Obi200 and WiFi

[Lavarock7]

I had a heck of a time today trying to set up a 200 and WiFi.

I did a setup at home and made sure things were working with my router. Because my neighbor only has a Verizon JetPack (hotspot) I got him to give me the SSID and password for his device.

Then up the mountain I went (it's a one lane road with twists and turns and few places for a truck to pull over when a resident passes).

I plug the 200 in and wait and wait for it to connect. Turns out he gave me the wrong SSID (he misread a letter). So I used *27 and tried to access the unit with my cellphone using both 192.168.10.1/wifi and obiconnect.com/wifi and both failed. I ensured I had airplane mode on, wifi on and checked the IP address of the cellphone t oensure it was in the 192.168.10.x subnet.

After an hour of playing I finally logged into the Obi dashboard here and forced the change online but of course, it will not load until the Obi200 connects to the internet. (He didn't have a LAN cable so I couldn't even try to hardwire the Obi to his PC and see if I could get in).

I ended up driving down the mountain into town and went to a farm where I have access to a router, hooked the OBI there and let it get it's update though a hardwired connection. Then I met the neighbor at the bottom of the mountain and handed hi the updated OBI and await his heading home to try it.

His only internet is a Verizon hotspot. If it will support an Obi we can port his $50 a month landline to a Voip service at about $3 a month.

By the way he is too far from the central office for DSL and the cable company has a line NEAR him, but to get to him, they have to run the cable on a pole in a neighbors yard. The issue is that pole is a private pole and the owner does not want anyone else on it.

The guy I'm working with is considering satellite internet but there may be too many issues to get his internet and phone reliable.

[OzarkEdge]

I would want to reduce the JetPack to being just the Internet connection... use a wireless bridge to link it to a site router.  This would build a normal/optimum wired/wireless network ready for a better Internet connection down the road.  And would allow wiring the OBi to the router.  Then any flakey behavior or slowness will be centered on just the JetPack.  Ideally, you choose and place the wireless bridge for the best WiFi connection the JetPack specs will support.

Cellular >> JetPack  >> wireless bridge >> router/LAN/WLAN >> wired OBi

Let us know how the OBi performs.

OE

[LTN1]

Lavarock7...I'm visiting your island (docking at Kona) on Wed. June 10. Since I'll be there anyway, do you want me to bring you anything--like an OBi202 without the shipping costs to Hawaii!

Looking forward to visiting your island on a 7-day cruise.

[Lavarock7]

I appreciate the offer, but I think I am good on adapters.

However, I would be happy to meet you for pizza and drinks or just to chat.

If you would like to visit a coffee farm, that too can be arranged. Mine is a bit of a drive, however I have neighbors closer to town where I could give a tour.

[Lavarock7]

OzarkEdge, I think when we do the testing, the current jetpack install will not work well for him.

Someone suggested that he just bite the bullet and get a Verizon Home Phone Connect and pay the perhaps $9 a month to have it added to his account and share minutes. That will be our investigation. However even cell coverage where he lives is spotty so any devices have to be carefully situated.

They want to keep their existing landline number but at a reduced cost.

I missed out on getting a free high speed mini-microwave system that would have extended his neighbors internet to his house and thus solved all his problems (except tv).

We are at the edge of over the air TV reception, and there are no U.S. radio stations south of us. There are only a few thousand people between us and Antarctica (yet we are still paradise :-)

Thanks for the suggestion.

[LTN1]

I appreciate the offer, but I think I am good on adapters.

However, I would be happy to meet you for pizza and drinks or just to chat.

If you would like to visit a coffee farm, that too can be arranged. Mine is a bit of a drive, however I have neighbors closer to town where I could give a tour.

Appreciate the Hawaiian hospitality but after seeing the distance from your coffee farm to Kona, I wouldn't want to put you through the drive just to meet. Kona will be the only port that we won't be renting a car for my family of 5. I was told there are plenty to enjoy near the port (where we will be tendered) and beach area. If that isn't true, I'd welcome your advice. BTW, my wife really loves coffee--she usually drinks Starbucks--and since I don't know very much about coffee--I don't know how that compares to Kona coffee.