Long-Distance WiFi Device

[W32PAMELA]

Bryan,

Here are a couple of potential POE sources I grabbed off the web.

MS(Distribution)UK

Wi-Pipe Ireland

[Gashmore]

I am just using ohms law. 24ga wire is 404 circular mils. Times 2 is 808cm. Resistance of copper is 10.37 ohms/cm-ft. 10.37/808 = .0128 ohms/ft. .0128 ohms/ft X 150 ft = 1.9 ohms which is what that calculator came up with.

By ohms law V=AxR so .4 x 1.9= .76 volts which is also close to what that calculator came up with BUT that is only one direction. The current still has to get back so the total voltage drop is twice what that calculator says.

[W32PAMELA]

Gashmore, I was wrong about the calculator. As you proved, it is not using the round trip distance in it's math.

[jhnhll]

I ordered an alpha unit today. Will post my results after I try it out.

[peterfynn]

Hi, I have been following this thread for a while and I am particularly following Bryan and Wendy's questions and the answers by some wonderful, helpful people. We will be moving onto our sailboat full time in the near future and as I do a lot of my work over the net I will require access somehow.
My question is at the two ends. What antenna should the bullet be connected to? and I have a Macintosh the the other end. If my Mac can talk to my LinkSys now, I am assuming it will continue to do so. Is this correct? Somewhere earlier in the thread I noticed a comment that said all this applies to Windows only. Maybe that only referred to some software package. I am assuming that the antenna - bullet - cat5 cable basically takes the place of the IP coax - modem - cat5 cable combination from my IP people (cox cable). Have I got this correct?
Thanks,
Peter

[Gashmore]

The Bullet is a regular Ethernet device and is configured through any browser so it will work with your Mac.

Antenna depends on the type boat and if you are anchored or tied to a dock. In general you want an omni directional antenna with a female N connector. A cat can handle a 12db gain antenna but 8 db is the max for a mono due to rocking. That will take care of 99% of the situations.

If you are living aboard in a slip at the far end of a large marina, a directional antenna aimed at the marina's access point might give better through put but would be real hassle at anchor.

[Charlesc]

havent tried this one yet but looking forward to it.

Bitstorm Bad Boy Xtreme

[Jack C]

Originally Posted by peterfynn

Hi, I have been following this thread for a while and I am particularly following Bryan and Wendy's questions and the answers by some wonderful, helpful people. We will be moving onto our sailboat full time in the near future and as I do a lot of my work over the net I will require access somehow.
My question is at the two ends. What antenna should the bullet be connected to? and I have a Macintosh the the other end. If my Mac can talk to my LinkSys now, I am assuming it will continue to do so. Is this correct? Somewhere earlier in the thread I noticed a comment that said all this applies to Windows only. Maybe that only referred to some software package. I am assuming that the antenna - bullet - cat5 cable basically takes the place of the IP coax - modem - cat5 cable combination from my IP people (cox cable). Have I got this correct?
Thanks,
Peter

Regarding your question about the Bullet acting as IP (I think you mean ISP) coax-modem-cat5. Yes, the bullet should act as a bridge doing the same job. As it has a web browser interface like your Linksys it should work with any browser.

Jack C

[Gashmore]

Originally Posted by Charlesc

havent tried this one yet but looking forward to it.

Bitstorm Bad Boy Xtreme

Save your money. That is basically a Bullet 2HP with a cheap antenna. They say "4 Watts with a 6db antenna". The catch there is that every 3 db of antenna gain doubles the effective radiated power so 4/2/2 is 1 watt out of the transmitter. Same as the Bullet. If you want to play that way a Bullet with a good 8db antenna puts out 6.3 watts.

[bryan and wendy]

Originally Posted by W32PAMELA

Bryan,

Here are a couple of potential POE sources I grabbed off the web.

MS(Distribution)UK

Wi-Pipe Ireland

Thanks W32,
you are a star. Why couldn't I find that I wonder? What I was actually expecting was a 'box' I can hard wire into the ethernet and 12v cables, my logic being that its the same effort to solder on two connectors as it is to hard wire the ethernet cable and 12v cable to the distribution board. This would also eliminate two connections, with associated losses. Or am I missing something?
Bryan

[peterfynn]

Originally Posted by Jack C

Regarding your question about the Bullet acting as IP (I think you mean ISP) coax-modem-cat5. Yes, the bullet should act as a bridge doing the same job. As it has a web browser interface like your Linksys it should work with any browser.

Jack C

Thanks, Jack. Yes ISP is right. OK. I am beginning to understand what is going on with the system. Your help is much appreciated.
Peter

[peterfynn]

Originally Posted by Gashmore

Save your money. That is basically a Bullet 2HP with a cheap antenna. They say "4 Watts with a 6db antenna". The catch there is that every 3 db of antenna gain doubles the effective radiated power so 4/2/2 is 1 watt out of the transmitter. Same as the Bullet. If you want to play that way a Bullet with a good 8db antenna puts out 6.3 watts.

I am still concerned about the antenna then. Cheap antenna? How do I figure out what quality an antenna is? Is there a reliable antenna supplier that I can buy from? Clearly the antenna will be up a mast in some bad conditions with salt etc. So, one needs a marine tolerant antenna that is also high quality with regard to reception.
Thanks,
Peter

[hellosailor]

"How do I figure out what quality an antenna is? "
Brand name, warranty, not made in China, and able to pass the Mark I Eyeball test.

Or, I suppose, you could run a home shower on it for a couple of hours before installing it, to make sure it was rainproof before installing it aloft.

[Extemporaneous]

I have a gimbaled radar part way up my mast on my 39ft. Mono Hull.
Can I take the top cover off the radar housing and attach a WiFi antennae on it and reinstall the cover. And then go with a 12db antennae, like the Cats?
Would the gimbal make it stable enough to do that I wonder? It is only gimbled port to starboard and not bow to stern.

Thoughts?

Extemp.

[W32PAMELA]

Originally Posted by bryan and wendy

Thanks W32,
you are a star. Why couldn't I find that I wonder? What I was actually expecting was a 'box' I can hard wire into the ethernet and 12v cables, my logic being that its the same effort to solder on two connectors as it is to hard wire the ethernet cable and 12v cable to the distribution board. This would also eliminate two connections, with associated losses. Or am I missing something?
Bryan

Bryan, I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for. It doesn't get much simpler than using a passive POE and connecting a power pigtail to your 12 volt system.

Below is a picture of the components for a commercial POE and a picture of the simplest method of injecting power by pulling out the power conductors from the cable.