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Old 05-08-2019, 03:34 PM   #1
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Best RV Internet for Dummies

There have been repeated calls on this forum to present a more basic, yet comprehensive explanation of the current technology available to provide useable internet services to user devices inside an RV. This is a complicated subject which is very hard to cover with simple terms. It is made more complicated by so many choices, technology moving fast and vendors who try to sell devices that do little at best or make things worse. Following on the Technology for Dummies theme I will try to do my best with this subject.

This entire discussion starts with a premise that you are not satisfied with your current ability to use internet based voice and data services in your coach. If you are happy with whatever you have now, stop reading this thread and please don’t clutter the dialog in this thread with posts that you are happy with what you have. I accept that reality even if you have a lousy internet connection it works for you.

Second, if you primarily use your RV in mid town Manhattan stop reading this post now. Nothing discussed below will improve your internet services in dense urban settings. All your client devices should run just fine without any additional help in New York City.

Lastly, if you really value being connected to the internet and your RV regularly visits places like Capital Reef National Park in Utah. This thread is for you. You will need all the help modern technology can offer to get acceptable internet in remote areas. There are still some areas of this country with absolutely no cellular internet possible, like a few hundred miles running north/south in Nevada on US93. In those areas satellite internet is the only current solution.

Thoughout this discussion I will provide links to technical terms. There is no way around using these terms without making this post into a full length novel. If at any point a technical term is used that you don’t understand click on the link I provide and learn what that term means before reading on.

Let’s start with some definitions. What is “acceptable internet”? This is a subjective term. Everyone’s definition will be different. In an RV I consider “acceptable internet” to be an internet connection with “DSL like” speeds, roughly 5 Mbps Down and .5 Mbps UP along with latency less than 100 ms (if you don’t understand latency click the link). An internet connection running with these parameters will be useable for email, messaging, routine web page browsing and looking at Google maps. A connection like this will most likely not support streaming HD video. Other terms you should understand for this discussion are LTE, MIMO, Carrier Aggregation, Decibel, Cellular data channels.

A short history of wireless cellular communication is needed for some context to understand where we are and why some old technologies just don’t apply any more. Cell phones rolled out in the mid 1980’s and these were reasonably primitive analog voice communication devices that operated between 800 to 900 mHz just above the old TV UHF band. This was before Al Gore invented the internet so there was no data movement involved, just voice. In the mid 1990’s Al invented the internet and at the same time cell phones moved to digital voice communications while Sprint opened up the very high cellular radio bands around 2,000 mHz. These high bands allowed much more band width but were very limited by short range. Anyone using the new digital phones on those high frequency bands in the mid 1990’s remembers how bad the experience was making the conversion.

Beginning in the late 1990’s cell phones began to introduce internet based data services for things like messaging and email. In the early 2000’s as cellular radio evolved more internet services became practical as the system evolved through the 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE phases of growth. As we rolled into 2019 cellular radio technology has now evolved into a very mature LTE system with MIMO and carrier aggregation technology. Cellular based internet speeds with the most current equipment and a “good” signal now equal or exceed speeds seen in most wired residential settings. The other significant change along the way is the merging of voice and data. Most cell phones now handle a voice call as an internet protocol data stream just like any other data based application on a smart phone. This is a very important change. If you value a good voice connection then you need to make sure your cellular internet connection workable.

So that is the very long prolog to the information that follows. If you are still reading this it is because you value high quality voice and data communications in your coach everywhere you go, not just in urban settings.

For the purposes of this discussion forgot about 5G. This technology is a long way off and will be of value only to those folks in dense urban settings. It will be a long time before you see 5G services at Capital Reef in Utah.

What follows are my recommendations for a coach internet system that will provide for the best internet data services available in a coach today (May 2019). It will cost just around $1,000 with the only labor needed involving getting at least 4, RB59 cables to a roof mounted antenna from the location where the equipment will be housed. You can spend less than $600 and get a similar system with slower speeds and significantly reduced fringe coverage if you want. And yes if you plan on operating in fringe or deep fringe area you absolutely need a roof mounted antenna to pull in those 600 mHz and 700 mHz cellular bands.

