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Originally Posted by Gashmore  The best solution is to get a high power waterproof wifi router/bridge and mount it on a spreader or at the masthead. Run an Ethernet wire down to your PC or an access point for local wifi. Power is supplied to the router up on the mast through the Ethernet line using POE (Power over Ethernet) from a little injector in the cabin.
Next best is a 200mw eub-362 and a 15' USB cable. When you want to use the Internet place the 362 on the cabin top with maybe 5' of LMR250 coax to a 9db marine antenna mounted on something like a Bimini bow. You will not get the eye popping range of 400 mw at the masthead but it will serve well out to maybe a mile or so from a good shore signal.
The idea is to send your data the longest distance through the ethernet or USB cable which do not loose power and keep the coax run as short as possible. |
I agree with Gashmore. The range with a POE bridge is much further than using a USB wifi device. But there is a problem. I bought an Airbridge with really good range, then out came the new standard with WPA instead of WEP security and my Airbridge would not work with WPA. So I ended up going back to a cheaper USB solution. New standards come out all the time WPA WPA-2 and now the N protocol. I think that buying a new cheap USB based solution every few years seems better and more cost efficient. There is no point in having 5 mile range if it becomes obsolete every few years.