AnCndRV: What you have is a USB wifi adapter that might help bring in the campground wifi better since you can put it higher than up than a built-in wifi. But they asked about bringing in cell phone based internet access, which is not the same as wifi.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Wednesday 4th of April 2012 02:50:31 PM
NWescapee said
07:13 PM Apr 4, 2012
We're not full time yet but will be on the road 4 different times this year with each trip being 2-5 weeks in duration. I currently have a Sprint Aircard, my husband's phone can function as a Verizon hotspot.
Any suggestions to strengthen the Internet connectivity? If often seems we have very slow or intermittent connectivity whenever we are outside of a large metro area. We would prefer to stay in state or county parks rather than the more impersonal, large RV parks that offer WiFi.
Max Signal said
07:50 PM Apr 4, 2012
A wireless cellular amplifier system would enhance the signal of both your devices and should give you better connectivity.
AnCndRV said
09:29 PM Apr 4, 2012
We use NETGEAR, a little thing that plugs into your USB port. Its a Wireless-N Dual Band thingy :) Works great
Technomadia said
10:15 PM Apr 4, 2012
For boosting our cellular (3G) we use a Top Signal 55 system. Been pretty happy with it.
Also recommend the link above from Jack Mayers that describes the system and what you should know before buying one.
Best wishes,
- Cherie
AnCndRV said
07:43 PM Apr 5, 2012
Sorry for the confusion. Maybe it can help somebody else out there.
NWescapee said
02:50 AM Apr 6, 2012
Thanks for the help! I'm busy trying to understand and digest all of this. Looks like a lot of good suggestions and options.
NWescapee said
03:54 AM Apr 6, 2012
So, I've reviewed the Jack Dan Mayer website and have a question. If we get an antenna, amplier with a splitter that both my Aircard and my husband's cell phone can plug into, do we need the wireless router? Or will just the antenna and amplief combined give us the boost we need? I understand the wireless router allows us to move around more freely within the RV and not having to be plugged into something, but is the wireless router absolutely necessary? It might be something we buy later, not sure we can afford everything at once so wanting to invest first in whatever is going to give us the biggest immediate boost and then keep adding components as budget allows.
Max Signal said
10:16 AM Apr 6, 2012
If looking to do both devices at the same time , your best option would be a wireless amplifier system , It will do your phones as well . See the review on Jack's site . There is also a coupon code there to save $50 on the large RV package.
-- Edited by Max Signal on Friday 6th of April 2012 10:17:06 AM
-- Edited by Max Signal on Friday 6th of April 2012 10:17:39 AM
Max Signal said
12:40 PM Apr 6, 2012
The main reason for a router is if you want to run multiple computers of 1 data device . If you are only looking to use 1 , it is not necessary.
NWescapee said
04:51 PM Apr 6, 2012
Max Signal - thanks for the reply. If my husband has a mobile hotspot (from his phone) and I'm using a Sprint Aircard so we each have our own data device, it seems like our best first step is the antenna and amplifier. Appreciate the help.
NWescapee said
07:21 PM Apr 6, 2012
I saw the coupon and looked at this as a good solution for us, however, I think we'll need the small RV package, the large one is for RV 30 feet and longer, our travel trailer is 28 feet so I think we'll have to go with the small RV package.
Max Signal said
11:19 AM Apr 14, 2012
How far is your device from the internal antenna ? What is the seperation between the external and internal antenna ? Make sure the external and internal antenna are not on the same plane vertically or horizntally . Something must be a miss as the amplifiers are all bench tested before shipping and it was working fine.
By the way tried to call phone number on your invoice to troubleshoot and got an answering machine. If you email on weekends we will call you back ASAP . We troubleshoot with folks 7 days a week , to get everything working for them.
-- Edited by Max Signal on Saturday 14th of April 2012 12:22:17 PM
NWescapee said
06:00 PM Apr 14, 2012
We purchased the small RV package from Max Signal and are testing it out this weekend. We're at an RV park where my Sprint card is registering -88 to -90 dBm without the Max Signal package plugged. When we plug it in it registers between -91 to -96 dBm. Shouldn't we be experiencing the opposite with the boost? If my understanding is correct we should be experiencing a less negative number, correct?
