Wi-fi on the Road
We are new to RV'ing and as such like to have certain things while we travel like internet. Yes, I know, whats the point in camping than but the fact remains we are RV'ing, NOT camping. Camping you don't take a house with you.....
Anyhow, one thing I have noticed while rv'ing is that most places offer wireless internet but it may not be strong enough to work well in your part of the campground.
Alas! I have a solution. It requires a little techie work but seems to work great. Bear in mind, I DO NOT like to drill holes in my $20k RV. As such, I do stuff that does not require any holes to be drilled.
Here's what you need(this has worked for me):
1. Ubiquiti Nanostation Loco M2 Qty:1
2. Ubiquiti Pico2HP 802.11b/g Qty:1
3. Powerline Ethernet Adapter qty:2
4. Linksys(Cisco) 5 port network switch qty:1
5. Fiberglass mast sections. How many you needs depends on high high you have to go.
6. Misc lengths of ethernet cables
7. Tie wraps.
Here's the theory:
1. Setup a directional wi-fi bridge(Nanostation Loco) pointed at the campground wi-fi access point on a couple of the fiberglass mast sections. This lets you get some height if necessary to "see" the campground access point.
2. Run the bridge into a device that uses the RV A/C power system(Powerline ethernet)to transmit ethernet
3. Setup a smaller wi-fi hotspot on your own private SSID inside the RV - Share with other campers if desired
Why? This will allow you to capture weak wi-fi signals and relay them to your local devices.
I have used this to attach to free wi-fi hotspots quite a distance away. It works because wi-fi is basically line of site(if you can see if you can talk to it if your signal is strong enough and your receiving antenna is sensitive enough - The Nanostation is a great directional radio) The nice thing is that because of using the powerline ethernet adapters to get the ethernet from the outside bridge to the inside access point(via the switch) you do not have to drill holes for the ethernet cable.
Here is what you do:
1. The Nanostation Loco is a vectorized wireless radio meaning it is directional and has a lot of gain in the direction it is pointed. Setup the Nanostation in station/soho-router mode giving it the appropriate campground ssid and password.
a. Attach the Nanostation to the fiberglass pole
b. Connect the appropriate length ethernet cable(This will depend on how high you need to go - Don't worry about how long the ethernet cable is - Ethernet is good for 300ft)
c. Using the mast sections, put the Nanostation as high up as necessary to find/acquire a good signal from the campground wi-fi
2. Plug one of the powerline ethernet adapters into an outside RV AC outlet
3. Connect the Nanostation Loco to the powerline ethernet adapter
4. On the inside of the RV, select a spot where you want to hide the inside components and have access to AC. (I use the cubby behind where my TV is).
5. Plug in the network switch.
6. Plug in the second powerline ethernet adapter.
7. Connect the Pico2 to the network switch
8. Configure the Pico as follows:
a. Select your own SSID
b. Configure a password to access your hotspot
c. Setup in access point/bridge mode
d. Select a freq at one end of the choices or the other(so you don't interfere with the freq the Nanostation is using to capture the wi-fi)
e. Turn output power down depending on the hotspot coverage you want.
f. Select a network address that is on the same inside network as the nanostation loco
9. Complete
This works like a charm. The nice thing is that if you have devices inside your RV that do not have wireless and you want them to connect to the internet, you just need to buy additional powerline ethernet devices and plug into any of the RV's AC plugs. Voila! Instant ethernet.
The other thing is that if you want enhanced wi-fi coverage outside(because your RV is aluminum/metal instead of fiberglass) you can either:
a. Get a second Pico2 and setup outside with a powerline ethernet adapter(using a different network address - same SSID)
OR
b. Move the inside Pico2 to the outside using another powerline ethernet adapter(you want to keep the inside powerline ethernet adapter plugged in and connected to the switch since this connects the nanostation to the network)
Heres some other quick notes:
1. Once you have everything setup the only thing you will need to change is the wireless side of the nanostation to accommodate the different campground SSID's and passwords.
2. All configuration of the Ubiquiti stuff is done using a web browser
3. The switch will also help you with initial configuration.
4. Do initial configuration on a table before hooking everything up on the RV - This will make life much easier while you learn how everything works
5. The Ubiquiti stuff if REALLY good technology.
6. The Ubiquiti stuff is outdoor rated so don't worry about rain, snow etc as long as you have the network cover on.
7. In a recent place we stayed, wi-fi was only available at the "lodge" across the lake from out campsite. I used this exact setup to get wi-fi from across the lake(3/4 mile away). Even shared it with the people who were in a pop-up next to us. No one could figure out how we were getting internet. :)
8. Only use the power setting on the nanostation necessary to make the connection. The radio power on these devices is adjustable.
9. Grand total for the basic solution is less than $400. Less if you have something to mount the nanostation on, you have the network switch or your rv is wired for network.
