WiFi booster - yet another thread :)

[Lou_tribal]

Hello,
I was seeking for a WiFi booster and antenna to install on my boat in order to get a better wifi reception at the marina but also to be able (maybe) to get connected to some nearby hotspot at the anchor. After some research I just ordered a Mikrotik Metal a52 and a Mikrotik router. What I like of this model is that the router is able to run directly on 12v without the need of any conversion. Also the metal model looks sturdy and solid.

Anybody has any experience with it?

Read that the setup is not the easiest, any comment/advise?

Regards,

L.

 

[djones44]

Hello,
I was seeking for a WiFi booster and antenna to install on my boat in order to get a better wifi reception at the marina but also to be able (maybe) to get connected to some nearby hotspot at the anchor. After some research I just ordered a Mikrotik Metal a52 and a Mikrotik router. What I like of this model is that the router is able to run directly on 12v without the need of any conversion. Also the metal model looks sturdy and solid. Anybody has any experience with it? Read that the setup is not the easiest, any comment/advise?
L.

I'm wrestling with a limpid marina signal myself, and wasted money on a Linksys dual router, not really knowing what I need.

My next step is to order a Bylink repeater from Aliexpress, thinking that it has a strong directional antenna which I can point right at the Shaw hotspot, and do the same at any wified marina.

Needs 110V but I have a genset, not afraid to use it, and I'm using a cellular iPhone personal hotspot for connectivity away from the dock. Hold the porno.

Nobody rides for free, but you can't blame a young boy for trying.

 

[twistedtree]

I have a Microtik Groove, supplied by Island Time. It works well, though the user interface is on the techie side. But once you know what to do, it's not bad.

 

[Lou_tribal]

I have a Microtik Groove, supplied by Island Time. It works well, though the user interface is on the techie side. But once you know what to do, it's not bad.

Software is the same for Groove and Metal. When I will receive mine don't mind me if I ask you few questions

But don't worry any answer will get you wine mile points so if you come by Rideau waterway, Ottawa river or any near place you will be able to get free drink with us

 

[twistedtree]

Software is the same for Groove and Metal. When I will receive mine don't mind me if I ask you few questions

But don't worry any answer will get you wine mile points so if you come by Rideau waterway, Ottawa river or any near place you will be able to get free drink with us

Happy to help.

 

[Lou_tribal]

Happy to help.

Thank you so much! Should receive the gear in one week or so, will keep you posted about my config progress

 

[Jeffrey S]

Software is the same for Groove and Metal. When I will receive mine don't mind me if I ask you few questions

This is the exact reason why WiFi hardware should be purchased from Island Time PC.

Twisted bought his there. He's a technical guy, like me, but I doubt either of us can get into the weeds of these WiFi devices today. They are all little Linux computers with a myriad of configuration parameters. I have a grasp on about 25% of it.

Island Time pre-sets all the devices for everything you get from them. They provide simple installation and use sheets with the device so you can use them immediately. Then if anything goes wrong in the future, Bob is there waiting to provide exceptional tech support and help.

Island Time adds a little to the price of the devices but it is well worth the cost. After helping hundreds of people with WiFi, I'd strongly suggest that you return whatever you purchased and buy the Island Time product. The "metal" product you purchased is not the same thing as Twisted's Groove.

If you purchased a Rogue Wave product (which I suspect you might have), then it will be preset and ready for use. They'll provide tech support too and the product is pretty good. It's just significantly more expensive than something equivalent from Island Time.

 

[Larry M]

We also have the Island Time Groove system with the duel band antennae; 2.4/5.8Ghz, and love it. Our last system was 2.4 Ghz and we're now appreciating the 5.8Ghz which is less crowded and faster in most cases. The one downside of the 5.8Ghz is that sold objects will block the signal more so than with the 2.4Ghz.

 

[Lou_tribal]

This is the exact reason why WiFi hardware should be purchased from Island Time PC.

Twisted bought his there. He's a technical guy, like me, but I doubt either of us can get into the weeds of these WiFi devices today. They are all little Linux computers with a myriad of configuration parameters. I have a grasp on about 25% of it.

Island Time pre-sets all the devices for everything you get from them. They provide simple installation and use sheets with the device so you can use them immediately. Then if anything goes wrong in the future, Bob is there waiting to provide exceptional tech support and help.

Island Time adds a little to the price of the devices but it is well worth the cost. After helping hundreds of people with WiFi, I'd strongly suggest that you return whatever you purchased and buy the Island Time product. The "metal" product you purchased is not the same thing as Twisted's Groove.

