Netgear M1 and which aerial

[Al n Val]

So i’ve decided to try and improve my Motorhome Compact+ wifi setup which is the Huawei E5785Lh router and a rooftop mounted puck 4/5g aerial

Antenna Only - Motorhome WiFi

www.motorhomewifi.com

One of the issues is the aerial is mounted right at the back of the motorhome and the router is mounted in a top locker in the bedroom so not the ideal place when the tv is centrally mounted in the dining area.

So i’ve purchased a netgear M1 router and mounted it central but now thinking of a roof mounted antenna to further improve performance but not sure which one. It’s a bit mind boggling so i’ll take onboard any suggestions.

I could have the motorhome wifi one moved and the hole it leaves blanked off but not sure if that’s the best path to go down

cheers

Al

 

[Lenny HB]

A motorhome is so small it shouldn't matter where the router is mounted. Your MH Wifi aerial should be a MIMO aerial so use it and mount the router close enough so you don't need to extend the aerials leads as this will result in signal loss.

 

[Wizz]

I also have the Netgear router and purchased the attached antenna and adapter lead. They work very well. However I have found that I have not needed to use the antenna too often as the router itself positioned high in the van is generally sufficient for a good signal.
I have also purchased a very lightweight telescopic pole with a spike on the end to bang in the ground, like a window cleaners one, so that the antenna could be attached to it and positioned a fair bit higher than the van roof if need be. I haven't needed to use the pole yet either.
There are a couple of YouTube videos on this subject with the Netgear router and this antenna.

this either yet, but have it all the same.

 

[Guigsy]

I agree with Lenny. Signal loss from WiFi in a motorhome is irrelevant. But having 3m of extra antenna cable will be measurably worse.

 

[Al n Val]

I get what your saying Guigsy and Lenny HB but the tv in the bedroom is fine whilst the one in the lounge area just buffers, it only very slightly improves if we have the top locker door open which we don’t want to have to do.

Using either router in the lounge area stops the tv buffering so tells me that’s where the router needs to be, i’m just wanting to improves things even more by adding the roof mounted aerial mounted as close as possible to the Netgear router to keep the leads as short as possible.

So back to my original question, any pointers as to which one to go for, any links would be appreciated.

Al

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[Lenny HB]

That is very strange it tends to suggest your router or TV has a problem with the wifi side.

Three suggestions:
1) Try turning off 5G on the router so it just broadcasts 2.4G as that is far better at penetrating walls/cupboards etc.
2) Hard wire the TV with an Ethernet cable.
3) Fit a Mesh system you would only need 2 nodes.

Do you have a Firestick or can you borrow one to try as that may work better than the TV's wifi.

 

[Al n Val]

That is very strange it tends to suggest your router or TV has a problem with the wifi side.

Three suggestions:
1) Try turning off 5G on the router so it just broadcasts 2.4G as that is far better at penetrating walls/cupboards etc.
2) Hard wire the TV with an Ethernet cable.
3) Fit a Mesh system you would only need 2 nodes.

Do you have a Firestick or can you borrow one to try as that may work better than the TV's wifi.

hi Lenny

both tv’s have fire sticks so it’s not that tbh

disclosure though I have (had) the Netgear on 5g network and now on 4g but it still buffers, the east coast is crap on the 3 netwotk hence asking about an external antenna to try to improve it

Al

 

[elamessa]

hi Lenny

both tv’s have fire sticks so it’s not that tbh

disclosure though I have (had) the Netgear on 5g network and now on 4g but it still buffers, the east coast is crap on the 3 netwotk hence asking about an external antenna to try to improve it

Al

Have you tried the netgear with a different sim card? Maybe the 3 network is not pushing out enough on the east coast. Just a thought.

 

[Lenny HB]

hi Lenny

both tv’s have fire sticks so it’s not that tbh

disclosure though I have (had) the Netgear on 5g network and now on 4g but it still buffers, the east coast is crap on the 3 netwotk hence asking about an external antenna to try to improve it

Al

You were saying that it was OK with the router nearer to the TV that means it's nothing to do with the 5G or 4G signal.

What I said was turn of the 5G on the Wifi side, you are confusing Wifi with Data.

