Wifi Ranger Denali/Spruce LTE

[Piros1]

Thanks Doc, like I said we rarely use campground WiFi, it does help to understand the purpose of the equipment. I would probably be better looking for a quality signal booster or another means of internet.

[docj]

Originally Posted by Piros1

Thanks Doc, like I said we rarely use campground WiFi, it does help to understand the purpose of the equipment. I would probably be better looking for a quality signal booster or another means of internet.

In today's cellular world, signal boosters are being somewhat displaced by high gain MIMO antennas and advanced modems with increased levels of carrier aggregation.

If this sounds like "buzzword bingo" to you, you might want to read some of the material at the Mobile Internet Resource Center website. There's a lot more to receiving cellular signals than just using an amplifier these days. https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/

[Vickie 4369]

Originally Posted by docj

In today's cellular world, signal boosters are being somewhat displaced by high gain MIMO antennas and advanced modems with increased levels of carrier aggregation.

If this sounds like "buzzword bingo" to you, you might want to read some of the material at the Mobile Internet Resource Center website. There's a lot more to receiving cellular signals than just using an amplifier these days. https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/

Great info, Thank you for sharing your expertise with the community.

[Robert2019]

Originally Posted by docj

In today's cellular world, signal boosters are being somewhat displaced by high gain MIMO antennas and advanced modems with increased levels of carrier aggregation.

If this sounds like "buzzword bingo" to you, you might want to read some of the material at the Mobile Internet Resource Center website. There's a lot more to receiving cellular signals than just using an amplifier these days. https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/

Hey Doc
I have a 2019 Ventana 4369 it has the Wifi Ranger
Does anybody know If its possible to remove it from the roof and use the existing conduit to pull 7 new wires through to hook up a 7Way Poynter??
Antenna or a peplink

[docj]

Originally Posted by Robert2019

Hey Doc
I have a 2019 Ventana 4369 it has the Wifi Ranger
Does anybody know If its possible to remove it from the roof and use the existing conduit to pull 7 new wires through to hook up a 7Way Poynter??
Antenna or a peplink

WiFiRanger has no involvement in the installation of our products in new RVs. Therefore, we cannot provide any advice about the reuse of that conduit.

[BBelanger]

I'm having some heartburn over the fact that Verizon isn't "supported". I purchase and own the wifi ranger device. I have a data plan with Verizon. What does "support" mean?

I had a pepwave cell router in my last coach with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon sim cards. All worked.

Has anyone tried a Verizon sim in the wifi ranger denali spruce?


Thanks
Bill Belanger

[docj]

Originally Posted by BBelanger

I'm having some heartburn over the fact that Verizon isn't "supported". I purchase and own the wifi ranger device. I have a data plan with Verizon. What does "support" mean?

WiFiRanger modems/routers are not currently certified for use on the Verizon network. That's not to say that you might not be able to get a Verizon SIM to work. However, you have no guarantee that your service won't be terminated without notice. And WiFiRanger staff will not provide assistance with operation on the Verizon network.

[GW4607]

Where do you purchase the plans for AT&T? I look at WiFi Ranger web site and I see the different plans but no where to purchase. I have been to Winegard site and the same thing. I went to the ATT store and they have don’t heard of FreedomGo plans ( no surprise there).

[docj]

Originally Posted by GW4607

Where do you purchase the plans for AT&T? I look at WiFi Ranger web site and I see the different plans but no where to purchase. I have been to Winegard site and the same thing. I went to the ATT store and they have don’t heard of FreedomGo plans ( no surprise there).

FreedomGo plans are purchased directly from a WiFiRanger's onscreen control panel.

1. If you own a Ranger, go to the Setup page of the control panel and look for the labeled Cellular 1. Put a check in the Active column if it isn't already there. Save the change using the box at the bottom of the page.

2. On the Cellular 1 line, click on the gear at the right side of the line; a window will open.

3. In that window one of the lines is labeled Data Plan. The first box on that line reads "My Data Plan". It is a "drop-down" box and the other label is FreedomGo plans. Make that change.

4. Once you select the FreedomGo dropdown, a box to the right of it will now say Add Data Plan. Clicking on that link will take you to the screens for purchasing FreedomGo plans.

[GW4607]

Doc thanks so much for your help. I am sure when I take delivery next week I’ll have other questions if you don’t mind.

[mtflybox]

The equipment works fine, but its complicated.

