SINCE WE WILL BE HAVING OUR RV BUILT, I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY PRE-PLANNED THINGS WE SHOULD REQUEST OF THE MANUFACTURER BASED ON INSTALLATION OF WIFI EQUIPTMENT - SUCH AS EASY ACCESS TO HOOK UP AN EXTERIOR ANTENNA - IF SO, WOULD THE BEST PLACE BE IN THE REAR NEAR THE LADDER?
WE WILL BE IN RV PARKS MOST OF THE TIME AS BOONDOCKING IS NOT OUR "THANG." SO EASY AND RELIABLE WIFI FROM OUR RV WILL BE OUR NEED - WE BOTH HAVE BLOGS THAT WE POST TO EVERYDAY AND WE SURF THE INTERNET AND OF COURSE EMAIL. NO BIG NEEDS OTHER THAN RELIABLE ACCESS TO HI SPEED INTERNET - WHENEVER WE WANT IT.
MY KNOWLEDGE OF WiFi STOPS AFTER I TYPE THE WORD.
THANKS
Bill Adams said
01:39 PM Sep 6, 2011
When you say wifi are you expecting your only internet connection to be a free or paid wifi connection from some other source? Will you also be wanting to connect to your own paid cellular internet connection?
RVPAINTER said
03:07 PM Sep 6, 2011
OK-DUH- you lost me. I guess I would say as a beginning route we'd rather not pay a monthly fee for wifi. That said, right now we pay for hi-speed internet from Qwest which we find to be so-so - not very fast but fairly reliable. Short of having to go to Starbucks or over to the RV Rec Hall to use whatever they may have, we'd like to stay at home (RV) to use our computers If a paid subscription is required for this, then I guess we'll have to look at that - which leads me back to my question regarding "things" that might be nice to have the MFG put in/out during the building process . As I say, I can spell WiFi - after that DUH!!!
I'm a painter and have very little technical knowledge outside of my world.
We'll never be out in the boonies so as I say easy to access - reliable and exceptable speed - we each have a laptop and we don't have all those fancy things that people spend all day on and end up with thumbs and fingers that stop working. I don't even have a cell phone - and never will. I'm sure I have not answered your questions, as you lost me after the first few words and I really do not know what my questions are. :>)
GENECOP said
03:43 PM Sep 6, 2011
RVP, I am muddling through this info as well and need to make some of the same decisions...the two things that we are considering for WIFI
WIFI Ranger, I think this will simply boost or find WIFI signals that are in the area, (THE RV PARK Etc.....) that should cover you in most places that offer WIFI in the surrounding area. I would speak to Mat at the 3G Store, purchase the WIFI Ranger, have it shipped to Nexus, and have them install it. The next plan we have does require a Cell Phone, no wiring required, Verizon offers a feature that will turn our Droid into a WiFI Hotspot, it's pretty cheap, it adds about $12.00 a month and is offered monthly, we activate it as needed. To summarize, if you are in a park that offers WIFI if the signal is strong you will have your free WIFI, (speed will vary), if the signal is weak, the WFR will help....If WiFI is not available, as long as your Cell phone has service you will have the Internet using your Cell Phone as a Hot Spot....if you are not doing a lot of remote camping, this setup should cover you most of the time. There are other ways to go, MIFI and many others, I do think the Cell Phone is key, the coverage for cell phone service expands every day, and Internet options are expanding . G
Bill and Linda said
03:59 PM Sep 6, 2011
RVPAINTER wrote:
SINCE WE WILL BE HAVING OUR RV BUILT, I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY PRE-PLANNED THINGS WE SHOULD REQUEST OF THE MANUFACTURER BASED ON INSTALLATION OF WIFI EQUIPTMENT - SUCH AS EASY ACCESS TO HOOK UP AN EXTERIOR ANTENNA - IF SO, WOULD THE BEST PLACE BE IN THE REAR NEAR THE LADDER?
WE WILL BE IN RV PARKS MOST OF THE TIME AS BOONDOCKING IS NOT OUR "THANG." SO EASY AND RELIABLE WIFI FROM OUR RV WILL BE OUR NEED - WE BOTH HAVE BLOGS THAT WE POST TO EVERYDAY AND WE SURF THE INTERNET AND OF COURSE EMAIL. NO BIG NEEDS OTHER THAN RELIABLE ACCESS TO HI SPEED INTERNET - WHENEVER WE WANT IT.
MY KNOWLEDGE OF WiFi STOPS AFTER I TYPE THE WORD.
THANKS
I’ll keep this to a simple suggestion which will allow you a lot of flexibility for the future and not require you to make a lot of decisions today.
