Wifi signal booster

[ncitro]

Can someone guide me to what I would need? We have property where we camp and our friend has a home 1/2 mile from our lot. They offered us connection to their WiFi.

What hardware would I need exactly? We have power at our site and we can mount antenna on the temp power pole or on a pole attached to our ladder.

I also have a Verizon MiFi that we use for a local WiFi network in the trailer.

Thanks in advance.

I'd recommend two of the nano stations configured to function as a WiFi bridge between the sites. You could try just one on your rig, but I think you'd be better off with two. I've seen this done to connect between two buildings and it seemed to work well.

Fair warning the configuration was not for the faint of heart. I'd recommend a strong IT background or lots of patience.

[DaveMatthewsBand]

Can someone guide me to what I would need? We have property where we camp and our friend has a home 1/2 mile from our lot. They offered us connection to their WiFi.

What hardware would I need exactly? We have power at our site and we can mount antenna on the temp power pole or on a pole attached to our ladder.

I also have a Verizon MiFi that we use for a local WiFi network in the trailer.

Thanks in advance.

For a distance of only 1/2 mile you don't need a bridge, unless there are a lot of obstructions (thick forest or tall buildings) or a drastic elevation change.
I'm that far from an AP right now, and I'm shooting through about 300 yards of forest with no problems.
It's also a lot more to configure, plus setting up 2 of these in a bridge means your neighbor would need to get involved, since one antenna would have to be connected to his system at his home.
With just one of these, simply aim it at your neighbor's access point and use his login credentials.
But like we've mentioned, this isn't a device the typical consumer will be able to setup, it is not a box you mount then turn on, these radios are meant to be professionally installed, it even says that on the box and literature and website.

But, to answer your question, aside from a firm grasp and experience with networking, there's not much equipment, you'll just need the Nano and a wireless router, and 2 lengths of CAT5.

Ubiquiti Nanostation M2

[howson]

...consider getting a Unifi NanoRanger M2...

All I can find is an item called a NanoStation. https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Nano.../dp/B00HXT8K4O The NanoStation is also referenced later in your original post.

Is "Nano Ranger" a typo or am I missing something?

[boyscout]

I purchased the Ubiquiti Nano M2 for $89 on Amazon a couple days ago and installed the antenna today.

Thanks for this.

Amazon's description says that the M2 "works with any suitable antenna". I can't see an external antenna in your photo... is one needed or is it internal?

Do you just clamp your pole to your ladder oriented where you need it, or something fancier?

Which Weboost do you have? I want your crosstalk problem! :-)

We've been using the 4G-X RV, on which the internal antenna is so weak there's almost no chance of crosstalk. We have to have devices within a foot or so of the internal antenna to get benefit from it. It works great as a system serving just a desktop but we want more coverage; at least the interior of the trailer.

Wilson has more-powerful products, but I'm wondering if crosstalk problems using them would be hard to surmount in a 35-foot trailer.

Thanks in advance.

[ncitro]

I use the nanostation as my external antenna. There is a pole mount available for it that you can use, for now I suction cup it to the window. I thought the RV came with a more powerful internal antenna so I had been avoiding it. I can see where having good boosted LTE inside the rig and avoiding crosstalk could be a struggle for sure. My system seems like it should avoid that (just relying on wifi in the rig) but does require a permanent MiFi in the rig, and its own Verizon line.

[DaveMatthewsBand]

See answers below

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Quote:
Thanks for this.
Amazon's description says that the M2 "works with any suitable antenna".
I can't see an external antenna in your photo... is one needed or is it internal?
The M2 is an antenna. I think that is a misprint on their part. The M2 is the white thing here:

Attachment 14215

Do you just clamp your pole to your ladder oriented where you need it, or something fancier?
Yes. I have a piece of 1.5" PVC as a base, which is zip-tied to the ladder.
Then an 8' long 3/4" aluminium pole that slides inside that, onto which I mounted the Weboost external antenna and the M2.
Using this setup, I can raise the inner pole to where both antennae are about 4 feet above all roof obstructions.

Which Weboost do you have? I want your crosstalk problem! :-)
Same as yours. See my photo above in post #26 showing separation of external and internal Weboost antennae.

We've been using the 4G-X RV...

[DaveMatthewsBand]

We moved to a new location today.
We're sitting about a 1000 yards from the Quinault Casino in a big parking lot.
Apparently they have no AP's outside, all are inside the building.
Using the M2 browser I can see about 25 AP's but there is so much noise that once I'm locked on I'm only getting about 1dn/2up.

Attachment 14216

But, my Verizon hotspot is getting 2dn/4up and my DW's T-mobile is getting 30dn/10up! Holy Toledo!

So we'll just stick with that for the week we're here!

[boyscout]

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Which Weboost do you have? I want your crosstalk problem! :-)
Same as yours. See my photo above in post #26 showing separation of external and internal Weboost antennae.

Thanks for the reply, but that's a surprise. We usually had the internal antenna on the desk at the back of the 320MKS, less than five feet from the antenna mounted on the ladder above it, and never had a problem, maybe because it was almost directly beneath the outdoor antenna. However occasionally we'd have the internal antenna on the dining table, still only about nine feet from the external antenna and likely within its radiation pattern, but the device never indicated any crosstalk.

What kind of range do you get from the internal antenna? It sounds as though yours is putting out more than ours is.

[DaveMatthewsBand]

We only use the Weboost for hotspots which sit 6 inches away.

But I haven’t mentioned having any cross talk.

Also, the Weboost is a cell signal amplifier, not WiFi.


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[bogen2]

Can someone guide me to what I would need? We have property where we camp and our friend has a home 1/2 mile from our lot. They offered us connection to their WiFi.

What hardware would I need exactly? We have power at our site and we can mount antenna on the temp power pole or on a pole attached to our ladder

All you should need is an antenna on your end. I did this project recently and it can be done by someone with a basic understanding of wifi networks, some research and patience. Here is a link to the description of my antenna install.

https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...m-WiFi-antenna

Bob