Best RV Internet for Dummies

[Dav L]

Originally Posted by dogrunner

TurboPilot - how do I connect my Chevy WIFI Hotspot to the Cradlepoint/Pep Wave setup you have been describing?

Thanks in advance.

If you are talking about your Car's OnStar system, then the answer is you don't.

If you are talking about the AutoNet Wifi hotspot same answer.

That would be redundant connections to the Internet.

You could put a Cradle/Pep system into a vehicle and then your phone / laptop would have WiFi access but independent on the stuff GM put into the vehicle.

Describe what your goal is.

[pwhittle]

Originally Posted by Camper25

Guys..... I've spent LOTS of $$$$ on all this cellular equipment mentioned, and I still get better speeds overall on my 7730L hotspot.

I said the same thing in post #669

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/best-rv-internet-for-dummies-442761-post5029171.html

Paul

[riverofcode]

Originally Posted by dmp1991

My DSDP order is in for 2021. The prep I asked for, for the LTE setup, was "Wifi prep with dual 1" conduit from driver OHC to roof." ...
I'm not 100% sure if I'm going to run antenna cables in these, but that's what I sized them for. Top-end would be 8 LM400 cables (dual modem, 4x4 MIMO), but that won't fit with the drop from 2" to dual 1". So either I'll drop down to smaller cables, or settle for a single modem for now. There's also the off-chance of simply putting the modem/router box on the roof itself and running CAT cable inside through the conduit. .....
As an aside, you may want to request additional CAT runs to the various AV locations around the coach. For future-proofing.

Have you considered this solution... https://www.peplink.com/products/max...2-ip67-router/ Then all you need to the roof is a CAT5/6 wire w/POE on it. A small "pro-sumer" wifi router and POE injector in your electronics cabinet. All your coax stays on the roof and as short as possible. Its not an inexpensive solution but probably about as robust as you could make it.

[afr0ninja]

I currently have a WiFi ranger that has been less than great to deal with. I often find myself in parks where it simply won't connect to the parks Wi-Fi.

I'm looking to upgrade the router and found a ton of good information on this thread but have a few additional questions...

1. I think Cradlepoint is where I want to go, but I've read elsewhere that you now need to subscribe to a service to get firmware updates/support at $180 a year. Is this true? If so, it seems Pepwave is the way to go.

2. I'm more interested in using camp WiFi as my primary. I supplement my jetpack when park WiFi is acting up or not working. Is the Pepwave or Cradlepoint good for WiFi as WAN?

3. If I put the sim from my jetpack into a Cradlepoint or Pepwave device, am I able to route traffic through whichever source I prefer? Meaning, could I give the SIM card it's own SSID? Or only allow traffic through some IP addresses? Or simply disable unless I activate it? (Currently with my POS WiFi ranger, I either tether my jetpack, or often will just do WiFi as WAN.)

4. With Cradlepoint or Pepwave do you get options to route traffic otherwise in the router? The WiFi Ranger is fairly limited in what you can do. It's interface is very simplistic.

[docj]

Originally Posted by afr0ninja

I currently have a WiFi ranger that has been less than great to deal with. I often find myself in parks where it simply won't connect to the parks Wi-Fi.


4. With Cradlepoint or Pepwave do you get options to route traffic otherwise in the router? The WiFi Ranger is fairly limited in what you can do. It's interface is very simplistic.

I'm sorry your Ranger hasn't been performing well. We'd be happy to help you get it working properly. Depending on how long you've owned it you might want to make sure that it's running on the latest firmware version.

FWIW your WiFiRanger does support usage restrictions which allow you to control usage of specific internet connections by certain devices. I don't know if this feature is as flexible as you desire, but it most definitely exists. You can find it at the bottom of the Usage tab of the Ranger's control panel.

[afr0ninja]

Originally Posted by docj

I'm sorry your Ranger hasn't been performing well. We'd be happy to help you get it working properly. Depending on how long you've owned it you might want to make sure that it's running on the latest firmware version.

