I need a not to expensive 2.4 gHz outdoors omni antenna for my boat - is the Poynting Puck 12 good?

[Mastiff]

I have a Pi in my boat that runs navigation software with an USB network card as the AP card, and with a small antenna up under the roof the signal can every now and then get lost by the tablet in the front. I assume a better antenna will help. But it would have to be waterproof and not rust, of course. Would the Poynting Puck 12 be good for that? Or does anybody have a better suggestion? I have looked at a few Aliexpress options, but I'm afraid that is just wasting my money.

 

[degrub]

Does your tablet's signal have issues when your body is between it and the existing antenna or is this independent of any blocking of the signal path ?
Also, client devices like tablets, phones, laptops, etc generally have the weaker radios so that many times it is the AP that cannot "hear" the client device rather than the client device not able to "hear " the AP.

Orientation of the antenna(s) can affect signal reception.

 

[Mastiff]

Yep, the worst part is when I'm between them. Kind of hard to avoid. I have no problems connecting the tablet to the cabins wifi, which is 50 meters away and about 15 meters higher up and behind a 15 cm wall of wood and insulation. But the cabin's wifi is not there when I'm out fishing, of course. This is the tablet in the front:

The current antenna is here, I think it may be better to have it above the roof, so it can angle above most of my rather husky body to the tablet:

 

[degrub]

You might want to draw a scaled sketch with your body geometry and the tablet positions to see if there IS a line of sight between possible antenna positions on/above/side of the canopy since the two antennas will need line of sight as much as possible.
Since it appears you would be standing immediately in front of the tablet, i'm not sure how much improvement would be possible. Offsetting both to one side might be a workable possibility. Otherwise, running a communications line to the front console might be the only "solution".

What do you hunt with that rig, if i may ask ?

 

[Mastiff]

I have ESP32's in the rear that needs the signal too, so I can't really move it upfront, I'm afraid. And the top and front of the roof is probably high enough to at least make it better, so only my head would be in the way. Do you have any suggestions about the antenna?

And I fish for crawfish, lobster, crabs and fish with pots, and I do a bit of deep sea fishing in the summer, when the weather is good and the beer is cold. My wife does most of the driving when we do the pots, while I watch the pots and line. The shute on this side of the boat is where we put the pots when we drive them out.

 

[degrub]

i don't have direct knowledge for this environment other than i used to fish in the bays of Texas with a small boat. No electronics though. Salt spray corrosion and heat were always the issue. Had to completely rewire the motor and controls once.

Looking at the specs for that antenna, it looks reasonable to me. Keep the coax lead wire as short as practical. You could mock up on land with cheap coax to see what you can get away with for the distance and coax length. i would contact the company to see what they advise on the installation for your case.

Any other folks in the community using something similar ?

 

[Mastiff]

Thank you, I'll try to order that one, then. And no, I don't know anybody who does the crazy automation stuff I do. I have eight ESP32's controlling just about evertyhing.

 

[Analog-1]

Keep in mind what coaxal cable you use. 2.4 Ghz has huge loss running through coax cable. You may have no power left after running through the coax to the antenna.