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Hi,

 

This is probably a product of lockdown boredom and dreaming of boating again.........................

 

.......................I'm sure this has been asked before but as we all know IT innovates a little faster then the than the average narrow boat!

 

To date we have always been happy to "tether"to our iPhones to achieve a connection and I don't know that this needs to change BUT are we behind the times and is there a significantly better alternative that we should be looking at particularly with innovations like mobile/iPad versions of SKY/Amazon etc...................

 

I am an IT dinosaur so simple answers (based on actual experience in/of use) please..............

Edited by Halsey
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J - How's tricks?

 

If it's more tech you're after then I am using a Huawei B525 Router and EAD LMO7270 4G external antenna (recommended by a forum member) with a 3 SIM card (all you can eat @ £11/month for 6 months, £22 thereafter).  We only get 5Mb download speeds but we are in a location often renowned for no coverage at all.  It's fast enough for web access, Netflix etc.  Without it we would have limited public WiFi at 0.5Mb on a quiet day.

 

This will give you consistent WiFi, the rest comes down to the devices and apps.

 

I also read good reports about the TP-Link equivalent and the Teltonika 240.

Edited by GRLMK38
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All good thanks ..............

 

Pretty fed up not t be boating but aren't we all - at least Zulu issue and being looked after by the Alvecote team

 

That is what I thought would come up as a suggestion concept and its good to get "brand" recomendations - the bit I don't "get" is why this will be better than tethering as it will be iPad (Air 2019) to iPhone (6s)

 

Did you mean THREE or 3G 

 

Keep smiling at least the suns out!

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In our case we would have to mount the phone 6ft above the boat to get a signal for tethering to work ?

 

If tethering works at reasonable speeds then you may as well save the cash.....

 

I meant "3 Mobile"

 

Based on the current situation, Alvecote in August may be our only trip this year.  I guess we have to wait and see how things pan(demic) out.

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25 minutes ago, Halsey said:

All good thanks ..............

 

Pretty fed up not t be boating but aren't we all - at least Zulu issue and being looked after by the Alvecote team

 

That is what I thought would come up as a suggestion concept and its good to get "brand" recomendations - the bit I don't "get" is why this will be better than tethering as it will be iPad (Air 2019) to iPhone (6s)

 

Did you mean THREE or 3G 

 

Keep smiling at least the suns out!

The external aerial gives a better chance of getting a usable signal set against relying on a phone inside what is essentially a metal box with holes (windows)  in it. In a strong signal area you will get a decent result tethering but once you start boating on the fringes of a telecoms mast's reach your chances of maintaining a decent connection are enhanced with an aerial outside the boat. Once you boat into an area with no signal however you will still struggle. Even external aerials cannot pick a phone signal that is just not there.

 

You could pop your phone in a tupperware tub on the roof but then you will possibly compromise the wi-fi signal from the phone to the device inside the boat. Not something I would personally do, an aerial is a much better option.

Edited by The Happy Nomad
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16 minutes ago, GRLMK38 said:

In our case we would have to mount the phone 6ft above the boat to get a signal for tethering to work ?

 

If tethering works at reasonable speeds then you may as well save the cash.....

 

I meant "3 Mobile"

 

Based on the current situation, Alvecote in August may be our only trip this year.  I guess we have to wait and see how things pan(demic) out.

I guessed/assumed as much

 

We are also hoping Alvecote will be "on" but are still optimistic to be boating well before then - IMHO its all about the kids going back to school - we are certainly stuck for another month whatever happens.

 

I'm assuming the "kit" in the attached photo is no longer relevant??????

 

BFN

IMG_0537.JPG

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37 minutes ago, Halsey said:

I guessed/assumed as much

 

We are also hoping Alvecote will be "on" but are still optimistic to be boating well before then - IMHO its all about the kids going back to school - we are certainly stuck for another month whatever happens.

 

I'm assuming the "kit" in the attached photo is no longer relevant??????

 

BFN

IMG_0537.JPG

That looks like 3G kit.  The 3G signal is still on but data speeds are much slower than 4G assuming the signal strength is the same.  This link explains the difference https://uk.pcmag.com/cell-phone-service-providers/11570/3g-vs-4g-whats-the-difference

 

The network is currently transitioning to 5G but 4G is the only realistic option away from densely populated areas.  2G and 3G are still used (smart meters, vehicle automation etc.) so you can be fairly certain that anything you buy for 4G now will be useable for a few years.

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Since 5G is short range there is no certainty it will ever become widespread in rural areas, where many canals meander. Speed needs depends on what you want to do, streaming a HD tv prog or film is fine on under 5 meg which is available on 3G if you are a serious online gamer then you need more speed, you also need to have the number minimum hops to the internet servers, so a PC with a wifi dongle with an externally mounted high gain aerial from the nearest pub/supermarket/library will have a much lower ping time than a PC tethered to a mobile phone or mifi device.

