Which WiFi system to install

OttovanKamper

OttovanKamper

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County Durham, UK
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I hope to fit a WiFi or it is MiFi system in the van.
So advice please, do I go for a complete system from Falcon or Avtex or a mix of components such as roof antenna and router?
Also which system if a complete one is best for reception (I know a lot of this would also depend on SIM card providers). As there seems to be a great variation in price from various models of same maker.
Last bit, biggest data use would most likely be TV streaming (I think)
Thanks
 
Do what I did and contact the experts
Motorhome Wifi
After discussion we worked out what I needed, and which provider etc, and then they arranged for it to be fitted.
A pair of mobile technicians arrived in a van from Birmingham (van was in Kent) and fitted and tested the entire system in about 1 hour!
(They were doing 4 more that day in the same area)
 
I have the Avtex system. Combined with an EE sim it provides great Wi-Fi in most places we visit, which tend to be rural and off grid.

Our use is largely tv streaming, Netflix and prime

What would I do next time?
Buy a Poynting antenna and a router and ‘home brew’ it.
Spend as much as you can on the antenna.

Piece of cake to fit.

Tony
 
I bought this MIFI from eBay, listed as ‘grade C with heavy marks’ but it is perfect condition, not a mark on it. I’m very pleased with the whole setup
IMG_0173.png

And I already had this antenna

Solwise - MIMO-3-12 POYNTING 2 IN 1 HIGH PERFORMANCE MULTI FREQUENCY ANTENNA - A-MIMO-0003-V2-12 | Solwise Ltd

www.solwise.co.uk www.solwise.co.uk

I’ve also had a holder made by PaulandChrissy
1728647108434.png
 
Apart from the holder we've got the same as Manic. (y)

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“A complete system” from one of those companies is just a mix of antenna and router, so why not choose your own mix.
I started off with a second hand Cat 4 Teltonika RUT950 bought off eBay for £85. It had x2 LTE x2 WiFi connections so I looked for the best aerial to match and after a lot of research about performance I chose a Panorama (5G Great White), though the Poynting was also on my list.
I’ve since upgraded to a Teltonika RUTX11 router that is Cat 6. I chose that because it also has x2 LTE x2 WiFi. I won’t be changing now as 4G Cat 6 is more than adequate for streaming TV, using laptops, pads etc.
The antenna has proved brilliant, getting a clear signal in areas where our phones were completely useless.
There’s loads of threads on here about the subject and companies like Avtex ect simply put something together and charge you a premium for doing so.
We also use EE.
 
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Hettie's Crew said:
“A complete system” from one of those companies is just a mix of antenna and router, so why not choose your own mix.
I started off with a second hand Cat 4 Teltonika RUT950 bought off eBay for £85. It had x2 LTE x2 WiFi connections so I looked for the best aerial to match and after a lot of research about performance I chose a Panorama (5G Great White), though the Poynting was also on my list.
I’ve since upgraded to a Teltonika RUTX11 router that is Cat 6. I chose that because it also has x2 LTE x2 WiFi. I won’t be changing now as 4G Cat 6 is more than adequate for streaming TV, using laptops, pads etc.
The antenna has proved brilliant, getting a clear signal in areas where our phones were completely useless.
There’s loads of threads on here about the subject and companies like Avtex ect simply put something together and charge you a premium for doing so.
We also use EE.
Click to expand...
I have just used your antenna choice and done a search. It has a lot of choices for connections and cables so not sure exactly what I should choose.
I agree it would be a better option than getting a system from Avtex. Just need to sort out the configuration now.
 
OttovanKamper said:
I have just used your antenna choice and done a search. It has a lot of choices for connections and cables so not sure exactly what I should choose.
I agree it would be a better option than getting a system from Avtex. Just need to sort out the configuration now.
Click to expand...
If you look closely at the Avtex system it comprises of a x2 LTE lead Panorama, cheaper end antenna, together with what is clearly a Teltonika router, probably something like the RUT955 Cat4 or similar.
It’s the Avtex system that I based my system on, I just upgraded the antenna and router choice.
Have a look at Poynting and Panorama for antennas, you just need to decide on what router you want and match the number and type of leads accordingly.
If I was starting again I’d choose the RUTX50 (5G) and either a Poynting or Panorama antenna that had the x4 LTE x2 WiFi leads.
Though as I said previously Cat6/4g is more than enough for motorhome use, so I won’t be changing now.
 
