Wireless Joint

To reduce my cable length, I’d like to connect outside antennas to Mofi sim7 housed in weather proof box on mast, and then run it to better router inside. Right now I’ve got about 20-30 ft of LMR 400 from antennas to Mofi inside through hole in the wall, and using Mofi we both modem and router.

I know POE is used to power Mofi, but not quite sure of what exact things I need and how to hook it up. And any router suggestions? Looking for inexpensive but powerful for whole house and outdoor coverage.

Hello,
Can read thru this post very similar to what you are asking.
https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1208#p7869

This is the house router I use actually found mine used. Pretty happy with it.
https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-AC1900-W ... ics&sr=1-9

Now for outside in a shed or something like that this is the cheapest and easiest thing I have found to set up as a repeater. Technically this could be used as a house router too.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F ... UTF8&psc=1

These might not be the best optimal choices but you where asking for budget friendly.
As a side note might want to look into keeping your modem cooled in an outdoor enclosure.

I like to remove the metal case of any router/modem setup I use outdoors. The metal traps in heat. I NEVER use enclosures outdoors that have "vent" holes in them, as that invites critters and moisture.

You generally just need a POE injector and a POE splitter. Best ones I've found are the The Wireless Haven 72W injector and the 12v or 5v splitters. No fanboy words either, I cant find anything better that's reasonable.

Here's the splitter I'm using with a Mofi4500. It claims to be 2amp.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TM ... UTF8&psc=1

It can only supply as much as the poe power source gives it, seemingly up to 2A. What are you using to power it the line?

[quote=gscheb post_id=9885 time=1594175135 user_id=1402]
Hello,
Can read thru this post very similar to what you are asking.
https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1208#p7869

Thanks gscheb for the link, perfect!

SliverGT wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2020 10:43 pm Here's the splitter I'm using with a Mofi4500. It claims to be 2amp.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TM ... UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for the link!

Didneywhorl wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 12:07 am It can only supply as much as the poe power source gives it, seemingly up to 2A. What are you using to power it the line?

Thanks for the info! Using my house power. The injector will be in an upstairs room with the router.

Cool. Yeah I meant the injectors power

So I wanted to test that it was worth it first, and am surprised at the results...

I hooked the mofi up directly to the antennas (with a couple 1-2 ft jumper cables and adapters as needed), fastened the mofi to the antenna mast, and powered via extension cord.

Booted up mofi and no difference from when I have 30’ LMR 400 cable between the antennas and mofi.

Did I do something wrong? I can’t see what that would be.

Cause I’m fighting for every last dB, I thought it’d be worth it but doesn’t seem so. I might as well have the mofi inside for easy access if needed, right?

What metric are you using to say theres no change?

Didneywhorl wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:47 pm What metric are you using to say theres no change?

The signal strength data as provided via the mofi interface, which includes RSRP, RSRQ, and RSSI readings. Also ran a few speed tests.

It's a little difficult because these readings are never constant, due to the variables of my location - no LOS, lots of reflection due to trees and hills. But after months of trial/error, I think I have a pretty good sense of their usual range and it did not seem that connecting the modem directly to the antennas improved it. Like I still saw the same fluctuations and bottom/top limits.

I cant find it if you already posted it, but what antennas are you using?

Didneywhorl wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2020 9:28 am I cant find it if you already posted it, but what antennas are you using?

No worries. These two:
https://www.amazon.com/Wide-Band-Cellul ... 07PQ978P9/
https://www.amazon.com/Periodic-Directi ... B075C8FX3S

I'm also trying to figure out best placement for them. Right now, I've got the parabolic above the yagi, with the parabolic vertical polarization and the yagi horizontal. Not sure about how far apart they should be and if my cross polarization is good - I had tried having the parabolic antenna at 45 degrees, paired then with a different, lesser-gain enclosed yagi, also at 45 degrees (90 degrees to the grid's horn) and didn't see much difference and in fact the parabolic seemed to work worse like that!

At different polarizations they should be fine up close. You do what I do: rotate and test, rotate and test, repeat forever. Those Bolton grids are some badass antennas for sure. I find it odd that eliminating the cable length didn't give you any better signal, unless your antenna is gaining way more than your losing and its not showing any difference. Those Boltons' are 26dBi if I recall correctly. You'd prob need 50' of LMR200 and be on a high freq band to see losses that would tank your antenna.

