Do I need a WiFi or cell phone booster?

[TheLuvShack]

I have a Verizon MiFi Hotspot that I use when camping. Sometimes I need to boost the signal. Do I need a WiFi booster or a cell phone booster. What would you recommend?

[67Cutlass]

Get yourself a good router/modem like Pepwave MAX BR1 Classic Router with WiFi and North America 3G/4G/LTE Modem

This router features an embedded modem and you will need a SIM card with active service from a compatible provider to use it.

• Internet Connections Supported: 1 Embedded 3G/4G, 1 Wired WAN, WiFi as WAN* (more info)
• 
  Networks Supported for Embedded Modem: 4G LTE (B2/1900, B4/AWS, B5/850, B13/700, B17/700, B25/1900); WCDMA/HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA+/DC-HSPA+ (B1/2100, B2/1900, B4/AWS, B5/850, B8/900); EV-DO Rev.A (BC0/800, BC1/1900, BC10/800) - this includes AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Telcel, and many more 3G, HSPA+, and LTE providers in Canada and South America
• 
  WiFi Standard: 2.4GHz 802.11 B, G, & N
• 
  WiFi Range: 250-300' through walls, much greater unobstructed (variable depending on interference from other electronics and physical interference such as walls and ceilings)
• 
  Ethernet ports: 2 LAN + 1 WAN (WAN port can be configured as a third LAN if desired)
• 
  Power Supply: AC Adapter included
• 
  Size: 5.8" x 5.0" x 1.6":
  

WiFi over Lan allows you to connect to the campground WiFi while having the security of your own router. Often times a campground will only let you have two or three connections to their WiFi. With WiFi over Lan the campground WiFi will only see one connection. Also using your own router everything behind your router will not be seen on the campgrounds WiFi. This includes all phones, tablets, printers/scanners. This offers a much better security than directly connecting to the campground WiFi.

Now to improve reception of campground WiFi (instead of using a WiFi Amplifier) get yourself and 'Access Point' antenna like Ubiquiti NanoStation locoM2 2.4GHz Indoor/Outdoor airMax 8dBi CPE. This antenna operates at a full 1 mw of power and is directional. With 1 mw of power you can be anywhere up to 1 mile away from the campground WiFi antenna. The antenna is directional and the receiver gain is much larger than just having an outside antenna. Your connection will still behind the router with the same security as the WiFi over Lan.



I've been using this setup with a Cell amp for the last 3 years and very rarely do I not get my Verizon data or not can not connect to a campground WiFi.

[trailertraveler]

There are two common types of cell boosters. An amplifier in the antennae line will generally improve signal capture and probably connection speed. The boosters that have an outside and inside antennae or a cradle where the cell phone/mifi is placed are repeaters. The cell device will get a stronger signal, but every repeater results in some speed loss so that the connection speed may not be as fast as the cell device alone. The real benefit from the repeater devices is seen when the cell device has very weak or no signal.

[MrWizard]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
a cellular booster will increase signal, and data flow of your MIFi

True, but most MiFi (hotspots) have no external antenna connection, so how do you "boost" the signal ?

neither does your cellphone anymore

it works because the cell booster has either an antenna for inside the RV
or a place to set the phone or hotspot on

depends on which model you have the money to purchase

[ThomBoles]

When I was researching going full time in the RV working full time it was recommended that a cellular booster was a must (and I have found this to be true). I did research wifi boosters but most parks have such poor wifi that’s it isn’t really worth the investment for me because I can’t work on the slow speeds they would offer.

[theoldwizard1]

MrWizard wrote:
a cellular booster will increase signal, and data flow of your MIFi

True, but most MiFi (hotspots) have no external antenna connection, so how do you "boost" the signal ?

[TheLuvShack]

Got it!
Thanks everybody.

[MrWizard]

a cellular booster will increase signal, and data flow of your MIFi

a wifi booster will do nothing for your hotspot signal

a wifi booster is for increasing campground wifi signal

they are different things on different RF bands

[jcpainter]

TheLuvShack wrote:
I have a Verizon MiFi Hotspot that I use when camping. Sometimes I need to boost the signal. Do I need a WiFi booster or a cell phone booster. What would you recommend?

Which model of Verizon hotspot do you have?

[Second_Chance]

rr2254545 wrote:
No we have traveled to about 300 parks all over the country since 2009 and 99% of the time I have had Verizon data (MIFI) and phone - You have to get pretty remote to not have service -Like Big Bend National Park - but even there I had service on a hill 2 miles from our campsite last month. I am currently in Van Horn Texas (remote) and I have 4 Bars of 4G on MIFI and phone

X2^^. We have one of the external antennas that plugs into the 4G MiFi. It often makes the difference between data and no data or adds a bar to the signal strength. We only have to pull it out when we're in very remote places, though.

As for Wi-Fi boosters, in my opinion they are not worth the money. They are used to boost park Wi-Fi and you usually end up boosting signal strength on a network that's so over-used or under-resourced that it doesn't have the bandwidth to support what you want to do. In other words, you're amplifying junk.

Rob

[rr2254545]

No we have traveled to about 300 parks all over the country since 2009 and 99% of the time I have had Verizon data (MIFI) and phone - You have to get pretty remote to not have service -Like Big Bend National Park - but even there I had service on a hill 2 miles from our campsite last month. I am currently in Van Horn Texas (remote) and I have 4 Bars of 4G on MIFI and phone

[donn0128]

Since the mifi is cell based you need a cell phone booater.