I am looking to replace a standard issue Cd stereo .The newer marine grade units are all app based blue tooth capable requiring wifi.
Being wifi based aboard a moving vessel. Is their an option outside of a hot spot on my phone while at sea or on remote docks?
If you don't have access to wifi or a cell tower, you can still stream from your iPhone to your stereo via bluetooth but you can only stream the songs that are stored on your iPhone since you do not have a connect to the outside world.
I connect my iphone to my bluetooth stereo and when I am under way my iPhone is not using wifi but instead uses the iphone data plan (AT&T) to play say Pandora.. So as long as you have a cell tower you are good.