Greetings!
Last week my Wi-Fi transmitter (Access Point or AP) showed some signs of malfunctioning. Although a simple malfunction can be fixed by rebooting the device I decided to buy a new one to replace it. Since it is an outdoor device I also need to buy another outdoor device commonly called CPE (Consumer Premise Equipment). CPEs are usually long-range, outdoor, and weatherproof devices although technically they are also Wi-Fi routers that are very popular in connecting two long-distance locations (Point-to-Point connection or PTP). But in my case, I am not connecting two long-distance locations (PTP), I am simply using it as a long-distance Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) so that mobile devices can connect to the Wi-FI from a long distance.
Buying Online
Since I worked as an I.T. for 15 years I accumulated an ample number of suppliers which I have known since my first year of working as an I.T. for more than a decade. So, I went on to check their websites but to my disappointment, all of them do not have CPEs, all they have are standard SOHO (Small Office Home Office) Routers. They don't sell CPEs. So, I resorted to online shopping.
Shopping online is actually a "no-no" for me, especially on electronic devices such as routers (CPEs). But I don't have a choice but to try. I bought one that is exactly the brand and model that I am currently using but when I tested it's internet was intermittent (but the Wi-FI connection is solid). Luckily, the online shopping where I bought it supports RETURN/REFUND. After my refund arrived I again went on to buy another device. This time I bought a different brand (photo below).
Here it is, this is the second brand that I bought. This device, theoretically can transmit its signal at 13+ KM (line of sight and no hindrances on its path). But when I inquired about the 13+ KM the store said
that the suggested transmission distance is 7 KM. 7 KM is enough for me since I only need to transmit between 100 meters and 100 meters with trees between the CPE and the clients. I went on to buy this CPE because it has a "1 Year Warranty" which is always the case when I am buying computers and equipment for my former employer.
Changing the connectors
Since I am changing the equipment I also took this opportunity to change the RJ45 connector of my Access Point. It is a good thing that I still have some RJ45 left that I bought a month ago.
Securing the connector
In securing the connector I used a "Crimping Tool" that I also bought more than a year ago.
Climbing the pole
To be honest, I am actually kind of lazy in changing the CPE since I have to climb a pole. Climbing a pole makes me uneasy since a small mistake will make you end up on the ground.
I actually climbed the pole twice. The first is when I removed the old device and the cable so that I could change the connector and the second is when I actually installed the new device that I bought.
I would love to make a mini tower so that I can comfortably work on maintaining my CPE. But I guess it has to wait because I need money to make one.
Testing the signal
After I installed the new device I immediately tested the strength of the signal and how far the signal can reach. On my first test, the signal was pretty strong given that there were trees between me and the newly installed device while I was testing it. As of the moment, the signal is okay and the internet is not intermittent compared to the first one. I hope this device lasts for 3-5 years.
That is all for now guys, catch you up with the next one. Wishing you all safety, good health, and abundance.
