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

[IXLR8]

As far as thermal imaging goes. I have a FLIR model. $600.

Which FLIR model do you have as they seem to have dozens of models?

 

[KilroyJC]

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.

There were a couple of FLIR units on my potential list - sounds like you got a good one for all sorts of things! Never even considered some of those (would prefer not to ever deal with some, too).

and we have moles. . .

THANK YOU!

 

[newbury]

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.

What is this "bubble" you write of?
Does it include walls? What type walls?
For example my WiFi with ISP provided Calix router can ALMOST reach my entire house which means the signal goes through at least 4 walls of typical drywall construction, 1 floor and about 60 to 70 feet of air

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?

From all my reading Best Effort or RV service is worth it, but you have to pay for the hardware.
I almost went with Starlink RV but my local power company put in Fiber this summer, and they provide the media converter and router as part of the package for $55/month.

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.

Hang in there with those "high speeds". Until my Fiber got here I had 7 down and 0.7 up, on a good day. Now for about the same price I'm getting a consistent 100 up and down. I didn't want to pay for 1GB ($85/mo).

 

[zzvyb6]

Which FLIR model do you have as they seem to have dozens of models?

Equivalent to a C5. (I had a FLIR-1 which failed. They paid to send it back, but then offered me a chance to get credit on it for an upgrade, which I accepted).
Designed in Sweden and manufactured in Estonia, which just happens to be right near Ukraine, which could explain a lot about the price of tea in China these days, as they say.

 

[zzvyb6]

Equivalent to a C5. (I had a FLIR-1 which failed. They paid to send it back, but then offered me a chance to get credit on it for an upgrade, which I accepted).
Designed in Sweden and manufactured in Estonia, which just happens to be right near Ukraine, which could explain a lot about the price of tea in China these days, as they say.

BTW: What I found handy was it's built in wi-fi. When it makes contact, all recent pictures are uploaded to the network, all by itself. I don't have to sniff around on the camera for items I want to show or see right away.

 

[kf4uda]

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?

I have been pleased with my Starlink best effort service. We stream usually only 1 TV (rare occasions 2) and web\email on our phones and laptop. Definitely better than the wifi service that it replaced. It was horrible when it worked at all. Hopefully Starlink will keep getting better as they keep expanding.

 

[3Ts]

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?

YES!

The speeds I posted back on post #8 are what I was getting with the starlink "best effort". The speeds do vary, but I now can make cell phone calls (including face time), stream TV, and all the other things that city folk are used to. Hopefully, they'll continue to improve the speeds but I feel like I've joined the real world with what I've got.

I just reran the speed test and got 13 down and 21 up, while streaming a movie. Not sure of the resolution of the movie so I don't know how much that affects the speed. Until I got starlink, it was impossible to stream a movie or make face time calls.

 

[3Ts]

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.

I agree with this statement. However, if you have a question, the folks on this forum probably already have an answer so don't be bashful about asking.

 

[ponytug]

I agree with this statement. However, if you have a question, the folks on this forum probably already have an answer so don't be bashful about asking.

There is a nice Starlink thread going.
@KilroyJC I would try the Starlink Best effort. It should run circles around what you have.

I don't own a FLIR, but every time that I have used someone else's, I have been amazed.
If I thought I could find Pocket gophers in tunnels at night, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

All the best,

Peter

 

[KilroyJC]

YES!

The speeds I posted back on post #8 are what I was getting with the starlink "best effort". The speeds do vary, but I now can make cell phone calls (including face time), stream TV, and all the other things that city folk are used to. Hopefully, they'll continue to improve the speeds but I feel like I've joined the real world with what I've got.

I just reran the speed test and got 13 down and 21 up, while streaming a movie. Not sure of the resolution of the movie so I don't know how much that affects the speed. Until I got starlink, it was impossible to stream a movie or make face time calls.

I just placed my order - thank you!

We run our RoKu and a couple devices with the DSL currently. No gaming. Frequent buffering and packet loss.

THANK YOU for the info!!!!!

 

[KilroyJC]

There is a nice Starlink thread going.
@KilroyJC I would try the Starlink Best effort. It should run circles around what you have.

I don't own a FLIR, but every time that I have used someone else's, I have been amazed.
If I thought I could find Pocket gophers in tunnels at night, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

All the best,

Peter

Thank you for the info - I just placed my order for StarLink!

 

[KilroyJC]

I have been pleased with my Starlink best effort service. We stream usually only 1 TV (rare occasions 2) and web\email on our phones and laptop. Definitely better than the wifi service that it replaced. It was horrible when it worked at all. Hopefully Starlink will keep getting better as they keep expanding.

Thank you for that recommendation !

 

[IXLR8]

Thank you for the info - I just placed my order for StarLink!

The good thing is, if it doesn't work for you, you have 30 days to return it and get your money back. Time to start planning on where, and how, you want to install it. It typically takes a 6-10 days to arrive and you will want to have as much in place as you can before it arrives.

 

[KilroyJC]

The good thing is, if it doesn't work for you, you have 30 days to return it and get your money back. Time to start planning on where, and how, you want to install it. It typically takes a 6-10 days to arrive and you will want to have as much in place as you can before it arrives.

“A” is where I would like to ultimately mount it, but I still have not purchased my scaffolding yet. . .

”B” is where I will add another 10” piece of UniStrut and place the antenna atop, which will put it at approximately the height “C”, and I can run the cabling inside the 2” conduit that my solar cabling runs through. That will give sufficient sky visibility until I can relocate to “A” hopefully before tree leaves appear. . .

 

[IXLR8]

View attachment 776343
“A” is where I would like to ultimately mount it, but I still have not purchased my scaffolding yet. . .

”B” is where I will add another 10” piece of UniStrut and place the antenna atop, which will put it at approximately the height “C”, and I can run the cabling inside the 2” conduit that my solar cabling runs through. That will give sufficient sky visibility until I can relocate to “A” hopefully before tree leaves appear. . .

Just remember the dishy needs to have clear sky facing north/northeast. I am assuming your solar panels are facing south, if so, position B will put the dish facing too much into the end of your house. It will work but I suspect there will be a fair number of 'obstructions'. The sooner you can get dishy up to C the better. But it will give you an idea on the speeds you will be able to get.

 

[ponytug]

Just remember the dishy needs to have clear sky facing north/northeast. I am assuming your solar panels are facing south, if so, position B will put the dish facing too much into the end of your house. It will work but I suspect there will be a fair number of 'obstructions'. The sooner you can get dishy up to C the better. But it will give you an idea on the speeds you will be able to get.

@KilroyJC A north view is essential for the best experience. I highly recommend that you download the Starlink app and use the visibility function to check the exact visibility at the exact height and locations that you are thinking of. (Yes, I crawled all over my roof tops trying to find a good site for great visibility.)

All the best, Peter

 

[KilroyJC]

@KilroyJC A north view is essential for the best experience. I highly recommend that you download the Starlink app and use the visibility function to check the exact visibility at the exact height and locations that you are thinking of. (Yes, I crawled all over my roof tops trying to find a good site for great visibility.)

All the best, Peter

Iused the app and approximated the angle of view standing on the ground that the strut mount will be and it was pretty good view. He post will be about 16’ from the house, so it has good sight lines over the roof to the north. Not all the way to the horizon, but decent enough.