I’m ready to order a RUTX50 to install on my boat. The best place for the (external) 4x4 antenna is right at the back of the boat, and there’s a locker directly beneath that will allow me to keep the antenna cables short to minimise losses.
I’m confused however as to what the WiFi antenna connections on the router do. Are they for the purpose of connecting an external antenna to pull nearby WiFi signals IN, or are they for internal antennas to transmit the WiFi signal OUT (around the boat in my case) for the wireless devices to connect onto?
WiFi provides 2-way comms between any local WiFi enabled device. There are also all in one antennas made for the RUTX50 which provided 4Cell, 2WiFi and 1 GPS, something like a PR1KC640
The RUTX range does not have internal antennas and the device comes with two small free-standing WiFi antennas (for indoor use), as standard. These connect to the two SMA ports you have seen on the back of the device.
Nearly all of the marine implementations I’ve seen, have antennas installed externally and their typical useage, have been to:
improve GPS, mobile and WiFi transmit / receive signal strengths
utilise Marina WiFi hotspots, where available
Teltonika do their own range, and other popular manufacturers are Poynting and QuWireless.
My concern about cabling the WiFi antenna connections to an antenna on the roof is that the antenna will be around 40ft away (and 10ft higher) from where the WiFi devices are used, which I’m thinking could compromise the WiFi signal inside the boat. If I use the small indoor antennas packaged with router, I could place them further forward in the boat where the devices are, even if that means using SMA extension cables?
We rarely land in marinas, and when we do the WiFi service is generally subscription based for its berth-holders, so I’m happy to get whatever service I can from the 4G / 5G network and create the best WiFi network I can inside the boat.
Does this sound ok?
BW
Steve
As with most things WiFi, it’s very often ‘suck it and see’ as factors such as construction, line-of-sight and interference come into play. If you do use SMA extentions, be mindful that additional ‘losses’ are being introduced, so keep extentions as short as possible.
I’m assuming that you are restricted to 12 - 24 - 32 volts, and if you’re struggling with the above, then …
If you’re restricted to 12 volts, then you could install a domestic Access point connected to the RUTX via an ethernet cable. Expect the power requirement of a single AP to be up to 12v @ 1 amp, depending on manufacturer / model.
If you’re 24v, then there are also AP’s / Extenders / Repeaters that I’ve seen on larger craft although, I have no experience of these.