RV Hangar Automation by Wireless WiFi

[mr.sun]

Any tech guys out in VAF world that speak I.T. well enough to help me choose equipment well enough for getting WiFi to a group of metal hangars? There is hardwired internet at an airport maintenance building elevated about 1000' feet from my hangar which happens to be the furthest away. It is line of sight from my hangar roof and I don't mind putting up some sort of small antenna. I think I can get other hangar owners to chip in on this project. I'd sure like to use WiFi to pre-heat my engine and check weather and file flight plans online. Recommendations?

[greghughespdx]

I can use Alexa either in person or remotely (via app) to turn stuff on and off using an electrical outlet similar to Bruce's (I have an Amazon Spot in the hangar - which also makes for great Pandora streaming!)

[Raymo]

Originally Posted by mr.sun

Any tech guys out in VAF world that speak I.T. well enough to help me choose equipment well enough for getting WiFi to a group of metal hangars? There is hardwired internet at an airport maintenance building elevated about 1000' feet from my hangar which happens to be the furthest away. It is line of sight from my hangar roof and I don't mind putting up some sort of small antenna. I think I can get other hangar owners to chip in on this project. I'd sure like to use WiFi to pre-heat my engine and check weather and file flight plans online. Recommendations?

Greg,

I was a network engineer prior to being a software engineer and just set this kind of thing up at my hangar - sending WiFi about 300 ft from FBO. Cost was about $125 for equipment.

2x Ubiquiti NanoStation loco M2 and associated mounts (1 Window suction cup and 1 wall/pipe mount).. Also need CAT 5/6 wire and an access point. You could go first to a switch and run wires to adjacent hangars for their access points.

If you have clear line of site, you could use the 5GHz model (slightly more expensive).

Send me a PM or email and we can talk it through.

[BruceEicher]

03-11-18 Update. The Wemo worked for a season or so, but after a firmware update (I suspect) it stopped playing well with the Verizon Hotspot.

So I purchased an iHome switch and a multi monitor for motion, temperature, sound, light and humidity. A push notification tells me what?s going on in the hangar. It and the switch is working well with the Verizon box.

[BruceEicher]

Hi Carl,
Good work finding a solution! I?ll keep that in-mind if I find further problems. I now have the Isp8 switch and Iss50 sensor. The wemo might be used at home.
Thanks!

[Piper J3]

I use a 4G-GSM-High-Amperage-Remote-Control-Relay https://www.ebay.com/itm/4G-GSM-High...o/192083520963 to operate my engine preheater.

T-Mobile has a 30 text/month stand-alone cell phone data plan for $3.00/month.

Unit reports back to my cell phone that relay is on for x amount of time. To verify, I have an electric analog alarm clock on same circuit as heater. I reset hands on the clock to 12:00 and when I get to the hanger I look at the clock and see that the heater has run for set time.

Works great...

[Plummit]

Originally Posted by Piper J3

I use a 4G-GSM-High-Amperage-Remote-Control-Relay https://www.ebay.com/itm/4G-GSM-High...o/192083520963 to operate my engine preheater.

What are you using to power the GSM box? The link you posted shows a DC voltage powered box.

-Marc

[Piper J3]

Originally Posted by Plummit

What are you using to power the GSM box? The link you posted shows a DC voltage powered box.

-Marc

Something like this... https://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-2A-Powe...UAAOSwT6pVySGN

[R7237]

I think instead of WeMo hardware, I would just install a SmartThings hub. You can get them off amazon for $49 on occasion and gives you a WHOLE lot more options for accessories. Security, Lights, Compressor Switches, Power Monitoring etc etc. It also will run most of the devices "local" so if you loose your hotspot, you can still control things, just not remotely. Just my 2 cents worth. Makes wiring hangar light a lot easier and cheaper with just a relay at the light as opposed to running everything to a light switch.

[bruceinusa]

Bruce,

I copied your method successfully last fall using a Franklin R850 mobile hotspot and a WEMO mini switch. However, I have also had recent difficulties getting the WEMO to work with the mobile hotspot. So I tried the iHome ISP6X switch and it would not communicate with the mobile hotspot either.

Today, I bought an Insignia Smart Plug at Best Buy (that is their own generic brand) for only 17 bucks (cheaper than either WEMO or iHome) and it works like a charm! So I am back in business, with the ability to preheat the engine from home when fall rolls around again this year.


BTW, the Franklin R850 from " FreedomPop" gives you the first 500MB free each month on their most basic plan, which is way more than I need just to send the occasional ON/OFF command to the switch. So I have no monthly costs, just the initial outlay of $20 for the hotspot and $17 for the Insignia switch. (And now I have surplus WEMO and iHome switches for the house).

Bruce Macdonald.
(flew my RV-4 to Airventure this year for the first time - my only other visit was 35 years ago and I was a passenger on that occasion!)