LTE and DMR hotspot in car

[PrivatelyJeff]

Has anyone here ever installed an LTE modem and/or DMR hotspot in a car? I’m looking to do both and I have some questions.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Not a perm install but use mine in my car from time to time using my hotspot. Works fine.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

I want to permanently install in my car both an LTE modem and raspberry pi based hotspot and was wondering if it would be worth in to install external antennas on my roof/trunk. I was thinking a low profile UHF and 2 low profile cell antennas.

 

[krokus]

I want to permanently install in my car both an LTE modem and raspberry pi based hotspot and was wondering if it would be worth in to install external antennas on my roof/trunk. I was thinking a low profile UHF and 2 low profile cell antennas.

Only if you are going to need the extra distance the better antennas will allow.

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[jeepsandradios]

As krokus said only if you need the distance. I run an external Cell antenna for my LTE modem as I live in cell black hole. My open spot works fine for my HT with the stock antenna even outside the truck.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

Since the equipment will be mounted in the trunk, I think some antennas for the modem are in order. Coverage in my area is pretty good but I do go through some dark spots. For the DMR hotspot, I keep bouncing back and forth. I’ll probably go with the stock antenna to cut down on holes I put in my car. I’m already up to 5.

 

[w2xq]

If you toss a VZW Jetpack (or equivalent), a hotspot (or a new SharkRF Openspot2) and a solar cell phone battery pack (a variety available at Best Buy) with 2 USB sockets into a transparent icebox container, just put the containter on a seat of the vehicle. I found a solar cell battery version that also had LED lights on the other side, plus a jack for the usual 5v charger, with an on/off switch at Best Buy for ~$40. Two short cable and maybe, if needed, a power cord when there isn't enough sunlight should finish the clean project..

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

I’m going to do something like that for a mobile kit with a Netgear MR1100 mobile router and Raspberry Pi based hotspot. The only cables I would need are a network cable and a USB cable connecting them since the MR1100 also doubles as a battery pack.

For the car, it’s already crowded inside the car plus I’m mounting all my radio gear in the trunk anyway. I plan on going with a Netgear LB1120 LTE modem and a Raspberry Pi based hotspot. It’s also going to double as router for mobile data in my car.

 

[spacellamaman]

face it man...its already over.. embrace it

Since the equipment will be mounted in the trunk, I think some antennas for the modem are in order. Coverage in my area is pretty good but I do go through some dark spots. For the DMR hotspot, I keep bouncing back and forth. I’ll probably go with the stock antenna to cut down on holes I put in my car. I’m already up to 5.

you and "low profile" haven't been near each other for sometime now, with that Sieve you call a car you're driving, at this point you need to just go ahead and face reality:

--you Will-Not be picking up ANY chicks in that car, --

and presumably you haven't had a snowballs chance since the second perforation happened, so just go ahead and go for performance. no one likes a porcupine with short hair or long, so might as well grow it out and let your freak flag fly.

speaking of flags, from the sound of it you could have a scale model of the courtyard at the UN building with all the flagpoles you got going.

it’s already crowded inside the car

ya know, i could have written all of this stuff myself.

 

[RodStrong]

In the event it's of any interest, I bought this little plastic box at walmart for less than 3 bucks. I keep my Rugged Spot in it.

Drilled a few holes in it for venting. The holes (not visible in the pic) were strategically placed to lessen the likelihood of harming the contents from a drink spill.

I keep ac/dc adapters inside the box, so I can quickly power it in my vehicle or in a hotel room, home, etc. When not using it, I just wrap the power cord around the box and hold it on with a rubber band. Completely portable, and protects the Rugged Spot. You can simply lay it in the seat, back seat, floorboard, wherever. Plug it in, it will see your hotspot and you're up and running. I wouldn't want to hard mount it because it would reduce my options on using it.

Good luck.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

you and "low profile" haven't been near each other for sometime now, with that Sieve you call a car you're driving, at this point you need to just go ahead and face reality:

--you Will-Not be picking up ANY chicks in that car, --

and presumably you haven't had a snowballs chance since the second perforation happened, so just go ahead and go for performance. no one likes a porcupine with short hair or long, so might as well grow it out and let your freak flag fly.

speaking of flags, from the sound of it you could have a scale model of the courtyard at the UN building with all the flagpoles you got going.



ya know, i could have written all of this stuff myself.

Ok....... let’s unpack all that.

There will be a max of 5 total, but maybe down to 4 now (LTE/WIFI/GPS, main radio, scanner, DMR/APRS).

Not a problem since I don’t need to pick them up anymore.

I don’t need performance, just get a better signal than what the LTE modem can do with its own antennas, creamed in a metal drawer in the trunk. I was thinking of going with a ARM42111DM “Armadillo” antenna system for the data system.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

In the event it's of any interest, I bought this little plastic box at walmart for less than 3 bucks. I keep my Rugged Spot in it.

Drilled a few holes in it for venting. The holes (not visible in the pic) were strategically placed to lessen the likelihood of harming the contents from a drink spill.

I keep ac/dc adapters inside the box, so I can quickly power it in my vehicle or in a hotel room, home, etc. When not using it, I just wrap the power cord around the box and hold it on with a rubber band. Completely portable, and protects the Rugged Spot. You can simply lay it in the seat, back seat, floorboard, wherever. Plug it in, it will see your hotspot and you're up and running. I wouldn't want to hard mount it because it would reduce my options on using it.

Good luck.

I plan on building something like this too for uses outside of the car. My car is a Ford Fiesta and is very small, so anything inside the cabin takes up a lot of space. There is barely space in the back for a small trash can a bin to hold some stuff.