wifi ranger upgrade

[Bermsrv]

We have a 2019 Baystar. Wondering if others have upgraded wifi ranger. I would prefer to not put more holes in the roof for wires or new systems. Also, we have Verizon as our cell provider.
What has worked best for others?
Any suggestions?

[BayRunner]

Originally Posted by Bermsrv

We have a 2019 Baystar. Wondering if others have upgraded wifi ranger. I would prefer to not put more holes in the roof for wires or new systems. Also, we have Verizon as our cell provider.
What has worked best for others?
Any suggestions?

Which WIFI Ranger do you have? There are 3 models. The entry level Teton is only a WiFi booster, the mid level Denali which includes a cellular modem and the highest one, the Everest which can have 2 cellular modems. What is it you wish to upgrade. My coach had the Denali with the LTE modem. I use AT&T and just ordered a SIM card and installed it in the WIFI Ranger. Had to cut the seal around the Ranger, unscrew the top cover in order to insert the SIM card. Once verified all worked as expected, simply sealed the seam around the Ranger cover. Didn’t have to mess with any seal on the roof, only the cover of the WIFI Ranger.

[Dennis C.]

You don’t have to use an external antenna with all of the WiFi Ranger products. Your performance will obviously be better with an external antenna, but it can still be quite good without it.

I purchased a WiFi Ranger Aspen with a Category 12 LTE modem and installed it in my Airstream trailer earlier this year. It works great, even without an external antenna. I will transfer this unit to my Newmar Ventana when I get a chance.

[GUS2000]

we upgraded our WiFiRanger to the trash can and installed a Pepwave MAX BR1 Pro 5G

these should be offered when you special order. .much more reliable

[Bermsrv]

Thanks for the feedback.
We have a sky pro on the outside. Ranger support says it cannot be updated. I seem to get mixed messages from Ranger support. They tell me two separate routers external and internal. External is 2ghz (longer ranger but slower) Internal both 2ghz and 5ghz. I have been unable to connect to the control panel for time now. I am tired of messing with the WiFi ranger and am inclined to switch.
I am curious the Pepwave router. Are you using an external antenna or router?

[Bermsrv]

We have the Sky Pro external

[Bermsrv]

Thanks for the feedback.
We have a sky pro on the outside. Ranger support says it cannot be updated. I seem to get mixed messages from Ranger support. They tell me two separate routers external and internal. External is 2ghz (longer ranger but slower) Internal both 2ghz and 5ghz. I have been unable to connect to the control panel for time now. I am tired of messing with the WiFi ranger and am inclined to switch.
I am curious the Pepwave router. Are you using an external antenna or router?

[docj]

Originally Posted by Bermsrv

Thanks for the feedback.
We have a sky pro on the outside. Ranger support says it cannot be updated. I seem to get mixed messages from Ranger support. They tell me two separate routers external and internal. External is 2ghz (longer ranger but slower) Internal both 2ghz and 5ghz. I have been unable to connect to the control panel for time now. I am tired of messing with the WiFi ranger and am inclined to switch.
I am curious the Pepwave router. Are you using an external antenna or router?

Let me try to clarify things.

All WiFiRanger products are complete, self-contained routers. There are no rooftop antennas. Systems can be configured with a single router inside the RV or on the roof, or with a pair of routers one inside and one outside. There are advantages and disadvantages to each configuration.

Your SkyPro on the roof is a typical configuration found in lots of new RVs. It is a 2.4 GHz WiFi device which may or may not have an integrated LTE modem. If I knew its 6-digit ID number I could tell you if it has a modem.

Using 2.4 GHz WiFi does NOT necessarily mean that it will be slower than if you were using 5.8 GHz WiFi. That is a misunderstanding. The 5.8 GHz band has greater bandwidth and higher maximum speed capability but that does NOT mean that in any particular situation your actual speed will be better than if you were using 2.4 GHz.

As for how you can upgrade your existing SkyPro, since you don't have an indoor router, you could elect to just replace the rooftop device or to ALSO run a cable from the roof to inside the RV.

If you are Ok with continuing to have just a rooftop device then I would suggest that an Everest router would be an excellent choice for an upgrade. It has both 2.4 and 5/8 GHz radios and it can support up to two integrated LTE modems, one of which could be a Category 12 device.

If you would like to discuss this matter further, feel free to post questions or PM them to me.

[Dennis C.]

Good clarification. Thanks.

[BayRunner]

Originally Posted by docj

Let me try to clarify things.

All WiFiRanger products are complete, self-contained routers. There are no rooftop antennas. Systems can be configured with a single router inside the RV or on the roof, or with a pair of routers one inside and one outside. There are advantages and disadvantages to each configuration.

Your SkyPro on the roof is a typical configuration found in lots of new RVs. It is a 2.4 GHz WiFi device which may or may not have an integrated LTE modem. If I knew its 6-digit ID number I could tell you if it has a modem.

Using 2.4 GHz WiFi does NOT necessarily mean that it will be slower than if you were using 5.8 GHz WiFi. That is a misunderstanding. The 5.8 GHz band has greater bandwidth and higher maximum speed capability but that does NOT mean that in any particular situation your actual speed will be better than if you were using 2.4 GHz.

As for how you can upgrade your existing SkyPro, since you don't have an indoor router, you could elect to just replace the rooftop device or to ALSO run a cable from the roof to inside the RV.