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1 minute ago, Detling said:

"...you also need to have the number minimum hops to the internet servers"

Can you elaborate please?  Is this linked to website timeouts?

 

Also I have noticed that when the router is rebooted or when  data is being consumed at fairly high rate, the signal strength (and data rate) improves but appears to tail off after a period of low usage.  Is the related to the way the network serves devices in some sort of QoS kind of way?

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AERIALS/Antennas?????

 

The router seems to be a bit of a given B525s 23a £110 ebay - whilst typing this I assume its 12v?

 

BUT I have certainly seen lots of different aerials in use around the system - feedback of pros and cons of various installations in use would be good

 

Cheers...........

 

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43 minutes ago, Halsey said:

..... whilst typing this I assume its 12v?

12v via a 240v adapter (rated at 2 amps) - spec sheet states <20W consumption.  I run it from a 300W inverter shared with the TV but there is no reason why you couldn't use a 12v supply.  Whether it would be tolerant of 14v+ charging voltages is another matter? You may need to regulate the voltage (using a "buck-boost converter" or similar).

 

I agree that antenna selection is a minefield and unless you compare multiple ones in your set-up how do you know you got the best one ?? ... you see a lot of these around https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poynting-4G-XPOL-A0001-Cross-Polarised-Antenna/dp/B00C1DGFPS?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1 

 

 

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20 hours ago, GRLMK38 said:

J - How's tricks?

 

If it's more tech you're after then I am using a Huawei B525 Router and EAD LMO7270 4G external antenna (recommended by a forum member) with a 3 SIM card (all you can eat @ £11/month for 6 months, £22 thereafter).  We only get 5Mb download speeds but we are in a location often renowned for no coverage at all.  It's fast enough for web access, Netflix etc.  Without it we would have limited public WiFi at 0.5Mb on a quiet day.

 

This will give you consistent WiFi, the rest comes down to the devices and apps.

 

I also read good reports about the TP-Link equivalent and the Teltonika 240.

 

22 hours ago, Halsey said:

To date we have always been happy to "tether"to our iPhones to achieve a connection and I don't know that this needs to change BUT are we behind the times and is there a significantly better alternative that we should be looking at particularly with innovations like mobile/iPad versions of SKY/Amazon etc...................

For five years I have used 'wifi mobile hotspot' on my android phones (pretty much every phone now offers this, but check before you buy a new phone) and I long ago stopped worrying about external antennas or separate units.  Often in the country I have to put the phone in the window, but provided I have a separate tablet/laptop to use the wifi signal it doesn't matter too much. 

 

I use a Three 30-day contract sim, currently about £19/month for 30gb of data, which is plenty. It normally gives 4g at a strong enough signal, not always great, but adequate. I only buy sim-free phones, and good ones now come under £200. I currently use a Moto One Action (c.£229) which is brilliant.

 

The 'One' in the phone name, btw, means Android One, which means it uses the main Android One system, which gives guaranteed immediate updates to new versions of Android for two year. So often, the big companies (Samsung, Sony etc) use the updates as an excuse to make you buy a new phone.  Apple iPhone is great, but they, too, come at a cost. I have lost 3 phones in 4 years in the canal, so I've learned my lesson and only buy cheap androids now - they are remarkably good.   

 

There are specialist marine wifi units, but they are very expensive and probably geared to boats with multiple occupancy (bit white gin palaces).

 

My main  

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31 minutes ago, Andrew Denny said:

 

For five years I have used 'wifi mobile hotspot' on my android phones (pretty much every phone now offers this, but check before you buy a new phone) and I long ago stopped worrying about external antennas or separate units.  Often in the country I have to put the phone in the window, but provided I have a separate tablet/laptop to use the wifi signal it doesn't matter too much. 

 

I use a Three 30-day contract sim, currently about £19/month for 30gb of data, which is plenty. It normally gives 4g at a strong enough signal, not always great, but adequate. I only buy sim-free phones, and good ones now come under £200. I currently use a Moto One Action (c.£229) which is brilliant.

 

The 'One' in the phone name, btw, means Android One, which means it uses the main Android One system, which gives guaranteed immediate updates to new versions of Android for two year. So often, the big companies (Samsung, Sony etc) use the updates as an excuse to make you buy a new phone.  Apple iPhone is great, but they, too, come at a cost. I have lost 3 phones in 4 years in the canal, so I've learned my lesson and only buy cheap androids now - they are remarkably good.   

 

There are specialist marine wifi units, but they are very expensive and probably geared to boats with multiple occupancy (bit white gin palaces).

 

My main  

Smarty data only sim no contract is £15 for 100gb at the moment. Uses the 3 network 

Edited by Jon57
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3 hours ago, Halsey said:

AERIALS/Antennas?????