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I have the system from Motorhome WiFi with an EE sim and it just works flawlessly all over Europe, with 50gb in eu per month!
Never let me down👍👍👌🏼
 
Jabstatt said:
I have the Avtex system. Combined with an EE sim it provides great Wi-Fi in most places we visit, which tend to be rural and off grid.
Click to expand...

+1 for Avtex (AMR985)

Have used it from Italy to Norway and all places in between. Has worked really well with no problems. You can interrogate it through the IP address to find the best network available when abroad.

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Brains said:
Do what I did and contact the experts
Motorhome Wifi
After discussion we worked out what I needed, and which provider etc, and then they arranged for it to be fitted.
A pair of mobile technicians arrived in a van from Birmingham (van was in Kent) and fitted and tested the entire system in about 1 hour!
(They were doing 4 more that day in the same area)
Click to expand...
I had the Motorhome WiFi fitted by the dealer when we bought the MH in 2021. I was looking at downsizing and found a suitable replacement.

When the dealer went round my van with his damp meter he found high damp readings under the antenna, the gasket which is fitted to the bottom of the antenna is not very good at sealing.
I have talked to a caravan motorhome fitter and he told me he has come across the same problem before.
 
This can be a minefield as there are a number of variables, but the hard part is figuring out what you need to buy, the install is going to be pretty much the same with any system.

The bottom line is that it's balancing budget with requirement and matching antennas to routers.

There's no point spending the extra money on a 4 x 4 antenna if your router is only 2 x 2 MIMO etc.

I've had a few systems over the years and have also come to the conclusion that the 'budget' options tend not to be worthwhile.

In my last van I had a Netgear Nighthawk M1 (which can be had second hand for about £150) and a Poynting xpol antenna.

It worked pretty well and I could reliably expect to be able to stream Netflix etc in most places.

I upgraded to a Teltonika router and a Poynting puck antenna for the new van.

Why? Well, a few reasons.

My xpol antenna was never designed for vehicle use and while it did OK it wasn't the right tool for the job.

The M1 is a popular choice for van use, but reading various reports they can be a bit hit and miss in terms of being permanently powered. Mine wouldn't run off 12v power without the battery in (some do, some don't) and would sometimes flake out with the battery in. That's luck of the draw as some units seem to work flawlessly. The Teltonika, however, is designed for exactly this sort of use and is fitted to a lot of the vehicles that do the Paris - Dakar so my needs seem tame by comparison.

When looking for an LTE router (Long Term Evolution - or SIM card based in normal language) then you need to balance cost with the Category (CAT) of the router.

The higher the Cat, the better the performance.

Realistically Cat 6 is what I would consider a minimum for a 'modern' set up but the higher the Cat, the higher the maximum speed.

Whether it's worth paying the (not inconsiderable) premium for 5G very much depends on whether you're in (or will travel frequently in) a 5G area.

That might change over the next few years, the way things do with technology.

Pick a budget, shop around, and when you think you've got a better idea of what you want then let us know and we'll happily help nudge you towards the right options!
 
So fit it yourself!
Put some Sikkaflex on the antenna before you bed it.

Be master of your own destiny.

Tony
 
flfair said:
When the dealer went round my van with his damp meter he found high damp readings under the antenna, the gasket which is fitted to the bottom of the antenna is not very good at sealing.
Click to expand...
Why would anyone think the seal would be enough?
When I fitted my Panorama antenna I thought “that rubber seal will deteriorate over time” so I filled the hole with sealant and used the double sided 3M.

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A S R said:
He knows what he’s on about! (y)
You ok Fil?
Click to expand...
:D

All good thanks...

...now I'm going to have to play a guessing game to figure out who you are 'over there' :LOL:

I'm going to guess that I did the config on yours?
 