So what has changed in 2019 to make quality internet so much easier in an RV operating in rural settings. Three major technology advancements have been rolled out for cellular internet that has changed the game for rural mobile internet coverage:
  • 1. Increasing use of lower frequency cellular radio bands is one major factor. Both Verizon and ATT anchor their cellular LTE coverage around the 700 mHz frequency bands/channels. T-Mobile is just now implementing LTE coverage in the new cellular band around 600 mHz. These low bands offer exceptional range for cellular data coverage playing right into the sweet spot for the typical geographical use of an RV. You need far fewer cell towers when your signal will go 3 times further than it does on the “old” PCS high frequency bands rolled out in the 1990’s.
  • 2. The evolving growth of MIMO antenna technology has changed the game for remote coverage. Now the cellular data signal can be sent to you simultaneously via different paths making the likelihood of quality internet services much higher in fringe settings.
  • 3. Carrier Aggregation is the newest technology just now rolling out. Carrier Aggregation (also called LTE-A). Carrier aggregation allows a cellular modem to combine data streams from different cellular bands or more than one cellular tower to improve speed and quality of signal. This technology is really helpful providing data services rolling down the road in an RV as it will allow your modem to be locked on to more than one cell tower as you move along making it much easier to hold the connection.

Before I move on to my recommendations for equipment a few comments about using cellular boosters. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Cellular boosting technology was a solution to poor cellular coverage born out of the 2G/3G evolution of cellular radios. During the 2G/3G era (roughly 2000 to 2012) 2G/3G towers were far apart often operating on the high band PCS frequencies. Cellular boosting evolved as a way to get cellular voice to work better in big buildings that blocked these high frequency bands. It was never designed to deal with the world of purely digital data using the new technologies of MIMO and carrier aggregation.

You may have late model iPhones or iPad’s fully provisioned with MIMO and carrier aggregation technology. If you use a cell booster system locally it will likely strip away the advantages of MIMO and carrier aggregation leaving you with worst performance on those devices than you would see without a local booster.

Cellular boosting is DEAD with the newer technologies. SAVE YOUR MONEY.

Ok, here are my recommendations for a good 2019 state of the art cellular data internet system for a coach. To be current with 2019 technology any solution used in an RV needs the following attributes.
  • 1. A cellular modem router capable of supporting CAT 6 modem specifications: specifically 2X2 MIMO antennas and Carrier Aggregation.
  • 2. A cellular modem router with two WiFi radios: 2.4 gHz and 5.0 gHz
  • 3. A cellular modem router with built in WiFi as WAN capability
  • 4. A cellular/WiFi combo antenna capable of supporting cellular 2X2 MIMO and WiFi 2X2 MIMO.

Here are my recommendations for a quality integrated cellular modem router system current with 2019 cellular data capability:

Modem/Router

PepWave Max BR1 MK2 Router with Cat 6 LTE Advanced Modem $699 OR

Cradlepoint IBR900 LTE Advance Mode $869

MIMO Antenna

Poynting MIMO-3 $193 OR

Panorama 5 in 1 Low Profile (if height is a problem) $315

In each case the antenna should be mounted as close as possible to the modem/router and any excess antenna leads should be cut and replaced with appropriate SMA connectors which will require an SMA crimping tool. You don’t have to cut the antenna cables to length but doing so will provide a better signal for both cellular and WiFi to the modem router.

So there it is. All you need to know to have quality internet in your coach. The first person with a late model coach who complains about cost really needs to reflect on the situation. Folks are currently paying $1,400 of a fireplace option or $3,300 for a stainless steel trim kit option on a new Newmar coach. The current price for the WiFi Ranger SkyPro LTE Cellular Router is $1,400 and it is no where as good as the systems recommended above. Do your homework.

I hope this helps.

