas that need more than wifi. Those who partner with Beacon require wifi, surveillance, managed circuits, NOC monitoring, and a mobile-first support layer.
If you’d like to see whether we at Beacon are a good fit for your marina, feel free to contact us. A professional representative will be more than happy to visit, survey, and assess your needs to determine whether we’re a good fit.
We'll handle the infrastructure so you can run your operation without interruption.