WiFi Antenna

[JRF0st3r]

Here’s one more small improvement to our ’67 Airstream Safari. “Maggie” serves as part of our Guest Cottage when parked and these days guests expect to have WiFi. Our home has good signal served by fiber-optic but its router is 210 feet from the Guest Cottage.

Our Guest Cottage not only shelters the Airstream but provides a full bathroom, sheltered lounge / dining, generous deck with pergola to shield sun and a storeroom. First we thought of various solutions for extending the range or burying cable but then wife Jane suggested an antenna such as used on boats so that it might also improve WiFi reception at RV parks.

Following recommendations from yachtsman brother-in-law, we bought a Wave WiFi Rogue Pro antenna and a Calissa Offshore Tackle Marine mount with adjustable base. An old Netgear router was found. Also a MSRM repeater was installed in the carport 45 feet from the main router. There are many antenna options but the mount needs to be one that allows cable to be installed with connectors already on both ends and adjustable in both directions. Don’t ask me why I know that.

The antenna, which must be vertical in use and horizontal when traveling, was mounted next to the refrigerator vent so I could reach it from a stepladder and so it enters the trailer in an upper cabinet. AC electrical outlets were added so all could be contained in one space, out of sight.

At this point network speed is 10 MBS which should be OK for basic functions. We will try adding a second repeater at the barn halfway between. Parked where it is, the tip of the antenna has its path to the house obstructed by roof structure so perhaps this will be faster at a future location.
Jim