I am wanting to put a wifi antenna/repeater on my 5er. I already have the router and omi-antenna. I don't want to use the 'USB Solutions' because I am a techy redneck and want to have multiple devices connected easily hence with a repeater I will create my own wifi network that I can connect to the campgrounds wifi.With that being said I an debating over where and how to mount the antenna. I have seen some who have mounted it to their crank up antenna and fished the wire to a cubby up front. I really like that idea but I can see fishing the wire to be a little problematic. There is no access to the 'attic' between the antenna crank and the cubby. Especially with the thicker antenna wire I think this would be difficult but I'm still open for suggestions.My second idea is to mount a pvc pole on the rear ladder with a second pvc pole inside it that I can use to slide the antenna up and down. This approach makes sense to me because the entertainment center is in the rear of the coach and that is where I would prefer the router to be located. My concern is if I use the LMR400 cable for the antenna to avoid signal loss, where do I store the extra cable when I retract the antenna???I've been perusing the net searching for ideas and am just not sure which route is best. I'm open for suggestions.Thanks,Steve

My amp works just fine inside my rig.

I saw this setup and think it is brilliant the way it is mounted, as the antenna goes up and down with the TV antenna. Also if you are a little tech savvy, the router he bought for $150 is just an old Linksys WRT54G with a special firmware called DDWRT. If you google "DDWRT universal wireless repeater" it will give you instructions on how to configure a router just like the one in that blog. When configured, you plug it in and it starts looking for open WIFI and connects to it automatically, than it connects your wifi network thru it.I already have the router configured, I just need to buy the antenna and I have to figure out how to get the cable thru... maybe thru the Fridge vent???http://www.wheelestatervin.com/sweet-wifi-i-am-my-own-hot-spot

rwbradley wrote:I saw this setup and think it is brilliant the way it is mounted, as the antenna goes up and down with the TV antenna. Also if you are a little tech savvy, the router he bought for $150 is just an old Linksys WRT54G with a special firmware called DDWRT. If you google "DDWRT universal wireless repeater" it will give you instructions on how to configure a router just like the one in that blog. When configured, you plug it in and it starts looking for open WIFI and connects to it automatically, than it connects your wifi network thru it.I already have the router configured, I just need to buy the antenna and I have to figure out how to get the cable thru... maybe thru the Fridge vent???http://www.wheelestatervin.com/sweet-wifi-i-am-my-own-hot-spotThat is one of the setups I was talking about but could be a pain to fish the wire. I have about 6-8ft to fish it through in the 'attic' and would have to cut a fair size access hole in the cubby. The LMR400 wire is about 1/2" thick and pretty stiff. I already have the antenna and have flashed my router with dd-wrt. (By the way...I got both for $35)Steve

(sorry to hijack) but I would be interested in any ideas on how to get the antenna cable thru. My last choice is drilling a 1/2" hole in my roof and than caulking it up. I have not looked but I thought the fridge vent on the roof may be an access into the void behind/above the fridge. From there I may be able to go thru to the shelf beside the fridge and mount the router there. the real question is when you take off the vent cover on the roof... what is actually there?

rwbradley wrote:(sorry to hijack) but I would be interested in any ideas on how to get the antenna cable thru. My last choice is drilling a 1/2" hole in my roof and than caulking it up. I have not looked but I thought the fridge vent on the roof may be an access into the void behind/above the fridge. From there I may be able to go thru to the shelf beside the fridge and mount the router there. the real question is when you take off the vent cover on the roof... what is actually there?Actually nothing. It is basically a flue but doesn't get super hot like a chimney. I have read where a lot of people ran wires down the fridge vent. That is not an option for me as my fridge is in a slide.Steve

Wifi antenna ideas | Good Sam Community

kpratte
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
I've done similar things to what RLS7201 did..

I have a WRT54GS for local WiFi which has it's WAN port connected to a Picostation M2HP which I use to connect to the campground.

So, the WRT54GS is setup like a home access point, clients connect to it and it's WAN port is the Internet (Picostation). I used some 172.16.x.x IP addresses so as not to conflict with a campground that used 192.168.x.x. But you could easily use 10.x.x.x.

