Wifi outdoor aerial for 3 huawei router .

[Rincewind]

If anyone has ever wondered what is inside those Poynting aerials, now you know!!

 

 

Mine blew over in the wind, smashed against the roof, top cover came off and fell into the canal never to be seen again!

It still works though, even in the rain !!!

[Midnight]

5 hours ago, rusty69 said:

There are a few on ebay, I expect you could find one with 2 day delivery:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354711630746?

 

Yes thanks delivery by Friday - now I need a router. Any suggestions? Especially for an over the counter service running out of time

[Mike Tee]

Huawei B535-333 and delivery tomorrow!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/300Mbps-Unlocked-Networks-Genuine-Warranty/dp/B0815J4LQC

[magnetman]

I managed to avoid aerial and router problems with a 4g camera. It is CCTV for the boat viewable from the phone and it is also a 4g internet hotspot which works really well.  

 

It is a nice tidy item with its own aerials. Mount it up high somewhere. Sends email alerts if needed with humanoid detection in defined areas via the app. 

 

Really good actually. Just put a data sim in it and job done. Waterproof item. Runs on free app called CamHi. 

 

Very small package and not all that conspicuous. Good for a bird box as long as the birds can't get in. Needs 12v wiring obviously. 

 

 

£160.  

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313471752716

 

 

 

I don't know how fast it is. 

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by magnetman

[rusty69]

28 minutes ago, Midnight said:

 

Yes thanks delivery by Friday - now I need a router. Any suggestions? Especially for an over the counter service running out of time

Again. Lots on e-bay, if you are not too fussy about which version you want. Make sure it is compatable with your network, or get an unlocked one. I think the b535-235 might be the one with the RJ11 if you want to connect a telephone handset. Not many of these on e-nay at the moment.

 

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284977216277?

[matty40s]

5 hours ago, Rob-M said:

Find a handy Amazon locker on your route and have it delivered there, we've done that a few times now when out cruising and needing something delivered.

Or a friendly boatyard...

[Midnight]

All sorted thanks to Matty40s

[Greg & Jax]

Hi all .

We now have a poynting xpol-a0001. 

Just got to sort a small pole out and we should be sorted . 

Will update as we go along .

Thankyou all  for the pointers .

[Rob-M]

4 hours ago, Greg & Jax said:

Hi all .

We now have a poynting xpol-a0001. 

Just got to sort a small pole out and we should be sorted . 

Will update as we go along .

Thankyou all  for the pointers .

We have a Kuma magnetic pole, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnetic-Mounting-Antennas-Caravans-Motorhomes-Black/dp/B019H5V9LW/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=5QJW1D5L5ZJM&keywords=magnetic+pole+mount&qid=1681422775&sprefix=magnetic+pol%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-4

[TandC]

Just to hop on this thread....   we have the EE 5G data sim in the standard supplied router, but this doesnt have any sockets for antennas. 

 

Any recommendations for a good router which can switch between 4g and 5g and to which we can attach an antenna - or even attach one 4g and one 5g antenna - i am not really sure how these work?

 

Do we need two antenna - one for 4g, one for 5g? - are they totally different hardware...  can you have the 4g plugged into the 4g antenna socket and a 5g one plugged into the 5g socket?

 

Thanks 

[Greg & Jax]

Thanks Rob m .

for the heads up on the pole .

TnC .

From my understanding you can get a 5 g aerial and its backwards compatible.  

.

[IanD]

2 hours ago, TandC said:

Just to hop on this thread....   we have the EE 5G data sim in the standard supplied router, but this doesnt have any sockets for antennas. 

 

Any recommendations for a good router which can switch between 4g and 5g and to which we can attach an antenna - or even attach one 4g and one 5g antenna - i am not really sure how these work?

 

Do we need two antenna - one for 4g, one for 5g? - are they totally different hardware...  can you have the 4g plugged into the 4g antenna socket and a 5g one plugged into the 5g socket?