If you are Ok with continuing to have just a rooftop device then I would suggest that an Everest router would be an excellent choice for an upgrade. It has both 2.4 and 5/8 GHz radios and it can support up to two integrated LTE modems, one of which could be a Category 12 device.

If you would like to discuss this matter further, feel free to post questions or PM them to me.

You are correct about the 2.4 and 5.8 bands. The 2.4 ghz is not necessarily slower.

However the comment on the SKyPro is not completely accurate. The SkyPro is a discontinued item and not offered on new RVs. If it is, then the manufacture is simply trying to deplete old inventory stock. The SkyPro was replaced with the new WIFIRanger “enclosed” outdoor routers (Talon, Denali, and Everest).

As others have mention, you can have the external router on the roof and an internal router inside the RV. If you combine them they are connected with an Ethernet cable. The 2 routers are then paired together to work as one through the control panel. My unit has the Denali with LTE on the roof paired with the internal spruce router.

I will admit that the control panel and configuration can be a bit intimidating to a non technical person. However being a techie, it was second nature to me. Once you have it all configured, it fairly rock solid. I have full time internet access to my coach and monitor my Victrons Cerbo GX system and a custom monitoring system for GPS tracking, temperature and power loss. The WIFIRanger has not lost access since configuration.

BTW, if you don’t feel like messing with or upgrading the roof top router. You can simply work with an internal router with LTE. The signal difference inside should be minimal difference from an outside one. This would be a much simpler approach.

[GW4607]

Originally Posted by Bermsrv

Thanks for the feedback.
We have a sky pro on the outside. Ranger support says it cannot be updated. I seem to get mixed messages from Ranger support. They tell me two separate routers external and internal. External is 2ghz (longer ranger but slower) Internal both 2ghz and 5ghz. I have been unable to connect to the control panel for time now. I am tired of messing with the WiFi ranger and am inclined to switch.
I am curious the Pepwave router. Are you using an external antenna or router?

We discontinued use of our WIFIRANGER and went with the Pepwave router. The Ranger was just too frustrating to try to connect. The Ranger seemed to never function when we needed to use computer for work or stream Netflix.

We went with Internet On The Go. The use a Pepwave router and a SIM card with either Version or T-Mobile. We actually selected the two SIM card router and have both cellular carriers. In the 12 months of use there have been two occasions that we did not have strong enough signal to stream Netflix. Nor have we come close to running our data plan to zero.

There is nothing on the roof tied to the Pepwave. It functions just like at our house. We have a router that sets in the bedroom and all of our TV’s, phones, computers, laptops, Garmin navigation and printers automatically connect. Coverage typically will extend a site or two in any direction.

It’s a little pricey, but when the wife needs to connect for work or do internet shopping it’s priceless.

[flyboy013]

No intention on hijacking the thread, but I too am looking to upgrade and perhaps answers to my questions below will help the discussion.

After 5 years, my WiFi Ranger Core finally died (fried). I also have the Sky Pro on the roof. I’m looking for a replacement capability. Due to security issues (real or perceived) I prefer to go with a product other than Wifi Ranger. I have used the Sky Pro capability to pull in CG or S&B WiFi signals to provide internet to the coach. I also have configured the Wifi Ranger to use a Verizon MiFi 8800L Wifi signal. I don’t USB tether the MiFi.

I’ve been looking at the Peplink Max BR1 and the Surf SOHO. It would appears that the SOHO provides me with needed capabilities with the exception of a POE port to continue using the Sky Pro, but an external POE injector should work just fine.

Any reason the I should be considering the BR1 instead? It has an embedded cellular modem but not really sure there is a benefit there as I can use the MiFi’s WiFi or USB tether it.

[docj]

Originally Posted by BayRunner

However the comment on the SKyPro is not completely accurate. The SkyPro is a discontinued item and not offered on new RVs. If it is, then the manufacture is simply trying to deplete old inventory stock. The SkyPro was replaced with the new WIFIRanger “enclosed” outdoor routers (Talon, Denali, and Everest).

With all due respect, I do work for WiFiRanger and have access to our OEM catalog as well as the retail one. Although the SkyPro is not currently for sale, the SkyProLTE was being delivered on new RVs as recently as a year or so ago. Furthermore, the similar Sky4 router is still being installed on some RVs.

You should not make the assumption that all RV manufacturers changed to the Converge series (Teton, Denali, Everest). The RV marketplace encompasses a rather large range of prices. What makes sense for a $500k motorhome doesn't necessarily make sense for a $15k travel trailer.

[BayRunner]

Originally Posted by docj

With all due respect, I do work for WiFiRanger and have access to our OEM catalog as well as the retail one. Although the SkyPro is not currently for sale, the SkyProLTE was being delivered on new RVs as recently as a year or so ago. Furthermore, the similar Sky4 router is still being installed on some RVs.

You should not make the assumption that all RV manufacturers changed to the Converge series (Teton, Denali, Everest). The RV marketplace encompasses a rather large range of prices. What makes sense for a $500k motorhome doesn't necessarily make sense for a $15k travel trailer.

Easy Brother, didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers. While I don’t work for WIFI Ranger, I do work for the industry. I have not seen a SkyPro come in a new unit for some time now, plus as you said it’s not currently offered for sale and every indication I’ve seen it as discontinued. Granted, it’s not an item that I participial have been looking for but was speaking with reference to my experience and what I have seen in current units and vendor offerings. If you’re still offering it to manufacturers, then good for you for expanding your revenue stream. BTW, not knocking your products for I think you make some good stuff and have gotten quite used to using them.