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Remote monitoring and hotspots

Bluedog225

Bluedog225

Solar Wizard
Joined
Nov 18, 2019
Messages
4,064
Location
Texas
I think I posted something on this a while back, but I can’t find the thread. Pardon the partial overlap.

I’ve got my cerbo and other Victron stuff inside a shipping container. I want to buy a hotspot so that I can use the Victron virtual remote monitoring. I also need a hotspot out there to be reachable for/from work.

I can get an AT&T plan for about 40 bucks a month unlimited. The hotspot they want to sell me is a is Netgear Nighthawk M6 PRO. And I can get one of these on eBay for about 200 bucks. It says AT&T and unlocked.

My question is, how do I get the signal from the hotspot to inside the shipping container?

I’m guessing I need to mount the hotspot outside, covered somehow, and up high, and with access to power. Maybe it accepts cat 6 cable?

Or should I be looking at some sort of ourdoors rated hotspot? These are my choices that work with the plan.


Or is starlink the way to go? I’m remote but not that remote. Phone works fine when up on the roof.

I am technically challenged so please keep it simple.

Many thanks
 
What about cutting a hole for the wire in the side of the container, and then putting the hot spot on the outside connected via cable to the Cerbo? You could then enclose the hot spot in non-transparent Tupperware with some vent holes on the bottom for cooling.
 
Sure. I can put a line through a hole in the floor. Though putting an indoor rated hotspot out there seems like it will be short lived in the Texas weather.

I was thinking of putting it under the eave of the cabin. Probably a 50 foot run of power and cat 6 (or whatever) cable.
 
That could work, but another option is putting it in a Tupperware container to keep it dry and mostly protected from the weather. You can place it under an eave or overhang for extra protection. I’ve had a Google Nest Wi-Fi access point in a Tupperware container attached to a tree in my yard for four years, and it's held up great. The plastic provides a shield without interfering with the Wi-Fi signal, and I cut a small hole in the bottom for ventilation. It gets some direct sunlight and plenty of rain, but this setup works well. Just flip the Tupperware upside down so the lid is on the bottom, creating a dome to house your hardware.
 
Victron has this:

www.victronenergy.com

GX LTE 4G - Victron Energy

The GX LTE 4G is a cellular modem for our GX range of monitoring products. It provides a mobile internet connection for the system and connection to the...
www.victronenergy.com www.victronenergy.com

When I last looked into it, it didn't seem to be a device that worked with the Cerbo GX. I already had Starlink, so I decided that I didn't need a cellular-based device. My system does work with Starlink, but I don't use my Starlink unless I'm out camping. It's not active when the RV is at the storage lot, though I could set it up to do that if I was willing to pay the monthly fee.
 
Look this up on Amazon (couldn't produce link as I'm on a mobile device):

Joinfworld Outdoor Electrical Box Waterproof IP67 6X6 Plastic Project Box Enclosure Weatherproof for WiFi Electronics Solar Network Marine Outside with Stainless Steel Hinged​

I've used these to house indoor wifi access points outside, with cat 6 running into them (substitute the cabling you need to charge battery, etc). With a compression connection making the cable watertight, I've used these for years, outside in Maine. Will be mounting more of them at new barn over next few weeks to avoid purchase of expensive outdoor access points. A small cellular hotspot should fit nicely inside.
 
If it were me, I'd put a small hole in the container and route the antenna out side then keep the unit inside. Unless you're looking for wifi coverage around the container. That way you get all the signal and keep the hardware nice and dry. They make extension cables for the type of connector that unit will have. The page I saw even included an antenna if you ordered but they wanted $900 for the unit.

1723811026487.png
 
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I think Tim nailed it. There’s a whole deal to set up a mesh network.

I’ll need a mobile hotspot and then a bunch of other stuff to send signals around the place. To include getting it inside the conex.

I think this is going to suck.

Am going to look at the Victron GX lte as a partial solution for now. I don’t know if it has a monthly charge.

​

 
It will have a charge if it's cellular, some just bill you yearly for it.

Depending on what you need, it might not be that bad. I haven't watched that video yet but what you're talking about is basically the start of a network. You can build it one block at a time and extend it as your needs grow/change.
 
Bluedog225 said:
I think Tim nailed it. There’s a whole deal to set up a mesh network.

I’ll need a mobile hotspot and then a bunch of other stuff to send signals around the place. To include getting it inside the conex.

I think this is going to suck.

Am going to look at the Victron GX lte as a partial solution for now. I don’t know if it has a monthly charge.

​

Click to expand...
Anything that works off cell phone service has a monthly charge to it.

If you are close enough and don't mind running a small cable you can use fiber to connect it up since fiber has range in miles not feet for network stuff. Full speed all the time.

