Community Forums

LibertyLindy · 02-15-2019, 08:17 PM

I did research on the web for WIFI Ranger Elite AC M it had very good reviews so I bought the system in May 2018. I have nothing but problem with it dropping the WIFI connection, it has got very bad lately and I can not get it to work longer than maybe 10min. If I get out of the software and connect with my jet pack I get the internet but if I try to connect through ranger software it will drop the connection to my jet pack. I have tried to get help from the dealer I bought from and I have tried to get help from Ranger, but no one has called back. It makes me sorry I trusted WIFI Ranger to make a good product. If anyone is looking to invest in the system don't.

docj · 02-16-2019, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LibertyLindy

I have tried to get help from the dealer I bought from and I have tried to get help from Ranger, but no one has called back. It makes me sorry I trusted WIFI Ranger to make a good product. If anyone is looking to invest in the system don't.

I'm sorry that you are dissatisfied with your Ranger and haven't been able to get assistance. I'm surprised when you say that you purchased it through a "dealer" since most of our retail sales are made via the WiFiRanger website. Please let me know who you purchased it from.

As for not getting anyone to return your call, that's not acceptable and I apologize. Please send me via PM your contact information and the serial number of your Ranger. It's a number that begins with a "7" and is displayed in the upper right corner of the Ranger's onscreen control panel. If you can get me this information, I will make sure someone calls to assist you.

Joel (AKA docj)

Smitty77 · 02-18-2019, 09:33 PM

LibertyLady - Your fist post, welcome to the gang!!!

I hope you follow up with Joel and took him up on his offer to help.

WiFiRanger has been an interesting product over the years. I was an relatively early customer, and have upgraded equipment a few times over the years, as it has evolved to keep up with changing standards.

Our GOac has been rock solid, and is the core of our in coach network and feed of data to the various TV's, Stere's, DirecTV Genie, ROKU, Computers and Laptops, and other assorted Data consumption devices in our coach. I feed it the majority of time via USB connection to one of our Cellular MiFi devices.

I also have the EliteAC FM for WiFi usage, but use it way less then 5% of the time, as we have multiple Cellular Data Plans and Carriers.

Has WiFiRanger been perfect over the years? No, it's had some teething pains. Especially in some of the earlier years.

But every time I've needed to reach out to them for help - I've received it, and resolved any issues (The majority, self inflicted by myself

!). I'll also share that when WiFiRanger determined they had a GO (Believe it was the GO, not the GO2(?) that had some bad chips in it from a supplier - they pro actively replaced units, even those out of warranty. To me, that was a stand up thing to do...

If you do not wish to contact Joel (docJ - Who has helped me more then once

!), feel free to PM me too. And I'll do my best to be of assistance. But I thing your best path forward would be to request formal help from WiFiRanger, which you can do online, and get a call back from Tech Support.

Best of luck to you,
Smitty

LibertyLindy · 02-19-2019, 05:21 PM

I have powered down the Ranger Unit for 24 hours and restart. The system has now worked for 2.5 days. Also I got a call today from WIFI Ranger they started service call tag, and sent me information on how to contact them. I hope we can work through the problem. When the system is working it is great. Thanks everyone for your help and understanding.

Smitty77 · 02-25-2019, 07:30 AM

Glad you got the Service Ticket process going with WiFiRanger

!

To some of us this is fun to do, the admin and setup process. I know my DW is not interested in it at all, and frankly just want to 'plug & play' her way thru these sorts of things... The software itself is not 100% intuitive, but once you get walked thru some of the tabs and settings, and write notes, it's really not that complicated. And they do have some good resources available for those who want to do more heavy tweek'ing.

Hope this all sorts out well for you

!

Best,
Smitty

MSHappyCampers · 02-28-2019, 02:21 PM

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Just noticed that you are kinda new on IRV2 and wanted to say hello. I'm sure Docj will take care of your problem!

Have fun and keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Skylor · 06-30-2019, 08:48 PM

I’ve been going back and forth about going with the Ranger or do I go with the
Alfa WiFi Camp Pro 2 long range WiFi repeater RV kit R36A/Tube-(U)N/AOA-2409-TF-Ant

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C8915BV..._UqxgDb6F1JPDS

Does anyone have any experience with the Alfa?

Golfer Guy · 06-30-2019, 09:57 PM

Just my opinion here, someone may disagree totally and that's OK.

Yes I bought the Alfa Camp Pro when in Quartzite a couple years back. If I had it to do over I would save my cash. It is in the attic now collecting dust. I did not find it user friendly at all and it really was much more work than it was worth.

Earl II · 06-30-2019, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

I'm sorry that you are dissatisfied with your Ranger and haven't been able to get assistance. I'm surprised when you say that you purchased it through a "dealer" since most of our retail sales are made via the WiFiRanger website. Please let me know who you purchased it from.