Moderator's Note: Converted URLs to clickable links.
Anyhow, one thing I have noticed while rv'ing is that most places offer wireless internet but it may not be strong enough to work well in your part of the campground.
Alas! I have a solution. It requires a little techie work but seems to work great. Bear in mind, I DO NOT like to drill holes in my $20k RV. As such, I do stuff that does not require any holes to be drilled.
Here's what you need(this has worked for me):
1. Ubiquiti Nanostation Loco M2 Qty:1
2. Ubiquiti Pico2HP 802.11b/g Qty:1
3. Powerline Ethernet Adapter qty:2
4. Linksys(Cisco) 5 port network switch qty:1
5. Fiberglass mast sections. How many you needs depends on high high you have to go.
6. Misc lengths of ethernet cables
7. Tie wraps.
Here's the theory:
1. Setup a directional wi-fi bridge(Nanostation Loco) pointed at the campground wi-fi access point on a couple of the fiberglass mast sections. This lets you get some height if necessary to "see" the campground access point.
2. Run the bridge into a device that uses the RV A/C power system(Powerline ethernet)to transmit ethernet
3. Setup a smaller wi-fi hotspot on your own private SSID inside the RV - Share with other campers if desired
Why? This will allow you to capture weak wi-fi signals and relay them to your local devices.
I have used this to attach to free wi-fi hotspots quite a distance away. It works because wi-fi is basically line of site(if you can see if you can talk to it if your signal is strong enough and your receiving antenna is sensitive enough - The Nanostation is a great directional radio) The nice thing is that because of using the powerline ethernet adapters to get the ethernet from the outside bridge to the inside access point(via the switch) you do not have to drill holes for the ethernet cable.
Here is what you do:
1. The Nanostation Loco is a vectorized wireless radio meaning it is directional and has a lot of gain in the direction it is pointed. Setup the Nanostation in station/soho-router mode giving it the appropriate campground ssid and password.
a. Attach the Nanostation to the fiberglass pole
b. Connect the appropriate length ethernet cable(This will depend on how high you need to go - Don't worry about how long the ethernet cable is - Ethernet is good for 300ft)
c. Using the mast sections, put the Nanostation as high up as necessary to find/acquire a good signal from the campground wi-fi
2. Plug one of the powerline ethernet adapters into an outside RV AC outlet
3. Connect the Nanostation Loco to the powerline ethernet adapter
4. On the inside of the RV, select a spot where you want to hide the inside components and have access to AC. (I use the cubby behind where my TV is).
5. Plug in the network switch.
6. Plug in the second powerline ethernet adapter.
7. Connect the Pico2 to the network switch
8. Configure the Pico as follows:
a. Select your own SSID
b. Configure a password to access your hotspot
c. Setup in access point/bridge mode
d. Select a freq at one end of the choices or the other(so you don't interfere with the freq the Nanostation is using to capture the wi-fi)
e. Turn output power down depending on the hotspot coverage you want.
f. Select a network address that is on the same inside network as the nanostation loco
9. Complete
This works like a charm. The nice thing is that if you have devices inside your RV that do not have wireless and you want them to connect to the internet, you just need to buy additional powerline ethernet devices and plug into any of the RV's AC plugs. Voila! Instant ethernet.
The other thing is that if you want enhanced wi-fi coverage outside(because your RV is aluminum/metal instead of fiberglass) you can either:
a. Get a second Pico2 and setup outside with a powerline ethernet adapter(using a different network address - same SSID)
OR
b. Move the inside Pico2 to the outside using another powerline ethernet adapter(you want to keep the inside powerline ethernet adapter plugged in and connected to the switch since this connects the nanostation to the network)
Heres some other quick notes:
1. Once you have everything setup the only thing you will need to change is the wireless side of the nanostation to accommodate the different campground SSID's and passwords.
2. All configuration of the Ubiquiti stuff is done using a web browser
3. The switch will also help you with initial configuration.
4. Do initial configuration on a table before hooking everything up on the RV - This will make life much easier while you learn how everything works
5. The Ubiquiti stuff if REALLY good technology.
6. The Ubiquiti stuff is outdoor rated so don't worry about rain, snow etc as long as you have the network cover on.
7. In a recent place we stayed, wi-fi was only available at the "lodge" across the lake from out campsite. I used this exact setup to get wi-fi from across the lake(3/4 mile away). Even shared it with the people who were in a pop-up next to us. No one could figure out how we were getting internet. :)
8. Only use the power setting on the nanostation necessary to make the connection. The radio power on these devices is adjustable.
9. Grand total for the basic solution is less than $400. Less if you have something to mount the nanostation on, you have the network switch or your rv is wired for network.
Moderator's Note: Converted URLs to clickable links.
