wifi antenna

[hellbird503]

I am looking for recommendations on a wifi antenna. Had good wifi at this park until I got a new neighbor, who is blocking the signal. I can still get wifi but the signal is not as good. Was hoping that putting an antenna on the roof will help. Thanks for any info, Dave

[Grub32]

Rbertalotto wrote:
I agree with Bill Satellite above. I have both the ALFA system from TechnoRV.com and this system http://www.irv2.com/forums/f53/personal-high-powered-rv-wi-fi-for-under-100-tutorial-229340.html

. Both work great but the Ubiqity system is easier to use once you have it set up.
If there is a McDonalds, Starbucks, Panera Bread or hundreds of other high quality wifi spots near the campground, use them instead of the crappy campground wifi.

I also have the ubiquity system and it has outperformed my expectations. I have created my own antenna to raise it up above all the obstructions in all campsites. Amazingly helpful when I was completing my last graduate courses down on the outer banks. 250 feet from the closest hot spot, no problem. I also highly recommend this, I would do it again in a heart beat.

Best of luck,

Grub

[AllegroD]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
This is what you need. I love mine!
Cheap WiFi amplifier.
I rarely say "this is what you need" but this is the exception. It's cheap, it works and it's cheap and easy to setup.

This works great!

[TheGatherer]

The 'class A wifi blocker' that's what happened to me... (I love Class A's by the way) I could see the park wifi antenna and couldn't get a signal.. so I bought the JEFA Tech and a 15db antenna and mounted the antenna on the tv 'crank-up mast'.. that worked great then bought a new TT and had to make a different mounting place.. This TT has one of the 'omni directional tv antenna' and no mast.. I really am not liking the omni directional tv antenna it doesn't work as well as my 'crank-up' system.. but the wifi antenna works good in this location..I'm using an ASUS TR-AC66U router configured as a repeater now and it's doing great.. at least on my driveway... first trip will tell...

[TheGatherer]

The 'class A wifi blocker' that's what happened to me... (I love Class A's by the way) I could see the park wifi antenna and couldn't get a signal.. so I bought the JEFA Tech and a 15db antenna and mounted the antenna on the tv 'crank-up mast'.. that worked great then bought a new TT and had to make a different mounting place.. This TT has one of the 'omni directional tv antenna' and no mast.. I really am not liking the omni directional tv antenna it doesn't work as well as my 'crank-up' system.. but the wifi antenna works good in this location..I'm using an ASUS TR-AC66U router configured as a repeater now and it's doing great.. at least on my driveway... first trip will tell...

[photobug]

I'm using the alfa networks wifi receiver and transmitter with a trendnet 24" outdoor antenna mounted to the tv antenna (retracts with the antenna but gets the greatest height when parked) I had the same problem a couple of years ago when parked in an rv park, great reception until someone with a big 40 footer parks right next to you and blocks your signal. put the antenna 15' in the air and you don't have that problem anymore. signal comes in from the elevated antenna, through your repeater and re transmits inside your coach. tried a usb wifi, but usb cable length maximums is too short to run that far.

[TheGatherer]

Here's how I put my wifi antennna...

Antenna up using a Shakespeare 'boat' mount



Antenna down for moving, I added the 'rest' to keep it from 'flopping'



and how it looks with a side view of TT



This antenna (the coax run 'what a bear' in the ceiling) is connected to my JEFA Tech repeater and went from 2 wifi signals to 10 wifi signals with the antenna... works real good.. See my Post about ASUS RT-AC66U as a repeater in this forum, I'll be posting the results of the antenna on that router set as a repeater... All kinds of ways to get wifi and it's not that much money to 'get the good stuff'..

[hellbird503]

I decided to try a usb wifi adapter. The camper next to me left and I have a direct shot to the rv park wifi. The Netgear A6210 adapter has helped, I can tell by the number of networks I can see now that I couldn't before installing it. But, the bottom line is, this RV park wifi is just poor, and, I am sure that most are. You cannot improve that. Putting a antenna on the roof, which I was considering, would not improve that, except, maybe in the case of being totally blocked by another camper. If I want a better connection I just have to use my phone as a hotspot. But I try to conserve my data by using their connection. Thank you everyone for your replies, Dave

[Bill_Satellite]

I know that my ALFA setup works much better and is cheaper and easier to use than any WiFi Ranger setup I attempted. Maybe their current setups are easier and better.

Balance of post deleted to avoid an arguement.

[wa8yxm]

There are many "Antennas" but in truth I do not recommend an antenna, I recommend an active electronic device... I use what I call a "Wi-Fi Modem" specifically a Linksys WGA-54G Wireless Game Adapter.. No longer made but read on.

