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JohanH
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Boat wifi network skin

Fri Dec 07, 2018 4:20 pm

To create an easier configurable UI we wonder if there is anyone out there willing to help us develop ready-made pre-installed skins for systems that are being uses for ship-shore wifi network confguration. Our goal is to develop a combination system with a Groove routerboard mounted onboard a sailing- or motoryacht and beneath deck a wireless AP e.g. mAP series / routerboard with wifi. See the picture below for the idea.

Image

The Groove routerboard should be able to remember connected AP's by means of saved profiles. When a ship goes from harbour to harbour it should preferably automatic remember the credentials needed. E.g. like a laptop or a phone does remeber former wifi networks added. The Groove routerboard should be able to connect 'Enterprise' wifi networks like Ziggo (ISP in Holland) has and also be able to one-time-login and connect hotspots (KPN hotspots ISP in Holland) with username and password (HTML weblogin). Clients should use NAT to connect the internet so multiple devices only need one login ticket.

Q: who can help us to create a good working dedicated easy configurable skin for both mAP router and Groove? Eventually with an external APP suitable on mobile devices for easy configuration when arriving a new harbour. We know this is a specific question. Maybe not for this forum, but our experience is that there are many boat owners looking for a proper product that can do this. All we want is a fool proof easy system to get wifi access onboard a boat/yacht or in mobile RV's.
 
rzenkert
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Sun Dec 30, 2018 3:23 pm

Hi JohanH,

I have myself developed a outdoor solution based on a "RBwAPR-2nD" and a "RB Metal G-52SHPacn". The first one acts a a wireless AP I connect all other devices to. There are still some open issues and I need winbox.exe on my laptop to establish the connection either through WiFi or through LTE. But in general the setup is working.
I am running both devices on the latest routerOS. I only need 24V to supply the power injector and the RBw.
Well If I understand how to post a picture here I caould do this as well.....
As mentioned it is not yet an optimum but currently working in my RV on a campcround in Italy.

Cheers Richard
 
rzenkert
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Sun Dec 30, 2018 3:33 pm

Hi JohanH,

I have myself developed a system for my RV based out of a RBwAPR-2nD and a "RB Metal G-52SHPacn" both connected together. I only need 24V to the power injector an the RBw which is configured as an wireless access point I connect all other devices to. I still need winbox.exe to select the WiFi network and if I want to connect via LTE. But in principal it is currently working in my RV on a campground in Italy.

Cheers Richard
If I understand how to post a picture here I could do this as well.....
 
JohanH
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Mon Dec 31, 2018 8:45 am

Thanks for your reply Richard,

Obvious your combination will work great too. What we are looking for in this specific recreational vehicle/boat setup (almost the same as yours) is a dedicated Webfig Skin for both MikroTik devices so a non-skilled person can configure the connection in a less comprehensive way without using WinBox. Just by using a phone or a tablet with a dedicated APP to arrange the neccesary WAN connection with the wifi or LTE network nearby. We use these setup onboard sailingships and vessels. Instead of the RBw we prefer to use a separate 4G LTE router configured as failover backup with external 4G mimo antennas instead. Once the Wifi setup is not working the 4G modem will take-over WAN function by 4G signals. Because the distance to the LTE base satation is very far in most cases and boats often are made of steel (Faraday cage) we need the external 4G LTE antennas mounted in the masts on the boat.

P.S. you can make a picture link by means of an URL to an elsewhere uploaded online picture.

Regards,

Johan
 
rzenkert
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Wed Jan 02, 2019 11:05 pm

Hi Johan,

there are already commercial solutions available on the market based on Mikrotik products. Here is my solution out on my RV:
Image
Ciao Richard
 
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pcunite
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Thu Jan 03, 2019 1:01 am

anyone out there willing to help us develop

Have you found anyone to help you yet?
 
rzenkert
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Thu Jan 03, 2019 12:17 pm

Hi Johann,
I tried to run a hotspot on the RBwAPR-2nD&R11e-LTE and started to develop a website which would show me the available WiFi networks I can connect to as well as a button to "switch" between WiFi or LTE. This way you may not need an APP on a mobile device - just connect to your hotspot. For user management and first setup you still may need some more experiance person if you go this route. Underlying scripts still would need to be developed.

I personally want to manualy control which WAN interface is beeing used as I have family members which suck the last byte out of your LTE/mobile phone contract. Going this route, I would support someone in doing it as well.

Cheers Richard
 
JohanH
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Thu Jan 03, 2019 6:41 pm

anyone out there willing to help us develop

Have you found anyone to help you yet?
Unfortunately not. Have you got ideas?
 
JohanH
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Thu Jan 03, 2019 6:45 pm

Hi Johan,

there are already commercial solutions available on the market based on Mikrotik products. Here is my solution out on my RV:
Image
Ciao Richard
Where are these avilable? I did not find them yet.
 
rzenkert
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:37 pm

Hi Johan,

I have not seen them in reality but if you check this documents it realy looks like Mikrotik housings.
https://wifiranger.com/images/guides/Wi ... arison.pdf
They also seem to have an own skin.
If you shop via here https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/produc ... oster-pack you seem to get 5% discount but they do not seem to have a european presence. Maybe good for you to start a business with them.....
Hope I could help
Ciao Richard
 
JohanH
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:59 pm

Richard,

Do you think the WifiRanger is reasonable priced? We think they are highly-over-priced. Just a metal mounting bracket and some embedded software....

Regards,

Johan
 
rzenkert
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Re: Boat wifi network skin

Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:11 pm

Hi Johan,
I personaly think this is extreamly overpriced, but I can not fully judge the own skin functionality and it seems that their customers are paying for it! Compared to my solution hardware costs already about 3x and as shown in the pdf it does not support LTE.
A german company develops a custom hotspot web page for ~250€. Not sure if there are some scripts in there as well.
Anyway, I am more than happy with RouterOS functionality and if I have time I continue to develop the html page.
Cheers

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