 

Thanks 

 

The antenna you will need will depend on which router you choose -- assuming it has external antenna connectors, which many don't, and how they are connected. 5G routers do cost more than 4G ones, they're newer and choice is more limited, see here:

 

https://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/product-category/4g-routers/

https://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/product-category/5g-routers/

 

Most modern 5G routers have 2 external connectors (2x2 MIMO), and both these are used for both 4G and 5G bands so you need to buy an antenna which covers both, such as these:

 

https://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/product-category/5g-antennas/2x2-mimo-5g-antennas/

 

These ones from Poynting are a popular choice for boats -- an omnidirectional one means you don't have to swivel it round to point at the nearest mast, a directional one has more gain (better reception) but needs adjusting every time you move the boat.

 

https://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/product/poynting-xpol-1-5g-omni-2x2-mimo-4g-5g-antenna/

https://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/product/poynting-xpol-2-5g-directional-antenna/

 

This is what most people do. Some newer routers have 4 connectors (4x4 MIMO) also used for both bands these (and the antennas) are more expensive but can give better performance, such as these:

 

https://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/product-category/5g-antennas/4x4-mimo-5g-antennas/

 

This one from Poynting (omnirectional) is a popular choice for boats:

 

https://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/product/poynting-xpol-1-5g-omni-4x4-mimo-4g-5g-antenna/

 

Beware that some older 4G/5G routers have 4 antenna connectors but 2 are for 4G and 2 are for 5G, this means you need 2 2x2 MIMO antennae (or one 4x4 MIMO one) but don't get the better performance.

 

Your first choice is depending how much you want to spend, then this will tell you what your options are.

 

BTW there may well be other cheaper sources than the one I quoted from, I've only used them because they have a wide range of kit which is easy to search through 🙂

 

Edited April 14, 2023 by IanD

[TandC]

thanks IanD that's load to look at - I had also found 3grouterstore-  Thankyou

[Greg & Jax]

Thanks IanD .

Great bit of info on the WiFi .

 

[Midnight]

Huawei B535 router on O2 switched on today and already a strong wifi signal inside the boat and I haven't yet connected the Poynting aerial. All looking good for this year's cruise.

[Puffling]

14 hours ago, Midnight said:

Huawei B535 router on O2 switched on today and already a strong wifi signal inside the boat and I haven't yet connected the Poynting aerial. All looking good for this year's cruise.

Happy to hear it's an improvement for you. You'd never want to go back to hanging your phone in the window as a WiFi source after using a proper modem (router) for a day, would you?

The Poynting sitting inside the boat should improve the signal slightly but the best fringe reception is with it on a pole outside. 

The admin controls on the Huawei (via http://192.168.8.1/html/index.html) are a good place to begin. It'll probably need a firmware update. I found it helpful to play around with setting the 'antenna connection' to auto or external for best results.

If needed, you can also send and receive SMS from within the same admin screen. Helpful if you need to recover a text code for some logon.

[Mike Tee]

4 hours ago, Puffling said:

Happy to hear it's an improvement for you. You'd never want to go back to hanging your phone in the window as a WiFi source after using a proper modem (router) for a day, would you?

The Poynting sitting inside the boat should improve the signal slightly but the best fringe reception is with it on a pole outside. 

The admin controls on the Huawei (via http://192.168.8.1/html/index.html) are a good place to begin. It'll probably need a firmware update. I found it helpful to play around with setting the 'antenna connection' to auto or external for best results.

If needed, you can also send and receive SMS from within the same admin screen. Helpful if you need to recover a text code for some logon.

Can’t find the ‘antenna connection’ in the admin controls - can you point me in the right area to find it please?

[GUMPY]

If you leave it at it's factory setting. Auto when you power it up after a change of antenna it sorts itself out.

[blackrose]

On 12/04/2023 at 15:57, magnetman said:

I managed to avoid aerial and router problems with a 4g camera. It is CCTV for the boat viewable from the phone and it is also a 4g internet hotspot which works really well.  

 

It is a nice tidy item with its own aerials. Mount it up high somewhere. Sends email alerts if needed with humanoid detection in defined areas via the app. 

