Wifi Antenna

[ShiftZZ]

This is my problem,,

I have a repeatit in the van, which was used on the last trip, but as there were few FON of wifi access proved not to be that good.
The second issue is when I go to my parents, the wifi signal there is poor and other wifi (FON) points are just too far for the internal wifi antenna is just not doing it,.

My thoughts is to go for one of these?

Any thoughts or any other suggestions?

 

[freelanderuk]

i have one of these and find they are very good , i can pick up signals from a fair distance with it , i also use it with an alfa r36 wifi router and it provides a wifi signal in the van or were ever i use it. make sure you buy from a reputal company as there are a fair few fakes on the market

http://www.crucialwifi.co.uk/

http://www.crucialwifi.co.uk/Access_Points,Wireless_Routers,_Range_extenders/cat740999_1675175.aspx

 

[SandJ]

I have had one for a short time so far so good

Bought off eBay item no 300609011551

EP-6528 RTL8187L High Powerful USB Wireless WIFI Adapter Card with 10DBI Antenna

Not had it long but so far so good only £7.81 if you decide to get one let us know:thumb:

 

[icantremember]

I have one of the Alfa systems with both size aerials but prefer to use either my "Rocket" which is for external use , or my Motorhome WiFi iBoost.

The Rocket is very powerful and is omnidirectional but only connects to one device via usb.

The iBoost is also external and more expensive but being directional takes a little more setting up. I prefer this though as it gives you your own wifi secure hotspot and can connect up to 5 devices.

On our recent French trip I could pick up and use wifi signals that were not even visible to my laptop.

Brian

 

[bobandjanie]

We have the iBoost Pro D8 from : http://www.motorhomewifi.com/home/

Yes they are expensive, but you get what you pay for, and if you want to run more than one laptop/ iphone money well spent. :thumb: Bob.

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[Addie]

If you have one of the original Repeatit antennas (like Link Removed) then this is an excellent antenna.

A directional antenna will always outperform and omni-directional antenna because if you think about it, as a receiver you're only interested in the signal from one location. An omni-directional antenna is both receiving everything in 360 degrees (and thus, in some locations, can be overwhelmed by the amount of RF noise) and likewise when its broadcasting back to the hotspot it's doing so in directions other then that of the hotspot. However if you are willing to compromise on a bit of range then it will of course be easier to setup.

I'd recommend using something like inSSIDer to help you to fine tune it. This updates in real time (unlike windows) and allows you to move the antenna and instantly see what improvement was made to the signal by doing so: http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/

The iBoost is also external and more expensive but being directional takes a little more setting up. I prefer this though as it gives you your own wifi secure hotspot and can connect up to 5 devices.

You can connect upto 99 devices to our iBoost :thumb:

Adam
http://www.motorhomewifi.com

 

[icantremember]

You can connect upto 99 devices to our iBoost :thumb:

Adam
http://www.motorhomewifi.com

My apologies, even better :thumb:..... that's why I have my user nameoh:

It is an excellent piece of kit, on one particular site I could share my hotspot with a close friend in another unit when they were unable to see the site wifi.

Brian

 

[Snowbird]

I have something similar that I have always had taped onto the top of a brush stale fastened to the mirror arm. Am in the process this weekend of fixing it permanently to the roof of the van. Just waiting for the roof gland to arrive now. It does work very well on the likes of Tesco carparks and at the fringes of wifi signals.

 

[haganap]

Ok, in February I am going to a campsite that has wifi. It has wifi at it's reception area. So presumably if I want to sit in my van and pick up the wifi from somewhere else in the van for 2 laptops my phone, ipad etc.... What will I need?

And how far will these booster things pick up a signal from, just the simple answer, 20 meter, 100 a mile? what is their spec.

thanks.

 

[freelanderuk]

at the saltfleet gala i used my alfa r36 and ariel and pick a signal up from a unsecured network that was nearly a 1/2 mile away , i know it was this distance because i now the house in the village

the ariel i use is this

Link Removed

and the alfa 36

Link Removed

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[Gromett]

I second the iBoost. Fantastic bit of kit...

 

[atlantisbird]

I have something similar that I have always had taped onto the top of a brush stale fastened to the mirror arm. Am in the process this weekend of fixing it permanently to the roof of the van. Just waiting for the roof gland to arrive now. It does work very well on the likes of Tesco carparks and at the fringes of wifi signals.

Would it be possible to stick an ariel in the top of one of the funster flags so that when we go to a rally so we can all benefit from, say Jim's wifi.

