In Slip Wi-Fi Booster?

MonacoMike

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2009
14,721
Indiana lakes and Lake Michigan
Boat Info
2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
Engines
85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
My neighbors 3 skips down have cable internet on their boat and we are welcome to connect to it. Their router is in their cabin. I can connect to it pretty well in the cockpit but very little in the cabin. Is there something I can put on my boat to give me better connection to my phones, pads, and smart TV in the cabin?

MM
 
There are a couple of products. One is the Rogue Wave WiFi antenna that picks up WiFi and let’s you distribute it to an internal router. The mfg claims a seven mile range.

Glomex (of frisbee tv antenna fame) has a new one out that not only does the WiFi booster antenna thing, but also has a SIM card for access to a cellular data service. It is called the Webboat antenna. It’s sort of like the setup being built into new cars to provide a WiFi hot spot in the car.
 
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I like the Bitstorm MJ. Pretty good deal for a stainless jacketed radio with a 1"-14 base. I have no idea about the software, but if your only going to connect up to the 1 station, it will be set and forget. The unlimited N would be a nice addition. If your a handy networking DIY kind of guy, you probably have a lot of the bits around to get this done a few hundred cheaper.

I've used a Ubiquiti bullet and the can be had for under $100, but a marine mount is elusive for that unit. Also you need good networking skills to make it work.
 
That Glomex Webboat looks pretty interesting.....
 
David, when you guys are out on the water on Lanier, can you pick up open wifi besides at Margaritaville? I'd love to have you recommend a setup.
 
Wow, I was not even thinking about permanent mount solutions. Very interesting options. Will the coming 5G render most of these obsolete. I had hoped 5G would solve most of my issues. Was just looking for a device to set in my cockpit to rebroadcast the neighbors signal. Any options there?

MM
 
MM, for three slips down, just get a wireless range extender and you should be able to connect to his router no problem. They are $25 on amazon and just plug into a 110v outlet or power strip.
 
MM, for three slips down, just get a wireless range extender and you should be able to connect to his router no problem. They are $25 on amazon and just plug into a 110v outlet or power strip.
I did this and just sat it on the dash when needed. It is still a line of site issue...so if you can see his boat your good. I bought one at bestbuy so I could easily take it back if it didn't work... below is an example of one

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Wi-F...CV5RFGY8R40EAAXRHDKW&qid=1565191665&s=gateway
 
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Exactly this, or any other fast WiFi signal (marinas, etc.). Keeps me from having to change the connection properties on all of the clients on board (Smart tvs, phones, MFDs, laptops, etc.) whenever we go elsewhere, and it allows me to keep an eye on a Nest cam that I'm hoping to install shortly.
 
So you can connect to the neighbors wifi and use that connection to create your own network?

MM

Yes, that’s how the Rogue works also. Use the Rogue app to connect to your neighbors router using his user id and password. Then Rogue plugs directly into your router via CAT 5 network cable (NetGear, Linksys, etc.). Then you attach all on board devices to YOUR router.

When you go to another marina or port, simply connect Rogue to that WiFi and all of your devices will still work without the need to set up each one individually. It’s very slick and convenient.
 
It worked great! It’s just that a few weeks after I installed it, my marina opened up a private network on the 5ghz band and so I decided to upgrade to a dual-band 5ghz Rogue. Most marinas I’ve run across are 2.4ghz.
 

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