Its costly to try new antennas, but you may want to try a high gain flat panel, they tend to deal with trees and the like really well; or at least better than LDP and yagis.

Didneywhorl wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2020 11:23 am At different polarizations they should be fine up close. You do what I do: rotate and test, rotate and test, repeat forever. Those Bolton grids are some badass antennas for sure. I find it odd that eliminating the cable length didn't give you any better signal, unless your antenna is gaining way more than your losing and its not showing any difference. Those Boltons' are 26dBi if I recall correctly. You'd prob need 50' of LMR200 and be on a high freq band to see losses that would tank your antenna.

Its costly to try new antennas, but you may want to try a high gain flat panel, they tend to deal with trees and the like really well; or at least better than LDP and yagis.

Thanks, Didneywhorl. Yeah, lots of rotating, testing, experimenting... I'm driving my fiance crazy with it all, haha! Though she does appreciate that we're now getting regular speeds 3-5 times faster than the DSL (3 Mbps) we tried last year when we bought the place.

So yeah, after wasting months thinking band 13 was best and all I could get, I stumbled upon the realization that band 4 was a weaker signal but capable of higher speeds... So I upgraded my antennas for higher gain at that higher freq, and I'm locking onto band 4 now no problem. So much better!

And I had read on here a while back that flat panels work well with trees, etc., and had tried setting up with a couple of the flat panels (https://www.wavef0rm.com/products/rsrf-panel-antenna) that had come with the booster system I was using all winter (before I knew any better haha) - but those didn't work well at all so I thought flat panel wasn't the answer for me. But maybe I was just using the wrong kind? Anyway, I just ordered a pair of these, will try them out https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/antennas/4g-lte ... l-antenna/

lawnmowerman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2020 12:05 pmAnyway, I just ordered a pair of these, will try them out https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/antennas/4g-lte ... l-antenna/

And they cancelled my order cause they’re actually out of stock

I have those antennas and they work better than anything else I tried. I'm in a wooded area with no LOS to the tower.

lawnmowerman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 09, 2020 7:42 pm And they cancelled my order cause they’re actually out of stock

DAMN!

Yeah I’m hoping they’re in stock again soon. In the meantime, I want to try out the flat panel type - while definitely better than the two small yagi’s I had, the parabolic grid and/or log periodic directionals are not quite as strong/consistent as I need - and see if that works better in my situation with so many trees, hills, no LOS. I ordered what seemed to be the best I could find online, without dropping $300 for one, we’ll see how it works https://www.amazon.com/Proxicast-Cross- ... B01NBSLNJ6
Open to any other recommendations though!

lawnmowerman wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 4:37 pm Yeah I’m hoping they’re in stock again soon. In the meantime, I want to try out the flat panel type - while definitely better than the two small yagi’s I had, the parabolic grid and/or log periodic directionals are not quite as strong/consistent as I need - and see if that works better in my situation with so many trees, hills, no LOS. I ordered what seemed to be the best I could find online, without dropping $300 for one, we’ll see how it works https://www.amazon.com/Proxicast-Cross- ... B01NBSLNJ6
Open to any other recommendations though!

LINK REMOVED

terryjett wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2020 2:03 pm Just did setup / install for a teacher using same exact antenna (she ordered the https://amzn.to/2ZipWN5) and was really impressed with the performance. At $99.95 the antenna rocks!

Great, that’s encouraging! Fingers crossed...

I got two of these used if someone wanted to buy one.

gscheb wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2020 5:29 pm I got two of these used if someone wanted to buy one.

You should list them on the market place https://wirelessjoint.com/viewforum.php?f=38 and even on the Facebook Group

gscheb wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2020 5:29 pm I got two of these used if someone wanted to buy one.

Which one’s exactly?

The Mimo proxicast antenna. Have two is them.

gscheb wrote: ↑Sat Jul 11, 2020 10:55 pm The Mimo proxicast antenna. Have two is them.

Do you still have these for sale?

Still have two of them laying around. They honestly haven't been up for sell but would consider selling one.