I need a not too 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.

 

[Mastiff]

Good pooint. How do I get a good cable? I hav never had to think about coax cables for external antennas before.

Edit: Out from the water proof box the USB network card is in I have one of these, drilled through and sealed with lots of hot glue (half the weight of my boat is probably hot glue from my projects...):

WiFi Router Antenna EXTENSION Cable/Lead Wireless RP SMA 30cm SHORT 0.3m | eBay

SKU: 007048 BRAND: kenable EAN: 5055383470488 WEIGHT: 0.013.

www.ebay.co.uk

That's from Kenable cables, which I have had good results with when it comes to audio cables.

I am using this one from the first short cable to the antenna. Should I assume that I need a new one?

Pardon our interruption...

Or would it be better to mount the Puck antenna so close that I only need the 30 cm extension? The box with the USB card is mounted where the blue ring is, on the inside of the roof.

If that is better, I can move that box so that the wifi Puck antenna is mounted on the angled part of the roof close to the DAB antenna (the black one in the middle of the roof). The small front antenna is the sending antenna for the wireless man overboard system that stops the motor if any one of us fall into the drink, but that is 868 MHz so I don't think there's any chance that it can interfere with wifi.

 

[degrub]

posssibly. The cable would have to match the impedence required. What does the spec sheet say for the transmitter and the antenna ?
Does the antenna come with a lead in cable ?
Either way, call the company to confirm what is needed and the limits.

 

[Mastiff]

Both cables are made for wifi, according to the listings. But I think it's hopeless to try to call the manufacturer of anything from Norway, and the seller will not have a clue. Besides I have already ordered the antenna. I guess I'll just have to wing it when I get it. Try with both the short cable into the lead in cable (yes, it has four, two for 5 and 2.4 GHz wifi, one for GPS and one for Bluetooth), and see if the signal changes much when adding the longer extension.

 

[degrub]

Both cables are made for wifi, according to the listings. But I think it's hopeless to try to call the manufacturer of anything from Norway, and the seller will not have a clue. Besides I have already ordered the antenna. I guess I'll just have to wing it when I get it. Try with both the short cable into the lead in cable (yes, it has four, two for 5 and 2.4 GHz wifi, one for GPS and one for Bluetooth), and see if the signal changes much when adding the longer extension.

Probably. Anyway, here is the contact for sales support in Europe, International, and US respectively
sales-europe@poynting.tech
sales-global@poynting.tech
enquire-us@poynting.tech

Please do update us on how it goes for others to learn from .

 

[Mastiff]

Thank you! A bit late when it's bought, but if I have problems I do know where to mail. And I will add a post here when I have tested, but it may take some weeks, I have a ton of projects and three years left until I can retire and use all my time on stuff like this...

 

[degrub]

Good pooint. How do I get a good cable? I hav never had to think about coax cables for external antennas before.

Edit: Out from the water proof box the USB network card is in I have one of these, drilled through and sealed with lots of hot glue (half the weight of my boat is probably hot glue from my projects...):

WiFi Router Antenna EXTENSION Cable/Lead Wireless RP SMA 30cm SHORT 0.3m | eBay

SKU: 007048 BRAND: kenable EAN: 5055383470488 WEIGHT: 0.013.

www.ebay.co.uk

That's from Kenable cables, which I have had good results with when it comes to audio cables.

I am using this one from the first short cable to the antenna. Should I assume that I need a new one?

Pardon our interruption...

Or would it be better to mount the Puck antenna so close that I only need the 30 cm extension? The box with the USB card is mounted where the blue ring is, on the inside of the roof.

View attachment 64247

If that is better, I can move that box so that the wifi Puck antenna is mounted on the angled part of the roof close to the DAB antenna (the black one in the middle of the roof). The small front antenna is the sending antenna for the wireless man overboard system that stops the motor if any one of us fall into the drink, but that is 868 MHz so I don't think there's any chance that it can interfere with wifi.

The shorter the lead in cable from the transmitter to the antenna, the more signal power will be available at the antenna, assuming same cable specs. So, yes, try several spots with whichever lead in cable reaches. Mounting on that support pole for the canopy might help with getting a better angle and reducing blocking of the signal.

 

[degrub]

Thank you! A bit late when it's bought, but if I have problems I do know where to mail. And I will add a post here when I have tested, but it may take some weeks, I have a ton of projects and three years left until I can retire and use all my time on stuff like this...

No worries. My honey do list expanded with retirement, unfortunately

 

[Mastiff]

I can use pole, or I can drill through the roof and put the antenna anywhere I want to up there. The nice thing with having an aluminum boat is that if you mess up, you just leave a short bolt in there, and nobody ever thinks: "What is that doing there?" As for retirement, I have more time than most because then we will live in the cabin, and there's not much for her to make me do there, most is done already. And I don't do gardening or painting.

Btw, as for the prey from this boat, this is a table we had on the third day of Christmas, with some relatives. All the seafood except for the mussles have been caught in our pots.

And our specialty, baked or grilled crawfish with spiced butter (chili, timian and a bunch of other stuff):

 

[degrub]

sweet !
hard work, but worth it !