To WiFi or not to wifi

[Cartela]

Got a quote to get a WiFi antenna and router fitted (Avtex). The missus is questioning whether we actually need it…do we? Opinions please?
Ps. I have unlimited phone data. Daughter who likes to use iPad and phone, a lot

 

[Edendeb]

Just use you phone as a hotspot!

 

[starquake]

The avtex when we looked was the worst one to get (unless it's improved). We have the motorhomewifi antenna and are looking to upgrade to a cat12 or cat18 router (probably netgear or huawei) to connect to it prob in a year as prices drop. We only have a 4g capable router (ZTE) now.

Our opinion and experience is they make a massive difference if you in a rural place, ie, north norfolk and Wales on Three network in particular. Phones/hotspot don't get signal, roof antenna connected hotspot does - we've had this in several sites, notably the Forest of Dean and near Cromer at the CACC site. Not much point in buying beyond a cat6 hotspot except to futureproof as theres no 5g in these kind of places.

If you mostly visit more "city" or less rural campsites, like Yarmoth, St Neots, say even Oxford area -> you won't get much differnec from a roof antenna to a phone acting as a hotspot, as if signal is good they make little difference. If signal is poor however, you'll get no signal or 512K or less on a phone, and 7-15Mbit on the roof antenna is our experience at least. The CACC site near Cromer is a classic example where a phone is useless as neither of ours had any signal.

 

[starquake]

Should say don't worry about the sim card thing and the "unlimited" data thing, if in UK sims are very very cheap from amazon.
Some here use Smarty (£20 a month for any month you use it unlimited), we use a 3 business additional data sim (added onto the main sim) and it's £5/mo for unlimited data sims when added to a handset contract for a business (or is on the 2 we have!), ie, £60/year for the motorhomes wifi. You can also get scancom sims on EE and Three with huge data bundles from Amazon cheap (and these are VERY cheap indeed if you buy them in black friday/cyber monday type deals).

Basically don't worry if you use the van a lot the sim should be one of the cheapest monthly expenses, our tracker costs more per month.

 

[VXman]

I have just used a phone as a hotspot for years and it's worked well. If you don't want to use your present phone then buy a cheap/second hand one and buy a no contract sim to put in it.

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

 

[MikenPauline]

Got a quote to get a WiFi antenna and router fitted (Avtex). The missus is questioning whether we actually need it…do we? Opinions please?
Ps. I have unlimited phone data. Daughter who likes to use iPad and phone, a lot

Don’t waste money on antennae - made no discernible difference to us. Have had huawei mifi and tp-link. TBH the 45euro tp-link bought in carrefour when the huawei packed up in Spain was perfect for streaming tv and all other Wi-Fi connections. No external aerial. I think getting the right SIM card is more important. We bought local Vodafone data sim - 40 euros for 190gb for 28 days.

 

[Reevsie]

We also got a Motorhome WIFI and it has to be my worst purchase for the Motorhome. I have done a speed test with the sim in the Huawei router and the Motorhome wifi, then a speed test with the same SIM card in my phone. The phone was actually faster than the roof antenna I paid a fortune for.

 

[RedFrame]

Got a quote to get a WiFi antenna and router fitted (Avtex). The missus is questioning whether we actually need it…do we? Opinions please?
Ps. I have unlimited phone data. Daughter who likes to use iPad and phone, a lot

As has been said above, it depends on where you like to stop. If it is remote locations then a decent antenna and router will definitely help.

Why not fit it yourself, it's fairly straightforward and you'll probably do a better job and save a fortune.

Cheers
Red.

 

[daventess]

This is based on limited "testing", but in the UK using a phone and at least one other sim to your normal one on different (main) networks would probably work well.

On the times my O2 based sim (giffgaff) has had no signal, my Smarty sim (Three) in the wifi box has mostly been ok. When both haven't worked, I'll bet a Vodafone or EE one would have. I don't seem to get any better signal from the wifi than from a phone in terms of strength.

When you are roaming (say in France), you can choose the best network to be on (usually orange), and you can do that from either your phone or the Wifi box, and the phone is actually less complicated in my opinion. It's a shame we can't choose the network we're on when in your home country, but there we go ...

