WiFi Antenna install query

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Jan 22, 2019
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MH
Adria PVC
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Rented a few times...now an owner.
Decided an upgrade to our Wifi was needed and have taken the plunge on a Poynting puck antenna and Teltonika router ...Now need to mount the antenna on the roof of the van (Adria Twin PVC).....

I was hoping to avoid cutting (another) hole in the roof if possible with all the added hassle of internal trim removal and wondered what better qualified funsters might think of attaching puck to the roof rails and feeding the cable inside through the bathroom vent?

Its close enough to where I want to site the router inside the van, and once inside I can run the cable in some trunking over the top of the bathroom ceiling. As far as I can tell, the vent is a permanently open, simple offset design (no extractor fan or anything, and a horizontal hole as marked in photo below, would be under the lip of the vent and would be very easy to seal on both sides with sikaflex....

Has anyone done this before or can maybe see why this would be a bad idea ? Second photo shows where I'd expect the hole on the inside to appear

IMG_3261.webp


IMG_3262.webp
 
I don't have one of these finding a phone hotspot adequate but I believe the cable from antenna to router should be as short as possible. I would go for the hole in the roof over a roof locker near the router. The antenna covers the hole.
 
And I thought my roof was dirty :D

Rather than mount on the roof rails, consider getting a raised bracket or plate to fit the aerial. https://www.motorhomewifi.com/product/stand-off/ may be similar elsewhere. That can be stuck down with Sikaflex type adhesive.

I am in the process of upgrading my aerial. The new Poynting 4x4 Mimo, suited to the Teltonika (I didn't bother with the versions that had wifi and other connections) has 4 separate co-axial cables, within a braided loom. That is a pain to get a waterproof joint however it is penetrating as most of the cable housings are for only single or two cables. The Poynting also has the cables prewired with the SMA connector ends, which don't fit through the many housing feeds. I may have to get a new crimping tool and replacement connectors :( It will however let me shorten the cables from the supplied 2m, which is longer than I want.

I'm not sure with the height of your mushroom vent if you can successfully feed them without risking water ingress. Cutting the vent or drilling it may see it shatter as I expect the plastic to be brittle.
 
A hole in the roof would save a little on cable run ....I reckon only about 80cms. It comes with a 2m cable so to maximize the benefit I would also have to cut and reattach all the connectors. It would also mean removing the cupboards and some ceiling trim in the lounge area, to get access

And I thought my roof was dirty :D

Rather than mount on the roof rails, consider getting a raised bracket or plate to fit the aerial. https://www.motorhomewifi.com/product/stand-off/ may be similar elsewhere. That can be stuck down with Sikaflex type adhesive.

I am in the process of upgrading my aerial. The new Poynting 4x4 Mimo, suited to the Teltonika (I didn't bother with the versions that had wifi and other connections) has 4 separate co-axial cables, within a braided loom. That is a pain to get a waterproof joint however it is penetrating as most of the cable housings are for only single or two cables. The Poynting also has the cables prewired with the SMA connector ends, which don't fit through the many housing feeds. I may have to get a new crimping tool and replacement connectors :( It will however let me shorten the cables from the supplied 2m, which is longer than I want.

I'm not sure with the height of your mushroom vent if you can successfully feed them without risking water ingress. Cutting the vent or drilling it may see it shatter as I expect the plastic to be brittle.
Yep - unfortunately at the moment the van stays out in all weathers on the drive 😁

I think the plastic is pretty brittle - the top cap clips on but I didnt fancy trying to unclip it in this freezing weather. If I can site the hole as high as possible under the cap, above the level of the roof channel (my photo shows the hole site too low), then any water should in theory run away down the channel. ...But yes, its a good point, the braiding around the cables won't help ...
I think you're right - not shattering it will be the main challenge - I guess in the worst case I could chop the old vent out and replace it.
 
Last edited:
I fixed mine by drilling a hole through the roof obviously on top of a ridge and went into the wall cupboard. I had the advantage of doing the conversion so I knew what I was drilling through. I would not attempt to shorten the provided cables.

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I may be completely wrong but I thought Poynting said not to shorten the leads?

Worth being sure. RF is way too complicated for me but I do understand a bit about standing waves, and the like.

Tony
 
Don't bother with a Puck they have naff all or negative gain in the 800Mhz bandwidth which is what is mostly used in rural areas, get yourself a decent MiMo.