From wherever you want to place you WiFi equipment, along with printers, etc. in the RV, have at least one 2 inch piece of Innerduct, which is just a flexible conduit, to the roof area and terminated into a waterproof connection box.Beside this roof connection box have them put a rail upon which antennas, such as for Wifi or cell phones, can be mounted.The size of the pipe on the rear ladder is fine.I would place this toward the rear of the rig if it is a 5’er to minimize the cable lengths to the equipment.This will allow installations and changes in the future.You could have another 2 inch run to the front of the rig for other reasons beyond the scope of this note.But the bottom line is to have some way from a cabinet inside the rig to the roof in the most direct path possible and then have a way to mount antennas up there. Once you have this you can make changes later and don't have to know everthing "today" while the rig is being built.
This is very simplistic, but the biggest hassle is always mounting the antennas and then getting the cable to them.Been there, done that.
There a dozen good ways to have internet, cell phone, air-card implementation; but all good implementations require, for best performance, an outside antenna even if you are not in the boonies.
(Remember to have an AC outlet – and maybe a 12 volt outlet – put in that cabinet into which you will place the inside equipment.)
Safe travels
Bill
RVPAINTER said
04:24 PM Sep 6, 2011
Thanks guys. The RV will be a 29 ft Class C built by Nexus. I have spoken to Matt at 3g and he will be spec-ing/designing the system and the equip but had a question as to what preps the MFG could do, as he does not own an RV and was not sure of this. I've read about the WiFi Ranger and perhaps this will be in the mix of equip. I shall also speak to Nexus and get their take on what Bill suggests. Good advice guys - again thanks.
bjoyce said
04:49 PM Sep 6, 2011
Let me muddle things up a bit. WiFi is just a way to get the internet signal to your laptop or other WiFi enabled device, it just replaces Ethernet cable and a wired router. I suspect you used Ethernet or WiFi to use Qwest high speed internet. Guess what, that "high speed" you got from Qwest is very likely the same thing the RV park is using and then letting everyone in the park share via WiFi. If it felt slow when you were using it and not sharing it with 10s or hundreds of other users, just imagine what you encounter in an RV park. WiFi is not magic, unless getting AM, FM and Shortwave radio is magic. WiFi is very precise and fast radio but instead of voice it sends data.
Bill Adams said
05:26 PM Sep 6, 2011
I was going to offer the same warning as Bill J. If you thought Quest was slow, you are going to find WiFi and Cellular to be a seriously painful experience. The nice part is that you should be getting away from the rat race somewhat by hitting the road so you should have a lot more time on your hand. Quest type service can run 2-20 times faster than any mobile internet connection so be prepared to allow your life to slow down just a bit. I would recommend that you have the WiFi Ranger installed as well at the WFRBoost external antenna. We have gotten by without issue for the last 10 years or so without an external cellular antenna but if you are having the coach equipped, you might also want to have this option available should you travel into areas where the cellular connection is difficult. Areas with no reception will still have no reception but weak signals can be improved.
RVPAINTER said
05:31 PM Sep 6, 2011
OK------what does one do to speed it up????? How does speeding it up enter into my initial question of "Is there something the MFG should do to faciltate WIFI?" For folks who know WiFi I'm sure this is ABC's - however I do not know WiFi so I need things explained in very simple language - I suffer from CRS. Your muddle does not seem to address my question. I hesitated asking this question as there seems to be a lot of WiFi geeks here who need to explain things in Non-Geek talk. GENECOP & BILL I understood - sorry but you bjoyce and Bill Adams ----- not so much.
An understandable reply might start out - Well here is what I use and the approx. equip cost and cost for service. Oh well - I shall continue looking for suggestion.
RVPAINTER said
05:51 PM Sep 6, 2011
Thanks Bill Adams - now that is some advice I can understand and I appreciate the feedback.
GENECOP said
06:26 PM Sep 6, 2011
RVP, you will find the more technically savvy guys are more difficult to understand. I know very little, but explain it well, LOL......
Jack Mayer said
06:50 PM Sep 6, 2011
You might want to look at the communications section of my website. You can skip over the more esoteric technical aspects. But it should give you a good overview of the possibilities.
If you are intending to use cellular data I would put an external antenna on the list of things that will be very helpful.
For JUST wifi having an external radio unit like the WiFiRanger Boost Mobile will help things a lot. It makes a big difference in a marginal wifi signal area. Like most RV parks.
As Bill said, if you are frustrated with Quest and are buying the 3mbps or more package you will commit hari kari in an RV with ANY park wifi. Most park wifi is crippled to say the least (and I'm being kind here, since I design and install park wifi systems).
RVPAINTER said
07:11 PM Sep 6, 2011
You are sooooo right GENECOP. I will check out your site Jack - thanks.
Terry and Jo said
07:49 PM Sep 6, 2011
Richard,
Allow me to muddle things some more. Someone mentioned MiFi which is a product from Verizon, thus it works off of Verizon's cell phone antenna system. Jo and I have that and while ours is a 4G capable, out on the road, there are fewer places that have 4G. However, the MiFi will work at 3G if 4G is not available.
