wifi antenna booster

Monty VM

Monty VM

.
Jun 2, 2004
121
Hunter 430 Shelter bay, Panama
I would like to boost our reception of wifi signals when at marina's and at anchor. what do you use, how has it worked and where did you buy it? I understand a separate system is required to boost cell phone signal, I have the same questions for a cell phone signal booster system aboard.

thank you

Monty
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

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Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
I ordered mine from Bob at Islandtime PC. Excellent plug and play, with all associated hardware. Shoot, even the antenna clamp and the clamp holding it on was very high quality stainless steel. As memory serves me, it was a tad over 200 bucks. And I would order from him again in a second, very happy.

(And super fast WiFi..)
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Chris Patterson said:
I ordered mine from Bob at Islandtime PC. Excellent plug and play, with all associated hardware. Shoot, even the antenna clamp and the clamp holding it on was very high quality stainless steel. As memory serves me, it was a tad over 200 bucks. And I would order from him again in a second, very happy.

(And super fast WiFi..)
Click to expand
I second this advice :dance:. Go ...

http://islandtimepc.com/

I put basically...



... the same hardware together ...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-navigation/WiFi-Index.html

..... and saved a few bucks but there was a lot of frustration in setting it all up and I'm a 'computer guy'. I helped a friend set up Bob's system the other day here in the boatyard and we were done in just a few minutes. He could of done it also but I was there so he asked me.

I've made a connection between 4-5 miles (real slow) and ones much faster up to about a mile. Here in the yard I can watch Netflix and there antenna is about 400-500 feet from the boat. Everyone else has to go down to the hut to make a good connection.

I'd stay away from any directional antenna like in that one post.



They can help if you are stationary and the sending hotspot is stationary so it might work in the marina but swinging on an anchor you will not be happy as it won't be consistently pointed where it needs to be and you will loose the signal.

Good luck,

Sumner

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links[/FONT]
 
Chris & Lenore

Chris & Lenore

.
Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
If you want long range wifi at a decent price, check this

Outdoor/weather proof "all in one" with 12 db antenna, 1000mw RTL8187L chipset (what the top marine units use) and connects via a 25 foot active USB cable.

It's made by Alfa, a major manufacturer of wifi adapters.

It performs as well as the top marine units and it costs under $40 (which is what a commercially manufactured unit like this SHOULD cost).

And if the UV eats the plastic case in two years - $40 and you have a new one.

Don't debate - just buy one, it'll be the best $40 you'll spend...

http://www.data-alliance.net/alfa-1...osure-w-12dbi-2-4ghz-antenna-26-ft-usb-cable/

Chris
 
Caboteur

Caboteur

.
Feb 21, 2010
350
Beneteau 31 016 St-Lawrence river
WIFI antenna

We,ve been using the RadioLabs unit for 6 years: it's been good enough to download and upload our e-mails while motoring down the ICW without stopping the boat!

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/captifi-wifi-antenna.php

Great in marinas when you are on the outer docks!
Just clipped onto my bimini tubing, never removed and working fine.
Got it from the website and delivered at home in Canada (paid local taxes).
Pierre
 
Chris & Lenore

Chris & Lenore

.
Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
This is what I use - wifi hotspot for the boat - inexpensive

I bought this along with an Alfa 1000 mw long range USB adapter. I plug these units together along with a small LiPo battery in a weatherproof enclosure with a 16db antenna mounted on one end.

This makes a self contained unit that I can hoist up the mast. It creates a "hotspot" that I can access. Range seems to be 2 - 4 miles when hoisted - decreases substantially at deck level but still 100% better than the laptop built in adapter.

This combination does take a fair bit of effort/knowledge to configure properly but it's great if you have multiple computers to connect.

If it's just one computer the previous "all in one" with a USB cable to connect is way easier and cheaper.

http://www.data-alliance.net/alfa-r...r-neh-bridge-repeat-signal-to-create-hotspot/

Chris
 
Bob 04 H260

Bob 04 H260

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May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
I put together a system using the Bullet and an old Asus wifi router. The bullet runs on 12 volts. The Asus on 5 volts, so I use a USB plugin for that.
It works well over very long distances. I have it mounted on a home made mast on our arch. The mast is telescopic so it does not shade the solar panel.

The bullet is not trivial to set up, unless you are very familiar with networks better to buy the off the shelf system.


