Spitz AX - Install in a RV

Technical Support for Routers 4G LTE, 5G NR, USB modems
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Today I'll invite you to a peek into my home. To be more precise in my mobile home. Or more to my journey to a perfect mobile router setup. (Almost, I need to find the mounting plate again).

A few month ago I was asked by the GL.iNet staff if I would write about my Spitz AX mount in my RV. Life is unpredictable, so I don't got the time, even when I wanted to install it right after unpacking...

I tried it a few weeks ago. One day before my wife and I left for a company's conference, which means I needed to listen to motivational talks and she stayed nearby with the dogs... It was cold, I was tired.
First I installed the cable, put everything back in place, looks fine. I plugged in the Spitz aaaand no power ... Hmm. Even worse: Half of my RV gone offline... No heater, no fridge, no TV. Dammit. I don't want to tell my wife she is without heater this weekend. Believe me, I really don't want!
I found a melted fuse and changed it ... Uff, online again.

So I wrote to GL.iNet, I am sorry, this project will take even longer.
What I don't expected, a few nice people around the globe talked to eachother about my issue and the answer was 'maybe it is the wrong polarisation' ... Wow. Yes, the cable I used was not marked, so I assumed the plus and minus cable.

Today is a good day, I started over. At first I measured the original power supply:

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Plus at the inner contact. Okay.

Afterwards I disassembled the panel.

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The power to the TV is already fused. This helped me not the last time, but I used this cord again. Since we are using the TV one or two times a year...

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The most important part is to measure again, after installing, before plug in.
If the polarization is wrong, the display will show a - (minus) before the value. In that case, don't plug in the router!

The voltage is with 13,2 V slightly higher than the 12,3 from the power supply . This is not an issue for the Spitz AX, which can handle 9 to 36 V in the data sheet. 13-14 V is normal for a healthy battery in the RV.

Now I just need to find the mounting plate.

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This router is the perfect extension for my next RV trips. No USB-C converters, two SIM Card slots for private and business data card, powerful antenna, to get signal further away from cities.
And VPN to my home for a secure internet at any time!

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Hello @LupusE . Thank you for sharing your experience! Also, you are welcome to participate in the upcoming internal beta test of Spitz Plus.

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I already registered. As maybe the biggest fan of the Slate Plus, I have huge expectations in the Spitz Plus :wink:
I choose the router for my trips most time with a look to the power consumption, less to the maximum theoretical available bandwidth.

Only on vacation, as hot spot for the whole family in an apartment, I choose the bigger ones, like Slate AX or Beryl AX.

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Very cool LupusE,

I've been using a similar 12v DC setup on my sailboat for a couple of years now and it's been fantastic.

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Nice write up. I have a similar setup in our RV. I have the Spitz GL-X3000 hooked up to an external antenna (Mobile Mark LTMWG 942).

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I have no permission to drill holes in the outside of my RV. And my wife could be very clear about some topics.

But I am interested. Could you share pictures with us? Especially from the inside installation.

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Our RV was prewired and already had a cap on the roof to access the wiring. I will see what pics I can find.

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I haven't decided where to put the On/Off switch so it just sits there for now. This is in the storage over the bed. I leave the slider door open to make sure there is plenty of ventilation. I can't find the pic of the antenna on the roof so I will have to take another.

Router installed
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I need to add a in/off switch as well. At the moment it is by plugging the cable.
But as my panel (see last photo) is open and looks like putt everything together, I am searching for a better looking solution.
But there are not many panel modules available, that are modular enough for me.

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Not sure if you are US based or not. I use Blue Seas systems for all of my AC and DC stuff on my sailboat, including the switch for my 5g router.
https://www.bluesea.com/products/category/25/109/DC_Panels/Accessory_and_Circuit_Breaker_Switch_Panels

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Thank you very much for the link.
The water proof versions are not very modular. You need to decide how many buttons you need, before buy.

I need one little panel for the voltage with two buttons (main battery starter battery), one panel for the water fill with two buttons (fresh water, grey water). This will replace the big ugly board in the middle.
When I doing it new, I'll also change the power for the grey water. bottom left on my last picture. The round 3way switch next to it needs to be original, it is some Truma freeze protection.
The last button will be a switch for the SpitzAX. For now.

This will be a bigger project then installing the Spitz.

Last time I planned some kind of frame, like https://www.bluesea.com/products/4367/Water-Resistant_Accessory_Panel_-_15A_Circuit_Breaker_3x_Blank_Apertures to add switches, buttons and gauges.
So I can attach more and more, as needed.