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Old 09-21-2024, 05:04 AM   #1
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WIFI is terrible

Hello,
As a newbie to RV ing for 2 months now I've been experiencing at times terrible wifi service. I am not too computer savvy so I'm at a loss as to what I can do about this. I've seen wifi boosters, extenders, antenna's on the roof ect. Does anyone know what is the best solution?
Also, if no wifi is available in the area will nothing really work?
Confused...
Thanks in advance!
Dan
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Old 09-21-2024, 05:25 AM   #2
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Next least expensive thing is to look into using your smart phone as a hotspot.

There are lots of options depending on how much $$$ you want to spend.
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Old 09-21-2024, 05:30 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by bailey4141 View Post
Hello,
As a newbie to RV ing for 2 months now I've been experiencing at times terrible wifi service. I am not too computer savvy so I'm at a loss as to what I can do about this. I've seen wifi boosters, extenders, antenna's on the roof ect. Does anyone know what is the best solution?
Also, if no wifi is available in the area will nothing really work?
Confused...
Thanks in advance!
Dan
Campground WiFi is rarely sufficient for anything other than checking email and basic functions. Streaming video for example is hit or mostly miss. Generally there will be very few antennas. If you see a group of campers looking at their phones in one spot, you found the better signal.

Someone has to be providing the WiFi connection. They have to invest in the equipment and maintain it. As noted above, your cellular provider is one such provider.
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Old 09-21-2024, 05:39 AM   #4
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There also may be some options that depend on what your rig is equipped with that can help. Many newer rigs have methods to set up their own wifi.

Read this thread: https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...ml#post1179002
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Old 09-21-2024, 06:57 AM   #5
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T-Mobile Home Internet has served us very well. $55 per month. We have had ours for a number of years and have traveled from The Outer Banks to Florida and out to Memphis and it has always worked well. It recently worked up in the mountains of North Georgia where we barely had an ATT phone signal. We use our Roku with no problems.
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Old 09-21-2024, 07:58 AM   #6
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T-Mobile Home Internet has served us very well. $55 per month.
X2 on T-Mobile. We have T-Mobile home internet at home, and a T-Mobile MiFi for on the road. We are seldom without internet while camping or driving down the road. Having internet access while driving gives us ability to look for gas stations, campgrounds, and even E-mail. $55 for Home Internet, $59 a month for T-Mobile MiFi.
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Old 09-21-2024, 07:59 AM   #7
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+1 on creating your own hotspot. Most all campground wifi service is slow and not secure if they have wifi at all. Creating your own hotspot using cell service is easy, faster, and much more secure.
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Old 09-21-2024, 09:09 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by bailey4141 View Post
Hello,
As a newbie to RV ing for 2 months now I've been experiencing at times terrible wifi service. I am not too computer savvy so I'm at a loss as to what I can do about this. I've seen wifi boosters, extenders, antenna's on the roof ect. Does anyone know what is the best solution?
Also, if no wifi is available in the area will nothing really work?
Confused...
Thanks in advance!
Dan
This, actually, is where the suggestions for Starlink are appropriate. It does, of course, depend upon how badly you need good WiFi and if you want to pay more for good speeds but it is an option and one that has been covered here before if you want to do a search for the previous threads.

There is a limit as to how well phone “teathering” works and while some companies tell you the don’t throttle they do in some circumstances so be sure before you commit.


From the search feature at the top of the page. While some of this info is dated you can get more current from Starlink's home page.
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...ink-96016.html
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Old 09-21-2024, 10:12 AM   #9
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Early on I tried a cell booster, Wifi Ranger Spruce that tethers to a hotspot and Amy park wifi and while they helped, I could still never get good service and often we were in areas with poor cell service with ATT and Verizon. Finally got rid of all that and went with Starlink and coundnt be happier, it gives you fast internet ANYWHERE. Plans have changed through its evolution but currently on the RV Roam plan which can be turned on and off monthly as needed and can now be used in while in motion for $165 a month. Of course you have to buy the equipment, but I still feel it more than worth it to have fast internet and can make calls via wifi calling anywhere, even without cell service.
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Old 09-21-2024, 10:51 AM   #10
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Early on I tried a cell booster, Wifi Ranger Spruce that tethers to a hotspot and Amy park wifi and while they helped, I could still never get good service and often we were in areas with poor cell service with ATT and Verizon. Finally got rid of all that and went with Starlink and coundnt be happier, it gives you fast internet ANYWHERE. Plans have changed through its evolution but currently on the RV Roam plan which can be turned on and off monthly as needed and can now be used in while in motion for $165 a month. Of course you have to buy the equipment, but I still feel it more than worth it to have fast internet and can make calls via wifi calling anywhere, even without cell service.

Because we stay at one location all summer I use the Residential Plan which is a bit cheaper than Roam. At the end of summer I switch plans to Roam, and turn the Starlink off which then stops monthly charges until I start up and switch back again in May. So far Starlink has allowed me to do that and it saves some money while using Residential.