Max Signal said
07:42 PM Apr 14, 2012
Is the internal antenna mounted on the ceiling facing down to the floor? If not the signal will put the antennas into ocsillation and the amplifier shuts down . Email me your cell number I will call you . How far is your data device from the internal antenna?
-- Edited by Max Signal on Saturday 14th of April 2012 07:43:36 PM
Jack Mayer said
01:07 AM Apr 15, 2012
As Gord said, you absolutely MUST follow the distance/placement instructions for any wireless amp. I would look at that aspect of it carefully. I've used the small setup and the mobile setup extensively and they perform quite well if you follow the installation instructions.
NWescapee said
01:59 AM Apr 15, 2012
Our external antenna is at least 6 feel higher than the internal antenna and there is about 12 feet of horizontal separation between the 2 antennas. Our amplier and internal antenna are very close to each other, do they need to be separate further? Max Signal - is there a phone number we could call for assistance? The number on the invoice is the home number.
NWescapee said
04:23 AM Apr 19, 2012
Gord - thanks for the AWESOME customer service - even on the weekend! The new antennas arrived today, everything has been tested and is working as expected. Thanks for getting the new antennas to us so quickly, appreciate the time to test it before the 3 week road trip coming up.
Max Signal said
11:33 PM Apr 19, 2012
Just glad we got everything sorted for you and now you see how great these systems are.
NWescapee said
11:57 PM May 1, 2012
So an update, we're 1 week into a 3 week road trip where I had to be connected most of the time for work. Both the Max Signal package and the Wifi Ranger with Boost were purchased just before our trip. Both are working wonderfully, we're in our 3rd location so far and are experiencing much better and faster connectivity than we did before investing in this technology.
So Gord, Jack and everyone else, thanks so much for the advice!!
Jack Mayer said
01:46 PM May 3, 2012
Glad things are working well for you. That is the way it should be.
Hopefully, sometime this summer the 4G wireless amp packages will be available. As they say..... "they will be kick-ass". :)
RVPAINTER said
03:02 PM May 3, 2012
Thanks to Jack Mayer we are connected to WiFi Ranger Mobile Boost and enjoying great signal strength for our WiFi. We are in Travelers World RV Resrot in San Antonio TX now for a week and WiFi could not be any better - 5 bars and no loss of connectivity.
THANKS JACK!!!!
NWescapee said
05:35 AM Aug 16, 2012
OK, I know this is an old post, but just wanted to provide one more update. Just returned from a 3 week road trip with all our new technology. Stayed at the same campground we stayed at last year where I had to rely on their very slow WiFi for my work connection. This year there were 2 days when their WiFi was down which would have made my work impossible. However, with the Max Signal products we were able to connect through our Verizon hotspot, no work issue, much faster connection this year!!
Jhoynacki said
12:40 PM Sep 20, 2012
Has anyone had any recent experience with the new equipment sold by wifi ranger. It looks like they have new products - a box you attach to your tv batwing and another that looks like you can attach to your ladder on rig. Prices seem reasonable for package (antenna and router, etc...).
crmfghtr said
02:45 PM Sep 28, 2012
Food for thought, you may also want to check your system for programs that are consumming resources and hogging bandwith space. For instance, if you have a virus program running it is consumming bandwith (I would leave this running). A mail, photo, or any program that checks for updates automatically when the computer starts. I personally do not allow these programs to run automatically unless it is Windows Update or my virus/Internet protection software.
heythere512 said
01:05 AM Dec 4, 2012
I do realize this is an older post, but wanted to say I'm so glad I foud it! We just purchased our first RV, and I'm a full-time remote worker. I've been scouring the 'net looking for advice prior to setting out. Thanks for all of the suggestions posted here!
Jack Mayer said
03:22 AM Dec 4, 2012
heythere512 wrote:
I do realize this is an older post, but wanted to say I'm so glad I foud it! We just purchased our first RV, and I'm a full-time remote worker. I've been scouring the 'net looking for advice prior to setting out. Thanks for all of the suggestions posted here!