After activating two of these, on two different coaches with ATT in the past 6 months I highly recommend:

1. go to your local store and have them pull a full size sim from their inventory and activate/tie to your existing ATT plan which it seems like you have. I dont want a different plan, just tie this hotspot to my existing unlimited plan.

I spent hours on the phone with our latest rig where ATT said the installed ATT sim was not compatible. Hung up and 6 different people sent me to all over ATT land...

Get your dealer to tell you the IMEI number of the Denali modem which you can give to ATT when you get your sim.

Save yourself the hassle of trying to get the right dude from ATT on the phone.

2. have dealer install your sim
3. boot the thing up while you are there cause the sims can pop out if someone is in a hurry (yep happened). Verify you can see the SIM and IMEI and the system connects through the LTE modem vs the dealers wifi. If the sim is not inserted properly will get goofy hex digits in the portal.
4. Review the portal cause their tech is cool and powerful but you have to understand how their core works vs the unit on the roof, to pull either from a local wifi or your cell/LTE.

BTW, their tech support is really good. Just spend a few minutes with them on the phone and they will help you get the system set up for you.

Good luck.

[docj]

Originally Posted by mtflybox

The equipment works fine, but its complicated.

After activating two of these, on two different coaches with ATT in the past 6 months I highly recommend:

1. go to your local store and have them pull a full size sim from their inventory and activate/tie to your existing ATT plan which it seems like you have. I dont want a different plan, just tie this hotspot to my existing unlimited plan.

I spent hours on the phone with our latest rig where ATT said the installed ATT sim was not compatible. Hung up and 6 different people sent me to all over ATT land...

Get your dealer to tell you the IMEI number of the Denali modem which you can give to ATT when you get your sim.

Save yourself the hassle of trying to get the right dude from ATT on the phone.

2. have dealer install your sim
3. boot the thing up while you are there cause the sims can pop out if someone is in a hurry (yep happened). Verify you can see the SIM and IMEI and the system connects through the LTE modem vs the dealers wifi. If the sim is not inserted properly will get goofy hex digits in the portal.
4. Review the portal cause their tech is cool and powerful but you have to understand how their core works vs the unit on the roof, to pull either from a local wifi or your cell/LTE.

BTW, their tech support is really good. Just spend a few minutes with them on the phone and they will help you get the system set up for you.

Good luck.

I don't disagree that it can be difficult to find anyone at AT&T who understands how routers like those from WiFiRanger fit into their network. But it is possible.

If you do run into someone who is obstinate and insists that they've never heard of WiFiRanger, try showing him the following webpage. Since it's on an AT&T website it does demonstrate that AT&T is familiar with the product. I'm not saying these are the best data plans you can find, but it does show that WiFiRanger router/modems are allowed on the AT&T network:

https://www.att.com/plans/connected-car/wifiranger/

[GW4607]

Originally Posted by docj

FreedomGo plans are purchased directly from a WiFiRanger's onscreen control panel.

1. If you own a Ranger, go to the Setup page of the control panel and look for the labeled Cellular 1. Put a check in the Active column if it isn't already there. Save the change using the box at the bottom of the page.

2. On the Cellular 1 line, click on the gear at the right side of the line; a window will open.

3. In that window one of the lines is labeled Data Plan. The first box on that line reads "My Data Plan". It is a "drop-down" box and the other label is FreedomGo plans. Make that change.

4. Once you select the FreedomGo dropdown, a box to the right of it will now say Add Data Plan. Clicking on that link will take you to the screens for purchasing FreedomGo plans.

Doc when I get to step #3 I do not see “My Data Plan”. When Cellular 1 line expands it has the following;

Device Nickname
APN
Reboot Cellular
Forget Cellular Device

I cannot get to FreedomGo drop down????

[docj]

Originally Posted by GW4607

Doc when I get to step #3 I do not see “My Data Plan”. When Cellular 1 line expands it has the following;

Device Nickname
APN
Reboot Cellular
Forget Cellular Device

I cannot get to FreedomGo drop down????

FreedomGo plans can only be purchased from WiFiRanger routers running firmware versions 7.1.0b9 or later. If your Ranger is running 7.0.8 you ought to be able to check for updates using the link in the upper right corner of the control panel. If no updates show as available, you can PM me your Ranger's 6-digit ID number (also in the upper right corner) and i can arrange for it to be manually "pointed" at the update.