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2.4 GHz MIMO mobile antenna recommendation?

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Wed, 11/12/2025 - 18:46
#1
k1zk
2.4 GHz MIMO mobile antenna recommendation?
Hi everyone,

I have installed a hAPac3 in my car -- easy to do because it can run on 12V, which I already have in the car.    What to y'all recommend for a 2.4 GHz MIMO mobile antenna?

Thx & 73,

Zach K1ZK
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Thu, 11/13/2025 - 10:38
K7EOK
So ... what you want to do is
So ... what you want to do is not clear.  OK ... yes you can mount a hAP2 in your car and run on 12VDC.  But what is your purpose?  Microwave is highly directional, you would have awful results trying to use AREDN like a typical mobile radio with an external omni antenna.  You could do two things IMHO with a car based station a) run ethernet cable out the window to an external antenna on a tripod, and aim and use as usual as a field kit ... but you now need 24VDC to run the antenna node ... or b)  park the car close by another strong AREDN node and connect using the omni antenna built into the hAP2.  You will have about the same range as consumer wifi.  I've been able to do both in the field, just never took the time to attach the hAP to my auto.

You could also put a small antenna like a CPE or NanoStation inside the car pointed outside through the windshield.  I've done this when it's super easy to connect to a nearby node, so long as I could park in the right direction ... but I would not permanently leave it would be a safety issue.

You have zero chance of using AREDN while the car is moving ... just saying.  

Ed
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Thu, 11/13/2025 - 11:24
(Reply to #2)
k1zk
Re: 2.4 GHz MIMO mobile antenna recommendation?
Hi Ed -- fair comment; thanks.  I am new to AREDN and I don't really know what I'm doing.  I'm just experimenting at this point so I don't know what is possible.  I have a 120-degree 2.4 GHz node + sector antenna on top of my 50-foot tower and I thought I'd drive around my neighborhood with a mobile AREDN node to try to get a sense of the range of the tower-mounted node.  But as you say, I guess that experiment wouldn't tell me much, since most users would be running a directional antenna.
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Thu, 11/13/2025 - 14:46
K7EOK
You can easily drive around
You can easily drive around and check out your coverage.  Get a CPE210 or equivalent in NanoStation and put it in your dashboard.  You don't need the hAP at all.  Get a 12VDC to 24VDC boost converter and inject 24VDC to your antenna, either via the power outlet or a battery.  Your computer goes on the LAN side of the injector.  See what results you get.

Too bad you didn't get a 5ghz sector, that's what most folks are using.  I"ve got a surplus CPE210 I was going to recycle (no use) but the freight would cost more to send to you than it's worth.

Ed
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Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:21
nc8q
nc8q's picture
AREDN: Mobile!?
Hi, Zach:

+1 with Ed.
"You have zero chance of using AREDN while the car is moving ... just saying."
You could drive, park, wait 2 minutes for the networking to discover what coding scheme is best,
then record results.

802.11 signals can go 15 miles...or through 1 tree...but not both.

AREDN device's antennas should be at least near line of sight with other AREDN device's antennas.

802.11 is a data mode.
What data are you trying to transport where?

Why did you choose AREDN firmware instead of simply using the manufactirer's operating system?

73, Chuck
 
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