Google Wifi Antenna (Originally posted Aug 4, 2008)

Originally Posted Aug 4, 2008, 10:19 PM

Google Wifi setup at my fiance’s home…. Yes, I had to get on the roof to do this!

Total Cost: $200-ish can’t remember now – Might be less

Total Time: Took me 2 weekends to get the right parts but to setup its FAST.

** I’ve added steel cables to stabilize the pole. 3 cables from the pole to the roof.

Materials:

  1. Metal Pole / Pipe (I got a pipe from a Hardware Store) Make sure the gauge fits the Hawking Antenna mounting kit and the U bracket you will use to mount to the roof.
  2. Hawkings Technology – HAO14SDP

    2.4GHz Hi-Gain Directional 14dBi

    Outdoor Directional Antenna http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=58&ProdID=267

  3. Hawkings Technology – If you need more outdoor length the cable that came with the antenna was too short for me. [HAC30N] N-Plug Outdoor Cable Extension 30 feet (for Outdoor Antenna kits) (There’s also a 10 feet version) http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=28&FamID=100&ProdID=156
  4. Peplink Surf http://www.pepwave.com/products/surf/
  5. Nice Cheap and Good Router —-> Linksys (NRT54G)
  6. Ethernet Cable to Connect Peplink Surf to Linksys

Instructions:

  1. Determine where the closest Google Wifi Access point is: See map (http://wifi.google.com/city/mv/apmap.html) and drive around to find the little boxes with ET antennas mounted on top of light poles.
  2. Test the Hardware works properly and you have all necessary parts
    1. Connect the antenna to Peplink Surf (remove the existing antenna) using the Extension Cable
    2. Connect the Peplink Surf to a Laptop/PC and follow Peplink Instructions
    3. See if you can get a signal to Google Wifi – point the antenna towards the google access point (if you can connect, you’re all set)
  3. Determine where you want to mount the antenna. You need to mount one end of the pole to the roof. I just used the old TV antenna mounting location.
  4. Determine how you will get the Outdoor Antenna Cable into the house. (I just slipped it under the door to the laundry room)
  5. Mount the Antenna to the pole (Mounting kit is included).
  6. Drill holes to add the U bracket to the roof if necessary.
  7. Rotate the antenna so that its facing the Google WiFi access point.
  8. Repeat Step 2 with the antenna on the roof. Rotate the antenna and adjust pitch until the PepLink software indicate you have the best signal (Takes a bit of trial and error, I suggest NOT bringing your laptop to the roof (for safety reasons and just have someone call up whether its better or worst as you adjust the antenna)
  9. tighten the Antenna Mounting Bracket so that the position is fixed
  10. Add stablizing cables if necessary.
  11. Follow the Hawkings technology instructions to tape the cable joints and ground the Antenna
  12. Secure the Antenna Cabling
  13. Configure the wireless router (See router instructions)
  14. Turn off the Peplink Surf and the wireless router
  15. Connect the peplink to the wireless router’s ethernet “UPLINK” jack instead of your PC
  16. Turn on power to Peplink Surf (Wait until its online see status lights)
  17. Turn on power to the Wireless Router
  18. YOU’RE DONE!!!

Notes:

The Peplink Surf does support Power over Ethernet (POE) so technically you can have a short external cable that goes from the Antenna to the Peplink Surf and have a standard cat 5 / cat 6 cable that connects to the Peplink Surf that supplies both power and a network connection to you router. This is idea if you have an air duct or attic crawl space where you could mount the Peplink Surf, then you get less signal degradation over the antenna cable. The less distance between the Peplink Surf and the Antenna, the more idea the signal should be.

Hope this helps!

For more info see:

Google Wifi Site (http://wifi.google.com/)

Google Wifi Help Group (http://groups.google.com/group/WiFi-Help-Discussion)

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