Samsung Tab 2 wifi question

[MarcJ]

Hi all,
I've indulged my gadget lust and got an ebay bargain in the form of a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. I'm sure this question is an easy answer but after having a search on google, can't seem to find any easy solutions.
Has anyone managed to connect a wireless extension aerial to this tablet? I've got a wireless extension aerial, that I got for my camper, it takes it's power from the usb cable. I got it several years ago and came with Ralink software, works brilliantly on a low spec laptop picking up hotspots upto a couple of miles (weak) away over land. Hence me wondering if I could utilise this to catch free wireless anchored up near civilisation. Especially as I found roaming data rates for a mobile dongle aren't cheap and I can't tether my phone to use my data allowance!
There is obviously an issue with the usb cable end from the aerial - is it as simple as getting an adaptor to plug the usb into the Samsung?
BTW as an aside I installed MX Mariner and one chart for less than £10 - what a bargain, and works great! Watch out though I managed to uninstall the map whilst messing about putting it in the dry pouch....I needed to put a sim card in to make it "know" I had paid for the map, luckily we had a mobile signal, otherwise it wouldn't recognise it! We have other gps gadgets onboard and charts, so no big drama, but worth noting if you didn't know.
Thanks in advance!
Marc

 

[MarcJ]

Maybe it's not as straight forward as I hoped...think I'll see if I can get an adaptor and try it!

 

[landlockedpirate]

I use an adapter with my Tab 2, works with most things I have tried, but didnt work with an old hard disk.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Female-USB-to-30-Pin-Adapter-Convertor-OTG-Cable-for-Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-2-II-7-0-/390851869181?pt=UK_iPad_Tablet_Accessories&hash=item5b009639fd

 

[MarcJ]

I use an adapter with my Tab 2, works with most things I have tried, but didnt work with an old hard disk.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Female-USB-to-30-Pin-Adapter-Convertor-OTG-Cable-for-Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-2-II-7-0-/390851869181?pt=UK_iPad_Tablet_Accessories&hash=item5b009639fd

Thanks! Just the job!

 

[Tempus]

Hi Marc

Afaik you can't do this with a USB aerial as there will not enough power from the tablet to run the aerial and I also suspect that the pnp in the aerial has been written for systems other than android. My advice would be to go the whole hog and run a separate wifi system in the boat with an external aerial connected to a router. You then connect all your devices to a single boat network. This has the advantage that you only pay for or use one wifi login (marinas are increasingly giving one login for free). We run ours using a Ubiquiti bullet into a basic Netgear router, all at 12V from the boat's power supply. Works like a dream. Others swear by the Alfa system which runs via usb not Ethernet but I have no exeperience of that - it may be that you can run the Alfa router using your aerial but you'd need to check. Lots of recent threads on this subject. BTW total cost of my system was around £130 inc router and bullet. Alfa is a little cheaper I think but it can be complex running long usb cable runs. If you shop around you can easily spend over £1000 on what is essentially the same thing but rebadged so be warned!

 

[Tempus]

Thanks! Just the job!

Just be careful. The Galaxy tab has very limited power output though a USB adaptor such as this. Hence it won't run most hard drives unless they have their own power source. If the aerial takes its power from the USB (as most do) then it will need more power than the Tab can provide. At £2.99 it's worth a shot, but hope you're not pinning all of your hopes on this!

 

[MarcJ]

Thanks for the advice! I also think that the tablet won't provide enough power for the aerial - I did find a video online which showed how to add power supply to the usb cable. For £2.99 I can have a play!
The other aspect is drivers for the aerial - that might scupper the idea too...

 

[halb]

I use a Galaxy Tab 3 on board and just tether it to my Samsung S3 phone, never fails, no trailing wires, but I do have a mobile contract with unlimited data.

 

[captainboo]

We run ours using a Ubiquiti bullet into a basic Netgear router, all at 12V from the boat's power supply. Works like a dream.

Does this setup then allow you to set up your own boat network that allows you to connect smartphones/tablets with greater range but not require the use of pc to do so as I don't have one on board.

 

[colvic987]

sorry for thread, just had to check I was still logged into PRACTICAL BOAT OWNER, and not Samsung gadgets forum.... isn't there a place on here for non boaty stuff ?????????????????????

 

[mrming]

sorry for thread, just had to check I was still logged into PRACTICAL BOAT OWNER, and not Samsung gadgets forum.... isn't there a place on here for non boaty stuff ?????????????????????

I understood that place is more for the expression of extreme views...

 

[Tempus]

Does this setup then allow you to set up your own boat network that allows you to connect smartphones/tablets with greater range but not require the use of pc to do so as I don't have one on board.

Yes