I have a very good Verizon Business plan that is totally unlimited, except, I found, calls, internet etc done through your phone is unlimited but the second you tether something else to your phone (hotspot) like your TV, you will be throttled at about 10G of data. So while you may not notice the slower speeds it can show up with watching a movie on TV and trying to use your computer or IPad at the same time. Your plan may say unlimited but, that is not totally true with most all plans. They just don't tell you that unless you call and pin them down.
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Old 09-22-2024, 08:01 PM   #11
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I have a Wi-Fi Ranger Everest with an AT&T air card. We have not been anywhere that I cannot get some type of Wi-fi. Most of the campgrounds now are offering 5GH Wi-fi but the Ranger will connect to either 2.5 or 5. The air card works if the park wi-fi does not.
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Old 09-23-2024, 07:33 AM   #12
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Early on I tried a cell booster, Wifi Ranger Spruce that tethers to a hotspot and Amy park wifi and while they helped, I could still never get good service and often we were in areas with poor cell service with ATT and Verizon. Finally got rid of all that and went with Starlink and coundnt be happier, it gives you fast internet ANYWHERE. Plans have changed through its evolution but currently on the RV Roam plan which can be turned on and off monthly as needed and can now be used in while in motion for $165 a month. Of course you have to buy the equipment, but I still feel it more than worth it to have fast internet and can make calls via wifi calling anywhere, even without cell service.
We have multiple methods of getting internet in our Seneca so that both of us can work... At the end of the day - Starlink is the best solution for us...

Brian: Nice mount!
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Old 09-23-2024, 09:08 AM   #13
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I've seen wifi boosters, extenders, antenna's on the roof ect.
Also, if no wifi is available in the area will nothing really work?
I agree w/ everything posted so far. But wanted to add that a "WiFi Booster" rarely helps. As others have said, campground WiFi is usually slow and crowded so a booster does nothing for you, really. It'll just help you connect to a slow, crowded network. [ Kind of like stomping on the accelerator pedal on the on-ramp only to find the interstate crawling. ]

Cell Phone boosters, like WeBoost, are different animals and can help you get a cell signal. Where, in turn, you'd use your phone as a "hotspot" or buy a dedicated "mobile hotspot" from your carrier. [ Your laptops "wifi" to your phone, and your phone uses the cell tower to connect to the Internet. ]

If you *must* have reliable and fast internet, regardless of your location, Starlink is currently the only choice, IMO. Out west, there are many places where there's no cell service.
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Old 09-25-2024, 11:50 AM   #14
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Skylink
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Old 09-25-2024, 11:57 AM   #15
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Skylink
Never heard of Skylink, do you mean Starlink
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Old 09-25-2024, 12:06 PM   #16
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Get starlink.

Our RV park has slow wi-fi because of the Internet provider. The line running to the park has a max speed of 100 mbs. Spread that over a park with over 150 sites and you can barely check your email.

We also tried using LTE (cell phone data), but had a lot of throttling.

We ended up getting starlink, it was about $600 for the initial startup and about $118 a month. However, we've never had any serious issues, or throttling. I'm a gamer so sometimes I'll use over 100 GB of data in a day and still no slow down. They have a mobile plan so you can use it anywhere you have a clear view of the sky.
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Old 09-25-2024, 12:30 PM   #17
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As noted here, a hotspot from TMobile, Verizon or some other carrier is a good idea. You can watch YouTube videos on how to connect to a hotspot to find out if this is an option for you. If you have more money to spend, you can buy a Starlink Gen 3 dish, which is on sale right now, and have reliable, fast internet no matter where you are. You just need a clear view of the sky minus any obstructions like trees or buildings. It runs around $165/month, however. It comes down to how much internet you need and if fast internet is important to you. Starlink also makes the Mini, which is smaller, less fast and costs $50-$150/month depending on the plan you get. It's also very easy to set up.
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Old 09-25-2024, 02:40 PM   #18
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I use the Verizon wi fi box. Take it with me when I go to Maine for the summer. It is portable and easy to travel with. I cut the cord years ago and went with this. No problems so far.
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Old 09-25-2024, 03:13 PM   #19
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WiFi

WiFi and Internet are two different things.


WiFi is a short range 50' to maybe a couple hundred feet "radio"connection between you and the 'Provider". McDonalds might be the provider and if you park right next to the store you may have acceptable connection for email etc. Streeming will not be very good unless you are sitting in the stoor and even then the store may limit the data volume. However in this case it is the McDonalds store that has a direct connection through phone lines or local cable company to the Internet.


Many campgrounds offer WiFi but some only have a single "line" and the antenna in at the office so your reception depends on how close you are to the office. Some campgrounds spend the $$ to have multipla antenna around the campground so there is better reception over a wider area.


Think about the WiFi at your home. You may have Internet via cable like Spectrum or some other cable TV provider. That gets the Internet signal to your house. You then have a WiFi server in your home that allowes you to use Wifi in and arouund your house. You can test this out. set your phone to WiFi only. No Roaming or other connetion. Start walking down your street and I bet you loose the signal by the time you are at 200' from your house.


I am not a WiFi or Internet Tech but I think this post is basically correct. Others have offered info on various services that provide Internet access using cell phone for the connection.


Terminology makes a difference. There are "WiFi boosters" that may extend the range in a campground from 100' to a few hundred feet but that will not get you the Internt service that you want.
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Old 09-25-2024, 03:38 PM   #20
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We boondock. Very poor cellphone coverage on our property. Good news, bad news. My former employer required me to be available 24/7/365. When I went camping my phone message said I was out of range.

Truth was that the wife knew how to get a hold of me in an emergency.

Forty years ago there was NO cellphone so that is that.

I go camping to get away from wifi.
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