1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

SailingYachtAmalia
Followourjourneyatsea.

WiFiInternetaccessonboard
PostedonMay11,2015bySteve
IvenallygotourInternetaccessworkingthewayIvealwayswanted.Now,wheneverwearriveata
newdestination,wecanipasingleswitchonourmainpanel,snioutanearbyWiFinetworkandget
online.
InamarinandingaWiFinetworktoconnecttoisstraightforward.Whenatanchor,itmeanssearching
foradecentWiFisignalfromacoeeshopfollowedbyatriptobuyanespressoortwo,andleaving
withtheirnetworkpasswordinourpocket.

(hps://sailingyachtamalia.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/wipowerswitch.png)

https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/
Unlikemuchsimplersolutions(hp://www.amazon.co.uk/TPLINKTLWN822N300MBPSWireless 1/11

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

Unlikemuchsimplersolutions(hp://www.amazon.co.uk/TPLINKTLWN822N300MBPSWireless
Adapter/dp/B00416Q5KI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431367892&sr=81&keywords=usb+wi+booster)
whichcanbepluggeddirectlyintoaPCsUSBport,wehavealarge,permanentlymountedhighgain
antennawhichiscapableofconnectingtonetworksmilesaway.Onceconnected,ourshipsWiFirouter
allowsallourdevices(laptops,phones,iPads)tosharethesameInternetconnectionwithouthavingto
reenterusernamesandpasswords.
Today,ourneighbourshavebeencomplainingaboutthepoorqualityoftheWiFiprovidedatthe
marina,yetwevehadareliableconnectionalldayandhaveevenbeenabletostreamvideo.
Thissetupistheresultofacoupleofyearsoftrialanderrorusingavarietyofhardware,madeallthe
moredicultaseverythinghashadtoberestrictedto12volts.
InthisarticleIllgiveabriefoverviewofhowitallworks.Ihopeitprovesusefultootherswhodliketo
setupasimilarinstallationintheirboatorcampervan.
Alistofparts:
AsimilarallinoneProsolutionfromacommercialmarinevendorcanbeexpensive
(hp://www.amazon.co.uk/RogueUltraSmallAccessSystem/dp/B00Q8Q8RR8/ref=sr_1_1?
ie=UTF8&qid=1431367172&sr=81&keywords=ROGUE+PRO+wi),butifyoubuythepartsindividually
andarewillingtospendaliletimeseingitup,thenyoullbeleftwithchangefrom200:
1.UbiquitiBulletM2(hps://www.ubnt.com/airmax/bulletm/)
2.8dBiOmnidirectionalantenna(hp://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/products/15282solwisenetwl
antsl08on/)
3.UVresistantCAT5ethernetcable(hp://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTDOOREXTERNALcat5e
NetworkEthernet/dp/B009U81EFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1431360440&sr=8
2&keywords=cat5+cable+uv+resistant)
4.12vpoweroverethernet(POE)injector(topowertheBullet)(hp://www.amazon.co.uk/Supply
ConverterModuleOutputAdapter/dp/B00E5VH1OI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1431360381&sr=8
2&keywords=12v+to+mini+usb)
5.USBpoweredWiFirouter(hp://www.amazon.co.uk/TPLinkTLMR3020PortableWireless
Router/dp/B00634PLTW)
6.12vtoUSBpoweradaptor(topowertheWiFirouter)(hp://www.amazon.co.uk/DEOKCharger
ConverterConnectorAdapter/dp/B00HN21JRQ/ref=sr_1_11?
s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1431361444&sr=111&keywords=12v+to+mini+usb)
TheBulletisthekeycomponentinthesystem.Itaachesdirectlytothehighgainantennaandcontains
allthejiggerypokerymagicthatsnisoutWiFinetworksforyou.IboughttheTitaniummodel
(actuallymadefromaluminium)asitlooksmuchmorerobustandweatherproofthanitsonlyslightly
cheaperplasticcounterpart.Ichosean8dBiantenna,ashighergainmeansanarrowerbeamanglethat
mightmissaWiFibasestation.Itworkswell,andgivenclearlineofsighthasamorethan
adequateworkingrangeofover5miles(hp://www.tomsguide.com/us/2,review125.html).Ifoundthe
guysatbroadbandbuyer(hp://www.broadbadbuyer.co.uk)reallyhelpfulwhenIphonedforadviceon
this,andtheyhelpedtoselectamodelthatwasmoresuitableformarineuse,andveryreasonably
pricedtoo.

