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JonH · 19-02-2006, 20:39

The marina I sail from has WiFi but picking up a workable signal on my Dell laptop (with built-in WiFi) is a waste of time. This is not surprising because the main ISP aerial is 70m away, there are metal masts obstructing the signal and the internal aerial on the laptop is probably crowed out by the rest of the laptop electronics.

The marina WiFi ISP recommends an external WiFi receiver but boat owners nearby report they have to hang this device up externally and trial a wire down below.

I have an alternative plan but I need to pick the brains of some experts here.

I want to buy some type of WiFi extender that will run off the boats 12v supply. This will be placed in a tupperware box and hoisted about 15ft up one of the mast support wires.

What I need is a WiFi receiver/transmitter that will log into the ISP as though is was my laptop and then re-transmit a WiFi transmission down to my laptop through the cabin roof. Does such a device exist?

p.s. I want to avoid a wired Ethernet solution because this would entail running power and Cat5 cables part way up the mast, then I would need run the ethernet cable through to the chart table requiring drilling holes in bulkheads and 2nd watertight deck plug.

19-02-2006, 20:39	#1
JonH Inactive Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4	Nautical WiFi challenge The marina I sail from has WiFi but picking up a workable signal on my Dell laptop (with built-in WiFi) is a waste of time. This is not surprising because the main ISP aerial is 70m away, there are metal masts obstructing the signal and the internal aerial on the laptop is probably crowed out by the rest of the laptop electronics. The marina WiFi ISP recommends an external WiFi receiver but boat owners nearby report they have to hang this device up externally and trial a wire down below. I have an alternative plan but I need to pick the brains of some experts here. I want to buy some type of WiFi extender that will run off the boats 12v supply. This will be placed in a tupperware box and hoisted about 15ft up one of the mast support wires. What I need is a WiFi receiver/transmitter that will log into the ISP as though is was my laptop and then re-transmit a WiFi transmission down to my laptop through the cabin roof. Does such a device exist? p.s. I want to avoid a wired Ethernet solution because this would entail running power and Cat5 cables part way up the mast, then I would need run the ethernet cable through to the chart table requiring drilling holes in bulkheads and 2nd watertight deck plug.