Triss48 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 It has always bugged me when in a city that I can't make use of hotspots such as the Cloud or BTOpenzone largely I guess because I can't get a strong enough signal inside the boat. Anybody with experience of booster systems using an external aerial and an internal box to transmit inside the boat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 I have got an external wifi adapter for picking up the marina wifi, like one of these. Inside the boat the laptops internal wifi will barely get any signal and certainly not a usable one, with the external adapter on the roof it gets 5 bars. There are repeater solutions, but when I looked I could not find one at a good price so went with the cheap compromise of the external wifi adapter for the laptop as I don't use it that much. If you want to, you can then use a software solution to use the external adapter in conjunction with the laptop's internal wifi as a repeater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 I have just been trying a Solwise external aerial and so far results are impressive. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140971138620?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D140971138620%26_rdc%3D1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triss48 Posted December 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Thanks for this. As I use a MacBook I will have to check that I can use a USB socket for the connection rather than the wireless receiver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 I have just been trying a Solwise external aerial and so far results are impressive. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140971138620?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D140971138620%26_rdc%3D1 That is not an external aerial, it is a external adapter, like the one I linked to except that one uses an omni directional antenna rather than a directional one. I would very much doubt that there are any laptops that have an aerial socket on the built in adapter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Thanks for this. As I use a MacBook I will have to check that I can use a USB socket for the connection rather than the wireless receiver. I dont think so, but I think you can connect it to a wirless router Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 (edited) Thanks for this. As I use a MacBook I will have to check that I can use a USB socket for the connection rather than the wireless receiver. You would need one that has drivers for a Mac. Look at what the chipset is of the adapter that you are going to buy. For example the one I have is RaLink 3070 which I think a lot of the cheap Chineese ones use. A Google search does indeed show that there are Mac drivers for that chip set. Disclaimer, I know nothing about Macs! Edited to add, the one I bought does actually come with Mac drivers, it is this one Edited December 11, 2013 by john6767 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil. Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 Solwise.co.uk in addition to doing external wifi antennas do a USB wifi repeater that creates a hotspot in the boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesla Posted December 11, 2013 Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 It has always bugged me when in a city that I can't make use of hotspots such as the Cloud or BTOpenzone largely I guess because I can't get a strong enough signal inside the boat. Anybody with experience of booster systems using an external aerial and an internal box to transmit inside the boat? I posted recently on how I overcame this - http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=62001&hl=wifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
by'eck Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 It has always bugged me when in a city that I can't make use of hotspots such as the Cloud or BTOpenzone largely I guess because I can't get a strong enough signal inside the boat. Anybody with experience of booster systems using an external aerial and an internal box to transmit inside the boat? I posted recently on how I overcame this - http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=62001&hl=wifi Specifically in above thread look here. There is little to beat a NanoStation feeding an internal WiFi router. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelicanafloat Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 We have this on our boat. It makes you scratch your head remembering how to set it up but once done it works perfectly, and the supplier very helpful... URL: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=271100297327 Alt URL: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antenna-2-4Ghz-Panel-Wifi-Signal-Receiver-Share-cable-2x-TechnicLan-Boat-/271100297327 Not sure which one if any will work till posted, so maybe return and edit..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottle Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Limited to: "Directional Antenna, a client designed to work in the frequency range of 2.4GHz (IEEE 802.11b / g) working in a horizontal or vertical polarization" So not any good if you are using 802.11 n (unless you have fall back) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelicanafloat Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Well it does list that under the supported protocols. I contacted the supplier before buying anything, and that arrangement is what he came up with. If you had a particular issue needing to be covered I would imagine he would try to assist. Worked ok for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottle Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Then he needs to check his advert, the above is a direct copy/paste from the ebay site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Trouble is with a directional areal you need to know where to point it. I stopped at The Boat, Napton and picked up Calcutt marina but its password protected. At Willoughby I couldn't see a house but got a BT hotspot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileypete Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 (edited) Also the price of some of these solutions would buy a fair bit of PAYG data on 3G. Budget solution could be a cheap but still decent panel antenna from Asia through Ebay, a router with universal repeater mode and 2 plug in 'stick' antennas, and a DC regulator to run the router off the batts. ETA: Of course there's also the good old USB dongle, plastic box and long lead solution. Half the battle for getting good range is getting the antenna outside and away from the boat. cheers, Pete. ~smpt~ Edited December 12, 2013 by smileypete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettie Boo Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 (edited) Also the price of some of these solutions would buy a fair bit of PAYG data on 3G. Budget solution could be a cheap but still decent panel antenna from Asia through Ebay, a router with universal repeater mode and 2 plug in 'stick' antennas, and a DC regulator to run the router off the batts. ETA: Of course there's also the good old USB dongle, plastic box and long lead solution. Half the battle for getting good range is getting the