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Have you got the confidence to select, fit, configure and maintain your own system? If you have then great, choose from the alternatives mentioned and you will save money compared to a professionally installed system. There will be lots of people on here who will gladly help with advice as you go.

If you don't have that or don't want to learn the ins & outs then you are best off getting a complete system installed. This costs more to purchase but should come with ongoing support if you have problems.
 
This video is worth a watch and they use some of the equipment mentioned above

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I’m afraid I’m more than a bit cynical when it comes to using professionals for jobs on the Motorhome.
I prefer to research, learn, listen to opinions then make my own decisions and do the work myself, where I am still able, which is no longer everything I’m afraid.
For example, with adhesives and sealers available today, there is absolutely no reason why an antenna fitted properly should allow water to penetrate the structure.
Use the best components, take your time. Make sure everything is clean, dry and free of contaminants and do it yourself and do it once,

Tony
 
Remember to turn your MIFI off at home. I forgot, several days later while sitting in the front room I realised I was connected to the van router and not the house one, so wasted the data I would soon need when out in the van. I had been out in the car, so I suppose it picked up on the van signal as I walked past it on the drive and stayed on it.
 
I just purchased Motorhome WiFi kit and installed it myself very easy to do and every thing you need is in the kit. Had it now for three or four years works flawlessly any where in EU and UK.😊
 
Personally, if it's a metal box van then get one. If it's a plastic tub like mine I feel it's a waste of money. I have an EE SIM and have a phone for 2 Sims. I use my phone. Found the signal is as good as in the mifi, in fact in Germany I had to take it out of the mifi and put it into my phone to work. Apparently the settings on the mifi required and alteration. But needed to be on line to do it, but was unable to get on line.
 
68c said:
Remember to turn your MIFI off at home. I forgot, several days later while sitting in the front room I realised I was connected to the van router and not the house one, so wasted the data I would soon need when out in the van. I had been out in the car, so I suppose it picked up on the van signal as I walked past it on the drive and stayed on it.
Click to expand...
I have unlimited data on my van system and it's parked outside my home office - so it acts as a failover when my home connection goes down!

I didn't plan it that way - it was a happy accident but it's helped me out a few times now.

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None. Just turn the hotspot on your phone on. It's virtually the same but a lot less hassle and expense.
 
vzac said:
Personally, if it's a metal box van then get one. If it's a plastic tub like mine I feel it's a waste of money. I have an EE SIM and have a phone for 2 Sims. I use my phone. Found the signal is as good as in the mifi, in fact in Germany I had to take it out of the mifi and put it into my phone to work. Apparently the settings on the mifi required and alteration. But needed to be on line to do it, but was unable to get on line.
Click to expand...
I don’t think we have ever noticed any discernible difference whether our TP Link MiFi is inside or outside our metal box. We’ve used it in France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain without any issues. Able to stream when needed for the majority of the time. Can’t see the benefit of drilling hole through the roof and buying all this gear, in our experience.
 
VXman said:
None. Just turn the hotspot on your phone on. It's virtually the same but a lot less hassle and expense.
Click to expand...
Truthfully, the level of sophistication in mobile phones is surprisingly good and for a lot of people what you suggest is more than adequate.

That's probably more true for the fibreglass motorhomes than the foil lined metal PVCs which quickly turn into pretty effective faraday cages.

It also depends on what you're connecting to the hotspot.

If it's just one or two devices then you're going to be fine, but if you have multiple devices trying to connect to a single point then the MiFi / LTE routers will let you do that in a way that a phone won't.

However, I completely agree. A lot of people spend a lot of money on systems they don't need just because they think they need them or that they'll somehow be better than just turning on the hotspot on their phone.

Bit like the old HiFi days when people would spend a fortune on oxygen free cable and the like!
 
VXman said:
None. Just turn the hotspot on your phone on. It's virtually the same but a lot less hassle and expense.
Click to expand...
Until the better half is watching Corrie and hubby says sod this I'm off to the pub with the hotspot!:Eeek:

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