Need advise on outside WiFi antenna for Panama

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searching 4 paradise

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Aug 5, 2010
43
Hunter 42 ft. Passage moored in Roatan, Honduras, Central America
Hi Group,

You guys have always been so helpful, let me throw this one at you. We are sailing Roatan to Panama soon and we plan to stay around Bocas del Toro. The marina managers tell me that the WiFi is not so good there in any of the three marinas we've looked into. They tell me it's very expensive to have a dongle and buy cards for service so we want to consider other options.

I'm not an IT person so could someone who has been to this area and tried to get WiFi to their boat inside to Skype, download ITunes stuff, etc. tell me what you recommend for a water proof outside antenna that won't cost us our first born? It rains down there a lot so it needs to be able to stay outside.

One other question is this, are there certain specifications that the providers use in Panama that will determine which antenna we choose? I would hate to buy one for say $250 and then get to Panama and find out it won't work with their provider. It would be nice if it worked in other countries we visit too. I really appreciate any current information, links to examples or sellers if you could help me out here. I'm just a girl...:) and don't know much about this kind of stuff. Thanks so much for any help on this.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
If you are trying to get a better connection to a WiFi provider you need a ....



.......radio/antenna combination. The radio is at the base of the antenna and then outdoor Ethernet cable takes the signal to the computer.

I pieced one together that will pick up WiFi out to about 5 miles in the right conditions. The problem is at those distance or even 2-3 miles the connection will slow down to the point that you won't be able to download things like I-tunes.

The good new is that it might improve the bad reception they are talking about so that if you are near 1/4 to 1 mile from a WiFi provider you might be able to. I was getting close to my home wireless speeds 1 mile from a WiFi source near Captiva, FL.

The info on mine is here...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/Compter-Nav-index.html

If you don't have much experience with this I would buy one from some one like these guys...

http://www.islandtimepc.com/

...they are cruisers and can sell you a good system for not much more than what I built mine for without the headaches of having to learn much.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
S

searching 4 paradise

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Aug 5, 2010
43
Hunter 42 ft. Passage moored in Roatan, Honduras, Central America
Need info on waterproof long range outdoor antenna for boats

Thank you for the information on the little antenna on the other post. I already bought an EnGenius and the problem is that it's not an antenna that can stay outside and it's not mounted on the boat. The reason I said we were going to Panama and I'm looking for something we can use there is because they have a very long rainy season so the antenna has got to be waterproof. There is only one ISP in Bocas del Toro so we need a long range outdoor waterproof antenna. Could we hear from anyone who has lived in Panama at a marina down there that has used an antenna that gave them a good signal so they can Skype and download from ITunes, etc.? Thank you.
 
R

Rick Sylvester

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Jul 1, 2004
567
Hunter 40 St. Petersburg
Bocas del Toro

We have friends there anchored near Shelter Bay Marina (between Isla Colon and Isla Carenero.) They are unable to pick up any wifi there and have to go into an internet cafe to get on the web. Shelter Bay has access on their docks or in their lounge for $10/week. I don't believe they broadcast a wifi signal.

Regardless of the antenna you choose your issue at Bocas may be available signal.

Oh, and you're right, the rainy season there, damn.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
I recently bought an alph to use on road trips and used it in Vegas and Long Beach and Phoenix with good results, but don't think it has the range that my Bullet 2HP has. I'm going to try them side by side on the boat next month and will compare them on the same anchorage. When we were in Pelican Bay, FL we were able to hook up with a marina 3.8 miles away at Boca Grande. I'll be very surprised if my Alpha can do that, but will find out. I don't sell either, so have nothing to gain promoting either one.

Also the EnGenius antenna is an outdoor antenna, at least ours is and the Bullet is also designed for outdoor use. I don't see why this setup couldn't be used in Panama regardless of the rain. The Bullets are used worldwide in......



.... commercial outdoor environments as radios for other than WiFi.

The Bullet cost me about $40 more than the alpha we bought, but that isn't much if you are then able to receive at a greater distance if that is important to you or have a faster connection at shorter distances. The cable is a little more, but suited to an outdoor environment vs. USB cable and you can make longer runs easier.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
Snotter

Snotter

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Sep 25, 2008
615
Morgan 415 Out Island Rogersville, AL
My alpha doesn't want to work in cold temperatures. I suspect that the converse will also be true. It works just fine below decks with the AC or heat turned on.
 
S

searching 4 paradise

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Aug 5, 2010
43
Hunter 42 ft. Passage moored in Roatan, Honduras, Central America
Ourside WiFi Antenna in Panama

Rick Sylvester said:
We have friends there anchored near Shelter Bay Marina (between Isla Colon and Isla Carenero.) They are unable to pick up any wifi there and have to go into an internet cafe to get on the web. Shelter Bay has access on their docks or in their lounge for $10/week. I don't believe they broadcast a wifi signal.

Regardless of the antenna you choose your issue at Bocas may be available signal.

Oh, and you're right, the rainy season there, damn.
Click to expand
Since Shelter Bay is on the other side of Panama from where we will be, we have no idea where the towers are and the distance from the three marinas in Bocas del Toro. All I know is that my Engenius had to be brought back inside when it started raining in Guatemala and then I couldn't get a signal. I understand that it rains more in Panama than it is clear and sunny. They have a really long rainy season. Since I've never been there I don't know what to expect except for what others have told me is they have only one ISP and the service is really expensive. Phones are another issue. I hear they only have a few providers and the service is also expensive. Since I'll be there and my husband will be working in the states, it would be nice to find a way to communicate at a reasonable cost without having to carry my computer in the rain to a kitchen at the marina where we'll have no privacy to talk on Skype. I'm not sure I can tolerate a year of this! Has anyone on this forum actually been to Panama for any length of time recently?
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
searching 4 paradise said:
.... All I know is that my Engenius had to be brought back inside when it started raining in Guatemala and then I couldn't get a signal. ....
Click to expand
What radio is the Engenius hooked to? The antenna can be out in the rain. Do you have a radio or something else that makes it not work in the rain?

