They do help boost your internet signal, we have had it hanging up outside with extension lead back inside. I have now bought a Yagea aerial which is mounted on the front A frame when its up, it is hooked to a pool cleaner extendable pole.

We have a small magnetic based Telstra aerial, cost $20 around 3 years ago. It plugs into our Telstra Elite dongle. Usually boosts the signal by at least one bar when we're at weak signal bush camps. It's not suitable for very remote areas but is quite good in many situations. We're happy with it. It can also plug into mobile phones to achieve better reception.

I use one with my Telstra Modem if I use that instead of my iPhone. They boost a poor signal usually buy two bars to workable. Great things and worth the small cost.

I put a small piece of metal up on the edge of the van roof and run the cable through the window next to the table, that way it's up nice and high. I have a plastic cable thingy (technical term) that I will fit to the wall of the van and the cable just slips through into the van. That way I don't have to have it going through the window.