https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/
Youllneedashortpatchcable(hp://www.amazon.co.uk/ShortEthernetNetworkCABLESALL

2/11

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

Youllneedashortpatchcable(hp://www.amazon.co.uk/ShortEthernetNetworkCABLESALL
Black/dp/B00822ET4Q/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0)too.IdecidedtomakemyownandboughtsomeRJ45
connectorsandacrimpingtoolfromeBay(itspossibletolearnhowtodojustaboutanything
(hps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxu07WkGew)onYouTube).ThisalsomeantthatIcould
terminatecableswhereIwantedtoratherthanhavinguntidycoilsofcablehiddenbehindpanels
aroundtheboat.ThecabletesterprovedinvaluableastherstfewleadsImadehadfaultsinthem.

(hps://sailingyachtamalia.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/tools_small.jpg)
Thetrickiestitemtondwasadecentantennabracket;theywereeitherugly,poorqualityor
laughablyexpensive.Intheend,Ihadonefabricatedfromstainlesssteelspecicallyforthejobitlooks
greatandonlycost20.00.
Puingitalltogether:
IdspokenwithafewvendorsofallinoneWiFisolutionsattheLondonboatshow,andthegeneral
opinionwasthatthesweetspotforaWiFiantennaisabout3mabovethewaterline.Wealreadyhave
anNavtexantennamountedonthepushpit,soIjustaddedtheWiFiantennatothesamepoleandran
theCAT5cablefromthereinsidetheboat.

https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/

3/11

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

(hps://sailingyachtamalia.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/m2_pushpitc_small.png)
Inthecloseupimage,youcanseethebracketIhadmade,andtheniceweatherproofxingsonthe
BulletTitaniummodel.TheonlycablethatrunstotheBulletistheCAT5ethernetcable;thePOEinjector
sendsitpowerupapairofotherwiseunusedwiresinthiscable.
AttheotherendoftheCAT5cable,theremainingcomponentsareaachedtoaplywoodboard:

https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/

4/11

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

(hps://sailingyachtamalia.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/laidoutinside_small2.jpg)
Powerfromtheswitchpanel(1)issuppliedtothePOEinjector(2)andtheUSBpoweradaptor(3),
whichinturnpowerstheTPLinkWiFirouter(6).
TheCAT5cablefromtheBulletplugsintothePOEsocketoftheinjector(4)and12voltsissenttopower
itup.ThenetworksignalfromthebulletissentbackdownusingdierentwiresinthesameCAT5
cableandrelayedviathepatchcable(5)totheTPLinkWiFirouter(6).
TheTPLinkWiFiroutercreatesourshipsWiFinetwork(towhichweconnectallourdeviceswitha
singlepassword)anditforwardsallrequestsforwebpagestotheBullet.
TheplywoodboardisbackedwithheavydutyVelcrowhichholdsitsnuglyatthebackofacabinetby
thecharttable.Thebluemonkeystknotallowstheboardtobeeasilypulledoutformaintenance.