 

The router seems to be a bit of a given B525s 23a £110 ebay - whilst typing this I assume its 12v?

 

BUT I have certainly seen lots of different aerials in use around the system - feedback of pros and cons of various installations in use would be good

 

Cheers...........

 

This antenna is very good and popular. I've used it for several years and gives a signal even in the weakest of areas.

 

https://www.solwise.co.uk/4g-antenna-omni-xpol-a0001.html

 

I've currently got it connected to a Huawei B310s-22 router which came unlocked with a Three Homefi deal a couple of years ago. It has a 12V input, so I am able to power it directly from the boat 12V supply. It has two antenna sockets, both of which are connected to the two tails from the antenna.

 

Cancelled the Three deal a few weeks ago, as I got an unlimited data sim with our Virgin Media TV/Phone/Broadband deal.

 

I would make sure you can power the router you buy from your 12V supply.... or you will have to faff about with inverter supply, (which may, or may not, matter to you :) ).

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On 21/04/2020 at 09:44, GRLMK38 said:

12v via a 240v adapter (rated at 2 amps) - spec sheet states <20W consumption.  I run it from a 300W inverter shared with the TV but there is no reason why you couldn't use a 12v supply.  Whether it would be tolerant of 14v+ charging voltages is another matter? You may need to regulate the voltage (using a "buck-boost converter" or similar).

 

 

 

 

OK all bits are here - how do I sort 12v (cigar lighter) power? Is the socket on the router special in any way or will any cigar lighter lead suffice??

As you know the unit well I would be very happy if you simply said "J buy this"........the techy bit would baffle me anyway (buck-boost converter???)

BFN

 

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15 minutes ago, Halsey said:

OK all bits are here - how do I sort 12v (cigar lighter) power? Is the socket on the router special in any way or will any cigar lighter lead suffice??

As you know the unit well I would be very happy if you simply said "J buy this"........the techy bit would baffle me anyway (buck-boost converter???)

BFN

 

Something like this should do it.... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-24V-vehicle-power-supply-connector-for-Huawei-E5172-B310-B311-B315-B525-etc-/292798549234

 

(The one with the curly cable)

Edited by GRLMK38
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Well found - why the one with the "curly" cable - is that some kind of fetish??

 

Seriously is cable length an issue? as I might want longer and for it to be capable of being clipped in place??

 

BUT - I do want the right one and will cope with fitting issues

 

J

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43 minutes ago, GRLMK38 said:

No, that won’t do. The only one that’s regulated is out of stock. Read the seller’s own description where he writes Do not start the engine when powering your router with this cable

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22 minutes ago, WotEver said:

No, that won’t do. The only one that’s regulated is out of stock. Read the seller’s own description where he writes Do not start the engine when powering your router with this cable

I have a B310 and have been powering it from my "12V" supply for over a year with an unregulated supply. It will have had between 11.5V and 15V from time to time, and I have never disconnected it when starting the engine.

 

When I first connected it, it was on a "suck it and see" basis, as I wasn't bothered if it failed - I had a rechargeable Netgear Mifi gizmo to fall back on - I've been sucking ever since, and all has been fine.

 

I'm not saying that an unregulated supply will do no harm, merely that my unregulated supply has not harmed my B310.

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13 minutes ago, Richard10002 said:

I'm not saying that an unregulated supply will do no harm, merely that my unregulated supply has not harmed my B310.

And that there is the problem. It’s quite possible that an unregulated supply will be just fine, but it’s equally as possible that it won’t be. Whereas it will definitely be fine with a regulated supply. You pays yer money and takes yer chance. 

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48 minutes ago, Halsey said:

Well found - why the one with the "curly" cable - is that some kind of fetish??

 

Seriously is cable length an issue? as I might want longer and for it to be capable of being clipped in place??

 

BUT - I do want the right one and will cope with fitting issues

 

J

The curly one has the correct plug at either end.

 

The comment from @WotEver above about regulation is factually correct and if you go this route you will need a 5.5 x 2.1 plug which is wired as "centre positive" and a suitable fuse to protect the converter.  Alternatively, if you take @Richard10002 's experience then this would be an alternative to the cable https://www.amazon.co.uk/power-adaptor-cable-5-5mm-2-1mm/dp/B00NP29SNK . @WotEver 's approach has the lowest risk from damaging the router but also requires some wiring skills ?  Keep an eye on Ebay lead times, most of this stuff is despatched from Asia and can take 2-3 weeks.  The location information will tell you whether it is UK despatch or not.

2 minutes ago, WotEver said:

And that there is the problem. It’s quite possible that an unregulated supply will be just fine, but it’s equally as possible that it won’t be. Whereas it will definitely be fine with a regulated supply. You pays yer money and takes yer chance. 

^^^^^^ J- it comes down to your appetite for risk

Edited by GRLMK38
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