Need ideas for Aiming Wifi on rooftop mount

[redbaron73]

I am looking for ideas on how to aim a directional wifi antenna that would be located on the roof top of a new motorhome.

*Requirements;
1: must be controllable remotely
2: needs to be able to rotate 360 degrees. (prefer that it stops at 0 & 360, allowing for only 1 full turn, not 2)
3: needs to be able to fold down.
4: 12v power (or POE)


What I have just described here would exactly replace the function that is provided on my current motorhome by using the hand-crank tv antenna. The newer coach will have the automated / electronic antenna, which may be improved for its purpose, but is a major loss for a feature that I have been using for many years.

Before anyone suggests it, I am aware of omni-directional antennas. These are a very bad idea for many reasons. Primarily, every signal will be received by this antenna, including all the RV's in the park, and add noise to the signal I am trying to receive. the distance is so reduced with this, the result is usually not much better than what you can do inside the coach. This is a reason that wifiRanger is not an option, and why I am not ordering it with my new coach. I have ordered a CAT6 cable to be run to the roof.

If a collapsing base is not found, then maybe I can make a rotating device work, but i am concerned about getting it high enough to clear the roof rails, yet be low enough to be clear of trees, bridges, etc.

I am looking for ideas, hacks, etc for this DIY project. I will post the entire details of my setup once complete. The entire project will have to change if I don't find a solution the antenna aiming, so I look forward to your posts!

[pwhittle]

I keep a piece of 1” PVC pipe that I clamp to the edge of a slide.it is long enough to get above the roof. The Ubiquiti nanostation is zip tied to it. I run a 25’ Ethernet cable out a window.

I only break it out if I can’t get a strong enough signal from inside a cabinet or pointing out a window.

Simple, but effective.

Paul

[vsheetz]

There are a couple powered antenna lifts - usually marketed to ham radio folks and using what's referred to as a screwdriver omni antenna. If you added a antenna rotor and your directional Wi-Fi antenna of choice you would pretty much have what you are asking for.

https://youtu.be/UF7fUk6pGtA

[Arch Hoagland]

I'm curious what directional Wifi antenna you are going to use.

I currently use a Jefa Tech which does not have directional antenna.

[vsheetz]

Adding to my previous comments... I have a mast that I manually raise - attached to a Flagpole Buddy mount on my ladder. To this I have either of a omni-directional or directional yagi WiFi antenna. Direction is manually rotated as desired.

However, CG Wi-Fi is so poor I seldom use Wi-Fi any more. Its not a matter of signal strength. But rather signal quality, co-channel interference, and mostly inadequate backhaul. Instead I use a cellular hotspot with externally mounted antenna.

[redbaron73]

Ham radio equipment looks ideal...thanks for the idea.

The fact that wifi is usually so poor is a very big concern, and the primary reason why I dont want to spend the big $ on this wifiranger. The radio I am going with is the bullet ac, with a multi band antenna. https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/bullet-ac/

I am also installing an LTE radio receiver and antenna on the roof, which is similar to how wifiranger does theirs. The price is going to be 1/3 of the retail, but the software will not be as fancy. All of their hardware is based on Microtik. For instance the hardware for the elite ac pro is only $250 for both inside and outside.

But I hate the idea of a wifi omnidirectional antenna.

The idea of using a temporary pole is very tempting, as this would not be an in motion item. That would drastically reduce cost and complexity.

[redcolorado]

I mounted my omnidirectional wifi antenna to the old batwing mount with a new Winegard Rayzar OTA antenna. I had to shorten the the antenna mount 15" due to weight. I have considered mounting a directional wifi antenna in place of the omni and rotating the batwing mount to tune it. The Rayzar does not care which way it is facing prior to search. The only impact will be that the Rayzar control head will not indicate correct bearing to stations.

[redbaron73]

Originally Posted by redcolorado

I mounted my omnidirectional wifi antenna to the old batwing mount with a new Winegard Rayzar OTA antenna. I had to shorten the the antenna mount 15" due to weight. I have considered mounting a directional wifi antenna in place of the omni and rotating the batwing mount to tune it. The Rayzar does not care which way it is facing prior to search. The only impact will be that the Rayzar control head will not indicate correct bearing to stations.

yes, that is the best solution. I am trying to replicate this setup on my new coach.

[snshatz]

Download app called...Open Signal...easy to use

[redcolorado]

Originally Posted by snshatz

Download app called...Open Signal...easy to use

I have the Open signal app on my phone works good. I don't use the wifi antenna much anymore. I use a Mobley sim in a Netgear 781 with a external suction cup antenna.