https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/

5/11

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

(hps://sailingyachtamalia.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/installed_small.jpg)
Networkconguration:
Wiringthecomponentstogetherisrelativelysimple.Conguringthenetworkingcanbequitetrickyand
Isuggestthatyougetthisallworkingonabenchbeforeeventhinkingaboutinstallation.Ifyouhave
someexperienceconguringnetworks,thenyoullbeneifnot,itmightbeworthbuyingafriendwho
hasexperienceacoupleofbeers.
AsfarasImconcerned,thetricktoconguringeverythingistobemethodicalandtakesmallsteps.
StartwiththeBulletandnoWiFirouter.Todothisreplacethepatchcableshownabovewitha
cableconnectingtheLANsideofthePOEinjectordirectlytoyourlaptoporPC.Thenfollowthe
congurationinstructionsintheBulletsuserguide(hps://dl.ubnt.com/guides/bullet/BulletM
Ti_QSG.pdf).SetitsnetworkmodetoRouterandentertheI.P.seingsyouwantittouse.
OnceyoureinapositionwhereyoucanconnecttoaremoteWiFinetworkusingtheBullet,itstimeto
startthinkingaboutseingupyourownlocalWiFinetworkforyourdevicestoconnectto.Again,do
thiswiththeBulletturnedosothatyoucanfocusontheWiFirouter.Importantly,youshouldmake
surethattheWiFirouterwilluseadierentsubnetaddressfromtheBullet.So,forexample,iftheBullet
isconguredtouse192.168.1.X,thentheWiFiroutermustbeconguredtousesomethinglike
192.168.2.X.Oncethisisworkingasyoudlike,usethepatchcabletoconnecttheBullettotheWiFi
routerandyouredone.
YoushouldnowbeabletoconnecttotheBulletscongurationpagesviayourlocalWiFinetworkand
searchforremoteWiFinetworks:

https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/

6/11

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

(hps://sailingyachtamalia.les.wordpress.com/2015/05/survey.jpg)
Sortthenetworksbysignaltonoiseratio.Counterintuitivelythebestsignalwillbetheonewiththe
lowestvalue;inthiscase,theVodafonenetworkshownatthetopofthelist.Selectthisnetworkand
clickthebuontomaketheBulletconnecttoit.
YoushouldnowbeabletoconnectanynumberofdevicesonboardtoyourlocalWiFinetwork,and
theywillallhaveinternetaccess.

Advertisements (https://en.support.wordpress.com/aboutCeriumSLJacket
these-ads/)

Offeringgreatwarmthtoweightin
asupercompressiblepackage,
thisisthelightestweightdownj

$329
BUYNOW
CovertCardigan

ThisentrywaspostedinEquipment,Summer2015,WiFiandtaggedboat,internet,marine,wi,WiFi
antenna,WiFirouter.Bookmarkthepermalink.

22thoughtsonWiFiInternetaccessonboard
https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/

7/11

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

NateKraft

May12,2015at12:21amReply
1.Greatpostaboutyoursetup.Iinstalledasimilarsetuponmyboat,butscrewedthecomponentsinto
thebulkhead/overheadofasmalllocker.Ilikehowyoursiseasilyremovable!Greatthinking.
MikeGibson

May12,2015at1:01amReply
2.Ididthesamesetupaboutamonthago.However,Iwasntconvincedthatthe8dbantennawas
goingtogettherangeIwanted,soIreplaceditwitha15dbantenna.ItpickedupafewmoreWiFi
networksbuttheywereencryptedsoitdidntbuymeanything.Whenyoudeterminetherangeare
youlookingatthemainpagefortheBullet?
Steve

May12,2015at8:50amReply
HiMike.Yesthatpagegivesanideaofhowfarawaythebasestationis.Butalso,wecangeta
roughideasimplyusingGooglemapsifweknowwhichcafewereborrowingthesignalfrom.
Itsallestimationthough.
AquaHolic

May12,2015at9:30amReply
3.Whereaboutsdoyousail,mostly?Wouldthisworkanywhere?WeareintheGreekIslandsandjust
useawibatmountedhighonthemizzenmast,withUSBconnectortolaptop,whichthen
becomesahotspotforthetwoiPadsontheboat.Neverhadaproblem,andcanpickupwifrom
quiteadistance.
Steve