The advantage with MiFi is that it is a system where up to five products can use its network. For instance, both you and Melissa have laptops and if you had a wireless printer, all three could be using the MiFi at the same time. Plus, as long as you are in a Verizon coverage area, they will work even driving down the road. Want to look up Google maps while going through a city? It can be done.
If I remember correctly, Wifi is limited in its range, so if you are away from places with Wifi, you would be without service. As for its range, the others can better help you with that one. And, as someone else mentioned, if a bunch of campers are on the campground wifi at the same time, the speed will suffer.
The big drawback with MiFi from Verizon is that it is not free. So, that is what you will need to research as to what would work for you.
Terry
bjoyce said
10:11 PM Sep 6, 2011
I really am trying to be clear. Speed is relative. When there is an accident on the freeway everybody goes 2mph. The same way during the morning and afternoon commute, the roads run slow because there is heavy traffic. The Ferrari is going 2mph right next to the 63' Chevy truck. You can boost the signal of a WiFi source, like a campground, but if it is heavily used you can't do anything to make your internet run faster since the "road" can't handle the traffic. Maybe at 2AM if there are no other night owls, but at 6PM when everyone is checking email and surfing the web it can be really slow.
Follow Bill Adams advice and get the WFRBoost, so you can boost a weak WiFi signal from far away, but realize your internet speeds could still be slow. But you will have WiFi in your RV in many cases, others will not since they won't have the boost. Try using campground WiFi and see if it works for you. Also pay attention if you are being restricted on what campgrounds you stay at, since many do not have WiFi.
Terry: A WiFiRanger, just like a Cradlepoint router, will accept an aircard/datacard/USB modem (pick a name) and give you WiFi for more than 5 devices, to a larger distance from the router (MiFi's are designed for about 30 feet, normal WiFi goes 100 to 300 feet depending on what is in the way). Plus these routers has more configuration settings and such, which does make them more complicated but also gives you more flexibility. I am using a Cradlepoint router with a Verizon USB modem right now with four computers hooked up. I know people who have had to get a router like a WiFiRanger or Cradlepoint because they use more than 5 devices. Think his and her's notebooks, his and her's iPads, a wireless printer and a couple Kindles. It adds up fast for some people. Of course Verizon acts like such routers don't exist.
RVPAINTER said
07:23 AM Sep 7, 2011
Much more understandable bjoyce - however - do you have any suggestions on the original question I asked regarding anything that can be done in the building stage of our RV that will make the installation of WiFi assist equipment easier?? Several good suggestions have been made which I will talk to Nexus about - anything to add to this?
SINCE WE WILL BE HAVING OUR RV BUILT, I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY PRE-PLANNED THINGS WE SHOULD REQUEST OF THE MANUFACTURER BASED ON INSTALLATION OF WIFI EQUIPTMENT - SUCH AS EASY ACCESS TO HOOK UP AN EXTERIOR ANTENNA - IF SO, WOULD THE BEST PLACE BE IN THE REAR NEAR THE LADDER?
WE WILL BE IN RV PARKS MOST OF THE TIME AS BOONDOCKING IS NOT OUR "THANG." SO EASY AND RELIABLE WIFI FROM OUR RV WILL BE OUR NEED - WE BOTH HAVE BLOGS THAT WE POST TO EVERYDAY AND WE SURF THE INTERNET AND OF COURSE EMAIL. NO BIG NEEDS OTHER THAN RELIABLE ACCESS TO HI SPEED INTERNET - WHENEVER WE WANT IT.
MY KNOWLEDGE OF WiFi STOPS AFTER I TYPE THE WORD.
THANKS
Short of having to go to Starbucks or over to the RV Rec Hall to use whatever they may have, we'd like to stay at home (RV) to use our computers If a paid subscription is required for this, then I guess we'll have to look at that - which leads me back to my question regarding "things" that might be nice to have the MFG put in/out during the building process
.
As I say, I can spell WiFi - after that DUH!!!
I'm a painter and have very little technical knowledge outside of my world.