Seriously though has anyone thought of putting an ariel on the top of a flag pole to increase the signal strength.
Just a thought as we have many people who may have the knowledge to do this?

Atlantisbird
Harry

 

[bobandjanie]

Ok, in February I am going to a campsite that has wifi. It has wifi at it's reception area. So presumably if I want to sit in my van and pick up the wifi from somewhere else in the van for 2 laptops my phone, ipad etc.... What will I need?

And how far will these booster things pick up a signal from, just the simple answer, 20 meter, 100 a mile? what is their spec.

thanks.

Hi Paul, we go to Rutland Water a lot, and pick up wifi from a guest house the other side of the water no problem ever with our silver screens on ! :thumb:

You will not be disappointed with the iBoost, and if like us on sites in Spainand you pay for wifi, you log in using it, and have your own hot spot, and use all your iphones laptops no problem.:thumb:
You could even sell wifi to friends. Bob.

 

[bailey]

Hi Paul, we go to Rutland Water a lot, and pick up wifi from a guest house the other side of the water no problem ever with our silver screens on ! :thumb:

You will not be disappointed with the iBoost, and if like us on sites in Spainand you pay for wifi, you log in using it, and have your own hot spot, and use all your iphones laptops no problem.:thumb:
You could even sell wifi to friends. Bob.

I intend to buy the i boost please bare with me how can you attach to a wifi point in your case a guest house if it's password protected

Bill

 

[Addie]

I intend to buy the i boost please bare with me how can you attach to a wifi point in your case a guest house if it's password protected

Bill

The iBoost will only increase the range from which you can receive a signal. If that signal is password protected then the iBoost isn't going to break into it for you (or we wouldn't be allowed to sell it!).

If you had the password then you would connect to the iBoost as normal via WiFi. The system is controlled via a web interface so you open your web browser and see the connections which the antenna can see. If you connect to one which requires a password, simply add it in the box marked password before you connect.

Adam
http://www.motorhomewifi.com

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[bailey]

The iBoost will only increase the range from which you can receive a signal. If that signal is password protected then the iBoost isn't going to break into it for you (or we wouldn't be allowed to sell it!).

If you had the password then you would connect to the iBoost as normal via WiFi. The system is controlled via a web interface so you open your web browser and see the connections which the antenna can see. If you connect to one which requires a password, simply add it in the box marked password before you connect.

Adam
http://www.motorhomewifi.com

Thanks for that what the bit I could not understand was that the chap could use the Guest House wifi I would assume that the house would have it password protected,so to recap when on a caravan club site you have to pay for the wifi conn the only benefit is that you can use more than one device

 

[The Dudess]

We've got one of these and it's been great - even when we go on sites where they say you can only get wifi at the bar (or wherever) we can still get a good signal in the van. Great piece of kit.

 

[bailey]

We've got one of these and it's been great - even when we go on sites where they say you can only get wifi at the bar (or wherever) we can still get a good signal in the van. Great piece of kit.

Dude please explain to me you can pick up wifi spots only if they are not password protected

Bill

 

[Addie]

Thanks for that what the bit I could not understand was that the chap could use the Guest House wifi I would assume that the house would have it password protected,so to recap when on a caravan club site you have to pay for the wifi conn the only benefit is that you can use more than one device

Sometimes people leave it unsecured, not knowing how far the signal can be received from in ideal conditions But yes, in the instances where there is a charge for the WiFi the iBoost will usually allow multiple devices to be used.

 

[sedge]

Well - sadly the CC do charge for wifi and it's a rip-off, if it does cost em what they charge for it, then they are probably being ripped off.

A LOT of campsites actually supply free (or rather, within your site fees) wifi in the bar or around reception and it will be password protected, so you go to said area and find out how to connect - and they'll give you the password.

Then you meander back to your van and employ your aerial which ought to find the flipping signal and connect in the normal manner. Alternatively if there is other civilisation in the area the aerial covers, some of their internet connections might be NOT password protected.

eg take the CC site at Minehead - houses on both sides of the entrance and opposite, whereas the camping part of the site goes up a hill behind the town - so you might perchance get an unprotected signal from somewhere else in the town.

Before we had a wifi router, our grandkids used to connect phones or lappies to an unprotected one in a 'Logistics' place on an industrial estate quite a way away. Which is mad as some phone networks can't find a telephone signal without going up our garden .....

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[Snowbird]

What I have found with the external wifi antenna is that when you do have a poor signal, plugging the antenna in will amplify whatever signal you do have. For instance when there is wifi at reception on a campsite or Mcds or Tesco, you can sit in the comfort of your van and not have to wander around with your laptop with the masses.