 

[Guigsy]

You were saying that it was OK with the router nearer to the TV that means it's nothing to do with the 5G or 4G signal.

What I said was turn of the 5G on the Wifi side, you are confusing Wifi with Data.

Lenny is saying to turn off the 5Ghz WiFi, so only the 2.4Ghz WiFi broadcast remains on.

WiFi can do funny things, but it's pretty hard to create a WiFi dead spot within 5 metres of the router.

Put a sheet of foil on the wall behind the router, so more signal is reflected back into the van. Or put the Firestick on a short USB extension cable. Also, have you tried swapping the Firesticks over to see if the problem is with the location or the hardware?

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[Al n Val]

You were saying that it was OK with the router nearer to the TV that means it's nothing to do with the 5G or 4G signal.

What I said was turn of the 5G on the Wifi side, you are confusing Wifi with Data.

i’m certainly not confusing wifi with data, I really do know the difference

all i’m asking for is a recommendation for an external aerial to improve performance so it ain’t me getting confused

I’ll as mk Gadget John, he’ll know

 

[Millcourt]

Seems the “5G’s” are causing a bit of confusion.

When referring to Cellular data transmission, 5G means Fifth Generation of the development of cellular networks.

When referring to WiFi (e.g. The signal being transmitted between the Router and the device being connected - computer, smart TV, Firestick etc), there are two frequency transmission bands. These are the older and more common 2.4 GHz and the newer 5.0 GHz. The latter is often referred to as 5G…..a bit confusingly! In WiFi transmissions 5G can be much faster than 2.4G, but is more easily blocked by walls etc.

Hope this helps. No doubt Lenny HB will advise if my layman’s explanation is incorrect.

 

[Al n Val]

Or put the Firestick on a short USB extension cable.

You’ll have to explain why using a short usb extension cable will improve wifi performance

Also, have you tried swapping the Firesticks

I have and they perform identifically

I’m adamant it’s nothing to do the Firesticks, all I want is to hopefully improve the performance of the router by fitting an external antenna

 

[Guigsy]

You’ll have to explain why using a short usb extension cable will improve wifi performance

Because WiFi should easily reach the length of a van. If you have a dead spot, it's likely to be very localised. Moving the Firestick even 30cm might move it out of the radio shadow it's currently in.

 

[Guigsy]

I’m adamant it’s nothing to do the Firesticks, all I want is to hopefully improve the performance of the router by fitting an external antenna

Fitting an external antenna will improve your mobile data performance. But this is fine as one of your Firesticks doesn't have an issue. It won't do anything to improve your WiFi performance.

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[B-well]

say no more

 

[Al n Val]

Because WiFi should easily reach the length of a van. If you have a dead spot, it's likely to be very localised. Moving the Firestick even 30cm might move it out of the radio shadow it's currently in.

A usb cable provides power only to a firestick so moving it away to another spot will render it not able to be plugged into the HDMI port on the tv unless you use a longer HDMI cable. That in itself is counter productive.

The issue I have, and I can’t make it any clearer, is that in the area i’m in atm the 3 network signal is not great so i’m wanting to improve it possibly by adding an external aerial.

This really is all i’m asking tbh

Which one?

 

[herald_400rl]

Is the TV or router near your batteries, microwave or inverter? These can cause havoc.

The poynting already linked on here would do, but it's not very aerodynamic so could be in danger of taking flight. I have no personal experience with moho specific ones.

 

[Lenny HB]

The issue I have, and I can’t make it any clearer, is that in the area i’m in atm the 3 network signal is not great so i’m wanting to improve it possibly by adding an external aerial.

This really is all i’m asking tbh

I have just reread your original post and I think myself and others thought that because you wanted to move the router we thought you were having problems with the TV connecting to the router's Wifi.

Now we have established that is not the problem, hope I've read that right.
So why not just mount the router near the existing aerial and use that aerial.

 

[Al n Val]

I have just reread your original post and I think myself and others thought that because you wanted to move the router we thought you were having problems with the TV connecting to the router's Wifi.

Now we have established that is not the problem, hope I've read that right.
So why not just mount the router near the existing aerial and use that aerial.

