WiFi extenders

cobia13 · 03-21-2018, 09:29 PM

Anybody use extenders and did they help ? Make & model ?
TIA

lo-tek · 03-21-2018, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobia13

Anybody use extenders and did they help ? Make & model ?
TIA

It's too soon to tell. I just ordered a WifiRanger EliteAC Pack FM and will install it next week. I'm hoping it's awesome and picks up wifi from space.

cobia13 · 03-21-2018, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo-tek

It's too soon to tell. I just ordered a WifiRanger EliteAC Pack FM and will install it next week. I'm hoping it's awesome and picks up wifi from space.

I'm guessing their all 120 volts ?

lo-tek · 03-21-2018, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobia13

I'm guessing their all 120 volts ?

The WifiRanger EliteAC Pack FM can be wired directly into 12vdc or it has a wall wart for 120vac. Since i have an inverter that's on most of the time i will wire to 120vac unless someone convinces me otherwise.

cobia13 · 03-21-2018, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo-tek

The WifiRanger EliteAC Pack FM can be wired directly into 12vdc or it has a wall wart for 120vac. Since i have an inverter that's on most of the time i will wire to 120vac unless someone convinces me otherwise.

I forgot about my inverter !

petefoss · 03-21-2018, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lo-tek

The WifiRanger EliteAC Pack FM can be wired directly into 12vdc or it has a wall wart for 120vac. Since i have an inverter that's on most of the time i will wire to 120vac unless someone convinces me otherwise.

It's probably somewhat more efficient of 12V directly if you boondock a lot.

Mo_Mike · 03-22-2018, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petefoss

It's probably somewhat more efficient of 12V directly if you boondock a lot.

Just wondering, how would you use a WiFi extender while boondocking,,?

petefoss · 03-22-2018, 09:07 AM

I was thinking cell phone not wifi.

willwhig · 03-22-2018, 12:24 PM

I use the wifi extender sold by Technorv. It works very well.

JamieGeek · 03-22-2018, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willwhig

I use the wifi extender sold by Technorv. It works very well.

The Technorv booster only boosts 2GHz signals, and not the newer 5GHz signals but then its half the price of the WiFiRanger one mentioned (which does both 2GHz and 5GHz).

Of course in a campground you will be unlikely to receive a 5GHz wifi signal due to its shorter range. If you can, however, you may get extra speed.

**16ACE27** · 03-22-2018, 01:15 PM

2.4 GHz

JamieGeek · 03-22-2018, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tfryman

2.4 GHz

Rounded to 1 significant digit.

Mo_Mike · 03-22-2018, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Rounded to 1 significant digit.

Does "significant digit" refer to fingers on a hand?

CC38EL · 03-23-2018, 12:43 PM

If all you want is to receive 'more' wifi for your laptop or pc, I would suggest an inexpensive external wifi adapter with a detachable antenna. This doesn't work for most tablets though.

Many years ago I switched my laptop wifi from internal to an external Alfa and added a 9dbi dual band antenna. The larger antenna provides more wifi reception than an internal antenna. From inside the rv, we were getting better connectivity and more bandwidth. We also stayed connected longer.....something that didn't happen with the internal antenna on our laptop.

External wifi adapters allow you to move your antenna inside the rv to improve connectivity and no holes in your fiberglass.

If you're 'techy', there are also ways to turn your laptop into an access point for your stuff inside the rv, like your tv or tablet. But now we get into security issues and I'm not an expert there. I always worry about getting hacked.

The other thing I would mention is that not everything that runs on an inverter 'likes' being on an inverter. Unless your inverter is pure sine wave, you may find that your connected devices get warmer and have a few hiccups. If you have the option of directly connecting to 12v with 12v equipment, I would recommend that.

Just my experience for what I needed. YMMV.

JJMON · 01-15-2019, 01:54 AM

I like other have experienced poor WiFi signal at RV parks. Just having purchased our rig last month, I was already researching WiFi extenders. The WiFi ranger is quite the spendy solution and may be worth the dollars. I found WiFi on steroids product at camping world for $50 vs $69.95 from the WiFi on steroids web site. I have it hooked up at home now for testing. Seems to work OK. I have it connected to one of my three access points. We’ll see how this performs at the campgrounds.

Also on my radar is a cell signal booster. WeBoost Drive 4gx rv. Another $500 solution like WiFi ranger.

rynosback · 01-15-2019, 04:44 AM

Most decent networks are WPA and not open. The signal at a CG is only a small part of the equation. Most CGs do not have the bandwidth to support it’s campers. I use a WiFi Ranger Go A/C to connect all of my devices and will connect to my hot spot, as it is a secure network or to an Xfinity hot spot. I tried to go the CG WiFi for a little over a year. 1 out of 20 CG will have good WiFi. There are even some that will throttle you.
If you want good reliable WiFi, I would look into a unlimited data plan.
Best of luck.

Oldchief · 01-15-2019, 10:23 AM

I bought this wi-fi repeater from Amazon about a month ago. Use it at home to access wi-fi available from a nearby marina, for which I happen to have the password. Works great and I have no reason to believe it wouldn't work in an RV environment. It is 120 VAC, but I suspect it would work well off an inverter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

rynosback · 01-15-2019, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldchief

I bought this wi-fi repeater from Amazon about a month ago. Use it at home to access wi-fi available from a nearby marina, for which I happen to have the password. Works great and I have no reason to believe it wouldn't work in an RV environment. It is 120 VAC, but I suspect it would work well off an inverter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

First, you know the PW. Second I would think when you use it they are closed or even if they were still open you might have one maybe two people using it vs 10-60 people using it. Your bandwidth is good because there are not many people on the network.
Just a thought.

JJMON · 01-15-2019, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willwhig

I use the wifi extender sold by Technorv. It works very well.

Is this what you have?
https://www.technorv.com/wifi-camp-pro-kit-2/

Thanks
JJ

gmc · 01-16-2019, 02:50 AM

My experience with the extenders is that they do exactly what they say - let you connect to available networks from a greater distance and/or with more signal strength. I have used one at times - allowed me to connect to a more distant antenna in some campgrounds when the nearest had issues... But honestly its been in the storage closet since I got my Mobley.
The issue is what the extenders can't do - they can't fix the bandwidth problem (or other issues) on the CG wifi network itself... Even with paid wifi and strong connections, I've had issues with speed, bandwidth.
I need the wifi to work (when not on vacation) so needed a more reliable solution than trusting a CG network with any extender.

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