LED Awning lights and Long range wifi mods this weekend.

[wayfun]

I've made a couple of modifications to our 25RKS this weekend. First, we'll be spending a couple of months this winter in Florida in a park without park wide WIFI but they did have it at the rec hall. So I after researching here and elsewhere I created my own wifi network with a long range wifi receiver using information I found here: http://rv.****eastman.com/2012/01/ho...em-part-1.html and http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthrea...ong+range+wifi .

The system consists of a TPLINK outdoor wifi receiver that acts as a WAN input to a standard N router. I found an extendable handle in the cleaning supply department at Lowes to which I mounted the receiver. The pole was then mounted to the rear ladder with hose clamps. So far it seems that I can receive wifi signals about 3/8 of mile. In my house my laptop can only see my own router. Outside with this system I can pick up 21 other wifi systems I live in a development with acre plus lots so the housed aren't too close together. Of course all but one of those signals were protected but I was able to connect to the lone open system. This should let me reach the rec hall.

The next thing I did was mount a strip of LEDs under my awning to use as patio lighting. I bought a reel of Chinese LEDs off of EBAY for $14 similar to these http://www.ebay.com/itm/5M-Epoxy-Res...item4ab45af8a2

I mounted them on the side of the trailer under the awning. So when the awning is closed they are sheltered. They give off a nice light. I ran the 12v cord straight down with an inline switch. The power is connected directly to the battery. As a strain relief I zip tied the cord to the awning arm mounting bracket. Photos attached.

Dennis

[RoyBraddy]

I was always too leary "CHICKEN" using some of the WIFI hot spot zone you find here and there...

We use our internet for paying bills, checking in with the kids, and limited searching the web... The CAMPGROUND WIFI has always sucked for us. NO WAY would I pay a bill from sitting in a MCDonalds parking lot...

We went with the VERIZON MIFI plan... Our plan is grandfathered in for a few years back and we get a 3GB Verizon Data PLan for $27 a month.

This is using the MIFI 2200 unit which is cell phone size and will fit in your shirt pocker or like we use it sitting in a WILSON SLEEK Cradle that has an external antenna connection. This unit give us a secure WIFI HOT SPOT for five of our WIFI enabled devices. We both can use our LAPTOPS and Tablets at the same time. If we want to sit at the beach and watch the sunset can bring the small MIFI unit with us.

It logs into the internet anywhere we get Verizon CELLPHONE service.

If we were going to get into streaming video or TV signals and need a bigger data plan then we would go for the MILLENICOM 20G dataplan which also uses the Verizon network.

Roy Ken

[skymutt]

Roy,

i just noticed you are from King George, VA. I was there last fall and will be there again the 3rd week in SEP. Flying a UH-1 on the Patomic River Test Range for a week. Nice place to visit and (I assume) live.