Wi-Fi Booster (?)

[Jack1234]

We often have problems getting a strong Wi-Fi signal in parks that offer Internet. Does anyone have any experience (or suggestions) for some gizmo/ device that would help boost our signal reception.

Cheers

[LonBoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack1234 We often have problems getting a strong Wi-Fi signal in parks that offer Internet. Does anyone have any experience (or suggestions) for some gizmo/ device that would help boost our signal reception. Cheers

All sorts of stores (wal-mart) have WiFi boosters and they also have re-peaters . for under $100.00 you can get a siginal like you were at home!!!!

[Ken Gluckman]

I am using the Jefa Tech repeater, which does exactly what you want. You can see them on their web page:

JEFA Tech: Long Range WiFi Repeater Kit for RVs

I have been using the basic unit without the external antenna with very good results. If you are in a park with a weaker signal, then you may want to consider the external antenna too.

[BigV]

I'm using the WifiRanger.

[DKO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Gluckman I am using the Jefa Tech repeater, which does exactly what you want. You can see them on their web page: JEFA Tech: Long Range WiFi Repeater Kit for RVs I have been using the basic unit without the external antenna with very good results. If you are in a park with a weaker signal, then you may want to consider the external antenna too.

Double Amen on the Jefa Tech repeater. We bought ours in August and have since been several places where we could not bring in signal before but can now. I told my family a few days ago that I am so glad we bought it!

DKO

[alvinc]

I suggest the following:

• Use an external antenna or WiFi adapter (USB based); depends on your situation.
• Use dual radio WiFi repeater
• Use single radio WiFi repeater, see negative below

One negative of most WiFi repeaters is that they rebroadcast on the same frequency that they receive on. This leads to more congestion on that frequency. If several people in the same RV park do the same thing, the network will actually get slower. This DOES work well in a home environment, but not in crowded environments. Both the Jafa and WiFiRanger repeat on the same frequency. If you have not experienced this, then you are somewhat lucky.

The WiFiRanger does have a major advantage of consolidating access points so that multiple computers in your RV can share the same connection.

There are some dual radio WiFi repeaters (Hawking and WiMAX) but they are not well understood. I have the Hawking HW2R1 ($130) with an external antenna and it works very well. It still has problems in congested environments where there are other people using the same frequency repeaters, but such is life.

[wardy]

I purchased from Costco (but many retailers) an Amped Wireless N300 for $54.99 w/shipping and it works great. You can use it on any computer, PC or Mac. It hooks to one or two (for maximum power) USB ports.

[Ken Gluckman]

I have not noticed any overcrowding effects with the JefaTech, but I'm not really sure what they would look like so maybe I shouldn't comment on that. I can say that the performance has been quite good in most parks.

I also don't know what "consolidating access points" means, but I have no trouble connecting two computers, two iPhones, one iPad, and one WiFi printer and my DirecTV DVR to the JefaTech at the same time with no connection or performance problems. With the JefaTech connected to a good WiFi feed, I have watched streaming video from DirecTV while using an iPhone and an iPad with no glitches in the video.

[alvinc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Gluckman I have not noticed any overcrowding effects with the JefaTech, but I'm not really sure what they would look like so maybe I shouldn't comment on that. I can say that the performance has been quite good in most parks.

When I have had congestion or slow throughput I have checked the network using a WiFi sniffer. In most cases the problem was too many people trying to use the network. If there are a lot of AP's you can tell from the names which are businesses (like the RV park or nearby businesses) and which are personal AP's. My experience is that as the number of AP's on the same frequency go up the network overall gets slower.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Gluckman I also don't know what "consolidating access points" means, but I have no trouble connecting two computers, two iPhones, one iPad, and one WiFi printer and my DirecTV DVR to the JefaTech at the same time with no connection or performance problems. With the JefaTech connected to a good WiFi feed, I have watched streaming video from DirecTV while using an iPhone and an iPad with no glitches in the video.

I could have been clearer.... The WiFiRanger can accept an AirCard (Cell based), thus it can allow wireless sharing of a single AirCard between multiple computers. The "consolidating" statement was with respect to the uplink, not the downlink. Sorry.

[jimmyjnr]

Want to mount 5ft antenna on rear ladder , anybody have a good method for raising /lowering without disconnecting each time we move . thanks jim

[alvinc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjnr Want to mount 5ft antenna on rear ladder , anybody have a good method for raising /lowering without disconnecting each time we move . thanks jim

You might try the Ham Radio market... for example Diamond and Comet have a few motorized mounts, models starting with K9000, but they are for NMO type Ham Radio antennas. Example: Diamond® Antenna ~ K9000TM Motorized Mount
I haven't looked at it too much, but you might be able to modify the mount to support the antenna you have in mind.

Also I haven't seen one that rotates 180 degrees, so the above would not work on the ladder.

There seem to be more choices in the manual category; try searching for antenna adjustable mount

Example: Wilson Electronics 901119 Marine Antenna Mount (901119) from Solid Signal
or at West Marine

[sdennislee]

Ditto on Jefa Tech. Ours is great

[Scooter]

jimmyjnr: I have not done this but others have........secured their antenna (multi-directional) to their CRANK-UP Winegard antenna.

[aluminum03]

Actually since Firmware release 4.4.1stable on the WiFiRanger, they allow different channels than what they are repeating. So you can set your private network to a less crowded channel, regardless of the Parks WiFi.

This makes you private network less susceptible to interference and improves performance greatly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvinc I suggest the following: Use an external antenna or WiFi adapter (USB based); depends on your situation. Use dual radio WiFi repeater Use single radio WiFi repeater, see negative below One negative of most WiFi repeaters is that they rebroadcast on the same frequency that they receive on. This leads to more congestion on that frequency. If several people in the same RV park do the same thing, the network will actually get slower. This DOES work well in a home environment, but not in crowded environments. Both the Jafa and WiFiRanger repeat on the same frequency. If you have not experienced this, then you are somewhat lucky. The WiFiRanger does have a major advantage of consolidating access points so that multiple computers in your RV can share the same connection. There are some dual radio WiFi repeaters (Hawking and WiMAX) but they are not well understood. I have the Hawking HW2R1 ($130) with an external antenna and it works very well. It still has problems in congested environments where there are other people using the same frequency repeaters, but such is life.