Weak mifi signal when tethered to wifiranger

[Jwhalen123]

I recently installed a wifiranger skypro system in my RV. I tethered my Verizon mifi 8800L to the internal router but the controller webpage shows it having a very weak signal (-113dB). Anybody else have this issue? I’m not sure why it would have a weak signal when ithe device itself shows 4 to 5 bars.

[Fanukalum]

interested in answer also

[Jwhalen123]

Up top

[Dav L]

Getting a little lost in the terminology being used...
How did you connect the Mifi to the WifiRanger - via Wifi? Is that what you meant by tethering?

What internal router...the WiFiRanger interior hub?

What controller...the WiFi Ranger management webpage? Or a Mifi management page?

[CWSWine]

This is what I used to set up my Jetpack and WIFI ranger and it seems to work. I will admit I have not traveled with it yet just doing testing at my Sicks and Bricks.



http://wifiranger.com/knowledge-base?view=kb&kbartid=48

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Noticed you are kinda new on IRV2 and wanted to say hello! Have fun and keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[docj]

Originally Posted by Jwhalen123

I recently installed a wifiranger skypro system in my RV. I tethered my Verizon mifi 8800L to the internal router but the controller webpage shows it having a very weak signal (-113dB). Anybody else have this issue? I’m not sure why it would have a weak signal when ithe device itself shows 4 to 5 bars.

The term tethering applies to connecting the Mifi to the indoor router with a UsB cable. In order to do that you would have to activate the cellular function of the ranger using the setup tab. When you are tethering the Mifi to the router the signal strength shown on the main control panel page is absolutely irrelevant.

If you need more assistance, please call WiFiRanger customer service and then can walk you through the procedure.

[Jwhalen123]

Originally Posted by Dav L

Getting a little lost in the terminology being used...
How did you connect the Mifi to the WifiRanger - via Wifi? Is that what you meant by tethering?

What internal router...the WiFiRanger interior hub?

What controller...the WiFi Ranger management webpage? Or a Mifi management page?

The mifi is connected via usb cable to the interior wifiranger core router. When viewing signal strength, I am seeing an extremely weak signal from the wifiranger control panel. When checking signal strength on the jetpack device itself, it shows a strong 4-5 bars. I was able to confirm this by verifying the same signal strength on our cell phones (same cell network) as well.

Thanks!

[Jwhalen123]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Noticed you are kinda new on IRV2 and wanted to say hello! Have fun and keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Thank you!

[Jwhalen123]

Originally Posted by docj

The term tethering applies to connecting the Mifi to the indoor router with a UsB cable. In order to do that you would have to activate the cellular function of the ranger using the setup tab. When you are tethering the Mifi to the router the signal strength shown on the main control panel page is absolutely irrelevant.

If you need more assistance, please call WiFiRanger customer service and then can walk you through the procedure.

This was my assumption at first yet I seem to be getting low data rates and freezing while streaming. Each individual device (park wifi and jetpack) seem to have reasonable service when connected separately. I have my system setup as multi wan in dynamic mode so the jetpack is number one and the skypro external antenna is number two and connected to the park wifi. My threshold is set to 56kbps because I want to use both services all the time for max data rates. I was under the impression that when the signal is boosted in dynamic mode it’s basically combining bandwidths from both signals. For instance, if I had 5Mbps on one and 5Mbps on the other, the dynamic mode signal coming from my wifiranger network would then be 10Mbps whenever the threshold has been reached.

[docj]

Originally Posted by Jwhalen123

This was my assumption at first yet I seem to be getting low data rates and freezing while streaming. Each individual device (park wifi and jetpack) seem to have reasonable service when connected separately. I have my system setup as multi wan in dynamic mode so the jetpack is number one and the skypro external antenna is number two and connected to the park wifi. My threshold is set to 56kbps because I want to use both services all the time for max data rates. I was under the impression that when the signal is boosted in dynamic mode it’s basically combining bandwidths from both signals. For instance, if I had 5Mbps on one and 5Mbps on the other, the dynamic mode signal coming from my wifiranger network would then be 10Mbps whenever the threshold has been reached.

No, the WiFi Ranger doesn't have the capability of "bonding" the connections to add the bandwidth of the two of them. It can balance (spread) your usage across several connections but there is no speed increase. For the purposes of getting things working correctly, I suggest that you turn off the MultiWan aspects of the Ranger so you can focus just on getting the Mifi correctly tethered.

One question I forgot to ask, did you "tell" the Jetpack that you wanted to use the USB cable for data AND charging. I don't have first-hand experience with the 8800 but usually the default setting is power only.

When you connected the Mifi to the Ranger by tether did the box in the upper right corner of the Ranger's control panel (labeled Cellular) show that it "saw" the Mifi? If it doesn't then the MiFi's settings aren't correct for passing data and charging over the cable.

Let's get the Mifi working properly and then you can work on more complex setups.

[Jwhalen123]

Thanks Joel! I'll go ahead and shut down the multi wan functions. I selected the option on the mifi device that says "access internet (usb only)". This only allows connection through the wifiranger and charges the 8800L. When connecting it, in the cell window it says "Obtaining IP Address" and underneath that it says "Mifi 8800L". Once it's connected it says tethered.

[docj]

Originally Posted by Jwhalen123

Thanks Joel! I'll go ahead and shut down the multi wan functions. I selected the option on the mifi device that says "access internet (usb only)". This only allows connection through the wifiranger and charges the 8800L. When connecting it, in the cell window it says "Obtaining IP Address" and underneath that it says "Mifi 8800L". Once it's connected it says tethered.

Yup, that all sounds good. With respect to the USB connection I think there should be three choices. One is charging only, the next is charging and access internet and the third should be internet only.

FWIW I am not tethering my Jetpack to my Ranger because I want to be able to control its charging so as not to overcharge it too much. I have the USB tether connected to a charger plugged into an wifi enabled outlet which serves as a timer to turn it on for a couple of hours then offagain.

[Jwhalen123]

Originally Posted by docj

Yup, that all sounds good. With respect to the USB connection I think there should be three choices. One is charging only, the next is charging and access internet and the third should be internet only.

FWIW I am not tethering my Jetpack to my Ranger because I want to be able to control its charging so as not to overcharge it too much. I have the USB tether connected to a charger plugged into an wifi enabled outlet which serves as a timer to turn it on for a couple of hours then offagain.

Joel, do you know how the dynamic mode works when using the multi wan? What in your opinion is the best setup to use both wifi and jetpack data optimally? Thank you!