We'll never be out in the boonies so as I say easy to access - reliable and exceptable speed - we each have a laptop and we don't have all those fancy things that people spend all day on and end up with thumbs and fingers that stop working. I don't even have a cell phone - and never will. I'm sure I have not answered your questions, as you lost me after the first few words and I really do not know what my questions are. :>)
WIFI Ranger, I think this will simply boost or find WIFI signals that are in the area, (THE RV PARK Etc.....) that should cover you in most places that offer WIFI in the surrounding area. I would speak to Mat at the 3G Store, purchase the WIFI Ranger, have it shipped to Nexus, and have them install it. The next plan we have does require a Cell Phone, no wiring required, Verizon offers a feature that will turn our Droid into a WiFI Hotspot, it's pretty cheap, it adds about $12.00 a month and is offered monthly, we activate it as needed. To summarize, if you are in a park that offers WIFI if the signal is strong you will have your free WIFI, (speed will vary), if the signal is weak, the WFR will help....If WiFI is not available, as long as your Cell phone has service you will have the Internet using your Cell Phone as a Hot Spot....if you are not doing a lot of remote camping, this setup should cover you most of the time. There are other ways to go, MIFI and many others, I do think the Cell Phone is key, the coverage for cell phone service expands every day, and Internet options are expanding . G
I’ll keep this to a simple suggestion which will allow you a lot of flexibility for the future and not require you to make a lot of decisions today.
From wherever you want to place you WiFi equipment, along with printers, etc. in the RV, have at least one 2 inch piece of Innerduct, which is just a flexible conduit, to the roof area and terminated into a waterproof connection box. Beside this roof connection box have them put a rail upon which antennas, such as for Wifi or cell phones, can be mounted. The size of the pipe on the rear ladder is fine. I would place this toward the rear of the rig if it is a 5’er to minimize the cable lengths to the equipment. This will allow installations and changes in the future. You could have another 2 inch run to the front of the rig for other reasons beyond the scope of this note. But the bottom line is to have some way from a cabinet inside the rig to the roof in the most direct path possible and then have a way to mount antennas up there. Once you have this you can make changes later and don't have to know everthing "today" while the rig is being built.
This is very simplistic, but the biggest hassle is always mounting the antennas and then getting the cable to them. Been there, done that.
There a dozen good ways to have internet, cell phone, air-card implementation; but all good implementations require, for best performance, an outside antenna even if you are not in the boonies.
(Remember to have an AC outlet – and maybe a 12 volt outlet – put in that cabinet into which you will place the inside equipment.)
Safe travels
Bill
I would recommend that you have the WiFi Ranger installed as well at the WFRBoost external antenna. We have gotten by without issue for the last 10 years or so without an external cellular antenna but if you are having the coach equipped, you might also want to have this option available should you travel into areas where the cellular connection is difficult. Areas with no reception will still have no reception but weak signals can be improved.
An understandable reply might start out - Well here is what I use and the approx. equip cost and cost for service. Oh well - I shall continue looking for suggestion.
If you are intending to use cellular data I would put an external antenna on the list of things that will be very helpful.
For JUST wifi having an external radio unit like the WiFiRanger Boost Mobile will help things a lot. It makes a big difference in a marginal wifi signal area. Like most RV parks.
As Bill said, if you are frustrated with Quest and are buying the 3mbps or more package you will commit hari kari in an RV with ANY park wifi. Most park wifi is crippled to say the least (and I'm being kind here, since I design and install park wifi systems).
Richard,
Allow me to muddle things some more. Someone mentioned MiFi which is a product from Verizon, thus it works off of Verizon's cell phone antenna system. Jo and I have that and while ours is a 4G capable, out on the road, there are fewer places that have 4G. However, the MiFi will work at 3G if 4G is not available.
The advantage with MiFi is that it is a system where up to five products can use its network. For instance, both you and Melissa have laptops and if you had a wireless printer, all three could be using the MiFi at the same time. Plus, as long as you are in a Verizon coverage area, they will work even driving down the road. Want to look up Google maps while going through a city? It can be done.
If I remember correctly, Wifi is limited in its range, so if you are away from places with Wifi, you would be without service. As for its range, the others can better help you with that one. And, as someone else mentioned, if a bunch of campers are on the campground wifi at the same time, the speed will suffer.
The big drawback with MiFi from Verizon is that it is not free. So, that is what you will need to research as to what would work for you.
Terry
Follow Bill Adams advice and get the WFRBoost, so you can boost a weak WiFi signal from far away, but realize your internet speeds could still be slow. But you will have WiFi in your RV in many cases, others will not since they won't have the boost. Try using campground WiFi and see if it works for you. Also pay attention if you are being restricted on what campgrounds you stay at, since many do not have WiFi.
Terry: A WiFiRanger, just like a Cradlepoint router, will accept an aircard/datacard/USB modem (pick a name) and give you WiFi for more than 5 devices, to a larger distance from the router (MiFi's are designed for about 30 feet, normal WiFi goes 100 to 300 feet depending on what is in the way). Plus these routers has more configuration settings and such, which does make them more complicated but also gives you more flexibility. I am using a Cradlepoint router with a Verizon USB modem right now with four computers hooked up. I know people who have had to get a router like a WiFiRanger or Cradlepoint because they use more than 5 devices. Think his and her's notebooks, his and her's iPads, a wireless printer and a couple Kindles. It adds up fast for some people. Of course Verizon acts like such routers don't exist.
Appreciate the feed back.