Kannon Fodda
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- Feb 26, 2019
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So, fitted by yours truly, I have the Motorhome Wifi, 5G Ready package fitted to my PVC. That is the "5G ready roof antenna" puck type which has two 90cm long aerial leads connected to the Huawei E5975 compact 4G LTE router (this has a docking station for USB power). I currently use a Smarty data only sim, which claims to be 5G capable (APN settings, etc, are all correct). But connection speeds on 4G can be quite slow, often barely adequate to stream TV in SD, and streaming TV is my main desire, along with a little interweb browsing. WiFi reception from the router to the TV's Firestick is not the problem, its reception quality from the cellphone mast. So how to improve?
I am often in remote locations where I may be on the limits of a mast reach. I accept you can't actually boost something that isn't there to start with. I know different providers can have different coverage, and most rural areas will only be 4G. So I do hedge bets with the MiFi and phone being different networks. I often struggle on New Forest campsites on any network. But in February, apparently a reasonable locality, I only just got 5mb when on the C&CC in Devizes. Last year (and the year before) despite being close to the town centre where there must be a good signal, at Hereford rowing club rallies the Mifi really really struggled to connect. Malvern showground can also be diabolical.
I do need the MiFi system for the roof aerial. The smartphone, on a Tesco network (currently unlimited data), often will not work once inside the van, due to the faraday cage effect. A suggestion to stick the phone as a hotspot in a rooflight isn't that practical when I use the phone to browse the web, and so often tell the phone to use the Wifi from the MiFi. No point even suggesting Starlink with it's exhorbitant monthly £85 data connection fees.
Would swapping out the Huawei E5975 make a difference, or is it the roof puck type "5G ready antenna" on which I can't really find any specs the issue?
I've seen references to the ZTE MU5001, a 5G capable compact mobile router, which I can get versions of for around £260 off ebay, and which should be able to reuse the USB docking station. Is it any good, and might it make a worthwhile difference?
Belt and braces appears to be to move to the much more expensive Teltonika RUTX50, but that needs 4 aerial connections, so also needs me to upgrade the roof aerial. Plus not really sure the Teltonika would fit in the space I currently have available.
Any device needs to work off the 12V system (or USB power), rather than being 240V, as I don't want an inverter running just for the MiFi.
I am often in remote locations where I may be on the limits of a mast reach. I accept you can't actually boost something that isn't there to start with. I know different providers can have different coverage, and most rural areas will only be 4G. So I do hedge bets with the MiFi and phone being different networks. I often struggle on New Forest campsites on any network. But in February, apparently a reasonable locality, I only just got 5mb when on the C&CC in Devizes. Last year (and the year before) despite being close to the town centre where there must be a good signal, at Hereford rowing club rallies the Mifi really really struggled to connect. Malvern showground can also be diabolical.
I do need the MiFi system for the roof aerial. The smartphone, on a Tesco network (currently unlimited data), often will not work once inside the van, due to the faraday cage effect. A suggestion to stick the phone as a hotspot in a rooflight isn't that practical when I use the phone to browse the web, and so often tell the phone to use the Wifi from the MiFi. No point even suggesting Starlink with it's exhorbitant monthly £85 data connection fees.
Would swapping out the Huawei E5975 make a difference, or is it the roof puck type "5G ready antenna" on which I can't really find any specs the issue?
I've seen references to the ZTE MU5001, a 5G capable compact mobile router, which I can get versions of for around £260 off ebay, and which should be able to reuse the USB docking station. Is it any good, and might it make a worthwhile difference?
Belt and braces appears to be to move to the much more expensive Teltonika RUTX50, but that needs 4 aerial connections, so also needs me to upgrade the roof aerial. Plus not really sure the Teltonika would fit in the space I currently have available.
Any device needs to work off the 12V system (or USB power), rather than being 240V, as I don't want an inverter running just for the MiFi.