T&T: WiFi Antenna

[Chester Brummett]

A little late to add my 2 cents to this thread, been out of town.



I purchased a Radio Labs Wifi antenna - transceiver system a year and a half
ago.  Used it for two trips from Daytona Beach down the waterway to Miami, and
through the Bahamas.  In most of the Bahamas (Nassau, most of Exuma, and
Abaco's) WiFi is available.  Cost ranges from some free sites, some at $10 per
day; in Georgetown, Exuma $15 per week, and Abaco using Out Island Internet is
$40 per week.  In Florida, the Yacht Clubs that I used had free wifi.



The Radio Labs system that I ordered was custom, with a 12 dBi antenna
(standard unit has 8 dBi antenna).  System has worked fairly well, does give
me communication, up to 1 nm from hot spot.



http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/wireless-marine-antenna.php



this year, anchored near a fellow T&T member, Mike Danforth (Defever 52,
Steffi Ann).  He had a system by Wave Wifi (Wave HP), that far outperformed
the radio labs system.  He was picking up hot spots at more than twice the
distance that I could get them.



Wave WiFi site:  http://www.wavewifi.com/wavewifi_products.pdf



these spec's indicate a 25 dB improvement in receive sensitivity and approx 12
dB improvement in transmit power, comparing the radio labs spec and the Wave
HP.



Transceiver is in a waterproof box mounted away from the antenna, using LMR
cable with type N connectors to the antenna (approx 10 - 15 feet).



High Price for the Wave HP, see following site for price:
http://www.marinecomputer.com/products.php?cat=35



Talking with a technician from Out Island Internet (Abaco), he recommended a
system by Engenius, was installing them on boats as a side business.



I am still looking into an upgrade, but was not planning to spend the kind of
money that is asked for the Wave HP.



Chet

DeFever 44+5, Cygnet

Daytona Beach, FL