I may be completely wrong but I thought Poynting said not to shorten the leads?
Ok to do it providing you have the proper crimp tools and know what you are doing otherwise leave alone.

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I may be completely wrong but I thought Poynting said not to shorten the leads?

Worth being sure. RF is way too complicated for me but I do understand a bit about standing waves, and the like.

Tony
yep totally agree - not planning on doing that 👍
 
Don't bother with a Puck they have naff all or negative gain in the 800Mhz bandwidth which is what is mostly used in rural areas, get yourself a decent MiMo.
Yep - wrong description on my part I think - going for this one

MIMO-4-4 POYNTING 4-IN-1 Omni-Directional, LTE/4G/5G, Transportation & Automotive Antenna​

  • Ultra-wideband coverage from 617 to 6000 MHz for cellular (LTE/4G/5G)
  • 4x4 MIMO LTE/4G/5G
  • 4 x 2m cables with 4 x SMA plugs for LTE/4G/5G
  • Robust and weather resistant antenna with an IP69K rating
  • Ideal for transportation and marine implementation
  • Multi mounting options for ease of installation
  • Available in black or white

 
Yep - wrong description on my part I think - going for this one

MIMO-4-4 POYNTING 4-IN-1 Omni-Directional, LTE/4G/5G, Transportation & Automotive Antenna​

  • Ultra-wideband coverage from 617 to 6000 MHz for cellular (LTE/4G/5G)
  • 4x4 MIMO LTE/4G/5G
  • 4 x 2m cables with 4 x SMA plugs for LTE/4G/5G
  • Robust and weather resistant antenna with an IP69K rating
  • Ideal for transportation and marine implementation
  • Multi mounting options for ease of installation
  • Available in black or white

Yep that's exactly what I am faffing about with ;)
 
I have a different system but I found I didn’t need to mount the antenna on the outside of the van as the signal is strong enough from inside so I have mounted it inside and have no problem getting a signal so you could always try that first.

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Decided an upgrade to our Wifi was needed and have taken the plunge on a Poynting puck antenna and Teltonika router ...Now need to mount the antenna on the roof of the van (Adria Twin PVC).....

I was hoping to avoid cutting (another) hole in the roof if possible with all the added hassle of internal trim removal and wondered what better qualified funsters might think of attaching puck to the roof rails and feeding the cable inside through the bathroom vent?

Its close enough to where I want to site the router inside the van, and once inside I can run the cable in some trunking over the top of the bathroom ceiling. As far as I can tell, the vent is a permanently open, simple offset design (no extractor fan or anything, and a horizontal hole as marked in photo below, would be under the lip of the vent and would be very easy to seal on both sides with sikaflex....

Has anyone done this before or can maybe see why this would be a bad idea ? Second photo shows where I'd expect the hole on the inside to appear

View attachment 1008573

View attachment 1008574
I would drill a hole use plenty of sikaflex, keep an eye out for sharp edges and don't shorten the cables I ruined my first one I have a Poynting 5 puc I think with loads of connectors into a tectonica router with duel SIM cards and it works well just make sure you can route it all nicley into a cupboard to you can get to it to swap out the SIM cards when needed
 
Can’t help much as not brave enough myself to cut a hole but what I do know is that you should try and keep the route from the puck to the router as short as possible. Best of luck
 
Yep - wrong description on my part I think - going for this one

MIMO-4-4 POYNTING 4-IN-1 Omni-Directional, LTE/4G/5G, Transportation & Automotive Antenna​

  • Ultra-wideband coverage from 617 to 6000 MHz for cellular (LTE/4G/5G)
  • 4x4 MIMO LTE/4G/5G
  • 4 x 2m cables with 4 x SMA plugs for LTE/4G/5G
  • Robust and weather resistant antenna with an IP69K rating
  • Ideal for transportation and marine implementation
  • Multi mounting options for ease of installation
  • Available in black or white

that's the thing I have good bit of kit but lots of connectors :)
 
I had a 4/5G aerial fitted to my Adria Twin by the supplying dealer. They fitted it above the dinette seat area by drilling a small hole for wires then using electricians flexible cable threading tools to pull the wires between the roof and the insulation into the side locker. They then glued the aerial to the roof with Sikafix and sealed the gaps with it. Lovely neat job, no internal wires visible, and its nice, solid and watertight. I would post a picture but pride won't allow it because I haven't washed the roof since November.
 
