RV WiFi

Woody n Sue · Guru

RV WiFi

Bagmaker · Senior Member

I dont see how it will increase your service reception, Woody, its the same 3/4g reception as you are getting now.
Their main bonus would be connection to an aerial which some mobiles can do anyways
You probably already have these devices in your existing phone, a portable hotspot. If we are in the boonies with marginal reception then a phone is hoisted into a tree and used as our own hotspot personal connection.
But to be honest, better off for a couple of days reading a book and catch up with the web at the next town..............

Yuglamron · Guru

I agree with Bagmaker, I can't see how it would help. I have tried various bits and pieces over the last few years and found I have spent money for nothing. External aerials, patch leads, signal amplifiers. Etc. Money wasted mostly.

You can get super duper devices that draw in every bit of a signal and amplify the signal to get better reception when it's marginal. The truckies have them and the cost is enormous. The cheapest I found was nearly two thousand dollars.

Don't hold your breath for the Govt to give travellers the satellite NBN like the VAST system. That would be good. I have yet to hear of anyone who qualify for the satellite NBN in rural areas to use the system on the road yet. If it's feasible or not.

Goldfinger · Senior Member

I have recently upgraded to a Telstra Unit very similar..and it cost me nothing as I was buying Internet Dongles/ time in either case.....Telstra 4GX Advanced 111...complete with free cradle

with the WIFi aerials like the one you're looking at...I already had the Telstra dual connection aerial for mobile Internet connection which plugs into the top of the 4GX111.......all works

fine ..rechargeable battery lasts several hours. full screen to monitor battery/internet usage, and remaining Gg and days to replenishment........I havn't been to what you would deem remote

areas yet..as a Special Promotion Telstra gave the lot for 12 month plan @$55 p.m.which includes 10Gg replenished monthly....works

with Windows 10...I am not a fan of Telstra however the 'deal' was too good to miss....all mine in 12 months....

I should mention total plan is 24 months @ $55 p.m. for 10 Gg each month however you own all the equipment above after the 12 month period..I can use any Telstra micro cards after the 24 months which can be purchased cheap on Fleabay...about $3 per Gg or cheaper on pre loaded micro sim cards compared to Telstra usual $10 Gg...

Hoo Roo

-- Edited by Goldfinger on Friday 10th of March 2017 12:16:13 PM

Woody n Sue · Guru

It's the aerial that I like the most as we are in marginal country and I have an iPhone so no antenna jack plus I could hook up a hard drive to it to watch movies ect if I want
Thanks for the replies
Woody

msg · Guru

I have a Telstra flip phone. It is one of the few phones you can connect an external antenna to. They probably won't tell you but if you open up the back there is a spot to push it in. Very cheap @ $49. Its uses my internet antenna. Because it is on top of my motorhome, I can get internet sometimes where Telstra map says no coverage.

Lancelot Link · Senior Member

I thought the whole point of becoming a grey nomad was to loose all of this garbage! What do you need it for, emergency, basic phone will do that. If you go off grid, satellite or the satellite Bluetooth connector for the mobile for emergency use. Other than that, have save travels.

-- Edited by Lancelot Link on Saturday 11th of March 2017 01:21:11 AM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Keeping in contact with family.. Ohh Paying bills back home !! Each to their own anyway..

PeterD · Guru

Woody n Sue wrote:
It's the aerial that I like the most as we are in marginal country and I have an iPhone so no antenna jack plus I could hook up a hard drive to it to watch movies ect if I want

Ahh, the joys of having Apple products, they don't provide the interconnection ability of other equipment. You are virtually starting afresh, this should be a good system with its external antenna. They are a bit light on the details on that page you linked to, I would like to know more about the antenna.

If you want to watch video you need a pretty solid internet deal, you will not be able to watch much video on the standard mobile plans. ABC iView requires 400 MB per hour and god quality movies consume 1 GB per hour. There are some Telstra home wireless packages you could use. at over $100 per month.