Disclaimer: I have no relationships with any of the manufactures of these products or stores selling these products. All my knowledge comes from experience with this technology since the cell phone was invented. I am self taught. Take it or leave it.
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Old 05-08-2019, 04:21 PM   #2
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Turbopilot. Thank you for the post. I admire you for taking the time and effort to put this together as I know you already have this system and are just trying to help others. As I am technologically handicapped, I also admire you vast knowledge of the subject
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Old 05-08-2019, 04:29 PM   #3
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Again, thanks to Turbo for taking the time to provide us with this valuable information!
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Old 05-08-2019, 04:47 PM   #4
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Well done @Turbopilot. Thank you again for surgically removing my Weboost and WiFi ranger from my life to a far far far superior mobile Internet setup with my Pepwave and Panorama setup. No need for a booster to date since changing over in November. Great coverage even when my VZW iPhone X has nothing.
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Old 05-08-2019, 05:52 PM   #5
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Stupid question; but do those routers boost a external WiFi signal into the interior of the RV? Looking to invest in a RV WiFi solution but don’t want to spend money on something that’s going to be obsolete.
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Old 05-08-2019, 05:53 PM   #6
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Pros/cons of Cradlepoint vs. Pepwave?
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Old 05-08-2019, 05:57 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Massparanoia View Post
Stupid question; but do those routers boost a external WiFi signal into the interior of the RV? Looking to invest in a RV WiFi solution but don’t want to spend money on something that’s going to be obsolete.
Good question. These routers have SMA antenna port jacks. You can use the rabbit ear WiFi antennas on these ports to broadcast WiFi internal to the coach or you can attach the antenna jacks to an external WiFi antenna to broadcast from the roof. In either location WiFi signal is at full strength inside and outside the coach. A WiFi antenna on the roof provides enough power to get 4 bars of WiFi inside the coach.

If you are going to 2.4 gHz WiFi as WAN the roof mounted location should give you better range.
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Old 05-08-2019, 06:00 PM   #8
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You can also use a separate WiFi router for inside the coach if you desired by just plugging it into the LAN port of the Pepwave/Cradlepoint system. This allows the PW/CP router to do the work of pulling in the signal and a separate system broadcasting it internally. NOT NECESSARY as these have their own Access Points (internal WiFi broadcast) but it's yet another option for those that need to know. Trying to keep this thread on the simple tone and avoid the spiral/spin of geekery.

KISS applies here.
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Old 05-08-2019, 06:21 PM   #9
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Thank you, I needed this. Would I dump, remove the wifi ranger I have ? Any value in leaving it ? Can the antenna you suggest be mounted directly on the roof or does it need to be raised because of the roof type we have? Thanks again for a great write up.
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Old 05-08-2019, 06:31 PM   #10
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You can also use a separate WiFi router for inside the coach if you desired by just plugging it into the LAN port of the Pepwave/Cradlepoint system. This allows the PW/CP router to do the work of pulling in the signal and a separate system broadcasting it internally. NOT NECESSARY as these have their own Access Points (internal WiFi broadcast) but it's yet another option for those that need to know. Trying to keep this thread on the simple tone and avoid the spiral/spin of geekery.

KISS applies here.
I’m in Midlo too, I might have to enlist your geek power to boost (no pun intended) mine in this area. It doesn’t take much for it to turn into Chinese to me haha
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Old 05-08-2019, 06:33 PM   #11
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Good question. These routers have SMA antenna port jacks. You can use the rabbit ear WiFi antennas on these ports to broadcast WiFi internal to the coach or you can attach the antenna jacks to an external WiFi antenna to broadcast from the roof. In either location WiFi signal is at full strength inside and outside the coach. A WiFi antenna on the roof provides enough power to get 4 bars of WiFi inside the coach.

If you are going to 2.4 gHz WiFi as WAN the roof mounted location should give you better range.
Does the poynting antenna both transmit and receive signals?

I have the sat tv prep on my coach, and I’ll never use satellite tv so I’m thinking that I’ve already got most of the hard work done since I’ve already got a hole in the roof and 110/12volt in the overhead cabinet above the drivers seat.
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Old 05-08-2019, 06:35 PM   #12
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Very nicely done, Turbopilot! The thing I appreciate the most are the links to definitions. It helps me wrap my ancient mind around some new stuff. I keep studying what you technically proficient guys are saying and, little by little, it is beginning to make some sense.

Thanks for taking the time to help guys like me get up to speed on new technology.

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Old 05-08-2019, 06:37 PM   #13
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I’m in Midlo too, I might have to enlist your geek power to boost (no pun intended) mine in this area. It doesn’t take much for it to turn into Chinese to me haha
Happy to help you. I just installed a Pepwave in the owner of my RV storage lot in Rockville.
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Old 05-08-2019, 07:03 PM   #14
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What follows are my recommendations for a coach internet system that will provide for the best internet data services available in a coach today (May 2019). It will cost just around $1,000 . . .All my knowledge comes from experience with this technology since the cell phone was invented. I am self taught. Take it or leave it.[/I]
Before I drop $1k, I'd like to know more what qualifies you as an expert. Background in telecommunications? Industry experience?

In the mean time, I'd also suggest the Mobile Internet Resource Center.
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