4G/5G Modem/Router/Antenna Setup

[vas]

I think I will go that route with Teltonika. What sort of antennae do you use?

I'm using both at the boat and home the built in antennae. On a f/b boat the router is under the lower helm dash (not the best spot by any stretch of imagination!) but still the RUT240 (smallest of the range 4G on the boat) works fine up to close to 10nm so haven't bothered to install something better tbh.
That's in and around the mainland and Sporades islands and further ahead in the Aegean. Mind there are high (often over 300m) peaks on most islands and transmitters are placed accordingly which does help a lot!

V.

 

[47GC]

This is what we have installed, it comes with a 240v adaptor and the 12 volt connector. So far it's working great, Haven't had to reboot it or anything. Initial config is super easy.
Teltonika RUT956 Industrial Cellular Router

 

[vas]

This is what we have installed, it comes with a 240v adaptor and the 12 volt connector. So far it's working great, Haven't had to reboot it or anything. Initial config is super easy.
Teltonika RUT956 Industrial Cellular Router

generally useful to regularly check for new firmware and update it. They bring updates/new features/stability tuning fairly often on newer models, a couple of times a year for older ones.

 

[Hurricane]

generally useful to regularly check for new firmware and update it. They bring updates/new features/stability tuning fairly often on newer models, a couple of times a year for older ones.

IIRC, There was a problem upgrading the Teltonika 940. I think I had to downgrade mine.

It seems that Teltonika use a version of OpenWRT.

 

[Hurricane]

fwiw, the TELTONIKA series have a fancy 4pole plug and a 12V power brick, BUT if you read the documentation that comes with it, will work from anything from 9-30VDC.
Hence I scrapped the brick and wired straight into my 24V system.
Works fine 24/7 for the last 3yrs so definitely wouldn't bother with power bricks/droppers and all that!
Would expect Mike to have done so as well

cheers

V.

In fact, I use a power brick fed from an inverter. That's because I switch it over to shore power when I leave the boat. The router is on 24/7 for my security cameras.
I also use a downstream router that connects to my home VPN but thats a whole new subject. I leave that on 24/7 as well.
Also the ships PC is useful - remotely started and connected to remotely. Useful to check battery levels etc.

 

[Hurricane]

Thanks for the write-up - that's really helpful. Inferesting that you think the antenna doesn't make much of a difference. What antenna are you using?

This is the antenna that I'm using.
Omni Directional 4G LTE External Outdoor Antenna Teltonika RUT950 RUT955 SMA | eBay

 

[DreJen]

GL-iNet have now bought out a cheaper 4G model. Don't know if this has all the facilities OP is looking for, but I am seeing them for about £130 on eBay now.

Spitz Plus (GL-X2000) | 4G Dual SIM Gateway | Wi-Fi 6 LTE Router

Thanks for this.

I've decided to future-proof and go for the GL-iNet GL-X3000 for 5g capability and 4x4 MIMO support. Unless im missing something I dont see any advantage to the more expensive RUTX50.

I'll likely run it as is without an external antenna initially and upgrade to a 4x4 mimo if I am underwhelmed.

Does anyone have any antenna recommendations? Also wondering how people typically wire these from a flybridge - do I just use the existing GPS cable channel?

 

[NC11]

Just ordered a Teltonika 950 for 85 quid on ebay. I'll try the standard antennae first and see how it goes.

 

[harvey38]

Thanks for this.

I've decided to future-proof and go for the GL-iNet GL-X3000 for 5g capability and 4x4 MIMO support. Unless im missing something I dont see any advantage to the more expensive RUTX50.

I'll likely run it as is without an external antenna initially and upgrade to a 4x4 mimo if I am underwhelmed.

Does anyone have any antenna recommendations? Also wondering how people typically wire these from a flybridge - do I just use the existing GPS cable channel?

I'm using a Poynting Puck antenna mounted on a piece of 1M stainless tube, it certainly increased upload/download speeds on my TP Link router.

 

[charmedquark]

If you just want 4G, I bought a Kuma Connect play device from amazon. 12V and included a stick on antenna which I stuck to the window nearby. Works well for my usage and didn’t cost a crazy amount (£220ish). May be worth looking at.

 

[Alicatt]

I'm using a Poynting Puck antenna mounted on a piece of 1M stainless tube, it certainly increased upload/download speeds on my TP Link router.

So far my €40 TP-Link TL-MR105 has had good connection to 4G, when it comes time to leave the inland waterways I will put on external antennas on the radar arch, there is a GSM antenna on the port side of the cockpit combing but not traced the wiring for it, I'm still finding things behind panels inside the boat

 

[Sticky Fingers]

So far my €40 TP-Link TL-MR105 has had good connection to 4G, when it comes time to leave the inland waterways I will put on external antennas on the radar arch, there is a GSM antenna on the port side of the cockpit combing but not traced the wiring for it, I'm still finding things behind panels inside the boat

How are you powering it? 12v, inverter, …?

 

[Alicatt]

Inverter 230V, currently shore power, the device requires a 9V source

 

[Robi]

This is the antenna that I'm using.
Omni Directional 4G LTE External Outdoor Antenna Teltonika RUT950 RUT955 SMA | eBay

Hi, yes, thanks that was very useful! I've managed to get the Dlink for about £30 which feels a bargain! On the antenna, I was going to go for a Poynting Omni 403 but seems that has one cable connection. Could you connect that to just one side of the Dlink or would that be a bad idea? This is on a sailing boat and the Teltonica antenna is a bit big maybe.
Thanks

 

[jakew009]

Looks like a great set-up. I don't have Starlink at the moment and also am not considering it, hence the 4G/5G solution.

What is the Peplink antenna doing differently to the Poyn tings?

Would be very happy with a setup like this but not sure I can justify the cost of the peplink equipment compared to a cheap and cheerful 4g modem and router in terms of how much benefit they provide.

The Peplink HD2 Dome had dual 4G modems inside it with built in dual 4x4 MIMO antennas. It's a bit of a weird choice because it's 4G only and was end of life'd ages ago, but it was top tier in it's day.

You'll likely get a better connection offshore with the dome than the Max BR2 because of the loss in the long Poynting antenna cables.

 

[wonkywinch]

wow! Save some internet for the rest of us.

I was looking at getting a 12V powered router to use underway. Do people just use inverters to power normal routers or is 12V the way to go?

I bought a TP Link 4G Cat 6 wifi router, I expect it's like many, the AC adaptor supplies it with 12v so I just connect it using the supplied connector (adaptor chopped off) to a 3A fused connection to my boat 12v system.

Works perfectly, no need for any 240v.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B09X3HRBZQ