Good luck, Bob
 

Attachments

Chris & Lenore

Chris & Lenore

.
Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
Bob 04 H260 said:
I put together a system using the Bullet and an old Asus wifi router. The bullet runs on 12 volts. The Asus on 5 volts, so I use a USB plugin for that.
It works well over very long distances. I have it mounted on a home made mast on our arch. The mast is telescopic so it does not shade the solar panel.

The bullet is not trivial to set up, unless you are very familiar with networks better to buy the off the shelf system.


Good luck, Bob

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...Ah_1QGZsjd5hK4BRhJfrxNU0vKA27ZstExBoCWQbw_wcB
Click to expand
Excellent solution Bob. Probably easier to set up than the Alfa router I mentioned earlier.

Are you in Florida now (and frozen)? Our friends (on their boat in a Fort Pierce marina) woke up to 40 F this morning!! You probably met them in the North Channel a few years ago - the Rouda's?

Chris
 
Bill1565

Bill1565

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Jan 22, 2008
1,483
Hunter 37 C sloop Punta Gorda FL
Chris Patterson said:
I ordered mine from Bob at Islandtime PC. Excellent plug and play, with all associated hardware. Shoot, even the antenna clamp and the clamp holding it on was very high quality stainless steel. As memory serves me, it was a tad over 200 bucks. And I would order from him again in a second, very happy. (And super fast WiFi..)
Click to expand
Second this. I'm not a computer guy, but the install is easy. Bob is very responsive and patient. Gear works great.
 
Bill1565

Bill1565

.
Jan 22, 2008
1,483
Hunter 37 C sloop Punta Gorda FL
RIVERCRUISER said:
I think they use a pizza pan to boost wi-fi antenna reception...
Click to expand
We use a pan with Wilson Electronics cell phone cradle. Unit was designed with magnet to place on car roof. If you have cell signal, cradle will add a bar or two to strength.
 
Bob 04 H260

Bob 04 H260

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May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
holdech said:
Excellent solution Bob. Probably easier to set up than the Alfa router I mentioned earlier.

Are you in Florida now (and frozen)? Our friends (on their boat in a Fort Pierce marina) woke up to 40 F this morning!! You probably met them in the North Channel a few years ago - the Rouda's?

Chris
Click to expand
Hi Chris, yes we are just south of Ft Pierce in the Manatee Pocket. We are in a slip so had the heat on last night for sure. Waiting for weather to cross over to Bahamas. I don't remember the Rouda's, what was the name of their boat ? what are they sailing now ? Are they staying in FL or crossing over too ?

We hope to get moving around the end of the month. Until then we are doing some small jobs on the boat. Almost fully provisioned most of the space is used up but we have not had to store anything in the v-berth ☺.

Regards, Bob
 
Delezynski

Delezynski

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Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
I built a system using the Bullet and it did take a bit of programming!

I would suggest that if you are going to build a system, get a RAVpower fire hub;
http://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-File...=UTF8&qid=1424445399&sr=1-1&keywords=ravpower

Not only does it make it's own hotspot, so all of you devices can connect to that far off system, but it will also charge your phone if needed. BUT, the BIG plus is that you can plug in an external hard drive to it! I did a backup of hundreds of our videos & music to MP4 & MP3s and put them on a 1 Tb external drive and can now access them from our laptops/tablets. :D

Greg
 
Chris & Lenore

Chris & Lenore

.
Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
Bob 04 H260 said:
Hi Chris, yes we are just south of Ft Pierce in the Manatee Pocket. We are in a slip so had the heat on last night for sure. Waiting for weather to cross over to Bahamas. I don't remember the Rouda's, what was the name of their boat ? what are they sailing now ? Are they staying in FL or crossing over too ? We hope to get moving around the end of the month. Until then we are doing some small jobs on the boat. Almost fully provisioned most of the space is used up but we have not had to store anything in the v-berth ?. Regards, Bob
Click to expand
Their Florida boat is a Bavaria 32 named Ihana. They sailed to Bahamas last year and plan a Keys trip this year. They were on the NC trip that you and I did - also with a boat named Ihana (can't remember the boat type). Nice people and on Facebook (search Bob Rouda). They just attended Roy Eatons "Little Current Yacht Club" get together in Punta Gorda a couple days ago. There were a few other people there who also did the same NC trip as we did.

Small world.

Chris
 
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