Wi fi device

Caravan Happy · Member

Wi fi device

outlaw40 · Guru

Yep just hotspot , saves carrying and charging another device.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have had for a few years now a Netgear M2 Wifi device from Telstra on a plan to suit my usage. I also use a external antenna with a patch lead. I have had that for many years now and think I need a new 4G one as finding the signal strength not as good. Something I will be sorting soon. I also connect my phone to it and use WiFi calling when reception is poor.

Caravan Happy · Member

Hi Dougwe

what sort of antennae and patch lead do you have. I am also looking at the netgear M2

Dougwe · Chief one feather

This is the newer one but Telstra shop told me about two hours ago they don't sell them and to go to JayCar.

Better service there anyway.

From what I have found out today they are around $100. I will check JayCar another day. Can't do too much in one day biggrin

Caravan Happy · Member

Thanks Dougwe

We are hoping to take off in March and see some of this great country. You advice has been most helpful.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Pleasure. Enjoy the playground. PM if you want any info. Pleased to help if I can.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Mike Harding · Guru

Using the phone as a hot-spot works well for me and has the financial advantage of only needing one phone/data plan.

The 4G modems can be useful if you are often in marginal coverage areas as they, generally, may be fitted with an external and more efficient antenna than that built into phones.

Caravan Happy · Member

Thanks for the input. Most travel will be in marginal areas ie inland. Will look into antennas for a Netgear M2 wifi device

DMaxer · Guru

Welcome Caravan Happy. I had a Netgear like Doug's model which was very good. A few years back when I upgraded my iphone with Telstra I also upgraded to a Nighthawk. It has been really reliable and manages to pick up signals in most places.

I have not had the need to use an aerial. Just as well. I don't have one.

-- Edited by DMaxer on Wednesday 6th of January 2021 09:41:10 AM

Snippy · Senior Member

This replay might be too late:

We tried many ways to get reliable signal in the outback, including the Netgear device.

Ended up buying CelFi signal booster $1200.

This is the only one that works out west.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Caravan Happy wrote:
Thanks for the input. Most travel will be in marginal areas ie inland. Will look into antennas for a Netgear M2 wifi device

Putting the devise in a sandwich bag and getting it up a few metres will often improve reception significantly.

Cheers,

Peter

PeterD · Guru

To sum things up, the whole thing about getting an internet connection using the mobile system is to get a reliable mobile telephone signal into your modem. This means putting your antenna in a place where a reasonable signal is available. Most of the time you don't have a problem with the antenna that is but into your phone or mobile modem. When you are not near a cell transmitter (mobile phone base station) you need to take steps to get your antenna into a signal area.

When you are in a caravan the aluminium walls can attenuate (reduce) the available signal. Sometimes moving out of the van and standing nearby will get a signal.

At other times you need to get your antenna up in the air. Peter (of Peter & Margaret) does this by putting his modem (complete with its antenna) on the end of a pole way up in the sky. This can be problematic for some as you need to get access to it to switch it off and on or for recharging. You need a modem that can connect via Wi-Fi (some of the older ones connected via USB.)

If you have a modem that has an external port (like the Nighthawk) you can use an external antenna and connect its lead to the external antenna port. These antennas can be permanently installed on your van or can be demountable and erected on the end of a long pole when required.

If you can not connect an external antenna. In that case, you can use a repeater like the Cel-Fi GO Mobile Booster Kits. These provide you with an external antenna to receive the signal and rebroadcast that signal in your van so simple devices can contact with the outside world. Their antennas are commonly mounted on top of your van and will not be as high as those that can be mounted on a pole.

In summary, on monetary terms, sometimes you can step outside your van and find a signal nearby. You can spend a few dollars and buy a pole to elevate the modem. You can spend a few hundred dollars and buy an antenna to install or erect externally. Or alternately you can spend over $1,000 and install a repeater.

mischief · Veteran Member

hi in remote i use a telstra 4gx with a boost sim up a 2 section 7mtr flagpole.. good for 8hrs on internal battery data only but can use voip when needed for phone works for me.

Weven · Veteran Member

Caravan Happy I have one I do not use any more.
4G Bigpond unlocked to any Network...

Also it has two antenna ports...

-- Edited by Weven on Sunday 24th of January 2021 12:45:22 PM

oldbloke · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
This is the newer one but Telstra shop told me about two hours ago they don't sell them and to go to JayCar.
Better service there anyway.
From what I have found out today they are around $100. I will check JayCar another day. Can't do too much in one day

Just how good are these?

Are they locked to a network when you buy them?

Easy to set up?

Currently just hot spotting from the mobile so reception us patchy.

PeterD · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
Are they locked to a network when you buy them?

Anything you purchase from a shop attached to one of the major networks is likely to be locked to that network. You have to look around for the unattached shops like JB-HiFi and ask if the product is unlocked or not. You can't favourable packages through the networks but the device will have to be fully paid upfront through the independents. It's a case of horses for courses.

valiant81 · Guru

Hi all; I used to have Telstra, for my internet ,but changed over to another carrier and now use my phone as a hotspot and also as a MP3 player in the car. Never had a problem and has been floorless in performance. Works for me !!

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

valiant81 wrote:
Hi all; I used to have Telstra, for my internet ,but changed over to another carrier and now use my phone as a hotspot and also as a MP3 player in the car. Never had a problem and has been floorless in performance. Works for me !!

Where did you travel? Was it on highway one (or whatever it's called nowadays) and the Stewart Highway or some outback tracks?

oldbloke · Guru

Just in country Vic there are plenty of black spots using Telstra. Who knows in central NSW or QLD.

oldbloke · Guru

PeterD wrote:
oldbloke wrote:
Are they locked to a network when you buy them?
Anything you purchase from a shop attached to one of the major networks is likely to be locked to that network. You have to look around for the unattached shops like JB-HiFi and ask if the product is unlocked or not. You can't favourable packages through the networks but the device will have to be fully paid upfront through the independents. It's a case of horses for courses.

Yes, aware of that. I was actually asking specifically about the ones jcar sell.

villatranquilla · Guru

for internet we use an unlocked dongle that takes an external ariel if needed. Generally use Aldi credit for data but also have a Telstra sim if the signal for Aldi is poor - yes I know Aldi use the Telstra network but at busy times the Telstra service has priority over all the other service providers using the Telstra network.
The same ariel can also be plugged into our phone for increased signal strength

StewG · Senior Member

We use an Optus USB 4G mobile broadband WiFi modem. Plugged into a computer or any USB power and it acts as a modem/router for our phones and laptop computers. If we can't get a signal, we can relax electronic-free...

PeterX · Senior Member

google the words mobile phone antenna signal strength gives some interesting links

Interesting link
www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/phones/mobile-phones/articles/high-gain-antenna-reviews

Mike Harding · Guru

villatranquilla wrote:
The same ariel can also be plugged into our phone for increased signal strength

What make/model phone do you have?

*Very* few phones have an input for an external antenna these days.

villatranquilla · Guru

Mike Harding its an old Nokia - not a smart phone - have had it about 5 yrs and suits me fine as I only need it for calls and texts - everything else is done on the laptop . No doubt will have to upgrade but won't do it till I have to.

-- Edited by villatranquilla on Friday 5th of February 2021 09:24:26 PM