Wifi Ranger Denali/Spruce LTE

[mtflybox]

After 1900 miles with a WiFi Ranger on new rig vs the Spruce/Denali on last rig, just hot spot to your iphone if you have the Ranger. It stinks. Should not be an option on any Newmar IMO but I bought off the lot.

Our experience continues to be local wifi is terrible so wifi boosting is of no value. Seems like a consensus.

The Denali setup did as good a job or better pulling 4G than my wife's iPhone 12 at a distance. My iPhone 11 does a way better job than the Ranger Core, and ATT is limiting GB. I disconnected it for everything except for the temp monitor to keep an eye on temps when we leave our dog.

For the money involved, perhaps I may be better off just buying another iPhone 12 and glueing it to the roof...

[Rvlegaleagle]

This might be something to look at if you want sims for multiple carriers in one system :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gmZQKw7fxM

[docj]

Originally Posted by mtflybox

My iPhone 11 does a way better job than the Ranger Core, and ATT is limiting GB.

With all due respect a WiFiRanger Core doesn't have a cellular modem so there's no way to make this comparison.

Possibly you don't have a Core, but, rather, maybe have a Poplar. A Poplar is an entry level device and I would fully expect that your iPhone 11 would achieve faster download speed than it.

[Rvlegaleagle]

Certainly NOT a techie but if you watch the video they do say it can be used to pick up wifi from a campground etc... isn't that what the wifi ranger does too? I thought the ranger also has a cell date plan you can get but only from Att...I could be wrong like I said I am not a techie

[docj]

Originally Posted by Rvlegaleagle

Certainly NOT a techie but if you watch the video they do say it can be used to pick up wifi from a campground etc... isn't that what the wifi ranger does too? I thought the ranger also has a cell date plan you can get but only from Att...I could be wrong like I said I am not a techie

All WiFiRangers can be used to connect to campground WiFi.

Many WiFi Rangers routers can also accommodate integrated cellular modems to connect to various cellular networks.

WiFiRanger, through its parent company, Winegard, sells cellular data plans that run on the AT&T network, but those are not the only plans that can be used in WiFiRanger router/modems.

[mtflybox]

Originally Posted by docj

With all due respect a WiFiRanger Core doesn't have a cellular modem so there's no way to make this comparison.

Possibly you don't have a Core, but, rather, maybe have a Poplar. A Poplar is an entry level device and I would fully expect that your iPhone 11 would achieve faster download speed than it.

Thanks Docj, I should have been more precise.

The unit is the SkyPro bundle, Core is the name on the Control Panel.

[docj]

Originally Posted by mtflybox

Thanks Docj, I should have been more precise.

The unit is the SkyPro bundle, Core is the name on the Control Panel.

Now I get you; you had a Spruce/Denali in your previous motorhome and now you have a Core/SkyPro. In both cases the modem is in the rooftop router. The control panel always has the model of the indoor Ranger, but the cellular connection is actually being made through the modem in the SkyPro.

Depending on what modem you had in the Denali, it would be normal for it to have performed better than the SkyPro LTE. You most likely had a Category 6 modem in the Denali; what you have now is Category 4. Unfortunately, that is a non-trivial difference. Cat-4 modems are basic and lack the ability to take advantage of carrier aggregation and other advanced features.

[mtflybox]

Yep. Sorry for the confusion.

BTW, I assume its the same for all, but I chatted with ATT today about their hotspot deals for a SIM card connected to an existing unlimited wireless plan.

AT&T DataConnect 15GB for $25 /mo, 25GB for $50 /mo 40GB $75 /mo.

As long as my wife's iPhone 12 and my 11 works like it does, and we have unlimited data on the phones, will Hotspot to phones for all the big data consumers (Netflix, amazon prime, Apple TV etc) until something changes.

[docj]

Originally Posted by mtflybox

As long as my wife's iPhone 12 and my 11 works like it does, and we have unlimited data on the phones, will Hotspot to phones for all the big data consumers (Netflix, amazon prime, Apple TV etc) until something changes.

I assume you understand that it's unlikely that your "unlimited" data is unlimited when the phones are used as hotspots. It's almost always restricted to data actually used on the phone. You can watch as much video as you want, but only on the phones small screen.

[mtflybox]

Yes, in my plan, per phone after 50GB they may throttle data speeds.

Each iPhone and iPad has 15GB for Mobile hotspot, we have 4 total so we rotate.

[Yellville]

We have the WIFI Ranger Denali/Spruce in our 2021 MA. The WIFI is so bad in most parks that the WIFI functionality of the Ranger didn't really help. Not the Ranger's fault.

However, what is the Ranger's fault is that the put the sim card in the most ridiculous place possible. We wanted to use a T-Mobile sim since we already have a T-Mobile plan.

