There are a few things that you need to understand about using Wi-Fi signal Extenders. The first is your Wi-Fi Signal Extender (exterior mounted unit/antenna) will give you a much improved connection between the CG's AP (access point) and your unit. Key point to remember is Line of SITE, Wi-Fi signals do not like trees, buildings, sides of other TT's......
If the CG only has a basic Internet package with the ISP, you may not gain anything. That Internet package (be it a 10mbps or a 50mbps) is then divided up between all the individuals that are trying to get to the Internet. If it is a 10mbps and there are 10 individuals logged in then each will average about 1mbps, which will not be very fast. The one thing the Wi-Fi Signal Extender will do is reduce the number of data errors (dropped packets), as the increased power will pretty much overpower the other laptop, smartphone, or tablets trying for the same AP.
We have a "
Wi-Fi Signal Extender" Social Group here. There is information on a few models that our members use. Scroll through the posts, there is a few posts that give examples.
I use the EnGenius ENS202EXT ($100 shipped to door - Amazon), which has 2 antennas on the unit. It is good for 1.5 miles (line of sight). While camping in Colorado, I linked to a Home Depot store that was about 1.5 miles away on a ridge (could see it from our campsite) and was able to log in and have GREAT internet connectivity. I was able to stream video from my home's SlingBox that is connected to our cable box/internet and watch the Ray's ball game with no breakup at all. (No guilty feeling, as I dump $$$$'s into Home Depot's bottom line each year).
I have also been in CG's where I had GREAT connections to the AP, but the CG did not have much bandwidth, so the internet service was SLOW.
The ENS202EXT requires a cat5 cable between the ENS202EXT unit that mounts on the outside of the TT, to the TT's Wi-Fi router ($5-10 resale store) inside the TT. The internet toys access the internet through the Wi-Fi router. Once set up you can update the CG's AP (each CG is different) with your smartphone/tablet.
AP<<<<<<ENS202EXT<<<<<TT-Wi-Fi Router<<<< Laptops (2), iPhone(2)....
A word of caution.... Set up any system you decide to go with at home using your home ISP router as the AP. Then once you have it setup, move it into the TT and test it again. Some systems can be frustrating to initially set up.
I do not recommend any of the interior units (most plug into the USB port)... buy once and go with an outside antenna unit, you will not be sorry.
Good Luck,
Don
My Registry
RVing with SOLAR
Linear Mode
