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Oh No....Internet onboard, again!


johnmck

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I know that this subject has been done to death, but technology marche's on apace and to be honest, bewilders me.

 

Originally, we had a dongle mounted in a box fixed on the roof. This was connected to a router.All good. When the dongle expired, we could not find a replacement easily and so went for a 3 mifi.

 

This has been OK. We moved it about from port to port, or under the Houdini and most of the time got a useable signal. This itself is due for upgrading. I thought that we may as well get something like the Huawei E5377T. This has a better battery than some and has twin aerial ports.

 

I understand that this will accommodate a Mimo aerial with twin leads and so have been doing some delving.

 

The old box on the roof is redundant, but if removed would allow easy access for the cable. This is situated port side and easily reached from the bank. So I wanted something that is low profile so as not to become either a snag point or tempting for Johnny scroat.

 

I prefer the mifi rather than a dedicated router,as we can use it when away from the boat.

 

As to an aerial, well the choice is endless, but given my wish for something low profile that will fit the existing entry, I have found a few at rather eye watering prices! When I can work out which of the low profile models in the below link would be suitable for my needs, I will try to source the cheapest.

 

So, any thoughts or suggestions welcomed.

 

http://www.radio-solutions.co.uk/low-profile-mimo-antenna-lgmm-lpmm-range.html

 

This link is perhaps a little more informative, for those who understand the technicalities!

 

http://www.panorama-antennas.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=67_69&product_id=183

Edited by johnmck
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The link doesn't work, and the site appears to be dead

 

Unless you're going to be doing a helluva lot of streaming - and therefore you should be discouraged......

then you don't need to use both antenna sockets

 

For my modest use (I'm jolly lucky to be able to get any signal), I bought one of these:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151717969515?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

It says it's exterior - but works fine when put in a window. I use it with a 4G mifi router.

It may work if you buy two??

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Well bother me - they're working 'now'

must have been down temporarily - if you believe me....

It's not you. Would not work for me either! Hence the second link. I am technologically challenged. Hence the post...

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How about a quality external antenna with decent downlead and suitable adapter or 'pigtail' to connect to the Mifi.

 

A look at Solwise offerings should give some ideas, avoid the cheapest barrel scrapings on Ebay.

 

Would have thought a single antenna might do in most circumstances, MIMO should help with low signal in built up areas (reflections).

Edited by smileypete
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The FBGDome looks pretty neat. It is pain in the a**e that 3grouters are trade only. However, I'm pretty sure the 'Fullband' range are either made by Westlake Connect Ltd, or at least have some connection with the Fullband antennas - see 4gantenna.co.uk. Would be worthwhile dropping them an email to see if they know of a retail supplier.

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The FBGDome looks pretty neat. It is pain in the a**e that 3grouters are trade only. However, I'm pretty sure the 'Fullband' range are either made by Westlake Connect Ltd, or at least have some connection with the Fullband antennas - see 4gantenna.co.uk. Would be worthwhile dropping them an email to see if they know of a retail supplier.

Sometimes, gentle persistence whilst remaining polite pays off. Having emailed 4grouters and Westlake, the parent company, they gave in. Possibly to get rid of me. But I have a confirmation that the order is in. Result!

 

So that's the Antenna sorted. Next, the Mifi...

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iD (Carphone Warehouse) have the Huwaei 5573 (with twin TS9 antenna ports - so is MiMo) on a rolling 30 day 20G/month FOC online. (iD is on EE)

 

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/broadband/mobile-broadband/buy/huawei-4g-mifi-di103-idcon?intcmp=mbbLP_iD_paym_20pm_201015

 

Don't forget you will need 2x SMA to TS9 adapters like this:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201358514196?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Edited by Pennine
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iD (Carphone Warehouse) have the Huwaei 5573 (with twin TS9 antenna ports - so is MiMo) on a rolling 30 day 20G/month FOC online. (iD is on EE)

 

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/broadband/mobile-broadband/buy/huawei-4g-mifi-di103-idcon?intcmp=mbbLP_iD_paym_20pm_201015

 

Don't forget you will need 2x SMA to TS9 adapters like this:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201358514196?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

iD is the car phone warehouse mobile brand (virtual network operator). It runs on the "Three" network. Not sure if the unit mifi comes unlocked like the "Three" product, but easy enough to get unlock codes. Edited by Eeyore
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Thank you Pennine and Eeyore. I will take a look to see if buying the mifi then getting a sim only deal compares with the Carphone warehouse deal. We currently have a three sim on a rolling 30 day contract.

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  • 1 month later...

Just a quick update for those interested.

 

I am sat on the boat, in Crick, which has always been a black hole for telephony, with full internet!

 

Fitted the aerial, routed the cables and connected the Huawei E5377T, fitted with the EE data sim. No one is more surprised than me that it all works!

 

If it works here, it should be OK anywhere.

 

Well chuffed.

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Just a quick update for those interested.

 

I am sat on the boat, in Crick, which has always been a black hole for telephony, with full internet!

 

Fitted the aerial, routed the cables and connected the Huawei E5377T, fitted with the EE data sim. No one is more surprised than me that it all works!

 

If it works here, it should be OK anywhere.

 

Well chuffed.

 

 

John, could you summarise exactly what you installed, once more? I rather like the sound of the improvement you have gained, and might go down that route myself. Ta.

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Basically, utilising an existing roof aperture, albeit I had to increase the diameter of said ole, I fitted one of these.

 

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

 

Managed, not without some difficulty I should add, to route the cables and then connected to a wall mounted Huawei E5377T mifi. This has the twin aerial ports to suit the cables, when mated with Ts9 connectors. Managed to source a great deal on an EE data only Sim. Connected it all up and blow me, it works a treat!

 

As the mifi is removable, we can take this away and make use of it when required.

 

Believe me, that this actually works, more than surprised this technophobe. The aerial is not at all obtrusive and because it is domed, should neither be a snag point or be a target for unwanted attention.

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Is that mounted flat on the roof with the screwed bit going through the roof?

Yep.

And the mifi.

Apologies for the carp pictures. Believe me, if it works in Crick, it should be great whilst out and about.

post-8360-0-05181400-1458137713_thumb.jpg

post-8360-0-78726700-1458137789_thumb.jpg

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Is that the mifi behind the TV. How is the mifi mounted on the wall?

Hiya.

Got one of these to hold the mifi. I used the cable access for the TV to route the aerial and power cables.

 

http://www.dockem.com/Dockem-Universal-Wall-Mount-p/20003.htm

 

Oops. That's a yank link, but sourced one via Amazon UK.

Edited by johnmck
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