+- OpenMarine (https://forum.openmarine.net)
+-- Forum: OpenPlotter (https://forum.openmarine.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: General discussion (https://forum.openmarine.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=2)
+--- Thread: Wifi and Blutooth Range (/showthread.php?tid=6984)
Wifi and Blutooth Range - TomBrad - 2026-06-26
Hi, does anyone have a recommendation for a plug and play dongle that will increase both wifi and bluetooth range on a rpi5
My rpi5 is in a waterproof case mounted in a cupboard and Im struggling to connect to the bluetooth and wifi reliably at any kind of distance.
Thanks
RE: Wifi and Blutooth Range - SkipperDon - 2026-06-27
To give you the best plug-and-play recommendation, we might need a little more context on your setup. Because your Pi 5 is inside a waterproof case and a cupboard, any standard USB dongle you plug in will still be trapped behind those same signal-blocking walls.Usually, the trick is using a USB adapter with a remote antenna that you can mount outside the enclosure. To help narrow down the best hardware, could you tell us:What materials are the waterproof case made of (plastic, metal, thick acrylic)?What approximate range (in feet or meters) do you need to reach?Are you able to use a waterproof cable gland to run an antenna wire outside the box?Let us know and we can get this sorted for you!
RE: Wifi and Blutooth Range - TomBrad - 2026-07-02
Your right about just plugging an standard dongle in, but I was going to use an usb extension cable to position it in a place to provide better reception, just looking for advice on a product that works with the pi out of the box.
Currently I’m having difficulty picking up Bluetooth from a smart shunt located about 2 metres away, but in a battery box below a plywood soleboard. The pi is in a plastic box within a cupboard with another plywood door.
I’ve already increased the WiFi range by plugging an external access point router with Ethernet and disabled the pi WiFi as the WiFi and Bluetooth share the same antenna.
RE: Wifi and Blutooth Range - SkipperDon - 2026-07-02
Cheers for the input. I reckon its actually the shunt thats the weak link here rather than the pi - its a low power BLE device to begin with and its sat under a plywood soleboard inside a battery box, so its already fighting through a fair bit before the signal even gets anywhere near the pi.
Been looking at the ASUS USB-BT500, Bluetooth 5.0 and from what ive read it just works on Raspberry Pi OS without needing to mess about with drivers, which is what im after for something plug and play. Rated up to 40m for BLE in open space but obviously that means nothing once you factor in the plywood door and the battery box.
Going to run it out the cupboard on the usb extension so its got a clearer path rather than being boxed in twice over. Not expecting the dongle alone to fix a weak transmitter but should pick up what signal there is more reliably than whats built into the pi.
Will report back once its fitted incase its useful for anyone else with gear tucked away in awkward spots like this.
RE: Wifi and Blutooth Range - TomBrad - 2026-07-02
Looking forward to hearing how you get on with that dongle
Agreed shunt transmission is probably the problem, but I do also have a Victron bms located in same location and it works ok.
iPhone though picks them both up no problem even further away.
May have to just relocate the shunt
RE: Wifi and Blutooth Range - ddelorme - 2026-08-02
I have up on my rpi5 WiFi it is no. Useable without a external antenna. I installed a 5g router/ modem on my boat and use the Ethernet port. Far more reliable connection. With a few hats on a rpi5 it is not practical. I would like then to add a external antenna option but that will be a wait. The router / modem is a Inet gl3000 it has very good reception and a also has a GPS unit that I use as a backup source in signalk