FWIW your WiFiRanger does support usage restrictions which allow you to control usage of specific internet connections by certain devices. I don't know if this feature is as flexible as you desire, but it most definitely exists. You can find it at the bottom of the Usage tab of the Ranger's control panel.

Thank you for the information.

I don't want to hijack this thread with WiFi Ranger issues... I will briefly say that when I purchased the WiFi Ranger, I had bought it with the hopes of restricting Cellular data. As you mention, there are "restrictions" but they don't generally work. You configure the restrictions to find out that all of your cellular data has been burned through because it didn't restrict as you had expected. Hours on the phone with support validated that it just doesn't work that way. According to the device, it's on the latest firmware version.

I am very disappointed with the product; especially for what I paid for it. I'm on my second unit. The first one wouldn't transmit 5GHz reliably. Talking to support is painful as you get 200 reasons why it's not the units fault. The replacement finally sent had a broken case. The top contentiously pops off the bottom piece where the board pops out. And now its started to not connect to networks. It will sometimes connect, sometimes not. I bought my original unit around July of 2019, haven't been satisfied in the least and am now ready to look for something that hopefully meets my stellar expectations of "working."

[docj]

Originally Posted by afr0ninja

I am very disappointed with the product; especially for what I paid for it. I'm on my second unit. The first one wouldn't transmit 5GHz reliably. Talking to support is painful as you get 200 reasons why it's not the units fault. The replacement finally sent had a broken case. The top contentiously pops off the bottom piece where the board pops out.

If you were shipped a broken device you should have immediately notified customer service and a replacement would have been sent. You've chosen to complain about a problem that could easily have been corrected. Your device was under warranty until July 2020 and you shouldn't have accepted one with a broken case. JMO.

[creativepart]

Afroninja... I’ve had WFR routers for probably 6-yrs. I started with the Go2 router and the Elite outdoor router. Then a couple of years ago I switched to the GoAC router but kept the Elite router from before on my roof.

I have never tried to do what you are trying to do. It sounds like you have a small data allowance on your data plan and you are trying to use the WFR to manage that data limit. Is that correct?

The first reality is that, in general, campground WiFi sucks. And, your cellular device works vastly better than the campground’s WiFi. The WFR is trying to connect you to reliable internet. So, if your cellular internet is so much better naturally your WFR is preferring to connect you via cellular internet. The problem is that your cellular data plan is too restricted, not that your WFR is a POS.

Yes, if they sent you a replacement and it arrived broken, then that is not good and should be rectified.

I’ve had few issues with WFR and the two or three times I’ve contacted support they’ve been super helpful. But then I’m not trying to get them to either make campground WiFi work good or to configure my router to limit my cellular data usage.

I’m not trying to be offensive or rude, but it sounds like you are trying to do something that is not really possible.

Cradlepoint is great. It’s expensive and really geared for commercial usage by businesses that need mobile internet. Yes, it does WiFi As WAN but I think you will not have your particular issue solved by it or Pepwave, for that matter.

If I understand your problem correctly, and I may not to be honest, the only answer to your dilemma is to find an affordable data plan with much higher fast speed data limits or truly unlimited high speed data availability. Then you can let whatever router you chose connect you to fast, reliable cellular internet when ever you find campground WiFi internet is not up to par.

PS. I’m writing this from a National Forest Campground 17-mi north of Durango, CO via a WiFi Ranger GoAC router with a Nighthawk MiFi device and ATT unlimited SIM card connected to the router via an Ethernet cable.

[JC2]

Good explanation.

[Flatlander1]

Originally Posted by dmp1991

My DSDP order is in for 2021. The prep I asked for, for the LTE setup, was "Wifi prep with dual 1" conduit from driver OHC to roof." When it came back it was worded like this "(2) CONDUIT WITH WIFI PREP FROM ROOF TO FRONT LIVING ROOM OHC"

I had originally asked for a 2" conduit, but was told Newmar doesn't stock 2" so they can't do that. Not the same cross-sectional area between these two options, but at $850 per conduit, it was the best I was willing to pay for.