You might want to check out the Communications section of my website.
Start with http://www.jackdanmayer.com/communication.htm#Internet on the Road just to have some context. There have also been many discussions here on wireless and wired amplifiers and antennas, like Max Signal recommends. That is what we have.
AnCndRV: What you have is a USB wifi adapter that might help bring in the campground wifi better since you can put it higher than up than a built-in wifi. But they asked about bringing in cell phone based internet access, which is not the same as wifi.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Wednesday 4th of April 2012 02:50:31 PM
We're not full time yet but will be on the road 4 different times this year with each trip being 2-5 weeks in duration. I currently have a Sprint Aircard, my husband's phone can function as a Verizon hotspot.
Any suggestions to strengthen the Internet connectivity? If often seems we have very slow or intermittent connectivity whenever we are outside of a large metro area. We would prefer to stay in state or county parks rather than the more impersonal, large RV parks that offer WiFi.
A wireless cellular amplifier system would enhance the signal of both your devices and should give you better connectivity.
We use NETGEAR, a little thing that plugs into your USB port. Its a Wireless-N Dual Band thingy :) Works great
For boosting our cellular (3G) we use a Top Signal 55 system. Been pretty happy with it.
Also recommend the link above from Jack Mayers that describes the system and what you should know before buying one.
Best wishes,
- Cherie
Sorry for the confusion. Maybe it can help somebody else out there.
If looking to do both devices at the same time , your best option would be a wireless amplifier system , It will do your phones as well . See the review on Jack's site . There is also a coupon code there to save $50 on the large RV package.
-- Edited by Max Signal on Friday 6th of April 2012 10:17:06 AM
-- Edited by Max Signal on Friday 6th of April 2012 10:17:39 AM
The main reason for a router is if you want to run multiple computers of 1 data device . If you are only looking to use 1 , it is not necessary.
Appreciate the help.
How far is your device from the internal antenna ? What is the seperation between the external and internal antenna ? Make sure the external and internal antenna are not on the same plane vertically or horizntally . Something must be a miss as the amplifiers are all bench tested before shipping and it was working fine.
By the way tried to call phone number on your invoice to troubleshoot and got an answering machine. If you email on weekends we will call you back ASAP . We troubleshoot with folks 7 days a week , to get everything working for them.
-- Edited by Max Signal on Saturday 14th of April 2012 12:22:17 PM
We purchased the small RV package from Max Signal and are testing it out this weekend. We're at an RV park where my Sprint card is registering -88 to -90 dBm without the Max Signal package plugged. When we plug it in it registers between -91 to -96 dBm. Shouldn't we be experiencing the opposite with the boost? If my understanding is correct we should be experiencing a less negative number, correct?
Is the internal antenna mounted on the ceiling facing down to the floor? If not the signal will put the antennas into ocsillation and the amplifier shuts down . Email me your cell number I will call you . How far is your data device from the internal antenna?
-- Edited by Max Signal on Saturday 14th of April 2012 07:43:36 PM
Our external antenna is at least 6 feel higher than the internal antenna and there is about 12 feet of horizontal separation between the 2 antennas. Our amplier and internal antenna are very close to each other, do they need to be separate further? Max Signal - is there a phone number we could call for assistance? The number on the invoice is the home number.
Gord - thanks for the AWESOME customer service - even on the weekend! The new antennas arrived today, everything has been tested and is working as expected. Thanks for getting the new antennas to us so quickly, appreciate the time to test it before the 3 week road trip coming up.
Just glad we got everything sorted for you and now you see how great these systems are.
So an update, we're 1 week into a 3 week road trip where I had to be connected most of the time for work. Both the Max Signal package and the Wifi Ranger with Boost were purchased just before our trip. Both are working wonderfully, we're in our 3rd location so far and are experiencing much better and faster connectivity than we did before investing in this technology.
So Gord, Jack and everyone else, thanks so much for the advice!!
Hopefully, sometime this summer the 4G wireless amp packages will be available. As they say..... "they will be kick-ass". :)
THANKS JACK!!!!
You might want to check out the Communications section of my website.