Best option for wifi onboard camper

[SirPooley]

I've currently got unlimited data on my phone and can tether other devices to it, but craftily Three limits the amount of data I can use when it's tethered, so unless I want to do everything on my phone, my usage is limited each month.
I don't mind buying some new device and/or service but what I really want is some kind of sim-card enabled device that is purely designed to pick up the phone network that I can tether a laptop and iPad to that will give me unlimited data each month.
Does such a thing exist?
Also, can I assume that most quality campsites offer wifi for guests?

 

[Brains]

Here you go!
A small company called Motorhome WiFi
They use a company that will fit the system on your drive, which takes about an hour.

We have found the system fairly good, although if there is zero/one bar of mobile coverage where you are parked, then it does not really work.
It's worth giving them a call as they have forgotten more about motorhome wifi than you will even learn !

 

[Martin59]

I've had a this one fitted from Motorhome Wifi.

Great bit of kit

5G Ready Flex​

5G Ready Antenna & 4G Flex Router

• Vehicle or Home Use
• Work From Your Van
• Slim Wall Cradle
• 300Mbps CAT 7
• 4G LTE+ with Carrier Aggregation
• 64 Wireless Devices, 4 Wired
• 50-100m WiFi Range
• LED Status Lights
• Easy to use smart phone app

 

[hja]

You're second question - No.
We have tried tethering - not got on with it.
Had a mi-fi system fitted by our van dealer - motorhome wifi 4g (I think) antenna & Huawei router + Smarty sim card. This seems so far to work well. We mainly go on CLs where often there is no site wifi (& sometimes no phone signal) and its been fine. Were at Dave & Polly's meet at Holbeach Hurn - mobile phone signal pretty much impossible, but our wifi was working fine.

 

[Mikeco]

I use a HUAWEI mifi with a roof mounted puck type aerial, at the moment I use a data sim from Scancom.store which gives me 60 go data a month. The one I have at the moment cost me around £40 one off upfront payment and it lasts around 4 months. When it expires I will just look for another deal.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Andacami]

MotorhomeWiFi kit. Go for 4G. 5G I didn't think works so well outside of a large town but could be wrong...?

I have the 4G kit, works really well on the supplied Smarty SIM.

 

[autorouter]

I don't mind buying some new device and/or service but what I really want is some kind of sim-card enabled device that is purely designed to pick up the phone network that I can tether a laptop and iPad to that will give me unlimited data each month.
Does such a thing exist?

Yes, it's usually called a mifi router. It's basically a gadget that does tethering just like your phone, and nothing else. So it doesn't need a speaker, microphone and a fancy screen, or a camera and all the other phone add-ons. It takes a SIM card, which needs paying for, either contract or pay-as-you-go. The best sim deal changes from week to week, so you need to shop around.

If this mifi is going in your motorhome, you could get one with external aerial connections. You can fit an external aerial, which will be bigger and better than the tiny aerial in your phone, so may pick up a better signal. If you're going to the trouble of mounting the aerial on the roof, with all the drilling and sealing, it makes sense to get a '5G Ready' aerial. This has extra elements that will pick up the 5G signal when it's available, but can still pick up 4G, 3G etc. Then if you ever decide to go for 5G, you'll need a new 5G mifi, but the roof aerial will be good to go.

 

[rnb100]

I've had a this one fitted from Motorhome Wifi.

Great bit of kit

5G Ready Flex​

5G Ready Antenna & 4G Flex Router

• Vehicle or Home Use
• Work From Your Van
• Slim Wall Cradle
• 300Mbps CAT 7
• 4G LTE+ with Carrier Aggregation
• 64 Wireless Devices, 4 Wired
• 50-100m WiFi Range
• LED Status Lights
• Easy to use smart phone app

I'm getting one of these fitted to the motorhome in a couple of weeks.

 

[Andacami]

Important to note that having an external aerial is very beneficial. If you go for a MiFi device without an external aerial, you have the same signal issues as a phone as the van can work as a shield to wireless, radio and phone signlas.

The Motorhomewifi kit recommended here essentially does a first-rate job of replicating your WiFi at home scenario; the 5G version does have the addition of fixed hardwired ports too if that's your thing...