Dave+Addy · Veteran Member

Hi Woody, we have one of these and it works a treat, spent most of a three month trip in the outback recently and it very rarely lost the WiFi connection due to the booster aerial on the roof, you can also connect as many devices as you want through WiFI and up to four devices with an RJ45 network cable, and it's a big bonus that it runs on 12v.

Woody n Sue · Guru

Thanks Dave +Addy I were hoping some one with one would eventually post as I'm pretty confident that it should work a treat but it's always good the hear from an owner

Thanks again for your comment
Woody

TheWebbs · Newbie

Hi Woody n Sue, I am curious to know how you got on with this. I am looking at purchasing one as well as I intend to continuum consulting business whilst travelling so I will need to be connected. Have you got it yet and did it live up to your expectations and its claims?

Cheers,

The Webb

Bruce Mc · Veteran Member

Count me in as a Me To! we plan on heading out in May and we are looking for ways to boost Wifi reception.

Bruce Mc · Veteran Member

Last week we updated our phones and hooked up to a Telstra Wifi only plan. Now between our 2 Iphones and the wifi modem me have 50GB of data and a Wifi modem .
Next we have taken delivery of a wifi aerial from Telco Antennas .
The Modem is a 4GX Pro model and will take a dual cable aerial.
Telstra offered the Nighthawk Modem as the preferred modem but we could not find a port on the modem that would accept a cable so we opted for the 4GX Pro .
The aerial is an RFI Wide Band Mimo 4G Panel Antenna (LTE-XPOL-002) capable of recieving 2G, 3G and 4G signals .
It is a dual antenna so carries two aerial leads and both plug into the modem.
Follow this link for the details. telcoantennas.com.au/site/rfi-wide-band-mimo-4g-panel-antenna-700-2700mhz
We plan on heading out in a few weeks to test the system so can hopefully report back with good results.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

We have a Telcoannas, antenna - had it for a few years, still brings the signal in when it is patchy otherwise, especially with our 4GX dongle, which has built in connection points.

Works for the phone as well - we only use Telstra for our communications.

kesa32 · Senior Member

Hi, we're just down at queenscliffe atm and testing out just a Optus e3372 dongle ($19 Kmart ) in a tp link 3020? Router ( $45 price match officeworks) ." Working well , no ext antenna , pretty well full signal and watch Netflix last night in full hd no problem

Will invest in an antenna later this year when we head to Alice Springs

Flags2 · Veteran Member

Hi Dave & Addy

Perfect timing because I was about to post a question for those using the RV Wifi out there to find out how effective it is.

We have just ordered a Nova Vita with RV Wifi and I was wondering whether you had fitted the booster aerial or whether it came with your van? We are thinking of using a Telstra TV box for streaming and adding Foxtel Now. We are 'homeless' so to speak so can't take a Fox box with us. The Foxtel Now box only operates with Sony TVs.

Many thanks

Bruce Mc · Veteran Member

Here we are a year on and we use the aerial regularly. It most often increases our signal by a minimum of one bar, whether it be 3 or 4g. We are able to live stream movies etc in most cases. Its not perfect but it will boost signal often taking us from 3g to 4g. If there is no signal then nothing will help, but we have no regrets on purchasing the unit.

Tony LEE · Guru

"I thought the whole point of becoming a grey nomad was to loose all of this garbage! What do you need it for, emergency, basic phone will do that. If you go off grid, satellite or the satellite Bluetooth connector for the mobile for emergency use. Other than that, have save travels." Where does that notion come from? What do you regard as excessive luxuries for those on the road full time. Candles for lighting, all cooking on a sharpened stick over an outside fire, wearing animal skins you hunted and processed yourself. Walking everywhere? In the real world....

Bruce Mc · Veteran Member

Hey Tony
Just imagine you only had emergency signal for weeks on end. You would not have seen this post and would not have been able to post a reply. Then maybe the bills you pay online would not have been paid, the video chat with family and new grandchildren would not have occurred and all communication with family and friends is lost. When we camp off the grid for a month staying in touch with family is important. Because we are retired does not mean we are not tech savvy and we use all that is available. You can dig a hole and cook your food on a stick while reading a paperback, Ill do the stuff that makes me happy