Because the aerial is mounted right at the back of the motorhome and the router would have to go in the same place which is in a top locker in the bedroom

This was all outlined in the very first post

“One of the issues is the aerial is mounted right at the back of the motorhome and the router is mounted in a top locker in the bedroom so not the ideal place when the tv is centrally mounted in the dining area”.

So and i’ll repeat it to avoid any more confusion

“So i’ve purchased a netgear M1 router and mounted it central but now thinking of a roof mounted antenna to further improve performance but not sure which one. It’s a bit mind boggling so i’ll take onboard any suggestions.

I could have the motorhome wifi one moved and the hole it leaves blanked off but not sure if that’s the best path to go down”

I’d prefer to leave the motorhome wifi one where it is but if you lot think I should move it and use that one just say and I will consider it.

Or if you think I could use something better please lmk which one.

Wizz has given me a suggestion in post 3 but is their anything better

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[Lenny HB]

One of the issues is the aerial is mounted right at the back of the motorhome and the router is mounted in a top locker in the bedroom so not the ideal place when the tv is centrally mounted in the dining area”.

What difference does it make where the router is?

 

[JockandRita]

Al n Val. I have a roof mounted Poynting MIMO 3-12 connected to CAT 6 MiFi, and at Southwold the other week there, I too struggled with a Three signal. Popping the sim card in my phone was only fractionally better. My O2 signal wasn't much better either, so with the right gear, it was definitely down to location, as previously experienced on the east coast.

I too am upgrading to a CAT 20 Netgear MiFi.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Al n Val]

What difference does it make where the router is?

that’s where my wifi signal comes from, if it’s behind a closed locker door then surely it makes a difference

 

[berni109]

If you have steel doors then yes otherwise it will go through most things like a knife through butter(that's been left out of the fridge).

 

[berni109]

Get an app called WiFi analizer on your phone (android prob something similar for the i other) then you can see where/if the WiFi signal drops out. As has already been said 2.4Ghz will be consistent.
Then you can try the new mifi with and without the antenna you have before replacing it with poynting as above.
There is also an app the shows the mobile signal coverage in the area you are in so a different SIM might be a cheaper alternative.

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[JockandRita]

Without being plugged into the roof mounted antenna, I tend to get 3G/4G. When plugged into the antenna, I normally get full signal strength LTE..................except on the Anglia east coast.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Lenny HB]

that’s where my wifi signal comes from, if it’s behind a closed locker door then surely it makes a difference

A foot thick solid brick wall will make a bit of difference at 5G but even that's not too bad at 2.4G.
With the construction and size of a Motorhome you will get a full strength signal everywhere.

 

[Guigsy]

that’s where my wifi signal comes from, if it’s behind a closed locker door then surely it makes a difference

My house has a reinforced concrete slab floor between the first floor where my router is, and the ground floor. No issues with WiFi downstairs. A wooden door is nothing to 2.4Ghz WiFi.

Using a WiFi analyser, just sitting on the sofa with my phone, I can see 23 WiFi access points. Ok, most of them are pretty weak, but I've got plenty of signal from the neighbour's.

You pretty much need to be in a metal box to block WiFi. It takes a fair amount of masonry to attenuate the signal. RF can be a bit weird with reflections and interference, maybe your TV has enough metal sheet shielding to create a radio shadow.

Apologies, earlier suggest moving the Firestick with a usb cable. I meant a HDMI extender.

 

[Lenny HB]

My house has a reinforced concrete slab floor between the first floor where my router is, and the ground floor. No issues with WiFi downstairs. A wooden door is nothing to 2.4Ghz WiFi.

Just for info, before I fitted my mesh system at the far end of the lounge over 30 ft from my router with 2 brick walls of the hall Inbetween me and the router. At the router 38 mb/s at the end of the lounge wifi on 5G getting 10mb/s, on 2.4G 20mb/s.

 

[Manic]

I think as your only real problem is when in Norfolk, sorry if I’ve got this wrong, I think your best solution would be a waterproof box with m1 in and stick it on a long pole.
We stop in Suffolk during winter and with Poynting antenna still only get very low speed but good enough to stream using a Firestick with some buffering on some channels

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