RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Expansion modules and attachments
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cjrudy
Posts: 135
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:47 pm

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by cjrudy »

dbmet wrote:Did you order the cable with the antenna?

Yes the settings are in the manual and you can use whichever terminal program you use.. I'm on a mac so I use coolterm

Awesome thanks, and yes I ordered the one with the cable.
dbmet
Posts: 235
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:49 am

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by dbmet »

Sweet. Good luck and post back if you have questions
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cjrudy
Posts: 135
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:47 pm

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by cjrudy »

Found the command set wlan ext_antenna 1

Antenna is coming Wednesday, cant wait to try this mod.
cjrudy
Posts: 135
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:47 pm

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by cjrudy »

Antenna came today, mod took a whole 15 minutes, nice and easy.

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cjrudy
Posts: 135
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:47 pm

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by cjrudy »

Quick update, its been a week since I did this mod and I have not had a single issue with the wifi. Definitely worth the $7 and 15 minutes
d0lph1n
Posts: 122
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:16 am

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by d0lph1n »

cjrudy wrote:Found the command set wlan ext_antenna 1

Antenna is coming Wednesday, cant wait to try this mod.
I didn't know about this. Thanks
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dapg8gt
Posts: 104
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:33 pm
Location: 650 Bay Area..

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by dapg8gt »

Nice find =) keeping this one handy if I have issues if I move my tank..
My other hobby has 450rwhp and eats tires instead of mysis!
cjrudy
Posts: 135
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:47 pm

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by cjrudy »

With the RA in the basement and my router on the first floor I constantly had wi-fi issues. Since installing the antenna four months ago I have not had a single issue. This thread was great find for me. :D
Reddy
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:28 am

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by Reddy »

For the new user, here are the instructions.

Using a terminal program or the old Graphical Wifi Utility from the downloads page, connect to the WiFi adapter and send these commands:

Code: Select all

$$$

set wlan ext_antenna 1

save

reboot
Reconnect to the wifi unit and issue this command:

Code: Select all

$$$

get everything
In the list of settings you should see ExtAnt = 1

Sending $$$ wakes up the console on the WiFi unit and it should reply with CMD indicating it is listening for your command. You only need to send $$$ at the beginning of each terminal session.

If your terminal session keeps getting interrupted with this message:

GET /r99 HTTP/1.1

you need to open the ReefAngel Service Dashboard (part of the ReefAngel Client software) and stop the Listener Service. If you have any phone apps that are logging, stop those also. You can start them again after you are done.
Last edited by Reddy on Thu Oct 31, 2013 8:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
pandimus
Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:58 pm

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by pandimus »

not sure why, but my ext antenna is always set to 0, any idea why?

CMD
get ip
IF=UP
DHCP=ON
IP=192.168.0.196:2000
NM=255.255.255.0
GW=192.168.0.1
HOST=198.171.134.6:80
PROTO=TCP,
MTU=1524
FLAGS=0x6
TCPMODE=0x0
BACKUP=0.0.0.0
<4.00> get w
SSID=Worldnetwork
Chan=0
ExtAnt=0
Join=1
Auth=OPEN
Mask=0x1fff
Rate=12, 24 Mb
Linkmon-Infra=0
Linkmon-AP=0
Passphrase=
EAP_Id=
EAP_User=
<4.00> get u
Baudrate=57600
Flow=0x0
Mode=0x2
Cmd_GPIO=0
<4.00> reboot
*Reboot*CMD
set wlan ext_antenna 1
AOK
<4.00> reboot
*Reboot*

get everything
wifly-GSX Ver 4.00.1, Apr 19 2013 11:48:31 on RN-131
Beacon=100
Reboot=0
IF=UP
DHCP=ON
IP=192.168.0.196:2000
NM=255.255.255.0
GW=192.168.0.1
HOST=198.171.134.6:80
PROTO=TCP,
MTU=1524
FLAGS=0x6
TCPMODE=0x0
BACKUP=0.0.0.0
OPEN=
CLOSE=
REMOTE=
FlushSize=1524
MatchChar=0
FlushTimer=10
IdleTimer=3
CmdChar=$
DNS=192.168.0.1
Name=www.reefangel.com
Backup=rn.microchip.com
Lease=300
FTP=198.175.253.161:21
File=wifly-GSX.img
User=roving
Pass=Pass123
Dir=public
Timeout=200
FTP_mode=0x0
SSID=Worldnetwork
Chan=0
ExtAnt=0
Join=1
Auth=OPEN
Mask=0x1fff
Rate=12, 24 Mb
Linkmon-Infra=0
Linkmon-AP=0
Passphrase=
EAP_Id=
EAP_User=
SleepTmr=0
WakeTmr=0
Trigger=0x10
Autoconn=0
IoFunc=0x0
IoMask=0x20f0
IoValu=0x0
DebugReg=0x0
PrintLvl=0x0
LaunchStr=
TimeEna=0
TIMEADR=129.6.15.28:123
Zone=7
Baudrate=57600
Flow=0x0
Mode=0x2
Cmd_GPIO=0
JoinTmr=1000
Replace=0x24
DeviceId=ReefAngelWifi
Password=
Format=0x0
Signal=0
Average=5
BCAST=255.255.255.255:55555
Interval=0x7
Backup=0.0.0.0:0
Sensor=0x0
SensePwr=0x0
<4.00>
User avatar
lnevo
Posts: 5430
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:42 am

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by lnevo »

Looks like your forgetting the magic word...

Save
pandimus
Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:58 pm

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by pandimus »

worked.. thanks.
Reddy
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:28 am

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by Reddy »

lnevo wrote:Looks like your forgetting the magic word...

Save

Oops, thank goodness for the edit button!
anderzon_
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:35 am

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by anderzon_ »

I use graphical wifi from reef angels website but do not know where in the program I'm writing code. Someone who can explain?
rimai
Posts: 12881
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by rimai »

You must enter command mode. To do so, please read the manual.
You will need a serial terminal application such as tera term or putty.
Roberto.
anderzon_
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:35 am

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by anderzon_ »

I have downloaded that program and it dosent work. Does it work in graphical wifi? It only shows up some wierd symbols in the window in tera term.
rimai
Posts: 12881
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by rimai »

Make sure you connect using 57600 baud rate
Roberto.
anderzon_
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:35 am

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by anderzon_ »

It worked. Thanks Roberto :)
User avatar
cosmith71
Posts: 1437
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2013 3:51 pm
Location: Oklahoma City

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by cosmith71 »

Just did this mod. Make sure to drill the hole for the connector high enough (closer to the open top) for the wire to clear the circuit board. I also re-located the WiFi adapter away from my Bluetooth adapter as it seemed to be causing some connection issues. I'm considering running the long cable that came with the antenna to the other side of the stand to help mitigate it even more.

--Colin
d0lph1n
Posts: 122
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:16 am

Re: RA Wifi - 3dBi External Antenna

Post by d0lph1n »

Any idea why the screen goes in a loop mode when I connect the wifi module?
Image
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