Motorhome WiFi environment recommendation(s)

You can do it for under $100 with good equipment.

Watch THIS video.

You can get all of the parts on Amazon.
Nano
Window holder for Nano
Air Gateway

2cAmerica wrote:
Just discovered this informative forum. Is it possible to setup a WiFi environment in our motorhome to enable usage for printing and internet connectivity for us as Fill Time RVing?

Thank you in advance for sharing thought and Happy Holidays to each.

2Camerica,
Now in Tucson, Az. :h

Thank-you all for the timely and informative feedback. I was re-miss in not define try objective environment. We have a HP 6520 wifi printer; a Lenovo laptop however not Bluetooth capable; 2 iPads. All used our "stick's" wifi via modem and Linksys router, which enable to send print communication from anywhere the property. We could also send documents to the printer anywhere in the world via HP's @hpeprint.com, when necessary. This is the desired WiFi environment I want to have. From the awesome posts you have greatly assisted me achieving my objective. Safe and healthy travels. :C

We have used the Verizon MIFI for internet connectivity and as a router to connect to wireless printers and computers.

We later added a cradlepoint router with the MIFI added as only a wireless modem not a router and it't provides the same functionality but is much faster. It also isn't limited to 5 devices which the MFI is when used as a modem and router.

I use Verizons MiFi which provides internet data connection and WiFi in the rig. Laptops and printer are all connected via WiFi. Laptops have internet access like now as I type. Even outside the rig for a short distance - password protected.

I believe the OP principally asked about setting up a wifi environment INSIDE his MH. There's been lots of good information provided in response to his question, but much of it dealt with things well outside his original question.

A very simple answer to the OP is that "yes" it is relatively easy to set up a wifi network environment inside your MH for purposes of printing or other routine network activities. Any standard Linksys, Netgear, or similar router can do that.

As for providing internet connectivity, you obviously have to link that router and its network with an internet source. Your options for that are primarily either cellular or RV park wifi. If you go the cellular route you can use a smartphone as a wifi hotspot or a standalone hotspot such as a Verizon jetpack. If you take either of these approaches you can, if may wish to dispense with a router since both hotspots will act as a router for the devices connected to their wifi networks. You can print just fine if the printer and your computer are both connected to your phone's hotspot.

However, if you wish to connect to a park's wifi you will find that the standard home routers I mentioned above won't work because they have no way to connect to a wifi and then re-distribute it to devices on their network. To do that you need a router with what is known as "WiFi as WAN" capability. That's what wa8yxm was describing when he was explaining what his Wireless Game Adapter can do. There are several manufacturers of such routers and a number of them were mentioned in the posts above.

Because I work for one of those companies I don't want to make any statements that could be construed as commercial. If you have specific questions you are free to PM me.

Joel

Is it possible: YES
Has anyone done it: MANY, Myself included
How:
Many ways, mine is perhaps the hardest But lets look at how you get Internet

Cellular hotspot: Ok there you are, many cell hot spots are all you need, but if yours will not let devices cross-connect (not sure if mine does) use a Cradlepoint router and you have solved it.

Sat-Internet (Hughesnet) Just plug a router into the modem, Your choice, Beling, Hawking, Netgear, Linksys/Cisco, D-link, all work well.

How I do it:

I have a Linksys Wireless Game Adapter... And (currently) a Belkin router (I RECOMMEND AGAINST BELKIN ROUTERS)

Treat the WGA as a cable modem.. Only special thing Is to set it up I have to program the IP on the router manually (I have macros set up to do this automatically with just a few mouse clicks) then return to automatic once I have the WGA working, Do it all with my browser.

Alternative: Wi-Fi Ranger or like deivces incorporate both a Wi-Fi "Modem" (like my WGA) and a router in an integrated package, may or may not be two cable connected devices. May or may not Re-Route depending on the model (I think the Wi-Fi Ranger is 2 pieces, Cat 5 connected and re-routes, which is exactly what you want).

Belkin routers connect, flash the Connected light, then "Phone home" (Ping belkin) and if they do not get a response show disconnected.

MOST routers show connected when they receive an IP address This is much easier to deal with.

In my case the WGA is mounted with a device over the antenna to improve range, Works well, I can put it outside the motor home (Another increase) on the roof, in back, up a flagpole (20 feet) whatever I need to do to get a clear and strong signal. A very flexible system Currently it is in the back bathroom on top of some stuff (No need for special effort)

But in one park I often had folks connecting to the park router via my WGA/Router set up, What makes this fun is they were much closer to the park router than I (about 1/3 closer).

Yes, we use a small Cradle Point router. We plug our Verizon air card into it.
Make sure you set it up with a secure network.

Yes it is easy to set up. Try a place like Best Buy and ask the tecs there, and they can demonstrate how to set up a wi-fi router.

Also not all Wi-Fi antenna's are the same. I found that by using a external Wi-Fi antenna, my computer can pick up and transmit to a Wi-Fi public station about 800 feet from my RV! Putting the antenna in a zip lock baggy for a while, and ty wrap it to the refrigerator vent, so it is above all the other RV's it increased it's range a LOT!

I have a 6 year old "Hawkins" directional antenna that plugs into a USB port. It can pick up say 20 local Wi-Fi while my internal antenna can only get 4-8 with some with a weak signal.

Good luck!

Fred.

Yes you can. I have a Hawking technology unit. HawkingTech.com

Also using your smart phone or tablet as a hot spot.

I use both.