antenna outside and away from the boat. cheers, Pete. ~smpt~ Ok....two really relevant threads I'm currently following.....this one and the one about washing machine's and power supply. Although I love all my gadgets and intend on having most of them with us when we move aboard (in about 30 days!!! ), I'm not a techie person in understanding how to make them work, so if all reply's could be in non-techie terms I would most graciously appreciate it..... planning to take on board......2 x kindals, 40" flat screen HD tv saloon, 20" flat screen tv main bedroom, 2 IPODS, 1 IPhone & a Sat Nav, lappy & full size pc. I have a USB dongle. What else will we need to ensure they all work as far as antenna's or internet are concerned? We are CC's so no marina hook up for internet or tv reception. How much of the above quote would be pertinent to our situation? All relevant suggestions welcomed Edited to add......I still haven't figured out what ETA is???? (other than Estimated Time of Arrival), and I'm pretty sure that doesn't work in the above quote Ta B~ Edited December 12, 2013 by Bettie Boo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 A Ok....two really relevant threads I'm currently following.....this one and the one about washing machine's and power supply. Although I love all my gadgets and intend on having most of them with us when we move aboard (in about 30 days!!! ), I'm not a techie person in understanding how to make them work, so if all reply's could be in non-techie terms I would most graciously appreciate it..... planning to take on board......2 x kindals, 40" flat screen HD tv saloon, 20" flat screen tv main bedroom, 2 IPODS, 1 IPhone & a Sat Nav, lappy & full size pc. I have a USB dongle. What else will we need to ensure they all work as far as antenna's or internet are concerned? We are CC's so no marina hook up for internet or tv reception. All relevant suggestions welcomed Ta B~ A butty with great big generator in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nb Innisfree Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Ok....two really relevant threads I'm currently following.....this one and the one about washing machine's and power supply. Although I love all my gadgets and intend on having most of them with us when we move aboard (in about 30 days!!! ), I'm not a techie person in understanding how to make them work, so if all reply's could be in non-techie terms I would most graciously appreciate it..... planning to take on board......2 x kindals, 40" flat screen HD tv saloon, 20" flat screen tv main bedroom, 2 IPODS, 1 IPhone & a Sat Nav, lappy & full size pc. I have a USB dongle. What else will we need to ensure they all work as far as antenna's or internet are concerned? We are CC's so no marina hook up for internet or tv reception. How much of the above quote would be pertinent to our situation? All relevant suggestions welcomed Edited to add......I still haven't figured out what ETA is???? (other than Estimated Time of Arrival), and I'm pretty sure that doesn't work in the above quote Ta B~ ETA=Edited to add 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettie Boo Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 A A butty with great big generator in it. LOL Thanks DC, obviously we wouldn't be running all that kit at the same time Not overly worried about the power draw, it's more the wifi availability and antenna's I'm looking for info on But I'll mention to Dave we may need a second boat - he'll be thrilled to bits I'm sure LOL B~ ETA=Edited to add a wee greenie for you - I've been overworking my little brain for way too long now trying to figure it out B~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smileypete Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 (edited) Ok....two really relevant threads I'm currently following.....this one and the one about washing machine's and power supply. Although I love all my gadgets and intend on having most of them with us when we move aboard (in about 30 days!!! ), I'm not a techie person in understanding how to make them work, so if all reply's could be in non-techie terms I would most graciously appreciate it..... planning to take on board......2 x kindals, 40" flat screen HD tv saloon, 20" flat screen tv main bedroom, 2 IPODS, 1 IPhone & a Sat Nav, lappy & full size pc. I have a USB dongle. What else will we need to ensure they all work as far as antenna's or internet are concerned? We are CC's so no marina hook up for internet or tv reception. How much of the above quote would be pertinent to our situation? All relevant suggestions welcomed Most in your situation would go for a 'mifi' and monthly data contract with a provider like '3'. The mifi is like a 3G internet dongle and wifi router rolled into one, and creates a wifi hotspot from the 3G data connection for your wireless devices to use. The mifi might come more cheaply or even free if it's bundled with a data contract, though in that case it's usually locked so it can only be used with that provider. Most smart phones these days can use a feature called 'tethering' to similarly create a wifi hotspot, but not all phone contracts allow tethering so best ask (AND check the small print - if getting one for net use ). If you MUST have internet like for freelance work, then a good way to get more availability is with a mifi that has a socket to take an outdoor antenna. Also a mifi that's not locked to a single provider will allow using sims from other providers to be used as a backup if you can't get a signal with your usual one. If going for a contract you need to get one with enough data to meet your usual monthly needs, heavy internet and youtube/iplayer use would need about 5GB-15GB month or even an unlimited contract. Buying a 1GB or 3GB pay as you go sim and seeing how long it lasts will give some idea what your needs are, some contracts might have scope for upgrading downgrading. If your internet use is quite frugal then buying pay as you go data sims might be better than a contract, or there are providers like Samba Mobile, Ovivo that offer 'free' but limited internet. Maybe some of the CCing forum members can chip in with more info (or corrections... ) cheers, Pete. ~smpt~ Edited December 12, 2013 by smileypete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettie Boo Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 hi Pete, Most of that actually made sense to me. Thank you for the clearly written suggestions. I've off to see the lovely ppl at EE tomorrow as I believe my IPhone does somehow act as a kind of dongle as well, just need to find out what the limits of my contract are and if indeed I've got the correct info to begin with. Any other info from CC's would be most appreciated. B~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wirren Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 (edited) Hi B I'm with EE on pay as you go , Text 6 monthweb to 441 & get 6 months internet for a one off £20 It also alows tethering on my iPhone 4S It could be a good back up for you ? Mark Edited December 13, 2013 by wirren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettie Boo Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Great suggestion Mark - thanks B~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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