This device acts like a common Cable Modem, but instead of looking to a Cable for the Internet, it looks to the park's wi-fi (Which then goes to cable here)

However it's old and cranky.. but then so am I so we get along.

I also have a nice little thing about 1/3 the size of a pack of coffin nails (Ciggearatres) called a TP link Mine is the model TL-MR3040 and I suspect it too is no more but other models are still out there.

This device can do all the following

If connected to a Cable Modem.. it is a Wireless Router
If connected to a wireless router, It is a "Modem" like my WGA-54G
And it is a repeater (And it is in that mode as I type feeding two other devices on the table, this one is hooked up via the WGA)

So it can replace the WGA and allow a device without Wi-Fi to connect Wireless
It can Replace a wireless router
OH, and there is a USB port on it, I have not attempted but as I recall if I stick a Cellular USB dongle in it.. It's lets me use it across my net.

all in all it's an amazing box of electronics


Now, what I recommend for RV use.. There are several devices, one is the Wi-Fi Ranger

This is a 2 part (or 3) system
1: Ye-old power supply (Wall wart or brick)
2: Router: this goes INSIDE your RV. it allows you to connect multiple devices including a wireless printer and to share files and printers across your LOCAL area net (LAN) same as I do here same as I did at home. Same as most families do.
3: Outdoor module This is once again a "Wireless Adapter" like my WGA but newer and faster and more reliable, Power for the outdoor module is carried from the indoor unit on a CAT-5 Cable (Standard "internet" modular cable)

There are a few competitors now to Wi-Fi Ranger and I can not, yet, recommend one over the other, but this is the class of product I recommend.

Wi-Fi Ranger corporate site

TP link corporate site

Oh, my TP link, got it on Closeout for 13 bucks,, of course that was last year so it's all gone now, but they have others, more expensive (Should have gotten 2 of 'em to be honest).

[Rbertalotto]

I agree with Bill Satellite above. I have both the ALFA system from TechnoRV.com and this system http://www.irv2.com/forums/f53/personal-high-powered-rv-wi-fi-for-under-100-tutorial-229340.html

. Both work great but the Ubiqity system is easier to use once you have it set up.
If there is a McDonalds, Starbucks, Panera Bread or hundreds of other high quality wifi spots near the campground, use them instead of the crappy campground wifi.

[voyaginator]

hellbird503 wrote:
I am looking for recommendations on a wifi antenna. Had good wifi at this park until I got a new neighbor, who is blocking the signal.

Had a similar problem. WiFi signal is essentially line-of-sight signal. To fix the problem, you need to get an antenna aiming directly at the WiFi hotspot.
One simple and inexpensive solution is to built an antenna with a tin can (like a coffee can) and mount it on a telescopic painter's pole.
Instead of tinkering with a can, I got the TP-Link grid antenna with a 24dBi gain attached to a fiberglass painter's pole from HomeDepot.

[Bill_Satellite]

This is what you need. I love mine!
Cheap WiFi amplifier.
I rarely say "this is what you need" but this is the exception. It's cheap, it works and it's cheap and easy to setup.

[RoyB]

I gave up on local campground WIFI signals several years ago.

I simply just don't depend of WIFI signals from all of the various sources. I carry my VERIZON MIFI unit with me everywhere we go. This works where ever VERIZON Cell phones work and will provide a great working WIFI signal for up to five of my devices..

My 3GB monthly data plan is private and secure and more than enough to provide us with checking in with the kids, paying a few on-line bills, and do some limited surfing of the internet... This small of of DATA however will not support any down-streaming of TV signals or videos... Most of those will use around 1GB per hour when using them...

We use our BATWING antenna to pickup the NATL BROADCAST Digital HDTV signals from the local towns for our HDTV fill each night...

Never have to worry about competing with the locals at camp grounds that have weak and loaded down WIFI signals trying to provide WIFI to their customers...

ALot of the users can use their modern cell phones to do the same thing and most often have access to a larger Data Plane. Our older cell phones are not setup for this procedures.

Most of the time I can use my Verizon MIFI unit going down the road with my computer using the internet... When mobile I have my Verizon MIFI sitting in a WILSON SLEEK Cradle that uses an outside antenna.. I have a similar setup in my OFF=ROAD POPUP trailer up behind the wrap around Valance Curtain sitting in a WILSON Cradle with an outside antenna. This gives us excellent HOT SPOT service all over the campground using our tablets.

Roy Ken

[Chuck_thehammer]

my question is.. your WIFI box has a connector for an antenna...

years ago.. I have and outside antenna.. and a computer card for wifi that had a jack for same.