If you purchased a Rogue Wave product (which I suspect you might have), then it will be preset and ready for use. They'll provide tech support too and the product is pretty good. It's just significantly more expensive than something equivalent from Island Time.

Thank you for your suggestion but don't mind me if I stick with what I have. I am sure IslandTime offers great service much appreciated by a lot of people but when coming to computer related things I like a lot to put my hands in the dirt
Regarding the metal 52 ac is not the exact same as the groove, it is similar product from the same manufacturer (mikrotik) and not a rogue wave.

The groove 52ac: https://routerboard.com/RBGrooveGA-52HPacn

The metal 52ac: https://routerboard.com/RBMetalG-52SHPacn

Regards,

L.

 

[Jeffrey S]

The groove 52ac: https://routerboard.com/RBGrooveGA-52HPacn

The metal 52ac: https://routerboard.com/RBMetalG-52SHPacn

OK, I didn't know.

That's good in some ways. Perhaps you'll be able to copy some of Twisted's config. But it's worse in others because you will get lost in the thousands of parameters that device has with interfaces being created and references by other parameters - you'll see. Make sure to make backups of the settings along the way so you can go back without resetting the entire device and starting over.

I'd carefully keep the packaging too so you could bundle it back up and return it.

 

[kchace]

This is the exact reason why WiFi hardware should be purchased from Island Time PC.

Twisted bought his there. He's a technical guy, like me, but I doubt either of us can get into the weeds of these WiFi devices today. They are all little Linux computers with a myriad of configuration parameters. I have a grasp on about 25% of it.

Island Time pre-sets all the devices for everything you get from them. They provide simple installation and use sheets with the device so you can use them immediately. Then if anything goes wrong in the future, Bob is there waiting to provide exceptional tech support and help.

Island Time adds a little to the price of the devices but it is well worth the cost. After helping hundreds of people with WiFi, I'd strongly suggest that you return whatever you purchased and buy the Island Time product. The "metal" product you purchased is not the same thing as Twisted's Groove.

If you purchased a Rogue Wave product (which I suspect you might have), then it will be preset and ready for use. They'll provide tech support too and the product is pretty good. It's just significantly more expensive than something equivalent from Island Time.

I bought my setup from Island Time and I'm glad I did. I'm very technical and have no problem getting into the (many) settings when I need or want to, but having an easy setup already done that gets me on line quickly is very valuable. BTW the Island Time WIFI transceiver and router (if you get that) work directly on 12v.

Ken

 

[twistedtree]

Thank you for your suggestion but don't mind me if I stick with what I have. I am sure IslandTime offers great service much appreciated by a lot of people but when coming to computer related things I like a lot to put my hands in the dirt

Regarding the metal 52 ac is not the exact same as the groove, it is similar product from the same manufacturer (mikrotik) and not a rogue wave.



The groove 52ac: https://routerboard.com/RBGrooveGA-52HPacn



The metal 52ac: https://routerboard.com/RBMetalG-52SHPacn



Regards,



L.

The Groove offers plenty of dirt to put your hands in.

I think Jeffrey nailed it. I spend the first part of my carrier designing and building networking products, so probably know more than the average bear. Yet when I look a all the options in the Groove, I'm with Jeff in only understanding maybe 25% of it. Part of that is 30 years of brain rot, and part is that there is just SO MUCH to know.

 

[Patemey]

I have the WaveWifi Rogue Wave antenna. Yes - more expensive, but the user interface is super easy. Click SCAN, Click CONNECT. Done.

A new one I'm looking at getting is Aigean Wifi. Apparently these guys are ex-WaveWifi techs. They have a 2.4GHZ unit, a 5.0GHZ unit, and a combo unit. WaveWifi is only 2.4GHZ.

 

[olegreg]

FYI
I just finally completed the install on a Shakespeare WiFi 1 booster. It took awhile as I had a defective cable which the factory replaced . When it got down to final connections (Internet) I wound up talking to the product manager. We got it going as he was driving home on Friday night. The beauty of this is that I use a household router (TP Link) and when I get to the boat, our devices connect automatically as at home. Any questions please reply.
Greg

 

[Jeffrey S]

The beauty of this is that I use a household router (TP Link) and when I get to the boat, our devices connect automatically as at home.

All of the Groove/Ubiquiti solutions work the same way. There's nothing special about that.