Entegra WiFi Extender

[TXBart]

Does anyone have sufficient experience with the WiFi Extender Entegra is offering in their 2018 models to offer an opinion of its benefit?

[brobox]

Vance, just my experience, I have had a lot of wifi extenders over the years and they all become outdated before to long. Today it is the AT&T Mobley unlimited date cell phone access. How long that lasts, is anyone's guess. After that it's on to the next "gadget". Personally I gave up on park wifi 6 years ago. I would not pay top $ for a built in unit.

[ditto]

I have it on my 18...limited experience , but it does pull in distant wifi from 10 -12. houses away that were never listed on my devices before.

[docj]

Originally Posted by brobox

Vance, just my experience, I have had a lot of wifi extenders over the years and they all become outdated before to long. Today it is the AT&T Mobley unlimited date cell phone access. How long that lasts, is anyone's guess. After that it's on to the next "gadget". Personally I gave up on park wifi 6 years ago. I would not pay top $ for a built in unit.

With all due respect, the AT&T Mobely has nothing to do with wifi extenders. The Mobley is simply a modem that enables the user to access the cellular network. A wifi extender amplifies a park's wifi signal.

[LVUS101]

Anyone familiar with this product. If so which system would work best for our Entegras?
They have a good video explaining how they work but that still leaves the decision on which one.
Anyone with Experience or has one now. Just trying to strengthen the signal in any given park. Thanks in advance.

https://wifiranger.com/

[brobox]

Originally Posted by LVUS101

Anyone familiar with this product. If so which system would work best for our Entegras?
They have a good video explaining how they work but that still leaves the decision on which one.
Anyone with Experience or has one now. Just trying to strengthen the signal in any given park. Thanks in advance.

https://wifiranger.com/

Jim, many have install this for under $100. or just over $100. with a deluxe antenna. I think it works as well as anything on the market. https://outsideourbubble.com/secure-...for-under-100/

However thanks to being able to get on the Mobley system I never used it this travel season. But trying it at my hanger, I picked up wifi signals 6 block away across open fields. I can also connect to my home wifi out in the driveway which I could not do before. Worked great during a 3 week bathroom remodel, no drop outs.

[LVUS101]

Originally Posted by brobox

Jim, many have install this for under $100. or just over $100. with a deluxe antenna. I think it works as well as anything on the market. https://outsideourbubble.com/secure-...for-under-100/

However thanks to being able to get on the Mobley system I never used it this travel season. But trying it at my hanger, I picked up wifi signals 6 block away across open fields. I can also connect to my home wifi out in the driveway which I could not do before. Worked great during a 3 week bathroom remodel, no drop outs.

Thanks Chuck, I will take a look at yours.

[swberry]

Originally Posted by brobox

Jim, many have install this for under $100. or just over $100. with a deluxe antenna. I think it works as well as anything on the market. https://outsideourbubble.com/secure-...for-under-100/

However thanks to being able to get on the Mobley system I never used it this travel season. But trying it at my hanger, I picked up wifi signals 6 block away across open fields. I can also connect to my home wifi out in the driveway which I could not do before. Worked great during a 3 week bathroom remodel, no drop outs.

This is the system we use and it has been great for the money. We used the upgraded antenna and the overall cost was more, but worth it given the low cost of the system. We stream Netflix routinely using RV Park WiFi networks. The only problem we have had is that sometimes when there is a tengo internet wifi network we cannot connect depending on how the park configured their network.

[Smitty77]

Depending upon the WiFiRanger (WFR) components used, you may find other advantages of having their systems.

A WFR GOac is a pretty nifty device to have in your Communication Arsenal. It's a router, a WiFi Repeater/Signal for you full coach with 802.11AC capability. It also can be tethered to other devices, like a Mobley, or other JetPack or MiFi type device. Even without a roof top antenna, the GOac's internal antenna does a better job of pulling in a useable signal then say a laptop. With a roof top EliteAC antenna, the range of WiFi gathering of signals is much, much greater.

Another advantage of the WFR GOac (And other products.), is you get SafeSurf. This very similar to a VPN. So it allows higher security for trading, banking, sensitive business if working from the road. And if you travel in Canada, it looks to the Canadian servers as if you're in Idaho. Canadian rules will often time not allow the streaming of certain TV shows and or movies. (Netflix/Amazon/etc., with different content from each not being available. So with SafeSurf - you still get access to all of the shows you would in the United States.

And of course, be a router too, you can CAT5/6 directly to anything you want.

Final advantage that I like the most, and yes other devices can do this too, is the 'single logon' for all of your in coach devices. (Laptops, Smart TV's, DVR's, Etc.) the 'data source' feeding the WFR can be a Park WiFI, Phone Hotspot, MiFi, etc. You can change the 'data source' around as needed. But all of your devices do not then need to be re-logged onto those individual units. The WFR repeats the signal, strong enough to usually be 30-40' + away from the coach, in our case. And all of the devices we use are always logged on.

Not inexpensive, but it does may things. I consider it an 'foundation piece' of our overall Communications Arsenal devices!

Best to you and all,
Smitty

[majfrizz]

Vance,

The current model that is on the coaches is being replaced by a new version Winegard will have out in Jan. numerous improvements for sure, plus a big reduction in retail price. but of course, it depends how many of the current the builder has in inventory before the new version is used.

I do have a set of the "Outside our Bubble" system mentioned above for sale. Just PM me

Bob

Winegard to debut next-gen ConnecT at RVDA | RV Daily Report

[Gary.Jones]

I'll be the contrarian..... don't spend any money on a WIFI extender and save all that money for buying a block of cell service broadband which is much more dependable, and much less frustrating. I can count the number of good RV park WIFI systems we have encountered in 3.5 years of motorcoaching on the fingers of one hand. I also can count on the fingers of one hand the times that the RV park we were inhabiting was within 5 or 6 blocks of an RV park we were staying in. Usually they are off the beaten track and not near the "free" WIFI spots like McDonalds, or Lowes, or where-ever. I have a low tolerance for frustration when it comes to communications, so I now don't even try park WIFI and simply depend on an unlimited AT&T and still 8 gigs of Verizon MIFI. Life is easier. Frustration is lower.

Gary

[firedoc]

Stopped at a local CW and they had this: ConnecT for.....wait for it....over $500. That’s probably not a bad price for something that’s not out yet[emoji12]

[stevedenesha]

The new ConnecT won't be out til at least mid Jan but won't look like the pic as it will be a dome style for the RV and connect to both cell and WIFI. The unit is suppose to be about half the price as the current version.

[Saltydog44]

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

I'll be the contrarian..... don't spend any money on a WIFI extender and save all that money for buying a block of cell service broadband which is much more dependable, and much less frustrating. I can count the number of good RV park WIFI systems we have encountered in 3.5 years of motorcoaching on the fingers of one hand. I also can count on the fingers of one hand the times that the RV park we were inhabiting was within 5 or 6 blocks of an RV park we were staying in. Usually they are off the beaten track and not near the "free" WIFI spots like McDonalds, or Lowes, or where-ever. I have a low tolerance for frustration when it comes to communications, so I now don't even try park WIFI and simply depend on an unlimited AT&T and still 8 gigs of Verizon MIFI. Life is easier. Frustration is lower.

Gary

I keep looking at the posts for a magic bullet - I missed the Mobley (Not an interesting story) but I have the 30G on Verizon for hotspots and unlimited on the phones themselves. It just works and I'm pretty sure my tolerance for technology frustration is a lot lower than yours. I'd be happy obviously to find a cheaper solution, but so far no joy.

We connect our devices to the hotspots (Printer, tablets) and as I said - it just works.