Community Forums

ProjectPro · 04-25-2015, 01:58 PM

I have an HR24, Traveler, and I connect to the Internet through a Cinema Connection Kit. I got it connected to my VZ mobile hot spot feature of my phone, but I would like to use campground WiFi when I'm staying for more than a week. It seems really difficult to switch from one connection to another, even following the instructions from the DirecTV Web site. They focus on getting it connected, not on changing connections. Anyone found an easy way to accomplish this?

FlyingDiver · 04-25-2015, 02:22 PM

The easy way is to not have to change it, ever. Get yourself a wifi-as-wan router, like Cradlepoint or Wifi-Ranger, connect your CCK (and everything else wifi) to it, and then just change the Wifi the router is connected to from your hotspot to the campground.

luvlabs · 04-26-2015, 08:07 AM

X2 on what FlyingDiver said. Another router that will work will in this situation is the Pepwave Surf SOHO. I use mine to either connect to the campground wifi or to my mifi.

hawgguy · 04-26-2015, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver

Get yourself a wifi-as-wan router, like Cradlepoint or Wifi-Ranger, connect your CCK (and everything else wifi) to it, and then just change the Wifi the router is connected to from your hotspot to the campground.

I have the Cradelpoint - and it seems to work well.

I'd like to know if it is possible and if there is any benefit to connecting my cell phone (android) to the Cradlepoint via the USB port on the back rather than via WiFi?

Also, when Setting up the Cradlepoint WAN, is it possible to set what channel to use? It always uses the same channel as my cell phone hotspot. I would think that using a different channel would present less interference.

FlyingDiver · 04-26-2015, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawgguy

I have the Cradelpoint - and it seems to work well.

I'd like to know if it is possible and if there is any benefit to connecting my cell phone (android) to the Cradlepoint via the USB port on the back rather than via WiFi?

Also, when Setting up the Cradlepoint WAN, is it possible to set what channel to use? It always uses the same channel as my cell phone hotspot. I would think that using a different channel would present less interference.

Using USB will reduce the likelihood of interference, but that's probably not going to be much of an issue.

The WAN side of the Cradlepoint has to connect to your phone on whatever channel the phone is using. The LAN side should be on a different channel. Yes, you can force it to a specific channel, but the "Smart Selection" option will usually do that for you.

ProjectPro · 04-26-2015, 10:45 AM

Many thanks to those who replied. I was not aware of the WiFi as WAN technology. It looks like some of these routers have an ethernet LAN connection as well. This would work great for me - I think I could eliminate the CCK and one more source of heat and potential failure.

There seem to be a lot of Cradlepoint devices available, and their Web site isn't very helpful in comparing the features. Any favorites?

I'll probably keep my laptop connecting via the phone's Mobile Hot Spot - I'm a little leery of public WiFi connectivity, but it will be fine for my DVR. (Sorry if I sound like a data snob.)

FlyingDiver · 04-26-2015, 11:34 AM

The MBR95 is the one you want, if you're looking at Cradlepoint. The MBR1200 would work also. The others are overkill for what you need. The MBR95 has four LAN ports, one WAN port, and USB for a cell data modem. Plus the extra Wifi radio for Wifi-as-WAN.

FWIW, your laptop is connecting via WiFi to either the phone hotspot or the router (Cradlepoint, etc). Neither one is "Public Wifi" (unless you don't put a password on the Wifi). The security is the same. A more secure method (if your phone and laptop allow) is USB to the phone. I know I can do it that way with my iPhone and OSX laptop.

ProjectPro · 04-27-2015, 07:23 AM

FD,

Thanks for the info. I'm not too worried about the setup when I'm using the phone's WiFi because the range is pretty short. I'm also not worried about using the phone's data connection to the world - cracking CDMA is beyond the capabilities of garden-variety hackers. I was instead worried about using the campground WiFi as my WAN. I guess the router will act as a firewall, and anything important will be done over a secure sockets link anyway, but I am concerned about some teenager just monitoring the campground's WiFi traffic just for grins. Am I missing the point?

Smitty77 · 04-27-2015, 09:10 AM

Kind of funny on the timing of this thread. We have a new to us DirecTV with the Gennie HR44 DVR too. I got it to connect to my Verizon Phone Hotspot without an problem. But dang if when I tried to change it to our WiFiRanger Go2, it would not accept the password that I know is correct. Have security set for both of the same way.

We were getting ready to head out the time I tried this, and I have not played with it since then, but sure had me puzzled

!. (I did go far enough to full off/on both the Gennie and the Go2, to see if it might clear things up and allow connection. No luck with that either.)

We've a very poor Verizon signal where we are parked now, but will again try setting up the Gennie to the WifiRanger Go2 later today. (I just hooked it up to the Verizon for grins, as I usually run everything thru the Go2, whether it be internet connected via the Verizon Phone Hotspot, or a parks WiFi, it makes things simpler.)

And I'll also confirm the mentioned Cradlepoint are a good product too.

Best to all,
Smitty

FlyingDiver · 04-27-2015, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProjectPro

FD,

Thanks for the info. I'm not too worried about the setup when I'm using the phone's WiFi because the range is pretty short. I'm also not worried about using the phone's data connection to the world - cracking CDMA is beyond the capabilities of garden-variety hackers. I was instead worried about using the campground WiFi as my WAN. I guess the router will act as a firewall, and anything important will be done over a secure sockets link anyway, but I am concerned about some teenager just monitoring the campground's WiFi traffic just for grins. Am I missing the point?

I just figure that if I'm worried about one specific Wifi network, I ought to be worried about any of them I might be using. Which I'm not, because (as you said) everything I really care about is using SSL.

spinn · 04-27-2015, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawgguy

I have the Cradelpoint - and it seems to work well.

I'd like to know if it is possible and if there is any benefit to connecting my cell phone (android) to the Cradlepoint via the USB port on the back rather than via WiFi?

Also, when Setting up the Cradlepoint WAN, is it possible to set what channel to use? It always uses the same channel as my cell phone hotspot. I would think that using a different channel would present less interference.

Some time ago i talked to Cradlepoint about using a USB connection to a cell hot spot. Their response was that they did not support (within the modem) USB connections of anything other than USB modems.

I don't know if this has changed

Steve

docj · 04-28-2015, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProjectPro

Many thanks to those who replied. I was not aware of the WiFi as WAN technology. It looks like some of these routers have an ethernet LAN connection as well. This would work great for me - I think I could eliminate the CCK and one more source of heat and potential failure.

The WiFiRanger Go2 has Ethernet ports one of which I use for my DirecTV DVR. When the indoor Go2 is combined with an outdoor Elite, both units are controlled through a single onscreen control panel. WiFiRanger products have been designed for RVers and offer numerous "techie" features behind an easy-to-use interface that a novice will feel comfortable with.

Before you buy any such device I suggest that you check out the user interface. Yes, I'm biased because I work for WiFiRanger, but I do think you will find that some devices are far more user-friendly than others.

Joel (AKA docj)

ProjectPro · 06-04-2015, 07:03 PM

Thanks to all who replied. I got a Cradlepoint MBR95. I set it up at home - easy setup and it worked great. Took it all to the coach, set it up identically, but couldn't get the HR24 to connect to the Internet...until I remembered that a "big red" reset cures a lot of ills with DirecTV DVRs. Sure enough, resetting it made everything work fine. I'm delighted and grateful for the introduction to the "WiFi as WAN" concept. I suppose that someone will soon tell me that some places sell bread that has already been sliced...