Finally got around to finish what I started: setting up a 2.4ghz radio/antenna for WiFi mooching/onboard.
And boy was there much to do. I didn’t even document half the process because it was just so frustrating.
Like running the cable through the tiny space next to the hull. Fiberglass, spikes, electricity, so on.
This is just a few minutes in and scratches on my arm/hands are already starting to show.
This is the widest space to run things through going from the outside and into the inside of the boat.
Thinking ahead I had to make a fitted piece to hug the inside of the wall in order to secure the antenna.
Drilling in fiberglass, and gelcoat, are both new to me.
To protect things from cracking, or those dreadful hairline cracks, things have to be taped up.
Drilling have to go from tiny, tiny drills and then incrementally step up in size. One can’t just put on the intended drill and just go.
Following, the holes have to be smoothed to prevent future hairline fractures and cracks. This has to be done somewhat delicately.
I love the Dremmel.
To weather proof things a bit (silicon sealant coming later) I bought some rubber sheets I used as a gasket behind the antenna bracket and the custom fitted wallhugger from before.
Oh. Here’s that fresh Cat7. Getting it through the hull was pretty difficult too. Place does not have enough space for a hand.
Don’t ask me how long it took to get things right.
PoE, so this will both power the radio and transfer data.
Not only that, with the bracket and plate in place it was a matter of screwing it all together.
With no space to accomodate a hand, and no visual clue to where the bolts are, this gets frustratingly difficult.
Stuck in the phone to take this pic (because I couldn’t see Jack):
In the end though all the hassle has been kind of worth it.
The cable is away from everything, protected and tidily running along the hull.
The antenna mooches off of wifi spots many kilometers away.
The radio unit take that signal, acts as a modem and passes is along to my router indoors.
Which then hooks up my lights, computer, voice, tv, Pi and more.
For free I might add.
