Better Wifi at the mooring/marina/anchorage?

[ka4wja]

z,
That's cool....
Thanks!

BTW, I just finished setting up a couple dual-radio "ac" access points for a client of mine....they won't have many users until January, but everyone working their offices now loves the company's new Wi-Fi (but none have a clue why I works so well!)

John

[Pete O Static]

There is quite a variety of stuff on the market nowadays. I am currently using this system. I doubt it has the range claimed by some of the more expensive systems but I find this works really well, considering what I paid for it. I use it in anchorages and marinas where I am just beyond their wifi. It is quite portable too.

1000mw transceiver with 8DB omni directional antenna and a 12vdc wireless router for under $120.

https://store.rokland.com/products/a...409-tf-antenna

[jimliznorris]

buy a ALPHA Marine Antenna. model: UBDo-nt. USB plug. Simple. I have two - one on the boat in Greece for at anchor etc. and one at home to share good neighbour's wifi when at home. On boat I have USB extension to put the antenna up the mast, but usually not necessary.

[zboss]

It's a chicken and egg thing.. the marinas don't see the need to upgrade their b/g systems or add 5Ghz until more cruisers have laptops that use it and the boats won't get AC and 5Ghz until the marinas offer it!

As Bill points out, the cost to have a multi band station is within reach so the marinas just have to be educated on why the Technology is good to have on hand.

[jbinbi]

Just an update to this thread. Found this router. I like the products this company makes. What is interesting is that this is driven by a simple USB B input, so low power. Not sure how well it survives in marine environment, but would be in the cabin.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WKIKA0...PR9W89SK&psc=1

[Kjelle69]

I have one of those, works really good ! Connects directly to the USB in the laptop, but you can share the connection with other units.

Long Distance WiFi Antenna booster Wireless up to 3000 M Away Hot Spots USB UK | eBay

[jbinbi]

Originally Posted by Pete O Static

There is quite a variety of stuff on the market nowadays. I am currently using this system. I doubt it has the range claimed by some of the more expensive systems but I find this works really well, considering what I paid for it. I use it in anchorages and marinas where I am just beyond their wifi. It is quite portable too.

1000mw transceiver with 8DB omni directional antenna and a 12vdc wireless router for under $120.

https://store.rokland.com/products/a...409-tf-antenna

Though I purchased a bullet, I am thinking about returning it and getting this setup. I have not as yet purchased a router, just the bullet am thinking this is as good and maybe simpler...

[jamhass]

Originally Posted by Pete O Static

There is quite a variety of stuff on the market nowadays. I am currently using this system. I doubt it has the range claimed by some of the more expensive systems but I find this works really well, considering what I paid for it. I use it in anchorages and marinas where I am just beyond their wifi. It is quite portable too.

1000mw transceiver with 8DB omni directional antenna and a 12vdc wireless router for under $120.

https://store.rokland.com/products/a...409-tf-antenna

This is precisely what I've been using for several years, albeit I put the system together from individual (but identical) components for a bit less money. It works great, both in marinas and at anchorages.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by jbinbi

Though I purchased a bullet, I am thinking about returning it and getting this setup. I have not as yet purchased a router, just the bullet am thinking this is as good and maybe simpler...

I'm lo-tech but when my bullet is operational it is also a router.

[jtsailjt]

I can't claim to have done a comparison of all the available options out there or even to be smart enough about computers to be able to evaluate them, so last spring, based on the recommendations I read on this thread, I bought a Groove from Island Time PC. I received it as advertised and installed it on my sailboat but got careless while I was installing the router and trying to set up a password for my boats network and screwed things up so badly that I couldn't even log onto it. Sort of embarrassing to take a brand new, straightforward system and manage to mess things up almost immediately! What I did is hard to explain but suffice it to say the problem was entirely my fault. So I called Island Time PC and Bob has been amazing. Good customer support is a huge understatement. He knows his product inside and out and he's patient and available. I've spoken with him several times (horrible phone connection on my end that cut so I had to resort to Skype) and his patience and willingness to help has never wavered. Now, all is back to the way it was before I messed things up and is working very well. Even if the Groove wasn't a great system, if I had it to do again, I'd buy from Island Time PC just for the support that comes after the sale.

[Code Blue]

Great info here. Just doing the homework now to add a booster to our cat. Thanks everyone.

[jbinbi]

FYI, i just completed a system. I originally purchased a mikrotik, but found it very complex to setup. I am very proficient in networking, but this was too much for me. I returned it and got a ubiquiti bullet. Followed the instructions from here

mv.VikingStar: WiFi Repeater for the boat - An Update

Worked immediately.

The only issue with the bullet vs. mikrotik is that the bullet doesn't come with an antenna nor POE injector like the mikrotik does. So I had to source each item separately. But I was able to make the bullet/airmax work immediately, while I was perplexed in just trying to setup the mikrotik. My 2c.