General Boards > Redecorating and Updating your Motorhome
Upgraded WiFi Connections
Jeff Watt:
Jim,
Do you have the Bullet/antennae in your rig or is the Linksys the only unit? Do you have an external antennae (I suspect not as you mention that you don't want to put another hole in the coach envelope). So if I put a Bullet with a directional antennae (like Ed has) up front, then if I find I need more range, then I could also put another Bullet in the bedroom to link off of the front unit. We haven't really been using any wifi devices in the rear of the MH, so wifi access there wasn't my concern rather I was trying to find if the Bullet & Airport were in the rear, then would the signal reach the front?
I guess fishing ethernet cable from the POE to the Airport Express so it is mid-coach is possible. The Airport is powered so I would only need the 12 or 15v POE, correct?
Thanks
Jeff
(Not a computer/electronic geek)
Sean Donohue:
You have my attention on this, glad you posted it. I will be looking at these systems this week and likely will be installing this after we return from our trip next week.
Jeff Watt:
Jim,
Sorry, re-read an earlier post of yours where I see you have the BULLET2 in your MH.
I checked L.Com and the BULLET2 is $39US and the BULLET M2HP is $79US
At http://www.ubnt.ca/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=84&category_id=37&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
the BULLET M2HP is $76CDN and the BULLET2 is $41.99CDN
However their prices for antennae are pretty dear.... so I'm looking at another source. This one states it ships from Ontario: I haven't checked what final price will be with shipping etc.
http://www.data-alliance.net/-strse-270/Antenna-Marine-Waterproof-Stainless-dsh-Steel/Detail.bok#
not strait forward.
Also, I am not sure what antenna to get, i.e. dBi
JimDyer:
--- Quote from: Jeff Watt ---Jim,
Do you have the Bullet/antennae in your rig or is the Linksys the only unit? Do you have an external antennae (I suspect not as you mention that you don't want to put another hole in the coach envelope). So if I put a Bullet with a directional antennae (like Ed has) up front, then if I find I need more range, then I could also put another Bullet in the bedroom to link off of the front unit. We haven't really been using any wifi devices in the rear of the MH, so wifi access there wasn't my concern rather I was trying to find if the Bullet & Airport were in the rear, then would the signal reach the front?
I guess fishing ethernet cable from the POE to the Airport Express so it is mid-coach is possible. The Airport is powered so I would only need the 12 or 15v POE, correct?
Thanks
Jeff
(Not a computer/electronic geek)
--- End quote ---
Sorry I confused you, Jeffrey. We have a BulletM2 mounted in the first curbside overhead cabinet (counting from the front) on a plastic turntable (lazy susan??) mounted to the roof of the cabinet. It has an antenna very similar to the one Ed has in the pictures above. I have it configured to automatically link to any open wifi it sees. The lights are visible, so that I can turn it until I see a red light which is a good signal. The signal path is through the fibreglass wall just above the awning. I ran the power from the outlet on the underside of the cabinets (near the table) to a new 4 way 110v outlet in the first compartment. The power goes to the Bullet POE adapter, my Linksys router, and my Network Attached Storage, which are all located in that cabinet.
We have it wired via ethernet cable to the Linksys which gets its internet signal from the Bullet, and distributes the signal wirelessly to our secure network in the coach or out on the patio. (2 laptops, a tablet, a wifi cellphone running Skpe, and a wireless printer.)
The point of my post was that I find this gives me acceptable signal levels in the lounge, bathroom, and out on the patio, although the cabinetwork (or maybe the fridge and washer and drier) does slow the signal so that browsing from the bedroom is slower than acceptable. Not that bath or bedroom are usual browsing sites - I just wanted to test the range. OTOH, our wireless printer lives on the counter under the bedroom TV and works great!
My second point was that this system is designed to allow you to connect quickly and easily to different Wifi systems while allowing your private network to stay undisturbed. If I had to buy a second router to build the system I would get a second Bullet, because they are a very low cost option, and by having two the same you have some new options. One of these options is to put the upstream Bullet (upstream = closer to the internet) outside with an omnidirectional antenna, probably mounted to the ladder or to something on the roof. Then set it up to connect wirelessly to the inside Bullet and you will not need to run wires other than an ethernet cable from the POE adapter.
JimDyer:
--- Quote from: Jeff Watt ---Jim,
Sorry, re-read an earlier post of yours where I see you have the BULLET2 in your MH.
I checked L.Com and the BULLET2 is $39US and the BULLET M2HP is $79US
At http://www.ubnt.ca/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=84&category_id=37&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
the BULLET M2HP is $76CDN and the BULLET2 is $41.99CDN
However their prices for antennae are pretty dear.... so I'm looking at another source. This one states it ships from Ontario: I haven't checked what final price will be with shipping etc.
http://www.data-alliance.net/-strse-270/Antenna-Marine-Waterproof-Stainless-dsh-Steel/Detail.bok#
not strait forward.
Also, I am not sure what antenna to get, i.e. dBi
--- End quote ---
You do realize that the ubnt.ca guy is not affiliated with Ubiquiti and appears to be using the trademarks without authorization?
Try L-com.com for better prices on antennas.
I'm on my way out the door, will reply later.
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