Community Forums

DSL417 · 09-24-2013, 05:30 PM

What you got, if I understand correctly, is the same type of response I got 7 months ago. If the wifi is being oversubscribed [read others using it for movies and gaming], then there currently is no product on the market that is going to improve your campground wifi. I have sat in campgrounds with a wifi repeater directly out the back of my coach, and oversubscribers to the signal basically made it unusable.

You want good internet access...Verizon (because of coverage) and your smart phone as a hot spot. You can buy into Millenicon and you are buying Verizon repurchased by that company from Verizon (I haven't checked prices; maybe they are selling it cheaper than Verizon). You can invest in satellite internet access (expensive, and there is a latency issue...it takes the bits and bytes longer to travel 13000 miles into space and back than it takes to travel cell tower to cell tower. And don't get sucked into the latest Dish advertisement for wifi everywhere. It isn't satellite, just reselling cell phone digits.

JMHO, backed up by running the Global Broadcast System (GBS; a Ka and Ku satellite comm system) for a couple of years.

Flora · 09-24-2013, 05:54 PM

[QUOTE=DSL417;1741492]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

JMHO, backed up by running the Global Broadcast System (GBS; a Ka and Ku satellite comm system) for a couple of years.

Thanks, Dave and Beth. Now I will check out GBS. Hadn't heard of it before.

Flora · 09-24-2013, 05:58 PM

GBS is surely too much for me! I'm having trouble understanding wifi!

ImagineIF · 09-24-2013, 08:01 PM

Unless GBS prices have dropped dramatically, this will cost you big bucks for both bandwidth and equipment.

There simply is no 100% achievable way to be assured a high speed connection in rural America. Slow wired connections and oversubscribed wireline networks are simply a harsh reality. Our want for more bandwidth is also causing a major challenge for the wireless carriers. They are bring forced to using pico cells because of insufficient RF spectrum to satisfy our demands. Behind their wireless networks they are building optical networks that would have been unimaginable a few short years ago.

My traveling internet connection is CG network first, falling back to my 4G smartphone/hotspot, and a ride to the nearest open Wi-Fi network (starbucks, library, etc...) third.

DSL417 · 09-24-2013, 08:02 PM

[QUOTE=Flora;1741539]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

Thanks, Dave and Beth. Now I will check out GBS. Hadn't heard of it before.

Sorry...I should have been more explicit...it is a military satellite comm system. Just trying to say that I have dealt with latency in streaming video and comm bandwidth issues. My bad if I misled.

rvten · 02-04-2014, 01:19 PM

How can you tell if your WFR firm ware is up to date?

docj · 02-04-2014, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvten

How can you tell if your WFR firm ware is up to date?

At the top right of the WFR's online control panel there is a link for "check for updates". Click on that and after a minute or two the WFR will either report that an update is available or the link will go back to "check for update". The WFR will periodically check the update link on its own so you sometimes might see "Update available" displayed even if you didn't ask.

With all that having been said, we are at the very last stages of testing a significantly improved version of the firmware and I am hopeful that it will be released to the public by the end of next week. We have been subjecting the software to an extensive Beta test in an effort to identify and remove as many bugs as possible. Even if your WFR is not current with respect to firmware, I would suggest waiting for this new edition.

rvten · 02-04-2014, 02:06 PM

OK my Firm Ware is 6.6.3
WFR Go checked fir updates non came up.

docj · 02-04-2014, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvten

OK my Firm Ware is 6.6.3
WFR Go checked fir updates non came up.

Since I answered your post the latest WiFi Ranger firmware update has just been released to the public. It may take a day or two for your device to see the update.

Remember, if you have an indoor unit (Home/Pro/Go) controlling a Mobile or a Sky, be sure to update the Sky/Mobile first. Once it has completed its update you should be able to access its SSID (assuming you have it on). You can verify that it has updated and then you can update your Home/Pro/Go.

Whitewater18 · 02-05-2014, 09:39 PM

DSL417 · 02-06-2014, 05:14 AM

I found a relatively inexpensive alternative which seems to work well, called the Beartooth Extender. Seems to pull in WiFi pretty well...although nothing will beat someone hogging bandwidth by streaming video:(

MRUSA14 · 02-06-2014, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

I found a relatively inexpensive alternative which seems to work well, called the Beartooth Extender. Seems to pull in WiFi pretty well...although nothing will beat someone hogging bandwidth by streaming video:(

A Google search could not find the Beartooth Extender. Where did you get it?

RVgeeks · 02-06-2014, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

I found a relatively inexpensive alternative which seems to work well, called the Beartooth Extender. Seems to pull in WiFi pretty well...although nothing will beat someone hogging bandwidth by streaming video:(

Dave & Beth,
Did you mean the "BearExtender"? If so, the website for them is:

BearExtender

Looks like they have units for PCs AND Macs.

DSL417 · 02-06-2014, 11:27 AM

Marc...once CRS sets in your done...yes it is BearExtender. Works well where we are at now...it'll be interesting to see if we see improvements in some of the typical RV parks. Williston did a major upgrade this year and doesn't allow streaming. Wifi improved about 500% compared to last year.