Wifi antenna ideas

Here is the way I did it.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23833682.cfm

Richard

If you use a setup like the Ubiquity Bullet and the antenna of your choice (the bigger the better) the only cable you need to run inside is an Ethernet cable. Connect that to a power inserter and then to your router and you are pretty much up and running.

Check this out

Before you buy a DDWRT device give this a look.

I just bought two of these. One to install at the RV park that had an old G model that was about useless and one for the RV that has a DDWRT repeater unit,.

This router is also a repeater and is the easiest thing I have ever found to set up. It has removable antennas so connecting an outside antenna is easy,. Just buy a pre-made cable and nice Omni gain outside antenna. Setup takes less than ten minutes. You can even get it in a dual band model to make it more versatile.

Amazingly inexpensive. As a techno geek I was stunned at how well it works for the price.

If you order a coax and antenna be sure your connectors are compatible. Those sma connectors on the router can surprise you.

RLS7201 wrote:
Here is the way I did it.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23833682.cfm

Richard

Ok, so if I understand correctly, you use the nanostation as an antenna. It is connected via an Ethernet cable to the wrt54g which acts as a repeater and provides your 'local' wifi access. Maybe I missed something but what powers the nanostation?

How is the nanostation holding up to the weather?

Steve

4x4FF wrote:

RLS7201 wrote:
Here is the way I did it.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23833682.cfm

Richard

Ok, so if I understand correctly, you use the nanostation as an antenna. It is connected via an Ethernet cable to the wrt54g which acts as a repeater and provides your 'local' wifi access. Maybe I missed something but what powers the nanostation?

How is the nanostation holding up to the weather?

Steve

The NS2 uses Power Over Ethernet (POE). It comes with a POE inserter. 120 AC volts to 12 volts DC. Set it aside and build your own POE inserter that uses your RV 12 volt system.

Another interesting note.
The NS2 has a highly directional flat panel antenna that is driven with 400mw. It also has auto polarity for maximum signal strength.
A 400mw directional antenna will outperform a 1000mw (1 watt) omnidirectional systems all day long.
Also, with some systems there is coaxial signal loss. No coax, so no signal loss over long distance cable runs. Cat5 is good for about 300'.

The NS2 is weather tight as long as it's in the upright position. Because mine is horizontal when stored, I sealed the bottom cover and entrance way for the cable.

Richard

Well I just made a pretty good deal. I found a Nanostation 2, a bullet 2, and a 9dbi omni antenna, and 2 POE adapters all locally for $50 total. I realize I don't need both of them but now time to play..................hehehehehe. I like Richards idea better than mine with one subtle change. I still use my Winegard Antenna on the 5er for OTA channels on the TV and as the nanostation is directional I will mount it to a PVC pole on the ladder at the back so I can swivel to for the best signal.

Steve

OK all these ideas have me thinking. PoE is an interesting idea. Same with the NS2 on the roof. But I am thinking cheapskate and how can I get the hardware I already have to work.

I stumbled across a thread on another non RV related forum about weatherproofing a wrt54g. The leading answer was to go to Lowes, HomeDepot etc to the electrical dept and get a plastic outdoor electrical box that it will fit in.

Here is where it gets interesting... maybe... when inside the trailer, you probably do not need the wrt54g to actually be inside with you, you will likely still get good signal a few feet away on the other side of the trailer wall/roof. The important part is the reception from the outside for the wifi you are trying to relay from.

So a variation of RLS7201's setup. You use a PoE Splitter/Injector pair (I happen to have an actual Linksys pair specifically for the wrt54g. Put the injector inside the trailer, connected to power but not connected to downstream network, you than run PoE/Ethernet cable from the powered port of the injector thru the roof to the PoE splitter to split off the power again to run the wrt54g, but again with no downstream network connected. You only use the injector/splitter to deliver power not network. You then mount the wrt54g and PoE splitter inside a weather proof electrical box directly to the roof or Antenna mast. If the box is not too big/heavy using tin screws to mount it directly to the antenna mast maybe the easiest solution.

OK maybe a little half baked, but suggestions, thoughts, improvements, criticism, laughter???

RLS7201 wrote:

4x4FF wrote:

RLS7201 wrote:
Here is the way I did it.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23833682.cfm

Richard

Ok, so if I understand correctly, you use the nanostation as an antenna. It is connected via an Ethernet cable to the wrt54g which acts as a repeater and provides your 'local' wifi access. Maybe I missed something but what powers the nanostation?

How is the nanostation holding up to the weather?

Steve

The NS2 uses Power Over Ethernet (POE). It comes with a POE inserter. 120 AC volts to 12 volts DC. Set it aside and build your own POE inserter that uses your RV 12 volt system.

Another interesting note.
The NS2 has a highly directional flat panel antenna that is driven with 400mw. It also has auto polarity for maximum signal strength.
A 400mw directional antenna will outperform a 1000mw (1 watt) omnidirectional systems all day long.
Also, with some systems there is coaxial signal loss. No coax, so no signal loss over long distance cable runs. Cat5 is good for about 300'.

The NS2 is weather tight as long as it's in the upright position. Because mine is horizontal when stored, I sealed the bottom cover and entrance way for the cable.

Richard

Ok Richard,

I have my equipment set up at home similar to yours. I have a few questions for you about how you configured the settings on the nanostation and on the linksys. I know the nanostation will plug into the WAN port on the linksys. How are your IP's configured??

Steve

I ordered a Powerlink II wifi booster/antenna should have it this Friday.
So I was wondering how most of you connect USB port from the antennas to the repeater? Since most have a Ethernet connection on the repeaters.

The external antenna for my WiFi Ranger setup is connected and powered via ethernet that runs through the wall of my RV. I wouldn't drill a hole in the roof - drilling through the wall was simple.