May12,2015at10:14amReply
WereinPortugalatthemomentandareheadingtotheMed.Thissetuphasworkedalltheway
herefromtheUK,andshouldworkjustaboutanywhere.WiFiisbroadcastintwofrequency
ranges2.4gHzand5gHz.TheBulletM2isfor2.4gHz,andtheBulletM5isfor5gHz.Thevast
majorityofnoncommercialWiFinetworks(i.e.theonesyoullwanttoconnectto)are2.4gHzso
theBulletM2isthebeeroption.Wevenotbeenanywherewherewevewanted/neededa5gHz
radio.Thatsaid,ifthebatisworkingforyou,thenwhychange?
VikiMoore

June23,2015at8:21pmReply
4.Fantasticpostthankssomuch.Havebeenwonderingwhatthebestsetupisforwi.
Lisakessler
5.WishIwasonboard!Haveasafejourney!
Donna

July6,2015at12:01pmReply

August17,2015at9:06pmReply
6.Hellothere,
ImtryingtorecreateyourwisetupbutyourlinktothePoeinjectoristothe12voltchargerpiece.I
hadtosearchforallofthemasecondtimeasallofyourlinkswenttotheAmazonUKsite,which
promptlyinformedmeitwouldnotshiptotheUS.Iwouldhavethoughtthatitwouldconverttothe
correctsite,butalasitdidnot.AnywayImhavingtroublendingaPoeinjectorthatis12volt.
https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/
8/11
Whichonedidyouuse?

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

Whichonedidyouuse?
Whatarethosegreenconnectorsyouusedtogotothe12volt?Andwhatisthe4connectionwhite
piecethatconnectsthewiresandissecuredonyourboard?
Thanksalotforthewriteuponthewi.HopefullyIllgetitsetupsoon.
Donna
Steve
HiDonna,

August22,2015at1:40pmReply

IboughtthePOEinjectoroneBay(UKsiteagainImafraid).Youdontneedtonda12vone
specicallyifyourvoltageonboardis12v;youjustneedsomethingthatwillfeedyouronboard
poweruptheethernetcable.JustsearchforPOEinjectoroneBay,therewillbedozensofresults.
ThegreenconnectorswerealsoboughtoneBayandaresoldassecuritycamerapowersupply
plugs.Thewhiteblockisjustapowerconnectorblockthatyoushouldbeabletopickupatany
decenthardware/electricalstore.
Idhavelikedtohavebeenabletopasteafewmorelinksinheretohelpyoubutwerebackon
landatthemomentandironicallydonthavebroadbandinternetsetupyet.
Bestofluck,andletmeknowhowyougeton.
Steve.
Donna

August26,2015at1:43am

Steve,
Thanksfortheresponse.
Imstuck!IcantgettheBullettoletmeaccesstheinternetalone.AndIcantseemtogetthe
routertondtheBullet.ThereissomethingImmissingandIcantgureitout.Any
suggestionswouldbegreatlyappreciated.
Thanks,
Donna
Steve

August27,2015at2:38pm
HiDonna,
AsmuchasIdliketohelp,thisisthesortofjobthatyouneedtobetheretodoanyadviceI
oerwillprobablynotberelevant.Isuggestthatyougrabsomeonewithsomeexperienceof
homenetworksandaskthemtogothroughitwithyou;itcanbefairlycomplicatedinplaces.
Steve.
[UPDATE]TakealookatRobsrecentpostwithalinktotheUbiquitisupportcommunity
forumwhichmaybeabletooermorespecicadvice.
Rob

August26,2015at9:29pmReply

7.HiSteve,
Fantasticpostandagreathelp.WeareheadingtotheMedfor2016andwaslookinghowbesttoget
wiconguredonboard.Aquicktechquestion,itappearsyouareusinga12vDCto5vPOE
https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/
converterbutaccordingtotheM2TechspecsandthePOEunitsuppliedwithitrequiresa24vinput9/11