Additionally, during the discussions about this special, I asked that there be no corners or bends in the conduit greater than 60 degrees. I was told my conduit would not have any bends at all. I have doubts in my head about that.

I'm not 100% sure if I'm going to run antenna cables in these, but that's what I sized them for. Top-end would be 8 LM400 cables (dual modem, 4x4 MIMO), but that won't fit with the drop from 2" to dual 1". So either I'll drop down to smaller cables, or settle for a single modem for now. There's also the off-chance of simply putting the modem/router box on the roof itself and running CAT cable inside through the conduit.

As an aside, you may want to request additional CAT runs to the various AV locations around the coach. For future-proofing.

Has your coach arrived? Are you satisfied with the conduits?
We are planning to order a Ventana and trying to understand all this after DW tells me she wants internet in NP (remote locations). I was considering ordering the cheapest WiFi Ranger option just for the wire in place but your 1" conduit idea sounds better. TIA

[arlawbob]

[QUOTE=docj;5447091]I'm sorry your Ranger hasn't been performing well. We'd be happy to help you get it working properly. Depending on how long you've owned it you might want to make sure that it's running on the latest firmware version.

Joel how do I determine if my WFR is running on the latest firmware version.

[docj]

Originally Posted by arlawbob

Joel how do I determine if my WFR is running on the latest firmware version.

When you go to the Ranger's control panel, in the upper right corner of every page there is a text box. The top line of that text box states the firmware version you are using.

Below that is a line that either states "Check for updates" or "Cloud Disconnected". Those words are a link; click on them once or twice and you'll see some scrolling blue bars. When the bars finish scrolling the link will now say "Check for Updates" or "Update Firmware". If you get the first message, your firmware is OK, if you get the second, you need to update.

One caution is that when you do the update make sure you are connected to a stable internet connection. The update will take ~10 minutes and it's important that the Ranger stay connected during the process.

Joel (AKA docj)

[dmp1991]

Sorry for the delayed responses to questions asked of me on this thread. Sometimes I forget to come back and look for newer posts!

Originally Posted by riverofcode

Have you considered this solution... <link to pepwave weatherproof-container-wrapped-modem> Then all you need to the roof is a CAT5/6 wire w/POE on it. A small "pro-sumer" wifi router and POE injector in your electronics cabinet. All your coax stays on the roof and as short as possible. Its not an inexpensive solution but probably about as robust as you could make it.

Hello riverofcode. Yes, I considered it but didn't like the older modem tech (at the time vs Cradlepoints, no idea if this has changed yet) in the Pepwaves, nor the expense of their pre-packaged unit. I've so far gotten two Cradlepoint CBA850s with CAT18 and Band 71 support just so I could do this if it turns out the double 1" conduits won't work. I expect to get a watertight container on Amazon or something like that. That said, given the expense of a new DS purchase, I opted to have them run the conduit in case it turns out to be sufficient for the antenna cables. ( I'd like to have the option to not need the larger waterproof unit on the root and have antenna cables running to the interior for more/better device options. ) We'll see where it ends up once I can actually test things out!

FWIW, I already have a switch to use for inside that provides PoE.

Originally Posted by Flatlander1

Has your coach arrived? Are you satisfied with the conduits?

Hello Flatlander1, unfortunately not yet. I'm told my coach is supposed to roll off the assembly line in early Oct. However, since I elected to do CPU at the factory, I'm not going to get it until early Nov -- that's the soonest they would let me book. That said, others on the forum have reported getting a 1" conduit installed and results are hit and miss. On the miss side, some have reported sharp bends in the conduit in the middle of the run. (I asked about this during iterations on my specials and they said they wouldn't put any bends in it.)

[pdeinc]

We have a new to us coach that I'm setting up my internet components and will be using a different roof top antenna this time. One antenna recommended by TurboPilot is this one https://smile.amazon.com/Poynting-MI.../dp/B07K4Q5DBS which has both mimo as well as wifi and GPS capability, neither of which I need. Is the cellular performance of this model from the same manufacturer any less capable? https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K4TMGCW