Printable View
I want to install an antenna on my carPC that can be placed either on the car (magnet/door) or somewhere inside the car. I know I need to use a u.FL connector off the card, but which pigtail do I get to mount a connector on the side of the carPC box?
Basically, I want to run an extension connected to the side of the box to a remotely placed antenna. Can I use any omni directional antenna?
What you need to look for is a pigtail with a u.FL on one end and a bulkhead connector on the other. I would probably use either an N connector or RP-SMA on the bulkhead side. Then all you need is an antenna with the matching connector. These guys should have everything you need:
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/
I would go rp-tnc (linksys/cisco accesspoints) or rp-sma (d-stink access points). N is just too big, and harder to find stuff locally.
Here's the sizes you're going to be looking at. The N connector is the one in my hand, I'm holding it as close to the rp-tnc as I can without bending the cable too much. If you have a linksys wrt-54g then you know the size of an rp-tnc.
:whs:
Depends on if you're talking about a high-speed wireless adapter card like this:
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Adap...ome+Networking
See how those cards have an antenna on them?
I use a Netgear card and bought one of the "RP-SMA on the bulkhead side" connectors like rockhammer said. Got mine on boomj.com.
I went to Home Depot, bought a round-topped 2" pvc pipe cap, drilled it as necc for the antenna cable, put a homemade bottom on it with a strong round magnet with plastic cover, so as to not scratch car. You get the idea, and it actually looks pretty tech; not krappy...
It's neat to go into town, set it on the car roof, or top of hatchback, and search for available networks that permit useage. Sets inside car on flat surface or magnetic surface.
Here's my mod for antenna:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...0b60fa29b1.bmp[/IMG]
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...34badc5184.bmp[/IMG]
I went with rp-SMA bulkhead.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/...648a0fb1_o.jpg
there are 3 that you can see there.
1. u.FL-RP-SMA for the mini-PCI WLAN (atheros chipset by Senao)
2. u.FL-RP-SMA for USB-UMTS
3. SMA-RP-SMA for USB GPS adaptor from sparkfun.
I ran all three to the roof to this
http://store.mp3car.com/v/vspfiles/photos/COM-008-2.jpg
Nice!!
Thanks for the link, ordered my pig-tail, extension cable and rubber-ducky. Got them all the next day as hyperlinktech was in the next town over from me :).Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockhammer
Thanks
@Brucedog:Quote:
Originally Posted by brucedog
Awesome, awesome--I love the disc under that magnet! Would look super-clean on any car with white paint, too!
I'm going to make one, this has got to be the simplest, cleanest-looking antenna-mod I've seen anywhere!
Could you use it for other stuff, too? Like--ever think of putting a quick-connect end plug on it, and using it for your standard FM antenna? Or, maybe even something goonie like testing it with a scanner, etc.?
It's perfect, just looks too cool to be single-purpose...I'm buying parts for mine today, BTW.
Hi Mike,
I feel kinda bad that I originally joined mp3car to learn about and build my own carPC/music system setup, then did not come back to mp3.. for a long time. I have learned, designed, modded, and am satisfied. Many guys keep adding/subtracting and changing things, but I am pretty happy...
My little mag-mount antenna consists of the antenna that came with my NetGear card in my carPC, a reverse polarity ("RP") SMA cable, a 1 1/2" pvc pipe cap, the lid off some garlic stuff'd olives, a strong Radio Shack circular disc magnet, to which I glued a piece of soft but strong foam material.
The only "rule" that I tend to follow is that I satisfy myself, build something that works and lasts. I love to recycle and find old stuff to re-use. To me, there's no virtue in spending hard-earned $$ unnecessarily!
The SMA cable is about ten ft long, and although it generally lives in the car, stuck to a magnetic surface, I can stretch it out and put on roof or even on top of hatchback for greater elevation and connect to local hotels wi-fi, wherever I can get signal. Best of luck and skill on YOUR project!