When I get to a campground, I pull out my "kit" and plug in the power adapters and put an antenna on the Picostation. I then take my tablet and connect to the LAN side of the Picostation and login to the web interface and then I select a wireless AP on the campground to connect to based on signal strength and apply the settings. Then it works.. :)

I stayed away from the wireless repeaters because for the most part all they do is slow things down and clog the airwaves.

There was a question about IPs. Here is my setup:
WRT54GS - LAN - 172.16.56.1
........- WAN - 172.16.57.2, Gateway 172.16.57.1
Picostation - LAN - 172.16.57.1
............- WAN - DHCP (I get an IP from the campground)

The Picostation is configured as a wireless client otherwise known as WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) client with the Router and Firewall enabled. The WRT54GS is configured as a normal Access Point (AP).

My setup cost me $75 for the Picostation, $10 for a 9dbi omnidirectional antenna and I had the WRT54GS left over, but you could get a wireless router for about $30. I've run Tomato on the WRT54GS till recently cause I had some weird problems, so I'm going back to DD-WRT and see what happens. So far very happy with the Picostation.

- Ken
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jul 31, 2014
If you want to "Extend the range" of a simple "Finger" type antenna (rod that sticks up) there is an interesting way... I use it, it works

go to http://amaturlogic.tv

Download and watch Episode 3 (I believe there are over 100 episodes, but Ep 3 is the one you want)

Now,, i did NOT modify the "Finger" (the Linksys antenna) so if I remove the juice can it's 100% origianl, but basically this is what you do.

Get a can of Grape Juice; Enjoy contents, Remove one end with can opener.

Drill a hole (George tells you where to drill) and insert a rubber grommet in hole.

Stick antenna "Finger" in hole, and point the open end toward the router's antenna (The park's router) seriously increases range.

Should work with the Wi-Fi Ranger, and if done the way I did, 100% reversible so you do not affect warranty on your electronics.
YC_1
Nomad
Jul 31, 2014
scroll to #40 for setup procedure for the Nano.
RLS7201
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2014
Steve,

I use 192.168.10.20 for the NS2 & 192.168.11.21 for the router. Just pick some guffy numbers for the "C" & "D" locations. IE 192.168.XX.XX
Just incase you missed my response to your PM. Here is the NS2 set up again.

Richard
4x4FF
Explorer
Aug 01, 2014
RLS7201 wrote:
Steve,

I use 192.168.10.20 for the NS2 & 192.168.11.21 for the router. Just pick some guffy numbers for the "C" & "D" locations. IE 192.168.XX.XX
Just incase you missed my response to your PM. Here is the NS2 set up again.

Richard

Thanks Richard,

I actually had it set up and working great at home. Then last night my home router bit the dust and I had to slip my wrt54g in its place. My question was more concerning the ip from the nano to the WAN on the router. Do you use static or DHCP??

Steve
RLS7201
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2014
4x4FF wrote:
RLS7201 wrote:
Steve,

I use 192.168.10.20 for the NS2 & 192.168.11.21 for the router. Just pick some guffy numbers for the "C" & "D" locations. IE 192.168.XX.XX
Just incase you missed my response to your PM. Here is the NS2 set up again.

Richard

Thanks Richard,

I actually had it set up and working great at home. Then last night my home router bit the dust and I had to slip my wrt54g in its place. My question was more concerning the ip from the nano to the WAN on the router. Do you use static or DHCP??

Steve

DHCP
I think the instruction set notes DHCP
Richard
4x4FF
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
YEP. After experimenting a bit I have it set up and working like a charm. Now I just need to figure out how to mount my antenna.
As it is directional I am back to mounting it on a pole on the ladder. Prefer to be able to raise and lower it and definitely rotate it. Might just go with a 2 section pole that I just take off the ladder when not in use....not sure.

As far as the nanostation based on what I've seen so far it was the best $30 I've spent (Bought it used off of ebay).

Steve
hoffnerc
Explorer
Aug 05, 2014
I went with an Alfa36 Router, Alfa USB Adapter and Alfa Flat Panel Antenna. Very powerful and super easy to hook up and configure.

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