As for the original question, I'd try the Teltonika with its supplied antennas first. You may be happy with the signal as is (you may not, but it costs nothing to try)

If you are going to mount the Puck then I'd personally bite the bullet and cut a fresh hole.

I'm planning to use some 3D printed blanking plates from eBay to go in the 'valley' of the roof so there's a flat area for the antenna to mount which will make sealing it all a lot easier.

There's a seller who provides these for installing skylights / maxxfan type things but (importantly) specifies that the material used is UV resistant.

The little tiles will get stuck down with Sikaflex, then the antenna will get stuck down with more Sikaflex (I should buy shares...) and sealed again from the inside and also mechanically fastened with the provided locknut.
 
I would recommend you try things without an antenna first off... we use a Netgear Nighthawk router and when i purchased it I also bought a Poynting antenna to plug in to it.... In 3 yrs since then lugging it all over the UK and Europe I only ever plugged the Poynting in once and subsequently sold it a couple of months ago.. just never needed it, and never struggled for a signal.
 
I would recommend you try things without an antenna first off... we use a Netgear Nighthawk router and when i purchased it I also bought a Poynting antenna to plug in to it.... In 3 yrs since then lugging it all over the UK and Europe I only ever plugged the Poynting in once and subsequently sold it a couple of months ago.. just never needed it, and never struggled for a signal.
Along with other Funsters - that a really good shout 👍 ....if we're struggling for a signal then could always sling the antenna up on the roof through a slightly open skylight for a night or two and the rest of the time just use the Teltonika.

I had a 4/5G aerial fitted to my Adria Twin by the supplying dealer. They fitted it above the dinette seat area by drilling a small hole for wires then using electricians flexible cable threading tools to pull the wires between the roof and the insulation into the side locker. They then glued the aerial to the roof with Sikafix and sealed the gaps with it. Lovely neat job, no internal wires visible, and its nice, solid and watertight. I would post a picture but pride won't allow it because I haven't washed the roof since November.
I think that's probably where I would do it, if I had to install it, on reflection.
 
As for the original question, I'd try the Teltonika with its supplied antennas first. You may be happy with the signal as is (you may not, but it costs nothing to try)

If you are going to mount the Puck then I'd personally bite the bullet and cut a fresh hole.

I'm planning to use some 3D printed blanking plates from eBay to go in the 'valley' of the roof so there's a flat area for the antenna to mount which will make sealing it all a lot easier.

There's a seller who provides these for installing skylights / maxxfan type things but (importantly) specifies that the material used is UV resistant.

The little tiles will get stuck down with Sikaflex, then the antenna will get stuck down with more Sikaflex (I should buy shares...) and sealed again from the inside and also mechanically fastened with the provided locknut.
Thanks for the suggestions - makes a lot of sense.
If I did install it, I wondered about whether to fill the valleys on the roof - without anything in there it would be very difficult to get the sealant gun under the antenna to make it waterproof. My son has a 3D printer - I might commission him for some filler pieces 👍
 
Don't bother with a Puck they have naff all or negative gain in the 800Mhz bandwidth which is what is mostly used in rural areas, get yourself a decent MiMo.


Ok to do it providing you have the proper crimp tools and know what you are doing otherwise leave alone.
Tech is not my thing please tell me or add a link to the Mimo as it’s the next thing I need to do is sort out a system that works

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Thanks for the suggestions - makes a lot of sense.
If I did install it, I wondered about whether to fill the valleys on the roof - without anything in there it would be very difficult to get the sealant gun under the antenna to make it waterproof. My son has a 3D printer - I might commission him for some filler pieces 👍

These are the ones I got if it helps him visualise them.

They're not designed to be a perfect fit as the expectation is that you're going to add some sealant so you need just enough room around them to allow for that.

Mind you, for the price it may be just as easy to buy some!
 
This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
You and Sikaflex brings me a whole range of strange feelings! :LOL:
Horror and hilarity at the same time. :ROFLMAO:
And bewilderment.
 
These are the ones I got if it helps him visualise them.

They're not designed to be a perfect fit as the expectation is that you're going to add some sealant so you need just enough room around them to allow for that.

Mind you, for the price it may be just as easy to buy some!
Cheaper than the 400 x 400 square infill that costs about £70.
 
This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
Yes indeed - Although I got one of those for about £15 but I can't remember where from now...

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