What do I get in terms of WiFi?

[docj]

Originally Posted by vseasport

If I read the Op's post correctly he is using a phone for the hot spot.

Re-read his post. He says "My phone has to be right up next to the device to get a good connection.." Sure sounds like the phone and "the device" are two different things.

[docj]

Originally Posted by jigo

The phone I have is brand new (2021) and our provider is Cricket.

Just because a phone is new doesn't explain whether it is a top-of-the-line device or the kind of phone that is virtually given away to new customers. There are really significant differences between phones these days. The same is also true of hotspots.

[jigo]

It does, only when the phone reaches below a certain battery percentage. In our case (and most) it's 15%. What I'm going to try is a different phone hoping that works out.

[Arch Hoagland]

Originally Posted by jigo

It does, only when the phone reaches below a certain battery percentage. In our case (and most) it's 15%. What I'm going to try is a different phone hoping that works out.

Let us know what happens...inquiring minds would like to know.

[Dav L]

"Where I'm from, the general public uses the same term for the Internet, we just call it wifi because it's what our parents said. Now for what my goal is, I want a stable connection for when I'm at an RV park. "

Yes, that's one of the reasons you are confused...your parents didn't understand either. There are quite a few very experienced RV'rs here that can accurately clarify this technically difficult subject.

Bottom line, buy a WifiRanger system. It does what most all RV'rs need it to do. It is designed to make this easier for end users (you) to connect to Wifi systems (the campground) without having to be a networking expert. You might not consider it to be inexpensive (most don't), but that is what it takes. Joel (docj) is our guru on the subject. Listen to what he is saying. It will do as good a job as can be reasonably be expected without you having to be a networking professional to figure it all out. But nothing is perfect and campgrounds remain the weak link.

There are much more expensive systems for the people that are very computer networking literate that support multiple cell providers etc, but that sounds above the needs of the OP.

I would have the system professionally installed and configured.

vseasport:
"sources" of Internet. You forgot Ethernet (Category cable). That should always be the standard as it's the most reliable. Wifi is much less reliable. You should run Category cable throughout the RV to connect all of the networking components. Wifi then comes off of that (a "wifi access point"). The challenge here is running the cable. The cable itself is inexpensive. Run Cat 6 (a grade of cable).

Wifi Roof antenna (outside) to Router (inside) use a cable to interconnect. This Category 6 cable also powers the roof antenna (via "POE").

with good equipment, there is no need for a "booster". A good rooftop Wifi antenna is the key for range performance, but it doesn't do miracles if the campground has a crappy Wifi system (or Internet capacity which are different things).

I am wondering if the OP was using a Cellular "booster"....these DO require a very close connection between the booster's interior antenna and the cell phone. This isn't range extending the Wifi...it's extending the Cellular RF signal to connect to more distant cell towers.

Cell Provider Tower (like Verizon) <> Booster outside antenna < cable> Booster inside antenna <very close range > Cell phone in hotspot mode < Wifi > your laptop or iPad Wifi radio

[ArtJoyce]

Originally Posted by jigo

I've recently purchased a 2007 Winnebago Tour 40TD and I plan on going on a trip, however, I have no idea what to do in terms of the WiFi. I've seen talk about getting a mobile router or a range booster. I see the range boosters are more common but I have no idea what to look for.

It's all going to depend how reliable and how much data you want?

Camping in campers for 30+ years. wifi and cell data plans came to age while we were camping. One thing you can be sure of is no one solution will give you all the answers. We've seen everything from no wifi or cell services, just one carrier available, to great cell and wifi. I have even been to campgrounds with cat-5 connections.

We use less than 10gb per month, We use one cell hotspot which covers us for 70% of our data needs. Will be adding an addition carrier hotspot this year hoping to pick up 10% more coverage.

[jigo]

"Your parents didn't understand either" I would appreciate it if you didn't call them out for no reason. We know the difference between the two, again we most of the time call them the same thing, it's a habit. Now back to the subject at hand, I wasn't using anything, as you thought I might have used a cell booster. The whole reason for the post is to decide what to get. Between cell boosters, rangers, or just try again with the hotspot. Everyone is saying different which is really conflicting. Like I said before, I'll try the hotspot again for our next trip which is in a couple of days and if that isn't working as it should again then we don't really want to switch providers however if that's what the problem is then we might have to.

[Dav L]

Originally Posted by jigo

"Your parents didn't understand either" I would appreciate it if you didn't call them out for no reason. We know the difference between the two, again we most of the time call them the same thing, it's a habit. Now back to the subject at hand, I wasn't using anything, as you thought I might have used a cell booster. The whole reason for the post is to decide what to get. Between cell boosters, rangers, or just try again with the hotspot. Everyone is saying different which is really conflicting. Like I said before, I'll try the hotspot again for our next trip which is in a couple of days and if that isn't working as it should again then we don't really want to switch providers however if that's what the problem is then we might have to.

The parents statement was in jest.

