External Dongle ariel

[GreenDuck]

Hello I use a ee4g dongle for Internet and wondering if anyone is using one with an external ariel plugged into it?

I've been in a weak spot for reception this week and found it to be annoying!

[b0atman]

Why not use an extension cable and put outside on pole or some such when in bad areas .I have mine hanging in window but sometimes have had to move it to opposite window.

[GreenDuck]

Why not use an extension cable and put outside on pole or some such when in bad areas .I have mine hanging in window but sometimes have had to move it to opposite window.

Like an extra long usb cable?

I think I would have to put it in a plastic box to protect it from the rain though!

[Jerra]

Like an extra long usb cable?

I think I would have to put it in a plastic box to protect it from the rain though!

My wife used a long USB cable and wrapped the dongle in a plastic bag always ensuring the taped up way in was downwards.

[ditchcrawler]

I use to have mine stuffed up into a plastic milk bottle

[Justme]

If its 4g you need a twin connector type.

[bottle]

You do not but possibly it would future proof it.

 

It depends on the dongle and what your ISP provides. whether they use MiMo (Multi in Multi out) or not.

[DaveR]

Careful cutting and drilling of a clip box has my 4g dongle outside on a 1m pole. It is dry inside but as usual, last time I checked a spider had moved in!

[Southern Star]

My wife used a long USB cable and wrapped the dongle in a plastic bag always ensuring the taped up way in was downwards.

That's what I do, USB extension cable with the dongle in the cut-off corner of a carrier bag secured with elastic bands and positioned as far away from the boat as possible.

[RichM]

It depends exactly what you're referring to. If it's a 4G dongle then it will be problematic or at least more hassle on the boat unless you go to lengths with USB cable. (pun intended)

 

If you have a MiFI router on the other hand then you should be OK. I have just attached mine to a porthole and it's held on with velcrow, meaning I can move it around and store it with ease if I need to, though usually I can get a 4G signal wherever I am on the canal without having to move it around.

 

This is the one I use
http://consumer.huawei.com/uk/mobile-broadband/mobile-wifi/features/e5377-uk.htm

But this will do the job:
http://ee.co.uk/ee-and-me/why-ee/out-and-about/4gee-wifi/

Though maybe not the cigarette lighter one unless you have one of those on your boat?

They are very practical as as they're not intrusive, you just connect to them via WIFI on your laptop/phone/whatever. It runs at 12v normally but also runs on batteries which is ideal if you have a power outage.

Edited December 2, 2015 by Armitage Shanks

[GreenDuck]

Mine is the old car wifi one so you can use 12v with an adapter.

[pearley]

If its 4g you need a twin connector type.

My 4G doesn't. Huawei E5776

Edited December 19, 2015 by pearley

[bottle]

Oh yes it does ('tis the season of panto)

 

If your internet provider uses MiMo (Multi in Multi out) not all of them do.

 

It will work with just one but reception and speed may be better with two.

[pearley]

Oh yes it does ('tis the season of panto)

 

If your internet provider uses MiMo (Multi in Multi out) not all of them do.

 

It will work with just one but reception and speed may be better with two.

Oh no it doesn't cos its only got one socket.

[Richard10002]

You do not but possibly it would future proof it.

 

It depends on the dongle and what your ISP provides. whether they use MiMo (Multi in Multi out) or not.

I don't think any use mimo yet. One connection improved things and my Huawei 5776 only has one connection.

[Opener]

A bit of a late suggestion on this thread but I've been on the roof with a tin of paint recently which leaves the field clear for a photo:

 

 

One of the reported problems with an external ariel always seems to be how accessible/attractive they are to passing scrotes. The ariel shown in the (hopefully) attached photos is epoxy'd to a mushroom over the bathroom with the lead going down through the mushroom into an adjacent cupboard where it links to a home built mifi box. It's fairly unobtrusive, doesn't look very interesting and is securely fixed down anyway so unlikely to be nicked by the casual passer by.

The ariel itself is shown on: http://www.connextech.co.uk/smartdisc-tape-crc9---low-profile-gsm3g-tape-mount-antenna-crc9-660-p.asp -the pic to the right and, I think, it looks reasonably neat despite the disgraceful state of the mushroom (note to self...)

[OldGoat]

Opener, on 03 Sept 2016 - 2:33 PM, said:

A bit of a late suggestion on this thread but I've been on the roof with a tin of paint recently which leaves the field clear for a photo:

 

IMG_2212.JPGIMG_2213.JPG

 

One of the reported problems with an external ariel always seems to be how accessible/attractive they are to passing scrotes. The ariel shown in the (hopefully) attached photos is epoxy'd to a mushroom over the bathroom with the lead going down through the mushroom into an adjacent cupboard where it links to a home built mifi box. It's fairly unobtrusive, doesn't look very interesting and is securely fixed down anyway so unlikely to be nicked by the casual passer by.

The ariel itself is shown on: http://www.connextech.co.uk/smartdisc-tape-crc9---low-profile-gsm3g-tape-mount-antenna-crc9-660-p.asp

-the pic to the right and, I think, it looks reasonably neat despite the disgraceful state of the mushroom (note to self...)

 

 

This might work better -

http://www.connextech.co.uk/smartdisc-tape-crc9---low-profile-gsm3g-tape-mount-antenna-crc9-660-p.asp

 

(the end of the link overlapped with the text and confused the editor.

FWIW It's got a CRC9 connector whereas later MiFi s are 4G wit a TS9 connector and (for me) work better than the 3G versions across both bands.

[johnmck]

I got one of these in the spring. We have been out since April and only once have not had internet.

 

http://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/3G/Fullband-FB4GDOME.html

[valrene9600]

Someone used to put their`s in a condom on a pole outside, could be painful. Not joking it was a fact.

[Larentia]

I recently bought one of these http://www.wifionboard.co.uk/product/magnetic-mount-high-gain-antenna-6db/had to get a new wifi unit as the EE Osprey Mini doesn't have an aerial mount so got the Huawei unit they sell. Signal is better than before but not as good as I thought it would be but the EE signal here isn't good. Having the Huawei inside means I get decent wifi throughout my boat and the battery lasts for ages (though it's now wall mounted near a socket so that doesn't really matter to me).