Now in every other device I have ever seen, the sim card can be swapped in less than a minute. In the WIFI Ranger it takes hours. Here are the steps:
1. Climb on top your coach.
2. Remove the significant amount of sealant around the device.
3. Remove the screws and take the cover off.
4. Pull out the circuit board and finally find the sim card on the bottom.
5. Screw the cover back on.
6. Find an RV supply store and buy sealant.
7. Climb back on the roof.
8. Seal the unit up.
9. Repeat steps 1-8 every time you want to swap the sim.

This is the worst design I have ever seen, and I'm an IT professional with decades of experience. A sim card is a consumer replaceable item and it is completely reasonable that in a mobile device a consumer may want to carry two sims to ensure the best signal in a given location.

I replaced the preinstalled AT&T sim with a T-Mobile sim. Had a pretty involved conversation with the guy at the T-Mobile store. Finally told him to just give me the same sim and plan I have for another hotspot device I use. Cost is $20/month. It is 4G but downgrades to 3G after 50gb.

The WIFI Ranger Denali/Spruce is a great idea and a good attempt. Please put the sim card inside the coach and make it easy to replace (under 60 seconds). There is really no excuse for this poor design, except perhaps they are getting a kickback on those AT&T plans and so want to discourage you from swapping the sim.

Would anybody from Winegard be willing to go on record and say if you do or do not make anything from AT&T? Nothing wrong with it if you do I suppose. At least this would explain the poor design.

[kcmusa]

Originally Posted by mtflybox

Yep. Sorry for the confusion.

BTW, I assume its the same for all, but I chatted with ATT today about their hotspot deals for a SIM card connected to an existing unlimited wireless plan.

AT&T DataConnect 15GB for $25 /mo, 25GB for $50 /mo 40GB $75 /mo.

As long as my wife's iPhone 12 and my 11 works like it does, and we have unlimited data on the phones, will Hotspot to phones for all the big data consumers (Netflix, amazon prime, Apple TV etc) until something changes.

ATT has a data only plan. 100gig $55. Just got one a month ago. Put sim in my pepwave.

[Vickie 4369]

Originally Posted by Yellville

We have the WIFI Ranger Denali/Spruce in our 2021 MA. The WIFI is so bad in most parks that the WIFI functionality of the Ranger didn't really help. Not the Ranger's fault.

However, what is the Ranger's fault is that the put the sim card in the most ridiculous place possible. We wanted to use a T-Mobile sim since we already have a T-Mobile plan.

Now in every other device I have ever seen, the sim card can be swapped in less than a minute. In the WIFI Ranger it takes hours. Here are the steps:
1. Climb on top your coach.
2. Remove the significant amount of sealant around the device.
3. Remove the screws and take the cover off.
4. Pull out the circuit board and finally find the sim card on the bottom.
5. Screw the cover back on.
6. Find an RV supply store and buy sealant.
7. Climb back on the roof.
8. Seal the unit up.
9. Repeat steps 1-8 every time you want to swap the sim.

This is the worst design I have ever seen, and I'm an IT professional with decades of experience. A sim card is a consumer replaceable item and it is completely reasonable that in a mobile device a consumer may want to carry two sims to ensure the best signal in a given location.

I replaced the preinstalled AT&T sim with a T-Mobile sim. Had a pretty involved conversation with the guy at the T-Mobile store. Finally told him to just give me the same sim and plan I have for another hotspot device I use. Cost is $20/month. It is 4G but downgrades to 3G after 50gb.

The WIFI Ranger Denali/Spruce is a great idea and a good attempt. Please put the sim card inside the coach and make it easy to replace (under 60 seconds). There is really no excuse for this poor design, except perhaps they are getting a kickback on those AT&T plans and so want to discourage you from swapping the sim.

Would anybody from Winegard be willing to go on record and say if you do or do not make anything from AT&T? Nothing wrong with it if you do I suppose. At least this would explain the poor design.

We appreciate you sharing your IT knowlege.

I have the WifiRanger Sky 4, What I am getting from this is I should be able to convince ATT to give me a sim card for any ATT hotspot device and it should work

I have yet to activate my WifiRanger Hotpsot side of the unit due to outrageous cost of data plans currently offered by Winy guard.

Any tips on how to get this to work?

[GW4607]

Since I started this tread I thought I would post an update. After two weeks of struggling to get set up I finally have the “WIFI” portion working in the coach. I will stipulate that I am not a techie. I do not understand most of the language since all techies speak in acronyms and assumes everyone knows what they are talking about…. I don’t. On the cellular side WifiRanger support had to reset the cellular modem. When that was completed then I could purchase a data plan from AT&T. Although it was my belief I could purchase a FreedomGo plan from Winegaurd (WifiRanger) it seems Newmar or whoever installs the SIM card did not install a FreedomGo compatible SIM card. Now that I have purchased a plan the unit will NOT connect to cellular service. I am communicating with WifiRanger via email. Seems they only respond once’s a day so it takes time to get all my questions answered. I have been waiting 4 days for returned phone call. I really feel if I could just talk to someone on the phone I could get through this, since there is that language barrier thing. I know some day it will work. Wither it meets my expectations remains to be seen.

When I get it all connected I will post an update.