Sum
 
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searching 4 paradise

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Aug 5, 2010
43
Hunter 42 ft. Passage moored in Roatan, Honduras, Central America
Antenna

Sumner said:
What radio is the Engenius hooked to? The antenna can be out in the rain. Do you have a radio or something else that makes it not work in the rain?

Sum
Click to expand
Like I said before, I'm not an IT person but there was no "radio" with the antenna. It's just a little box with a USB cord that plugs into the computer and it has a long antenna that screws into the side of the little black box. The antenna was maybe a little less than a foot long. I borrowed one from a neighbor in our marina with the short antenna and he told me not to let it get rained on but when it's clear outside he said to put it on top of the bimini so it could see the marina's router. It helped some but it wasn't the best answer to the problem. I still had problems some days and was not able to connect. I finally got a Tigo USB stick modem and had a lot better success with it. But, Tigo is not in Panama.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,023
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Waterproofing wifi antennas

Th thread I linked to also included, as does Chuck's post, the need to waterproof the antennas. Rich Stidger described a very neat way to do it, and he bought the exterior plastic electrical box and put it inside. You're right, they're NOT made for exterior applications, but reading the provided links explains all that. :)
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
searching 4 paradise said:
.... there was no "radio" with the antenna. It's just a little box with a USB cord that plugs into the computer and it has a long antenna that screws into the side of the little black box.....
Click to expand
The black box is the radio. It doesn't have knobs or anything, but it is the radio that is between your computer and the WiFi provider's computer/radio/antenna on shore. You are right that is not designed for outdoor use. Also it has about 1/4 to 1/5th the power of the Bullet 2HP radio that is at the bottom of the mast in my first post.

Your best bet is still to go with a company like I posted before...Island Time PC or one like them that can give you a solution designed for boats that are out in the elements. They also have the software and hardware coordinated.

Most of these companies now use the Bullet and that is what I would suggest you look at. If that combination installed to their specs doesn't work then nothing else is going to either. Get ahold of Island Time and see if they have any info for the area you are going to. As I said before they are cruisers and know what you are up against.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links
 
S

searching 4 paradise

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Aug 5, 2010
43
Hunter 42 ft. Passage moored in Roatan, Honduras, Central America
Re: Waterproofing wifi antennas

I read the post on Chuck and Susan's blog for sv Sea Trek about how they built the box on their antenna. I'll forward that on the my better half. He's better at that kind of thing. By the way, Chuck and Susan are friends of ours and used to be our boat neighbors in Kemah. I will talk to them direct on Facebook if we have any questions about their method. Thanks.
 
S

searching 4 paradise

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Aug 5, 2010
43
Hunter 42 ft. Passage moored in Roatan, Honduras, Central America
Sumner said:
The black box is the radio. It doesn't have knobs or anything, but it is the radio that is between your computer and the WiFi provider's computer/radio/antenna on shore. You are right that is not designed for outdoor use. Also it has about 1/4 to 1/5th the power of the Bullet 2HP radio that is at the bottom of the mast in my first post.

Your best bet is still to go with a company like I posted before...Island Time PC or one like them that can give you a solution designed for boats that are out in the elements. They also have the software and hardware coordinated.

Most of these companies now use the Bullet and that is what I would suggest you look at. If that combination installed to their specs doesn't work then nothing else is going to either. Get ahold of Island Time and see if they have any info for the area you are going to. As I said before they are cruisers and know what you are up against.

Good luck,

Sum
Click to expand
Sorry, didn't know what you meant by radio. The suggestion about talking to Island Time sounds like good advice. Maybe they know what we need in Panama and what the conditions are like down there. If they are cruisers they probably have some good solutions. I appreciate the advice. We have been looking at this product: http://www.thewirie.com/marine-wifi-product.html and wondered if anyone on the forum has any experience with this one. It's in it's own Pelican case and is waterproof. Comments welcomed.
 
S

searching 4 paradise

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Aug 5, 2010
43
Hunter 42 ft. Passage moored in Roatan, Honduras, Central America
Sumner, I got the PM. Thank you for the info. I am collecting all the info sent and will forward it to my husband and he will have to make the decision based on what he thinks he can do. I hope you and the others on this forum will keep the info coming since the more we know, the better decision we can make. Problem is, we can't really wait until we get down to Panama to do something because by then it willl be too late to get what we need. We need him to bring whatever we go with and install it here in Honduras because once we get down there we won't be able to buy what we need and we don't know how hard or easy it is to ship stuff down. Then I can't install this stuff myself. We need to do it while he's on the boat which won't be long. He'll have to get me settled in a marina and then go back to the states to work on a new contract which means he may not be back to Panama for 6 mos. to a year. Thanks for the help and suggestions! We appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts and experiences.
 
S

searching 4 paradise

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Aug 5, 2010
43
Hunter 42 ft. Passage moored in Roatan, Honduras, Central America
Thank you to everyone who responded to my post. There are a number of options that may work for us and so now we need to weed through them and figure out what to do. Again, we appreciate your help on this forum.
 
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