 

Really good actually. Just put a data sim in it and job done. Waterproof item. Runs on free app called CamHi. 

 

Very small package and not all that conspicuous. Good for a bird box as long as the birds can't get in. Needs 12v wiring obviously. 

 

 

£160.  

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313471752716

 

 

 

I don't know how fast it is. 

 

 

I realise it might make the owners feel more secure, but I hate the growing trend for CCTV cameras on boats. It feels like the paranoid atmosphere of the town centre has moved along the waterways and embedded itself on river and canal banks. 

 

 

[Puffling]

5 hours ago, Mike Tee said:

Can’t find the ‘antenna connection’ in the admin controls - can you point me in the right area to find it please?

Go to Advanced -->System -->System settings

...as shown.

 

 

 

 

 

[Mike Tee]

^^^^ thanks will give it a go

[LadyG]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone uses the Poyntin with suckers on the window with success on a narrowboat?

Also I'm currently using a huwei mifi which has a battery, and it gets too hot for my liking so I want to get a Huawei router B535 232 which connects to USB. They seem to be sold with a 240v plug.

I have not yet found a stabiliser with the usb connector..

I can get a second hand router and 4g poyntin for £50 on Ebay, looks like a no brainer. Can I power it without using inverter?

Edited June 23 by LadyG

[booke23]

25 minutes ago, LadyG said:

 

I want to get a Huawei router B535 232 which connects to USB.

 

That's not going to be possible....they require 12v, so you have to either run your inverter and use the supplied 240v transformer or rig it up a regulated 12v power supply. USB only supplies 5v so it won't power the B535 even if you get someone to make up a cable. 

 

Edit to add: If you do get a B535 you will probably get just as good performance by mounting the router itself in the window rather than going to the expense of buying a Poyntin antenna and mounting that in the window. It's only worth getting the Poyntin if you are going to mount it outside IMO.   

25 minutes ago, LadyG said:

I can get a second hand router and 4g poyntin for £50 on Ebay, looks like a no brainer. Can I power it without using inverter?

 

Certainly. But it needs to go through a 12v DC-DC regulator like this. It needs a regulated 12v supply and will probably get destroyed if exposed to the voltages that a narrowboat charging system produces (14v+).  

Edited June 23 by booke23

[GUMPY]

If you have a decent 2amp usb socket then it's possible to get 12v from usb to run the router.

YOKIVE DC 5V to DC 12V USB Step Up Voltage Converter, Power Cable with DC Jack 5.5mm x 2.1mm, Great for Routers,Camera, Car Driving Recorder (Black, 9W 2A) https://amzn.eu/d/01N6us8b

 

I used one on my Huawei B818 before I hard wired in a regulator.

[jonathanA]

On 23/06/2024 at 10:53, booke23 said:

 

That's not going to be possible....they require 12v, so you have to either run your inverter and use the supplied 240v transformer or rig it up a regulated 12v power supply. USB only supplies 5v so it won't power the B535 even if you get someone to make up a cable. 

 

Edit to add: If you do get a B535 you will probably get just as good performance by mounting the router itself in the window rather than going to the expense of buying a Poyntin antenna and mounting that in the window. It's only worth getting the Poyntin if you are going to mount it outside IMO.   

 

Certainly. But it needs to go through a 12v DC-DC regulator like this. It needs a regulated 12v supply and will probably get destroyed if exposed to the voltages that a narrowboat charging system produces (14v+).  

I run a 535 directly off my boat 12v system and despite the scaremongers telling me that my boat, family and all my worldly possessions would spontaneously combust - that hasn't happened.  A lot of those folks are just repeating what they've been told and in fairness it's a well understood point that boat 12v systems can be anything fron 11v to 16v in some circumstances. 

 

It's a personal choice whether you consider the cost of a 12v stabilised power supply to protect your router is worthwhile or not. Certainly you could risk it while you wait for one in my experience. Depends whether you want to risk having to buy a another router if it doesn't like your boats electricity...  

 

AFAIK the 535 power connector is a DC barrel connector, although IIRC its not the usual 2.1mm version but a bit smaller.