Again, the reason for the confusion is conflicting terminology and that most people really don't understand this technical subject. No offense, it's just a specialty that requires a lot of time and background to really get. I do this stuff daily. Tonights task is testing a new product which is an automation controller that has an integrated network router to make it much easier to get devices talking together on the network and controlled.

I will generalize: Objective - get Internet access to devices used in an RV.
Three ways (and for good connectivity - many RV'rs use both methods depending on where they are):

First: Wifi to a campground or house or business Wifi Access point that is connected to the Internet. You can directly connect a laptop or tablet internal wifi. Better is an external Wifi specialized antenna that has longer range. That is then connected to a second Wifi access point in the RV that your device connects to. Not usable while moving.

Second: Cellular provider connection and account for wireless data. This can be a cell phone as a hotspot, a dedicated hotspot personal device that has it's own data plan, or better is a roof top antenna that has it's own cellular data plan with a better, longer range antenna to access more distant cell towers. Even better than that are cellular external antennas that can communicate to several cell carriers at once to pick the best that is available where you are. Cellular is best option when driving.

There are more expensive systems that combine the cellular external and Wifi antennas.

Third: Satellite Internet: Expensive, and generally slow and only usable when stopped (with some very expensive exceptions). Look for StarLink in the future to revolutionize this as the best campground method.

So, forget about a "booster". They don't work well. Cheap, but ineffective.

As with all forum questions, you will always get a variety of opinions (this works for me great...) Quite frankly, most have very little background in the subject. And don't test multiple methods so of course theirs is the best as we all like to be right.

You will over time know which forum users consistently provide good answers on particular subjects. DocJ knows what he is talking about especially on WifiRanger products (he is a rep for them).

Hope that helps.

[HighDesert]

Well, koind of following this as the used unit we purchased does not have anything but a rooftop satellite for TV, which we don’t use. Since I don’t speak,geek, looks like the. Best option, if you’re not full timing, or working on the road, is the infamous hot spot on your phone. We’ve used that for the past 5 years, and it serves the purpose of paying bills on the road. On the other hand, if I was to look at F/T, I an seethe initial cost to be set up correctly, would be be in the area of $1500+, and a recurring monthly bill of $50 to $100 for SIM card provided carrier access. Gotta love the. Hit spot!

[jeff0210]

I went throught the same thing last year after purchasing our first RV. We only spent two months out last year. Hopefully longer this year. Went with a MOFI 1500 and a tmobile 100 MB plan. Everything was fine at 50 dollars a month plus the MofI at 320 or something like that. But that was Last year. Picked up the Tmobile unlimited home internet for 50 a month. Has better speeds than the Mofi. Did I mention unlimited.
Try it at home then on the road. If it works it's all you need. If not. Then upgrade as you feel needed. No cost for the Tmobile home equipment......

[dcfleetwood]

OK, Here's my two cents on what I've done and seems to work pretty well. I used a hot spot for the last two years as we travel full time. Having a second phone (Verizon) with a different carrier for spots where there was no Tmobile. Which worked pretty well until my tablet would constantly drop the connection from working it pretty much 24/7. So I know bought a router and put the sim card in which is much more stable.
My only concern is trying to figure out which outside antenna should I add for those time when we are just a few miles outside the range of service. My router is a MOFI 5500 with two antenna ports for external hookup.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Not trying to hijack subject, I think the info above helps???

[jeff0210]

after getting home from first trip , thought i'would try this.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CRN6HYY...roduct_details

It doubled my download speeds and tripled the uploads. Which I don't really use.

FYI, I have yet to put it outside. Just taped it up to the inside of my window next to my MOFI. Plan on putting it inside ugly dome. Maybe using it as a positioning tool.

[Lt Dan]

Originally Posted by jeff0210

after getting home from first trip , thought i'would try this.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CRN6HYY...roduct_details

I have that same antenna on a 25' telescoping flagpole for my MoFi and it works great. I was able to receive a signal at a park in Colorado that has zero cell service otherwise.

[mike625]

If you have two available cell phones - there is an app to check the WIFI signal strength from the phone you use as the hotspot. I use "WIFI Analyzer" for android. It will give a chart showing all available WIFI signals or 2.4 and 5.

Originally Posted by jigo

The reason I brought up a Range Booster is if the park has internet, which most I've been to do, we can get a better connection for our televisions and still run the computer off of the hotspot.

I'm going to plug the WIFI Ranger Aspen Router "$160" for inside your RV. It would allow you to connect to your phone hotspot or campground WIFI. You can make the connections to the different sources on the router, then everything can connect to it & they would be behind a firewall.

https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/gea...ranger-lineup/

As for boosters - Have a Weboost / OTR outside antenna & a mounted Winegard Connect that I have not used in over 3 years. The cell signal have been usable by its self - It all depends on where you camp & only you can determine that.

From where we go - The Cell providers in order of best to worst speed
ATT, T-Mobile and Verizon.