If not and you just want something simple with killer range look at the 900mhz wifi stuff on amazon. Cheap and good range but not particularly fast. But if you just monitoring your stuff speed isn't required.
 
Also something that just dawned on me. You had mentioned not wanting the equipment outside since the heat would get it. You don't put the equipment outside. You just put the antenna outside. The equipment stays inside.
 
I’ve got the ATT plan worked out.

I’m trying to decide on the first step of getting a mobile hotspot. Maybe a mobile unit, that I can mount under the eave. I think that’s the right move. Then build out a mesh network. I think.

The automotive/mobile hotspot/wifi stuff is not cheap. But seems to have the build I’m looking for.
 
I watched part of the video and understand what they did. They have a fairly large setup but they have a big area to cover. I run UniFi hardware at my house and I like how it works. I've helped others run it as well and it has had its share of problems but is pretty stable.

To help you more, we'll need some specifics on what exactly you're trying to accomplish. Is it just internet to the container or needs to cover other areas?
 
My needs are pretty basic. Internet to the cabin and surrounding area. Maybe 200 feet. And get the signal into the conex so I can use Victron VRM to watch the system. Later some internet poe cameras.

Ideally, the hotspot can mount outside the metal sided cabin under the eave since it’s about 30’ up and gets good line of site to the nearest tower.
 
I'm not personally a fan of mounting hardware like that outside unless it's 100% rated for outdoor use. I rather mount the hardware inside and run antennas out as they're easier to replace than the core hardware. Sounds like your initial needs are pretty basic and that device will work well.
 
I use a ubiquiti/unifi nano AC point to point WiFi antenna mounted on the house and connected to my PoE switch in the house WiFi system. The other identical antenna is mounted on the barn and connected to my PoE switch in the barn which itself is connected to the battery. The antennas are pointed to each other.

The raspberry pi running VenusOS uses a PoE Hat and plugs into the same PoE switch in the barn for both power and networking.

That's how I get VRM for my barn solar system, and as soon as I finish the stalls in the barn I can mount a camera in the barn to watch the animals from the house, using same PoE switch in the barn.
 
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Bluedog225 said:
My needs are pretty basic. Internet to the cabin and surrounding area. Maybe 200 feet. And get the signal into the conex so I can use Victron VRM to watch the system. Later some internet poe cameras.

Ideally, the hotspot can mount outside the metal sided cabin under the eave since it’s about 30’ up and gets good line of site to the nearest tower.
Click to expand...
I recently set up a hot spot for my vrm . I have the hot spot inside with an antenna mounted outside . Netgear lm1200
And used us mobile sim for $10/month 2GB
This antenna
 
I’m looking at starlink. Only $50 a month for 50GB. Very tempting.

I’ve been using my phone with 5GB till now and doing fine.

How much do you think VRM uses monthly?

Hoping waffleman will chime in as I recall he has starlink. @sunshine_eggo

And does starlink simply broadcast WiFi around the place. I think I can pick it up and push it into the conex if so.

Thanks
 
Starlink does broadcast wifi like a standard router. The new Gen 3 devices even include ethernet ports now so you can add your own hardware. It will have the same limitations as the router you listed earlier.

(I have a family member that has starlink and it works well. We also use it for a couple of our remote facilities at work.)
 
Bluedog225 said:
I’m looking at starlink. Only $50 a month for 50GB. Very tempting.

I’ve been using my phone with 5GB till now and doing fine.

How much do you think VRM uses monthly?

Hoping waffleman will chime in as I recall he has starlink. @sunshine_eggo

And does starlink simply broadcast WiFi around the place. I think I can pick it up and push it into the conex if so.

Thanks
Click to expand...
2gb should be a good allowance for vrm. My sim plan is saying 24mb average a day but I had a few days with high usage doing other tasks .
 
Not sure why you simply don't run an ethernet cable into your Conex. Not hard to than setup any router or switch inside.

I am presently using a pay as you go Data plan from ATT with a M6 hotspot I bought used from EBay. It is in my house with a external mounted antenna to the two TS9 antenna connectors on the hotspot. The battery is removed and the hotspot runs off a usb power supply. From it I run Cat 8 cable to a switch and from the switch there is a Cat 8 to my smart TV across the building and to my computer. I sometimes use the WiFi from the hotspot for my phone and Kindle.

The ATT plan is 20GB per month bought by the year for $300. Cricket has a similar Data only plan (also ATT) of 20GB for $35/mo but they do not allow the M6 just the M1

ETA: The antenna I use is from Waveform. https://www.waveform.com/products/2x2-mimo-panel-kit
 
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