The wifi box is quite "nice to have" if you use Chromecast and the like, as they have to attach to a local network, and I don;t know if they "remember" phone based networks in the same way they do the wifi box because i've not tested it.

Not sure if that's any help I;ve got writer's block and just need to type to get going ...

 

[starquake]

We also got a Motorhome WIFI and it has to be my worst purchase for the Motorhome. I have done a speed test with the sim in the Huawei router and the Motorhome wifi, then a speed test with the same SIM card in my phone. The phone was actually faster than the roof antenna I paid a fortune for.

Oh it will be in places like Gt Yarmouth CAMC for sure. If your phone has a larger signal, it's a higher LTE band (iphones are Cat18 min) so gets more data per second on strong signal.

However, it's a totally different kettle of fish at certain sites with low signal. Good luck getting any signal at the Icleborough fields CACC site I think it is called near Cromer without a roof antenna, as my phone got no signal on 2 different networks.

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

 

[oldiesontour]

Simple answer is it will work in some places a phone work and should work everywhere a phone will with same SIM.
I wouldn't have paid a fortune for the gain but
had a router spare( from home upgrade no landline) bought a refurbished poynting airel off eBay £40 fitted myself,you should be able to do for £100 all in.For me worthwhile @ £40.
As for Sims loads of no contract Sims around

 

[Blisteringblue]

Just back from North Norfolk and I have a Huawei Mifi which didn't get a signal in the van. I don't have roof mounted antenna but cheap magnetic hi-gain 4g LTE antenna. Only about £12 the pair on Amazon. Pop them on the roof out the skylight and they make enough of a difference get get a signal that was usable. Its only situations like this when I need them, most of the time the mifi up in the skylight is fine. Slightly better value than some of the roof mount kit.

 

[Tio64]

Similar to Reevsie in post #7, we bought a Motorhome WiFi for over £400, I am not actually sure what it does that our phones don't.
If you particularly want WiFi in your van, a friend bought a Huawei Cube for his and has been impressed, and they're not expensive. It's a combined smart speaker and router.

If I were you I'd try something like this, and wait and see if you ever go without signal and then consider spending more money.

Huawei AI Cube review

A 4G router with a smart speaker

www.techradar.com

 

[Lenny HB]

Don’t waste money on antennae - made no discernible difference to us.

We have found it makes a huge difference particularly up in remote mountains in Spain & France when neither of our phones can get a signal often pulled in a 3G signal good enough for slow browsing or email much better than no signal at all.

 

[Skez]

We have found it makes a huge difference particularly up in remote mountains in Spain & France when neither of our phones can get a signal often pulled in a 3G signal good enough for slow browsing or email much better than no signal at all.

Have to agree! To those that say a phone hotspot is all you need, then I'm sure that's fine if you are always where there is a decent signal. For us, we have found that when we've been in remote locations, for example eastern Turkey, - with nothing whatsoever in terms of phone signal, we've had connectivity (and therefore the ability to make data based calls as well) via our Motorhome Wifi set up. We wouildn't be without it and would only change for Starlink.

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

 

[Oldrat]

I recall reading that antennae have different numbers of aerials within. The more aerials the more successful it is in picking up signals and hence can be far more effective than a mobile acting as a receiver.

 

[Howard B]

My setup cost me @ £200 which consists of a Huwawei B535 which is a 4G/ LTE router and a Pointing Mimo 3-12 antenna. I have posted previously that I wasnt impressed with performance of the antenna. However a few weeks back I reset the router completely and downloaded the latest Huwawei app ( I was using an older version previously). I made sure the external antenna settings were ticked on in the app settings. I didnt have this option in the previous App.
The speed outside my house using a 3 sim has now increased from 4-9mbs to 35-40 mbs. The 4-9 mbs readings were recorded using an iphone and a Vodafone Gigacube router.
The external antenna is making a significant difference in my experience. .

 

[hja]

We have a mifi system, HUAWEI router, aerial on the roof, smarty sim. Suits us. Can invariably get a signal. Did try using phone before we got the system, couldn’t make it work. Smarty sim we can pause if not going away.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

A few comments about not needing an antenna and using phones as hot spots, all very well when the signal is good.
On Monday we pitched up, turned on the RUTX11 / Panorama antenna as we always do and streamed TV, used the lap top, iPhones and iPads without any buffering or slow down load.
Liz had two phone calls and mentioned the signal was very poor, we also couldn’t get a TV signal, that’s why we streamed.
On the last day I turned off the RUTX11 before leaving and discovered both iPhones had zilch data signal, couldn’t open anything whatsoever.
A huge difference between having a decent antenna and not.

