More Campground WIFI questions

Campgrounds advertise free Wi-Fi but they for get to tell you that is so slow its not useable or that you can only get it from the office. Ruby's Inn at Bryce Cyn come to mind "we have Wi-Fi through the campground" is what she said and it wasn't any better sitting front of the office. I have mostly given up on it so I try it but most of the time wind up going into town and sitting front of some business that has a signal.

Hi. OP here. After some reading here and elsewhere I am going to start with a Version 2 ALFA booster with the existing antenna and use the laptop to share the signal with phone, tablet, etc.

If I decide I need more I can add an external antenna; probably on the existing TV mast. I'm still not sure whether I would use a directional antenna or OMNI. As I understand it, the directional antenna would get greater range but by how much?

As far as any Verizon or MIFI setups I am old. I operate a zero G phone with WIFI for $20 / month.



Stu

This is how I handle weak campground signals.

Richard

If using CG WiFi, it may also be a security advantage by connecting through a repeater router, instead of just using a high power WiFi adapter. You can put yourself on a separate sub-network, basically not sharing the same network used by other campers. Also, separate SSID and password for your use. You'd have the same access to the net, but any unscrupulous neighbors would not have access to your computers.

I have a Verizon Mifi and a Cradlepoint MBR1400 router. The 1400 offers Wifi as Wan connectivity, so I'll first try the CG wifi with it. Ususally, that is an effort in futility, so I'll just connect it to my MIFI for the time needed.

If by chance the CG wifi is usable, I can choose to either connect to that alone, or simultaneously, to both that and my MIFI. Doing the load balancing with a decent CG wifi, results in very good performance in those few CG's with decent wifi.

RoyB wrote:
The VERIZON MIFI units are secure somewhat and uses passwords to use it. I worry less using my own setup in lieu of just connecting through any Joe Bob WIFI setup. Roy ken

I do not know if you do this but you can also disable the SSID broadcasting and use MAC address filtering as well with the JetPack. Still not 100% bulletproof but every little bit helps. Yes I know about spoofing and all of that but it is rare to stumble upon a true hacker in a campground setting. YMMV

Johno02 wrote:
Get a simple wireless repeater, with a built in router, from any major electronics store. Down here, Walmart has them.

X2 but you have to have some signal to start with in order to boost it. If you have no signal at all inside the RV and have to sit outside the office, it is likely a booster is not going to work unless you go outside to the office, grab the signal on the booster (which generally needs a power source so this is not going to work) and then lock the signal into the booster.

I have a booster/repeater. It works great when the wifi signal is low at a campsite - but there - and it brings it up to a strong signal.

Buy it where you can return it in case you discover that it does not do what you hoped it would do. Right now Costco has a deal on a package of two from Linksys. Best part of Costco is you can return no matter what. Check the range on the booster you may buy. It has to be rated for the distance you may need it to go. Many are designed to just work inside a house to bring a signal to all floors.

If your wifi card is weak, as many are, it may receive a signal but not be strong enough to send a signal back to the wifi source. In other words it may not be the CG wifi that is the problem. IMO, receive and send are often the laptops problem.

Good connection is different than ammount of bandwidth or even restricted resources.

I too have used a Hawking Tech Repeater with a 15db antenna, 10' above the ladder, with great success.

Another solution is the Nano-M with a Cradlepoint MBR95 router.

Well, let me describe my system...

You said : you want a boosted directional antenna on the TV mast attached to a wireless router indoors... Ok

I mount a Linksys WGA-54G (Wireless game adapter) in one of several places, Including atop the roof (Felt base on mount) or on top of a flag pole if I need more height.

I put a coffee can over it, Follow the URL below and view Episode 3.. I DID NOT CUT THE ANTENNA, I remove the can and the WGA is just like the factory shipped it. No changes

http://www.amateurlogic.tv

This episode opens with two of the hosts enjoying a glass of the grape (Juice not wine).

The WGA=54G is a Wi-Fi Modem... As far as my router (A belkin at the moment I have used others in the past) is concerned it is a cable modem.

Only issue: I have to set a static IP for the router, then access the modem for aiming the antenna and such.. Then go Dynamic on the router to connect.. If you are not comfortable messing with your TCP/IP settings this will not work for you.

I give up on the campground WIFI years ago... We use the VERIZON MIFI HOT SPOT device that will support five of our WIFI enabled devices. We only use this for checking in with the kids and social networks like here, emails, and facebook, paying some bills, and very minimal surfing the net.

In my OFF-ROAD POPUP setup I have a WILSON SLEEK Cradle mounted up behind my valance Curtains that goes around my whole POPUP ceiling area. The WILSON Sleek uses an outside antenna and this really works great around the trailer and patio area.

If we are near the beaches we just grab the VERIZON MIFI unit and stick it inside the shirt pocket and carry our chairs and WIFI enable tablets etc out to the beach. Works like a charm...

If we was to get into downstreaming TV or movies we would need something with larger DATA PLAN like the VERIZON JET PACK or the MILLENICOM NETWORK which also uses the VERIZON NETWORK...

The VERIZON NETWORK is very dependable almost anywhere you end up at. If your VERIZON CELL PHONE works then you will will have a very good WIFI Hot Spot...

It is surprising how good the VERIZON WIFI Hot Spot works in the truck feeding our devices going down the road. Very few drop outs have been encountered. If i was to install another WILSON SLEEK CRADEL in my truck with its outside antenna I would really have a good truck generated WIFI HOT SPOT system as well.

The VERIZON MIFI units are secure somewhat and uses passwords to use it. I worry less using my own setup in lieu of just connecting through any Joe Bob WIFI setup.

When we are sitting around the patio using our devices alot of folks come up asking what network we are on. I always hate to allow any of them to go thru my setup but have done so a few times...

How can you go wrong among friends? right!!!
Roy ken