OK, first things first, I'm not exactly top notch computer savy but I've been looking for devices,antenna's,what have you to provide better reception(possibly better transmission) of Wi-Fi signals in a camp setting for multiple uses. Things I've looked at......JefaTech repeater kit, Wave Wi-Fi Rogue, Wi-Fi Ranger products with umbiquiti / POE. It appears the Ranger products are among the better choices but I'm wondering about price vs performance. We're not looking for anything more than to get on line within the RV without walking about trying to get a clear line of sight. E-mail and Web browsing is all we need. We currently don't have a cell phone that is hot spot capable but I see the Ranger products offer the switching necessary to access the signals available so that feature seems worthwhile. Anyways, just trying to get a better understanding of what's out there?

You likely will not see much improvement overall. Especially for WiFi, you are at the mercy of what the campground has installed. Even if your signal strength can be increased, you will see little change in performance. That depends on the total bandwidth the CG has contracted for and how many other campers are sharing that bandwidth. Early to mid mornings are usually best - many are packing up to leave and are not on line. Evenings, especially after dark, are the worst, as everyone gets on line to browse the web or check e-mail.I just retired from managing part of the wifi connections for a major University, and the only way it really can be improved is if the owner contracts with a higher speed/bandwidth provider, buys more capable equipment, and install more access points. It is only the last item that you might be able to improve on by buying your own booster - but if the coverage is that bad, you can count on the fact that the CG saved money on the overall amount of traffic their connection can handle, meaning it will still be slow. Your only real alternatives are to consign yourself to "primitive" camping...or piggyback on your cell phone service to use it's Internet connection instead of the CG.

I see that many folks get a Hot Spot from Verizon and bypass the parks WiFi altogether. If I had the extra $$$ that's what I'd do.

I am currently using a pay as you go (internet on the go) device that is on the Sprint network(works less frequently that frequently). My cell is on the Verizon network but with Straight Talk there can be no tethering. Since we frequent Thousand Trail parks(need to get my monies worth)..often a trip to the Lodge provides less than stellar internet service on their network but being able to capture what little signal there is from the rv would be so much more doable that trekking over and then finding out you still can't connect. No doubt, a hot spot cell phone or air card would be a viable solution but for our usage, a monthly cost just doesn't seem worth it. Honestly, I can do most everything on the phone but my wife wants to use the laptop.

I use a wifi range extender (wifi booster - they are called various names) from Amped Wireless. There has to be at least a weak connection to the wifi to start with. Mine needs a laptop or PC to use as a display for the device to be able to lock in the wifi signal. Since I got mine, I believe some of these don't need that. What happens is the device connects to the laptop. It then finds the signal and locks it into its memory. When you then connect with your tablet or laptop to use the wifi you are going to select the device as your wifi connection and not the campground's wifi. The unit has the campground's wifi locked in and is boosting it. I have gone from a poor wifi connection to a solid connection that does not drop. It is not increasing bandwidth. If there is a problem with too many users in the campground on the wifi at the same time it will not do much for that. But I no longer have to go outside to the office or the nearest wifi point to get a usable connection. As long as you stay in that campground - even after you turn off and unplug the booster - once you turn the booster back on the signal is still locked in to connect to. Change campgrounds and you need to do this all over again. This may or may not be what you are looking for but it has worked for me. It cost about $100 in a computer discount retailer.

1775...... That sounds like a good starting point, I'll have to check it out. I understand the bandwidth restrictions with any / all campground Wi-Fi. Thank you.

Better Wi Fi capture in campgrounds | Good Sam Community

isa
Explorer
Oct 02, 2014
I have a 3" mini plastic satellite dish that is made by Hawking technology HWDN2 that does an amazing job of bringing in weak Wi-Fi signals.
Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Sep 28, 2014
"if there is NO tmobile cell service at your grandsons, there is nothing that can get you cell service"
That is what I was asking. Thanks. I didn't think I understood him correctly.
MrWizard
Moderator
Sep 27, 2014
Roy&Lynne wrote:
I was at my local T-Mobile dealer and telling him that at my grandson's I couldn't get cell service. He said that we could purchase a devise to create our own WiFi, is he talking about a HotSpot like MIFI and don't you need a cell phone tower to use that? (Sorry, he was young and I am old and we didn't speak the same language so I didn't really understand what he was talking about. But it seems to me if I couldn't get cell service, I couldn't get Wifi either, am I wrong?

