Newbie Vanner with Wifi questions....

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Kirky03

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Hello Everyone 👋
We are trying out our 1st camper to see if it suits Us & Our (crazy) Dog !
Have found the forum full of great info & tips. However, I am looking for some advice on Internet connectivity whilst away in the Van. I have a mobile contract with shed loads of data, I have set this up as a hotspot & connected the tv/firestick to stream Netflix etc (works well on my drive 😂). I am not expecting this to work so well whilst out & about in different areas, so my question is whether there are boosters available to run off the 12v leisure system that can boost my mobile data inside the van ? I understand I can't boost what isn't there, but if the signal is weak is there a way of improving it..... without having a router with its own Data SIM (which is what everyone seems to want to sell me)
Thanks in advance for any tips or advice.
 
Kirky03 said:
Hello Everyone 👋
We are trying out our 1st camper to see if it suits Us & Our (crazy) Dog !
Have found the forum full of great info & tips. However, I am looking for some advice on Internet connectivity whilst away in the Van. I have a mobile contract with shed loads of data, I have set this up as a hotspot & connected the tv/firestick to stream Netflix etc (works well on my drive 😂). I am not expecting this to work so well whilst out & about in different areas, so my question is whether there are boosters available to run off the 12v leisure system that can boost my mobile data inside the van ? I understand I can't boost what isn't there, but if the signal is weak is there a way of improving it..... without having a router with its own Data SIM (which is what everyone seems to want to sell me)
Thanks in advance for any tips or advice.
Click to expand...
Not really apart from changing in your setting between 5ghz and 2.8ghz
who are you with on your contract, I was with o2...and when I changed to ee Ive had a much better experience.
or you could go the whole hog and go starlink, now that is the Dogs
 
Try before you buy, you may be pleasantly surprised or be prepared to accept the odd few occasions it becomes an issue. Outside of the UK it's a different story. Welcome to the House of Fun
 
:welco:

You need a MiFi or router with external aerial connections, popular ones are Teltonika, Netgeat, TP Link, Huawei.
Then an external aerial like the Poynting A- MIMO -0003-V2-12.

Edit:​

Just noticed you didn't want to go down that route but it is the best option.
 
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Boosting a signal is not so easy, lots of things that can do this are not legal in the UK without a licence because they broadcast and they can interfere with everyone around you.

The MiFi systems which require their own SIM which you're probably being offered are not boosters, they are just external aerials connected to a mobile like device (which houses a SIM) and a router, which you can connect to just like a home router. They might have some amplification circuitry built in, but that's not the same as boosting as it will only amplify the data fed to the router, and not "broadcast" it into the airwaves like a booster.

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We only had no signal a few times on a 6 week trip around France/Spain/Portugal just using our phones.
Currently nearing the end of a 12 month US road trip.

Lots of people with WeBoost

Drive Reach Cell Phone Signal Booster - weBoost

Drive Reach is our most powerful, in-vehicle cell signal booster yet. It can reach the farthest cell towers in remote areas. Learn more here!
www.weboost.com
I did start looking to see if it was UK compatible early on but even here in US we only did not have a signal when really
in the middle of no where and for those few occasions I did not think it was worth the $600.
 
daventess said:
I would really check that it's licensed here in the UK.
Click to expand...
It's just an omni directional antenna connected to very low powered transmitter that boosts signal (only 2-3 feet) for your phone to pick up. Issue is USA us different frequencies so would not work inUK/Europe.
 
Op stated he didn't want to go to the expense of router etc..weboost won't help him here
 
Maybe the rules are changing :

www.ofcom.org.uk

New rules to help you get a better mobile signal indoors

If you struggle to get a good mobile reception indoors you will soon be able to buy a wider range of devices to help improve the signal you can achieve, under new rules announced by Ofcom.
www.ofcom.org.uk www.ofcom.org.uk

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I have the mifi with external aerial set up but some people have said that its worth trying your phone as high up in the motorhome as possible, preferably in a skylight so that it is outside the metal box (faraday cage).
It will be a case of try it and see especially in more remote areas where the network signals aren't as strong
 
Tombola said:
Op stated he didn't want to go to the expense of router etc..weboost won't help him here
Click to expand...
A WeBoost like system is what he is looking for "12v leisure system that can boost my mobile data inside the van".
As I stated WeBoost not UK/Europe compatible, it was an example of none router option, then requiring OP
to look if a similar system is available in UK/Europe.
Unfortunately, it is common for people to want in expensive solutions when the only solutions are expensive.
 
