Looking for TWO Recommendations: 1) Thermal Imager; and 2)WIFI Booster/Network Extender

[KilroyJC]

Hi all!

indont need a $15G imager, but I don’t want a cheap POS. I am not really warm&fuzzy on the cellphone attachment types,s once I have a flip phone. . .

What one do you have/use? What do you like/dislike about it?

I would also like to be able to get my WIFI signal bubble diameter to be about 50‘ - 75’ more in radius, but at a minimum it could be a long oval on one axis extending on both sides of current coverage by that 50’ - 75’ range.

Any help with these issues is GREATLY appreciated,

 

[IXLR8]

What do you have now for a wifi router, so we can recommend something better?

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

What router/ap do you have ? I would go to wifi 6 mesh network depending on what you got

 

[KilroyJC]

Currently we are using the telco-provided Arris NVG4438 modem

it is a MAJOR improvement of the NetGear 2200s they used to utilize!

 

[KilroyJC]

Currently we are using the telco-provided Arris NVG4438 modem

it is a MAJOR improvement of the NetGear 2200s they used to utilize!

I am also over 24000 wire feet from the CO. three service calls ago, the tech said the telco should never have given us DSL, but since they did, they have to make it work.

yesterday morning:

 

[KilroyJC]

And just now:

I am also over 24000 wire feet from the CO. three service calls ago, the tech said the telco should never have given us DSL, but since they did, they have to make it work.

yesterday morning: View attachment 776190

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

That's un-usable. I'd just use a cell phone as a hot spot.

 

[3Ts]

That looks close to what I was getting with Hughesnet. I got the "best effort" from starlink and it varies a lot but even the low end data rate is significantly faster. This mornings speed is a little slow, I've seen it up around 100 most times.

 

[Yander]

Depending on what kind of cell coverage you have you may check with your cellular provider on what hot spot device package they offer. We are using a Hot spot box from Verizon, both the wife and I work off of it all day and have not issues. I got rid of my local ISP because in rural areas they often suck.

I second's @hiddentacocatneddih recommendation of the Mesh. I have a 3 node Mesh and love it. I was having issues with coverage in our brick home and tried expensive routers with supposed great coverage and had issues with them until I got the Mesh network. The main node is in my wife's office then I have a node in my office and one in the main living area.

I have this one

https://www.amazon.com/Introducing-eero-mesh-WiFi-system-3-pack-/dp/B07WMLPSRL/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?gclid=CjwKCAiAhqCdBhB0EiwAH8M_Gh_CaLRCSu-Mlme0g8PwHJ6VUKSNW1SAYAVCAbWS1AVmhTZzpUIDBRoCqU0QAvD_BwE&hvadid=570432411018&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9014902&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13061782443741127770&hvtargid=kwd-307456917584&hydadcr=18032_13462267&keywords=mesh+wireless+network&qid=1671992634&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyUEFLQTkySFpBNlgzJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTY4NDY4M0cwSUc2MkVJOVlINiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTQzMTU1MUJCMU1HTDQ0WEdHUiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[KilroyJC]

That's un-usable. I'd just use a cell phone as a hot spot.

Except out here in the woods the cell service sucks too.

 

[KilroyJC]

That looks close to what I was getting with Hughesnet. I got the "best effort" from starlink and it varies a lot but even the low end data rate is significantly faster. This mornings speed is a little slow, I've seen it up around 100 most times.

I am still on the Waiting and Waiting List for StarLink.

 

[KilroyJC]

Depending on what kind of cell coverage you have you may check with your cellular provider on what hot spot device package they offer. We are using a Hot spot box from Verizon, both the wife and I work off of it all day and have not issues. I got rid of my local ISP because in rural areas they often suck.

I second's @hiddentacocatneddih recommendation of the Mesh. I have a 3 node Mesh and love it. I was having issues with coverage in our brick home and tried expensive routers with supposed great coverage and had issues with them until I got the Mesh network. The main node is in my wife's office then I have a node in my office and one in the main living area.

I have this one

https://www.amazon.com/Introducing-eero-mesh-WiFi-system-3-pack-/dp/B07WMLPSRL/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?gclid=CjwKCAiAhqCdBhB0EiwAH8M_Gh_CaLRCSu-Mlme0g8PwHJ6VUKSNW1SAYAVCAbWS1AVmhTZzpUIDBRoCqU0QAvD_BwE&hvadid=570432411018&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9014902&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13061782443741127770&hvtargid=kwd-307456917584&hydadcr=18032_13462267&keywords=mesh+wireless+network&qid=1671992634&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyUEFLQTkySFpBNlgzJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTY4NDY4M0cwSUc2MkVJOVlINiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTQzMTU1MUJCMU1HTDQ0WEdHUiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

My cell coverage is marginal at best

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

My cell coverage is marginal at best

Are there any tower based providers?

 

[Eagle1]

Out here there is no cell coverage but the local phone co is pulling fiber to every address. Hope to get it next year. Until then I have 30 mbs down and 3 up.

 

[Yander]

Out here there is no cell coverage but the local phone co is pulling fiber to every address. Hope to get it next year. Until then I have 30 mbs down and 3 up.

Those are respectable speeds. I only have 20mb down and it serves our needs just fine. No gaming in this home, but we do watch only streamed TV.

 

[KilroyJC]

Are there any tower based providers?

Verizon, AT&T and their hangers-on. . .

terrain-wise, we are in a very “folded” topography, and a lot of pine needles to interfere as well.

ALLEGEDLY we are getting fiber. . . But the “allegedly” has been for more years than we have been here. . .

 

[KilroyJC]

That looks close to what I was getting with Hughesnet. I got the "best effort" from starlink and it varies a lot but even the low end data rate is significantly faster. This mornings speed is a little slow, I've seen it up around 100 most times.

I just got an email from StarLink last night (that I didn’t see u til now) that I can get the “best Effort” service — is it worth it?

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

Verizon, AT&T and their hangers-on. . .

terrain-wise, we are in a very “folded” topography, and a lot of pine needles to interfere as well.

ALLEGEDLY we are getting fiber. . . But the “allegedly” has been for more years than we have been here. .

Our local tower company has a wifi/internet deal. I wasnt lucky enough to use them due to LOS issues

 

[IXLR8]

I just got an email from StarLink last night (that I didn’t see u til now) that I can get the “best Effort” service — is it worth it?

Best Effort means you will be the first to be throttled during congested use. Most times it should be fine unless you are doing serious gaming or streaming to more than one TV. Although "3Ts" can tell you better how it actually works, I have regular "Residential Starlink". At first I saw download speeds in the 125-150Mps range, now it rarely goes over 100, most times it in the 40-80 range which is plenty fast enough for our uses. Biggest issue I had with Starlink was finding an area large enough that was clear of trees to get a good signal to the north-northeast of where I mounted the antenna. If you download the Starlink app it has a function to look for obstructions to see if you have enough clear area in the right direction. The app is not intuitive to use, but you do need a smart phone to use it.

 

[zzvyb6]

As far as thermal imaging goes. I have a FLIR model. $600. Separate unit with a standard camera AND the thermal imager. This means you get a thermal image with the actual object ghosted around it. This means you can tell what you are looking at.
Bought it to check the house insulation, arthritis in the dogs (hot spots), breast cancer in the spouse, and this ALL paid back the cost. Best one was finding I had a built-in surge suppressor in a wall feeding the computers, chargers, and printer. I saw a PURPLE image behind it and when I pulled it out it burned my hand. Capacitor was nearly on fire.

Most intriguing use was to locate moles in the lawn at night in real time. Holy tunnels, bat guy, What a super highway ! Had to reload TWICE.