The BomeBox uses a small internal antenna. For many applications like accessing the web config, this is fine. However, if you’re running into connectivity issues, you may install an external, bigger, antenna.
The SoC in the BomeBox has a U.FL antenna connector. If you’re not afraid of opening your BomeBox and drilling a hole in the enclosure, you can install an external antenna (like this one) to increase the range. As it uses an own socket, you can detach the bulky external antenna when not needed. For best reception, you should unsolder the internal antenna in the BomeBox.
Warning: you may operate outside CE/FCC regulation with an additional antenna. Use at your own risk!
Another possibility if you you don’t want to drill a hole or also want 5G WiFi with antennas you could get a standard WiFi access point/router and use it in addition to the BomeBox.
If you use PoE anyway, something like this POE powered access point could be very convenient – just plug it directly into the PoE Out port of the BomeBox. Some configuration would likely be required. I haven’t tried it but it looks like it would work.
For me, Ethernet is the safest bet, especially if you cannot control the WiFi congestion at the venue.
Note: Looking at this closer, it might not be the right one. It says ‘Passive POE’ and BomeBox would require ‘Active POE’.
From what I read, passive POE could burn out your equipment if it doesn’t support it.
Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care
Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz
I wanted to try installing an antenna on my BomeBox, because I really enjoy the router feature of the BomeBox and I want it to have a little bit better distance, if possible, without having to bring another router. When you said to unsolder the internal antenna in the BomeBox, where is the internal antenna located?
Is this a risky procedure, and is it worth it in your opinion. Drilling the hole is no big deal to me. That is the easy part.
Thanks!
John O’Brien
PS I love the BomeBox and have seen nothing else like it, including the iconnectivity products. I plan to do a YouTube on the differences between the DOREmidi, iconnectivity and the BomeBox, as well as, the superiority and utility of the BomeBox.
Unsoldering the internal antenna is optional, customers have had good results by just plugging in the external antenna and leaving the internal antenna untouched.
I don’t know how much it will really improve reception. It’s not risky, you should have a little soldering experience, and use a soldering iron with a fine tip, and at best an unsoldering pump. The main risk would be to heat up the PCB too much. The antenna is a small, flat, white component at the very edge of the PCB (near the external antenna socket), labeled INPAQ.
Thanks for the nice words, too! If you release such a video, feel free to post it in this forum.
I will most likely do a video in October. Our band is busy for the next few weeks, but I am motivated to get the word out.
I installed the antenna and the results were good! Although I have no baseline for pre-antenna, the range seems more than adequate. The attached pictures indicate the following.
BOMEbox antenna installed with the items next to it. The drilled hole was a 5/64 size drill bit
Is the location of the BOMEbox in the back of the garage
Is the distance from the BOMEbox
Is, at that distance, the fact that the BOMEbox remains connected with good signal
