Do they work?
Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: how well depends on various factors ranging from atmospheric to height of the receiving antenna and quality of the equipment.
John is correct.
It has also been my experience that directional antennas can work better than boosters:
http://www.amazon.com/Super-Power-Supplyå¨-WZR-HP-G450H-WHR-HP-G300N/dp/B00DTWTXTK/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1439406674&sr=8-10&keywords=directional+wifi+antenna
There are two kinds of WiFi boosters:
1. The cell signal booster like Wilson makes (Wilson is in St George Utah so they must be good folks, right).
2. The other is a WiFi repeater.
I have both and #1 makes a huge difference if you are running down the road yacking in truck. Big antenna on top of truck, works without dropping in places where you can't use the handset alone.
I have used Ubiquty Network (ubnt.com) pairs to 'repeat' WiFi signals between buildings. They take a bit to setup, but if you get the flat planar antenna they go a long-long-long-long ways. I have one at the house that points towards the back yard (because the wifi at home barely makes it to the back door.) The repeater goes through the block and across the next street. It is the bomb. I have some 5 GHz back haul modems that supposedly go 20 KM. They too work great.
🙂
M
Thanks for the info. I have a cell booster and it works well when you are close to the cell phone. The WiFi repeater is what I was wondering about.
Plumb Bill, post: 331538, member: 226 wrote: John is correct.
It has also been my experience that directional antennas can work better than boosters:
http://www.amazon.com/Super-Power-Supplyå¨-WZR-HP-G450H-WHR-HP-G300N/dp/B00DTWTXTK/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1439406674&sr=8-10&keywords=directional+wifi+antenna
Do you find that it works best to have these two aimed in the same direction or one each way (more weight balanced)? Would it help to have vertical adjustment as well?
Norm Larson, post: 336315, member: 7899 wrote: Do you find that it works best to have these two aimed in the same direction or one each way (more weight balanced)? Would it help to have vertical adjustment as well?
It's more like a "to" and "from". One at the source, the other at the end-user - and try to point them at each other.
OK, more this
Than this
No wait, you said end user so this is set up away from you. I am planning on being under it, so, I may want both pointed in the same direction.
The original question was about wi-fi, not hotspots (or maybe they meant mifi/hotspot and said wifi):
But neither of your pictures are correct. One goes on the router pointed towards where you want to receive signal (say a building a mile away), the other goes on the building pointed back at the router. The directional antennas don't work well for mobile surveying unless it's a linear project.
Also, for surveying you'd need the larger antennae, I think the leads on these may be too little for a GNSS external radio.
MiFi then. If I use a hotspot to change cell to WiFi and that is called MiFi then I do interchange the terms. MiFi is a trade name, so, I use WiFi, but, I don't call a Kleenex a tissue ... so, I don't make sense.
Yes, I would be sourcing one with SMA leads as the TS9 leads are just too small.
The hotspot is going to be sitting below it on the same rod and the antennas are going to be attached directly to it as it has two leads. I don't see the need for a WiFi antenna as the collector will be very close. We are talking apples and oranges as I was talking about using both antennas for cell. I am still designing the detents for rotation of the antennas, but, have never used one of these antennas in the field. Is the aiming so tight that I should make it compression, therefore infinite angular adjustment or would detents every 5å¡ be good enough? Do I need to worry about vertical adjustment as well?
This is only going to be used in areas of really crappy reception as I have an omni directional one for everyday use. The omni direction antenna is 2.5dBi and the directional one you are using is 16 dBi which is a HUGE improvement and there are even some higher ones available (I am assuming that they are bigger.)