Please Clarify

if there is NO tmobile cell service at your grandsons, there is nothing that can get you cell service

IF there is a poor signal, then a cellular amplifier with external antenna will boost the signal

However
most cellphone carriers now have a device
that attaches to a "hardline" internet service like cable or DSL
and functions as a mini cell tower ( inside home )
so your cellphone makes phone calls (the device connects to the carriers network via the internet)

i'm not sure what your asking or what you want
Pirate1
Explorer
Sep 27, 2014
I have a jefa tech system and a usb type booster from amp. I have been find the cheap usb booster is superior to the jefa system. Not sure why.
Acampingwewillg
Explorer II
Sep 27, 2014
1492 wrote:
Acampingwewillgo wrote:
Oh, I did check out the Engenius product at Fry's yesterday....(19.99), my only problem with it is that the compatibility with Window's 8? Both my computer and wife's our on their last leg and will be replacing come "black Friday" ad's.

According to their website, they have a driver for the EnGenius EUB9603H up to WIN 7. None actually listed for WIN 8. But, this WiFi adapter apparently uses the popular Realtek RTL8188RU chipset, so you should be able to use Realtek's updated WIN 8 driver, if actually even required. I've downloaded Realtek drivers many times when the WiFi adapter manufacture didn't have updated drivers on their website.

I may give that device a try, its cheap enough and I'm sure I'll see some improvement over internal laptop antenna. Thank you for the info.
AllegroD
Nomad
Sep 26, 2014
Tree House wrote:
Roy&Lynne, you are right in that if you don't have cell service, then you can't get cellular internet using a Mifi or any other device.

Does your son have cable internet at his house? If so, perhaps he was talking about a femtocell, which is a device that attaches to your cable internet. Your phone then picks up the cell signal the femtocell broadcasts and then sends your cell phone calls over the cable internet connection to the cell phone network. We have one of those that Verizon sells in our house to help with a dead spot that kept dropping calls.

But its only good if you have cable internet.

I would add that most smart phones can connect to your son's network, for data only, if he has a wireless router and you have the pass phrase, without additional devices.
k1hog
Explorer
Sep 26, 2014
Pepwave Device Connector (2.4GHz Only) not cheap, but an awesome device, it will cure wifi issues.

http://3gstore.com/product/4493_pepwave_device_connector.html

Johnnie
Tree_House
Explorer
Sep 26, 2014
Roy&Lynne, you are right in that if you don't have cell service, then you can't get cellular internet using a Mifi or any other device.

Does your son have cable internet at his house? If so, perhaps he was talking about a femtocell, which is a device that attaches to your cable internet. Your phone then picks up the cell signal the femtocell broadcasts and then sends your cell phone calls over the cable internet connection to the cell phone network. We have one of those that Verizon sells in our house to help with a dead spot that kept dropping calls.

But its only good if you have cable internet.
1492
Moderator
Sep 26, 2014
Acampingwewillgo wrote:
Oh, I did check out the Engenius product at Fry's yesterday....(19.99), my only problem with it is that the compatibility with Window's 8? Both my computer and wife's our on their last leg and will be replacing come "black Friday" ad's.

According to their website, they have a driver for the EnGenius EUB9603H up to WIN 7. None actually listed for WIN 8. But, this WiFi adapter apparently uses the popular Realtek RTL8188RU chipset, so you should be able to use Realtek's updated WIN 8 driver, if actually even required. I've downloaded Realtek drivers many times when the WiFi adapter manufacture didn't have updated drivers on their website.
Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Sep 26, 2014
I was at my local T-Mobile dealer and telling him that at my grandson's I couldn't get cell service. He said that we could purchase a devise to create our own WiFi, is he talking about a HotSpot like MIFI and don't you need a cell phone tower to use that? (Sorry, he was young and I am old and we didn't speak the same language so I didn't really understand what he was talking about. But it seems to me if I couldn't get cell service, I couldn't get Wifi either, am I wrong?

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