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

converterbutaccordingtotheM2TechspecsandthePOEunitsuppliedwithitrequiresa24vinput
voltage.Didyoucheckthisouttoseeifalowervoltagewaswithinitsoperatingcapability?
Cheers
Rob
Steve
HiRob,

August27,2015at2:34pmReply

Iguredthatalowervoltagewouldntcausemuchdamagesojusttriedit.Mybackupplanwas
tobuyasmallstepuptransformer(seenthemoneBay)ifitdidntwork,butitsworkedperfectly
wellon12v.
Steve.
Rob

August27,2015at3:14pm
ThanksSteve,
IhadaveryquickresponsebackfromtheTechTeam@Ubiquitilastnight.Theyconrmedthe
M2isOKforasupplyvoltageof1224vandwillworkaslowas11.5v.Ialsofoundtheyhave
asupportcommunitywhichDonnamightnduseful:hps://community.ubnt.comThetech
helpemailissupport@ubnt.com
IdidconsiderrunningamainsACfeedtotheirsuppliedPOE(viaaninverter)butthe12vDC
boatfeedtoa12vPOEoutputisamuchbeer(andneater)solution.
Cheersandthanksagainfortheinfo
Rob
Steve

August27,2015at3:28pm
ThatsgreatRob,thanksfortheupdate.Ialsoconsideredthe240voptionbutthatwouldhave
meantrunninganinverterwhenatanchorandthatwouldhavetakenitstollonourbaeries.
Goodluckwithyoursetupletmeknowhowitgoes.
MichaelAllo

September17,2015at8:13pmReply
8.Brilliantwriteup,havepurchasedthevariousparts,andsetitupaspertheinstructionsIhavea
coupleofissuesthough,myIphonedoesntwanttoconnecttotheTPlinkunit??AlsoIcanruna
sitesurveyandseevariouswinetworksincludingmyhomenetwork,butIcantseemtoconnectto
it,anyideas???
Steve
HiMichael,

September18,2015at5:50pmReply

IdidnthaveanyproblemswithmyiPhoneIcanonlysuggestyoutryreseingitandclearing
outanyunusedwinetworksbeforetryingagain.IalsoconnectaniPadandMacBookProtothe
TPLinkwithoutproblems.Canyouconnectanydevicestoitatall?
Didyouremembertoenterthepasswordforyourhomenetworkbeforeconnecting?Iknowthis
seemsobviousbutthepasswordeldisntplacedinthemostobviousspot.
https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/
10/11
Letmeknowhowyougeton.

1/26/2017

WiFiInternetaccessonboard|SailingYachtAmalia

Letmeknowhowyougeton.
Allthebest.Steve.
Curt

October28,2015at1:50amReply
9.Canyoutellmethemakeandmodelofyour12vPOEadapter?Iaminstallingthissystemonboard
myownboat.Thanks!
Steve

October28,2015at7:04pmReply

HiCurt,

Itsnotabrandeditem,justacheapiefromeBay.IfIweretorewireit,Idgowithsomethingmore
exible,liketheseonesdesignedforusewithsecuritycameras:
Justsearchfor12vpoeinjectoroneBayandyoullseedozensofoptionsthatshouldallwork
withalilecreativity.
Letmeknowhowyougeton!
Steve.
Curt

November5,2015at4:33pm
ThanksSteve.Iorderedsomeequipmentandwillletyouknowhowitcomesout.Good
sailing
Sebastian

January4,2016at1:09pmReply

10.Weareusingthisone
hp://www.irishwireless.net/apoe03?
search=MaxLink+Passive+Redundant+Industrial+PoE+adapter+APOE03
WayneHooper
11.Awesomearticleandinfo!Thanksfordoingthis.

January1,2017at8:40pmReply

BlogatWordPress.com.

https://sailingyachtamalia.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/wifiinternetaccessonboard/

11/11