Glass, fiberglass, and FRP (Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic), while not com-
pletely transparent to a Wi-Fi radio signal, don't create a serious obsta-
cle (like metal does). You can, for example, mount your antenna behind
a fiberglass wind deflector without worrying that it will deflect your
Wi-Fi signal as well as wind.
Mount your antenna as high as possible. With or without a high trailer,
if you can get your antenna up in the air, you have fewer obstacles to the
line-of-sight to the access point's antenna. If you're pulling a high trailer
and you can mount the antenna far forward -- with the tip of the antenna
reaching up to within a foot or so of the trailer top -- then the trailer
itself becomes much less of a potential obstacle.
Setting up an outdoor omnidirectional
antenna
If you've ever mounted a CB antenna, then you know that it doesn't have to
be the most challenging thing you've ever done. To plan your installation,
you just find the best place to mount your antenna, determine where the
coax will terminate, and make a plan for running coaxial cable between those
two points. Rather than attempt to give you a step-by-step guide for installing
an antenna, I've offered some general guidelines here to help you make a
clean installation that operates efficiently.
Choosing your antenna location
With obstacle avoidance in mind, your first consideration is locating the
antenna as close as possible to the area where you most often use your com-
puter. If drilling holes in the exterior of your vehicle is acceptable in your sit-
uation, then you can probably mount your antenna relatively close to that
area. If not, then a rail or mirror mount may be the ticket; then, no matter
where you do your computing, the location of the rail or mirror you use as a
mount will determine the antenna location.
If you're planning to drill holes in the exterior wall or roof, be certain that the
mount is securely fastened -- and well sealed with gaskets and sealant. (If
neither surface is plastic or FRP, use a polysulfide sealant; otherwise use sili-
cone.) And take a minute and see if there are any nearby entry points, like
vents, that you might use for cable entry.
Finally, you don't want to minimize the value of a neat and aesthetically pleas-
ing installation. For example, if you can mount the antenna so that a cabinet
or shelving hides any ingress of hardware, that little bit of extra effort will go
a long way in making the job look more professional. If you can use existing
wire and cable entry points for the coax, that's even better.
Chapter 4: Putting Your Gear Together
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