 

[MisterB]

Sometimes there isn't one 'catch all' solution for WiFi/phone/internet access. What works in one place might not work in another. MotorhomeWifi has it's plus points, so do external attennae.

In my experience the one solution that worked consistently well throughout Europe and the UK was the Netgear M2, without an antenna, but I have now (almost) finished my starlink conversion which is by far the best AND most expensive solution.

The only problem I ever had with the M2 was obtaining SIM cards that outlasted my stay in Europe. In the UK I could simply insert my phone SIM card if I had to due to no signal via the phone. I can't remember it ever not being able to pick up a signal.

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

 

[Jabstatt]

I have the Avtex system. Installed it myself. Really simple job. If it goes near your TV antenna you should already have 12v available. When I park at home, my MoHo wifi is faster than home wifi!

Also depends whether you have a metal clad motorhome which shields the signal and things get worse when you close the blinds on a dark night.

If you have EE, which is the best, you can get a family sim with minimal data and 'gift' dated from home!

Just my opinion.

Best mod I ever did.

Tony

 

[stevewagner]

I fitted a Poynting antenna and a Huwaei B522 router with a regulated 12 volt power supply. We use an Id mobile sim which so far has worked perfectly here and abroad. Cost around £280.

 

[Reallyretired]

I used to use a router etc but as we normally only tour in mainland Europe we find a phone hotspot fine, even in places that seem the middle of nowhere.
Signal can be poor in the UK in places so probably a good external antenna is very useful there.

 

[flfair]

We also got a Motorhome WIFI and it has to be my worst purchase for the Motorhome. I have done a speed test with the sim in the Huawei router and the Motorhome wifi, then a speed test with the same SIM card in my phone. The phone was actually faster than the roof antenna I paid a fortune for.

I have a Motorhome WiFi antenna fitted by the dealer when we purchased the van in 2021, I have discovered it has DAMP under it, I have removed it and trying to dry out the area.

I have been on sites in uk with no phone signal but the antenna has.

 

[barryd]

The only issue I see with external antennas and routers is you either need yet another SIM or you need to take one out of one of your phones which for us would be not really practical.

In the UK at least this is what I do. Plan ahead if you can and incorporate good signal strength as to where you stay. It's important for us in the UK as we do often stay in one place for ages and usually very rural and remote. Carry a second SIM. For the west coast and islands of Scotland or the lake District I often have a EE SIM in my phone as well as our main Vodafone contract Sims. Seems to cover all bases 90% of the time and when it doesn't I go old school which is lobbing out the motorhome WiFi iBoost antenna and router from yonks ago and spend ages finding open WiFi like BT/ee hot spots. It's a pia but it does work (sometimes).

Going to Europe next year though so not sure what we will do there. Local Sims I guess.

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

 

[starquake]

The only issue I see with external antennas and routers is you either need yet another SIM or you need to take one out of one of your phones which for us would be not really practical.

You are talking around £2 a month max with one of the scancom deals. The SIM thing isn't an issue these days (maybe an issue if you want a 20 quid a month unlimited smarty sim)... but if you using a cheap sim like many of us are the cost of such a sim for UK use is tiny.

A one off payment of £80 ish quid on a black friday will get you a sim for 3 years with about 500Gb data (per month).

 

[barryd]

You are talking around £2 a month max with one of the scancom deals. The SIM thing isn't an issue these days (maybe an issue if you want a 20 quid a month unlimited smarty sim)... but if you using a cheap sim like many of us are the cost of such a sim for UK use is tiny.

A one off payment of £80 ish quid on a black friday will get you a sim for 3 years with about 500Gb data (per month).

You would want a decent amount of data with that setup though and with a half decent provider I would have thought so it's still an extra cost of at least £15 a month. Not much I suppose but half the year it won't get used for us at least.

We both have 250gb a month with Vodafone via talkmobile and it's £13.95 each but effectively unlimited as we never use it all despite being heavy users.