As for not getting anyone to return your call, that's not acceptable and I apologize. Please send me via PM your contact information and the serial number of your Ranger. It's a number that begins with a "7" and is displayed in the upper right corner of the Ranger's onscreen control panel. If you can get me this information, I will make sure someone calls to assist you.

Joel (AKA docj)

Joel,
We have the Ranger WiFi unit that came as an option on our 2019 Bay Star. We didn't use it or even try because we saw the Newmar recall on the power unit. We took the coach to the dealership for a few minor issues, the recall being one of them. The dealership told us that our unit was not affected after they called Newmar. So, we tried the Ranger at a private RV park north of Santa Barbara, CA. Seemed like it worked just fine. Looking forward to trying it at other locations.

docj · 07-01-2019, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl II

Joel,
We have the Ranger WiFi unit that came as an option on our 2019 Bay Star. We didn't use it or even try because we saw the Newmar recall on the power unit. We took the coach to the dealership for a few minor issues, the recall being one of them. The dealership told us that our unit was not affected after they called Newmar. So, we tried the Ranger at a private RV park north of Santa Barbara, CA. Seemed like it worked just fine. Looking forward to trying it at other locations.

I'm glad that the Ranger works for you. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to post them or send them to me via PM.

Joel (AKA docj)

Mark71 · 07-08-2019, 08:52 PM

I'm away from my coach (in storage)

Can someone tell me precisely what Wi-Fi ranger product i have in my 2018 Dutch Star?

I use it to connect to park Wi-Fi, and then "hub" all my devices (tablets, phones, laptops, Echos, ) to the network. It works great.

Does it also "boost" the signal? I was not aware there is a SIM card

Is it just plug into an electric outlet and play? Or is there an antenna involved and/or some kind of networking?

It's been very useful

Mark

docj · 07-09-2019, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark71

I'm away from my coach (in storage)

Can someone tell me precisely what Wi-Fi ranger product i have in my 2018 Dutch Star?

I use it to connect to park Wi-Fi, and then "hub" all my devices (tablets, phones, laptops, Echos, ) to the network. It works great.

Does it also "boost" the signal? I was not aware there is a SIM card

Is it just plug into an electric outlet and play? Or is there an antenna involved and/or some kind of networking?

You, most likely, have a WiFiRanger Sky on the roof connected to an indoor router, a Core or a GoAC. The chances are that you don't have the Sky version with a built-in SIM unless you requested Newmar install it as an option; it boosts the WiFi signal but not the cellular.

I'm not sure what you mean by "plug and play". Yours was installed by the coach manufacturer but we sell many directly to consumers who install them by themselves.

Joel (AKA docj)

Finance · 07-09-2019, 01:03 PM

I like the WiFi Ranger concept. The reality, not so much. I've been through two power supply replacements, first one shorted out and was replaced by the Newmar dealer, then there was the recent recall. As well as some intermittent lock ups and outages that required me to fiddle around with the wiring on the rooftop unit.

But the real disappointment is the functionality. When I used the WFR I was continually dealing with dropped connections and just misbehavior. For example it would say it was using the VPN on the user interface but traceroute or testing websites said otherwise. VOIP or wifi phone calling was an exercise in frustration, inevitably solved by connecting the calling device directly to the wifi source bypassing the WFR. And the interface / operating system is horribly slow. Watching and waiting for it to connect to a known wifi source is like watching ice melt, compared to all my other devices.

I say this not to bash WFR, but to give them honest feedback in the hopes they can improve what has the potential to be an outstanding product. But it just doesn't measure up right now.

I will say on the positive side, they have excellent customer service. If their design team had that skill level it would be fantastic.

I have stopped using the product, but left it installed in case there's a rare instance I need the rooftop antenna to grab a distant signal.

Since I shut down the WFR and installed an inexpensive travel router recommended by another user on here I've had no issues. Just reliable connectivity day after day. You can read about that here: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f53/40-mo...ed-442091.html

It brings me no pleasure to say that a cheap device outperforms an expensive one. But WFR needs honest feedback if they're going to compete and stay alive.

wfred · 08-04-2019, 10:51 AM

I have also been terribly disappointed with the wifi ranger. The elite AC wont hold the cat5 cable in place since day1. Wifi ranger accused me of breaking it and offered to sell me another unit. Instead i used silicone to hold the ethernet cable in place. Ive wired corporate offices and data centers so it isnt like I am unfamiliar with how to handle cat5. The whole system is flakey. Once every 3 or 4 tries i can get it to work on multi wan. Most of the time it just up and down. Im better off connecting directly to my nighrhawk m1 hotspot if I need to work. All in all the product is mediocre at best and their service is awful. I will tell everybody to avoid wifi ranger.