Jez1966 said:
A WeBoost like system is what he is looking for "12v leisure system that can boost my mobile data inside the van".
As I stated WeBoost not UK/Europe compatible, it was an example of none router option, then requiring OP
to look if a similar system is available in UK/Europe.
Unfortunately, it is common for people to want in expensive solutions when the only solutions are expensive.
Click to expand...
I maybe should have posted in on 2 lines

Op stated he didn't want to go to the expense of router etc..


weboost won't help him here
 
Tombola said:
I maybe should have posted in on 2 lines

Op stated he didn't want to go to the expense of router etc..


weboost won't help him here
Click to expand...
Re line 1: WeBoost is not a router, it is a signal booster. Though may still be considered expensive $600.
Unfortunately, it is common for people to want in INexpensive (corrected from expensive) solutions when
the only solutions are expensive.
Re line 2: Post #8 "Issue is USA us different frequencies so would not work inUK/Europe."
But it may be a clue to a similar system that does work in UK/Europe.

www.mobile-signal-boosters.shop

EE Mobile Phone Signal Boosters in UK

Check our EE GSM/4G/LTE mobile signal boosters to resolve your network problems. Get one suitable for you! Use your mobile phone freely. We make Express delivery.
www.mobile-signal-boosters.shop www.mobile-signal-boosters.shop
Edited as I found some UK vehicle signal amplifier options, though I'd wait until 5G compatable.
Maybe not considered budget friendly though.

If it really works, a gudget friendly but only if your phone has 3.5mm jack or you have an adaptor
www.ebay.co.uk

SODIAL Signal Booster 3.5mm 6dbi Jack External Antenna for Mobile Phone - 119797 for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for SODIAL Signal Booster 3.5mm 6dbi Jack External Antenna for Mobile Phone - 119797 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!
www.ebay.co.uk
 
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This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
I run the same system as you using a 7 year old Samsung phone that I bought on Ebay for £40 as out 'router. We have travelled all over Europe and UK for 3 years and rarely had any signal issues. Europe is a lot better than the UK. Very occasionally I have opened the skylight and put the phone on the roof!!

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There are a few signal bands in UK used by different mobile phone companies. There are signal repeaters out there for some of the frequencies. Designed to mount high on a wall outside a house and rebroadcast indoors. They are powered by a step down brick, but a suitable laptop charger will work. Don't seem to be about new, so might need to find a used one on the correct frequency. As alluded to, not technically legal at this moment as broadcasts on the licenced phone frequencies, but will do no harm out in the sticks.
The best solution with mobile data is the option you don't want with external aerial or shell out for starlink. I have a huawei router and three contract for £18 a month unlimited data
 
Be aware that pushing and pulling loads of data through a phone, will eat the battery and get pretty hot. Streaming iptv on firestick uses between 1gb and 3gb per hour
 
To keep it simple, I have a waterproof container from the chippy that I put my phone in, set up as a wifi hotspot, and I put it up on the roof outside one of the roof lights if needs be, or even up in the branches of a handy tree - when dealing with radio signals of any sort, the higher the better. It needs to be positioned so the receiving item is still in the wifi footprint.

I also have a sign saying 'Phone on roof' that goes on the dashboard ....

I'm probably going to have to get another that says 'put phone on roof sign on dashboard' and stick that to the bottom of the TV screen.

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We always put our phone above the roof blind on the nearest skylight to the tv, not actually had to put it outside yet but have spoke about it, The wife always manages to get Emmerdale on wherever we are 🤣 we’re both on Vodafone but I suppose we should have one on a different contract to maximise our chances but never had a problem upto yet, obviously we will now 🙄 but if we didn’t manage to get tv for a couple of days i don’t think it would be the end of the world, wife may beg to differ though 🤣
 
Kirky03 said:
Thanks for all of your replies.
Have had one company get back to me with what I thought I was looking for....
https://www.mobile-signal-boosters.shop/repeater-119/
Anyone have any experience/knowledge/thoughts, all appreciated👍
They are offering 10% discount to me
Click to expand...

I'd ask them to confirm it's UK / EU (or wherever your're going to be using it) legal. That webpage only says it will work in the UK, and that's not the same thing. I think there's a list somewhere on the ofcom/gov website of approved boosters, a link to their entry in there would be useful.
 
daventess said:
I'd ask them to confirm it's UK / EU (or wherever your're going to be using it) legal. That webpage only says it will work in the UK, and that's not the same thing. I think there's a list somewhere on the ofcom/gov website of approved boosters, a link to their entry in there would be useful.
Click to expand...
From FAQ's:

Are mobile phone signal boosters legal in the UK?​

Though some radio equipment is considered to be illegal in the UK, our mobile signal repeaters belong to a group of license-exempt devices that can be installed for personal use.
 
Kirky03 said:
Thanks for all of your replies.
Have had one company get back to me with what I thought I was looking for....
https://www.mobile-signal-boosters.shop/repeater-119/
Anyone have any experience/knowledge/thoughts, all appreciated👍
They are offering 10% discount to me
Click to expand...
Link in #14 is to their full range, and as said, though 4G will be around for a long time I'd want/wait for them to be
5G compatible. European tri-band phones typically cover the 900, 1800 and 1900 bands.
 
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