Add External Antenna to ASIAir Pro Astrophotography Controller [Tutorial and Performance Analysis]

Channel:

Caleb Begly Fun and Tech

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Published on May 31, 2021 3:00:11 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l87enVmkpc

Category:

Tutorial

Duration: 8:32

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It's a wireless device ... in a metal case. Definitely a limitation, but one we can fix with a little soldering and drilling. In this video I show how to modify your ASIAir Pro to add an external WiFi antenna to increase its wireless range. We then compare the WiFi signal strength before and after at a variety of distances from the router to show that the external antenna is a big improvement.

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction to the ASIAir Pro
0:11 - ASIAir Pro issue with poor WiFi signal quality
0:49 - Disassembly
1:44 - Adding U.FL connector to the Pi
2:02 - Case modifications
5:39 - Reassembly
6:41 - Finished modified ASIAir Pro
6:52 - Antenna radiation pattern
7:23 - Methodology for comparing performance
7:47 - Comparison results (external antenna vs stock)
8:06 - Giveaway, new modification service

GIVEAWAY:
A̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶v̶i̶d̶e̶o̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶o̶d̶i̶f̶i̶e̶d̶ ̶A̶S̶I̶A̶i̶r̶ ̶P̶r̶o̶ ̶(̶a̶ ̶$̶3̶2̶8̶ ̶v̶a̶l̶u̶e̶)̶.̶ ̶V̶i̶s̶i̶t̶ ̶ https://gleam.io/Lk9t3/asiair-pro-with-external-antenna-modification-giveaway t̶o̶ ̶e̶n̶t̶e̶r̶
Update: Giveaway has ended. Congratulations Milton from Daphne, AL!

Services:
For ASIAir Pro or Raspberry Pi Modification service, visit https://funandtech.etsy.com

For pre-modified Raspberry Pis (all Pi 4 models, and Pi Zero W) check out my eBay store - https://www.ebay.com/str/techcaleb
There has been way more demand for these than I anticipated, so I'm glad so many are getting use out of them! I try to keep them in stock, but if they are out check back in a week or so and they should be restocked.

Measurement script used: https://github.com/techdude/misc/blob/main/measure_wifi.py

Additional notes for the older version (which has a much wider wall on the Pi side of the case):
- Placement of the hole is similar, just make sure to still put it pretty close to the indicator lights so it doesn't block the reset switch (placement can be the same as in the video). A distance of 0.54 inches (13.7mm) from the edge works well.
- Screws on the outside of the case use a P1 Phillips instead of a P0
- The heatsink is loose, so make sure to correctly replace it during reassembly.
- The hexagonal standoffs are 3/16", so you can use a thin walled socket to unscrew them (they are what is holding the Pi into the case).

Photo used in thumbnail is "Pleiades Final 92min ASI2400 RC10" by PrzemekMajewski, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons