Newby Wifi advice please

Phil ClubMember
Phil ClubMember Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited February 9 in New to Caravanning & Touring #1

Hi, 

We are relatively new to Motorhoming (if that's even a word) and are embarking on a trip to southern Spain in March.  We want to have unlimited Wifi whilst we are out there and some helpful advice on the kit I have chosen before I buy would be muchly appreciated.

I've picked out a MiMo 3 V2 15 antenna, a Huawei 535-333 router and a European Holafly unlimited data prepaid eSIM.

 

Some of your more experienced thoughts on this kit would help a lot.

 

Many thanks

Phil

Comments

  • Cartledge
    Cartledge Forum Participant Posts: 267
    100 Comments
    edited February 9 #2

    I always use my mobile hot spot wherever we are, the UK and Europe. . My provider is Sky mobile and I have a good data allowance which I don’t otherwise use much. Unused data allowance is auto rolled over every month. 
    we can connect our caravan TV, iPad, or laptop to the hotspot with acceptable speed provided the mobile phone signal is adequate. 
    Never needed anything else, even for streaming. 

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 10 #3

    I think the kit you have should work well, although I only have experience of mobile internet in the UK. I use a TP Link router connected to a Poynting external aerial which sits on a 10' mast attached to the jockey wheel - the leads coming in through a window set to 'fresh air' - so no need to drill through the caravan roof. I use an EE sim card which I have found gives the best coverage in this country.

    Using an external aerial is the key factor - pulls in a much stronger signal than a mobile phone inside the van. I regularly get 50+Mbps and even got 85 at the Wharfedale club site - which is in a fairly remote area.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 10 #4

    I think it might depend what you want to do with the WiFi? If you are a heavy users of data hungry applications like streaming TV then perhaps a WiFi antenna might be worthwhile. On the other hand if you just want to catch up with the news and banking apps and perhaps social media then tethering you phone might be a simpler answer? It might be an idea to check out the 4/5G signal for where you are staying. Like Cartledge we use our phones as hot spots. My wife is on a different network so we can swap networks if needed.

    David

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,297 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 10 #5

    We also use our mobiles and tether, one on O2 the other EE, which gives good coverage in the UK. It doesn’t really matter in Europe, as when roaming we have only very rarely not had a good signal on both. It does depend on what you use them for, we have generous data allowances, but these would soon get gobbled up if we did much streaming, however for our usage are adequate. Although there are no restrictions here,  I believe most UK contracts put restrictions on free usage when roaming however high your data plan.

  • BrianBooth
    BrianBooth Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited March 9 #6

    I do not have much data allowance on my iphone to use it as a hotspot so I need to set up a mobile wifi unit  in the caravan to enable me to connect my new smart tv to wifi so I can watch netflix etc ; anyone got any suggestions on suitable units?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 10 #7

    Lack of data need not stop you. Why not simply get a bigger plan for your phone instead of buying a mifi unit and feeding that with data?

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 10 #8

    I'm on a Pay As You Go mobile contract, as my wife is the main phone user. After a bit of research some months ago I came across two solutions.

    UK - My home broadband is up for renewal soon so I'm probably going to change it to 4G with 3. When I go away in the UK I can take the router with me and it will already be linked with my tablet, wife's phone, firestick for Netflix etc. Cost £22 a month for unlimited broadband with current deal having first 6 months at 1/2 price https://www.three.co.uk/broadband/home-broadband?bundle=HBBDevice

    https://broadbandsavvy.com/three-4g-hub-review/

    Europe - As the above router is locked to 3 I'd need another. I'd probably get the TP Link M7350. https://www.johnlewis.com/tp-link-m7350-4g-lte-mobile-wi-fi-router/p3129652 This is often reduced by £10. I'd use it with this EE card which I'm advised is not available from EE shops, but from Argos. I believe usage is capped at 12GB per month when abroad. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2152310?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=ec80e37c-7084-4de4-acaa-75978d50b2af&istItemId=plpqqaqqm&istBid=t&_$ja=tsid:72555|acid:F112KUG6|cid:391050570|agid:1190771646076321|tid:pla-4578022864865691|crid:74423319000671|nw:search|dvc:c|st:ee%20120gb%20pay%20as%20you%20go%20data%20only%20sim%20card|mt:be|loc:&cmpid=BPLA01&utm_source=Microsoft_Ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=391050570&utm_term=default&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=1190771646076321&utm_custom2=F112KUG6&gclid=08937e16cba01daf845b1b52766d7eff&gclsrc=3p.ds&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:804-627-9544|cid:391050570|agid:1190771646076321|tid:pla-4578022864865691|crid:|nw:o|rnd:|dvc:c|adp:|mt:e|loc:&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=391050570&utm_term=2152310&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=1190771646076321&utm_custom2=804-627-9544&msclkid=08937e16cba01daf845b1b52766d7eff

    If I did not have to renew my home broadband I would go this route for the UK.

    Colin

  • BrianBooth
    BrianBooth Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited March 10 #9

    thanks but if i didn't want to use my phone what kit would I need ? cost?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 10 #10

    Check the links provided by EM above. Basically you would only need a router, and there are lots available, and a sim to feed it data. Check Amazon as well. There is no need to add a booster/antennae unless you find you need one. But, as I said, your phone will do the job.

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 11 #11

    The set up I described above will cost you about £75 for the router (there are cheaper alternatives available).  The Poynting aerial was about the same amount and the mast and bracket about £25. As Tinny says, the external aerial isn't essential - other than in poorer signal areas and then it does make a massive difference and doing it my way means you don't have to drill any holes in the van. I have tried various alternatives re the sim card.  A monthly contract is OK but you are then paying for something and not using it most of the time.  I find the 120Gb EE data sim for £50, the best solution - valid for a year and I find that's about how long it lasts me - excellent coverage and a cheap solution for mobile internet.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited March 12 #12

    Agree, but with Sky as with other UK providers you have to pay for access in Europe since Brexit. It was £2 per day but I haven’t checked lately.

  • Rose N
    Rose N Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited June 4 #13

    Hi everyone

    We are new caravanners and we’re off to France in our Buccaneer caravan this month.

    Similar question to those above…… we have a WI-FI Router already installed into the van and were hoping to buy a sim with data (around 100GB) that we could use whilst away on our 3 week trip. 
    We obviously don’t want to be tied into a 12 month contract, we just want it on a Pay as you go or 30 day rolling contract basis.

    I’ve tried EE, O2 and Vodafone, none of whom can help.

    Has anyone tried buying a sim abroad? This was suggested to me by the chap in the Vodafone shop.

    Thanks

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 4 #14

    Service providers change their offers every 5 mins, we'll it seems like it! I have used Three Mobile pay as you go in the past and I thought I saw they were offering a current PAG sim with roaming a couple of weeks.ago.

    Check them out.

    peedee

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 5 #15

    Whilst I don't know whether it will work abroad - as stated upthread, I use an EE 120Gb sim card which is valid for a year and then can be loaded with more data - but it's cheaper to buy a new one. A card usually lasts me about a year anyway. Strange thing is - is that they are no longer available from EE or BT as they used to be -  and the only place that seems to sell them is Argos.  Oh - and the price has gone up from £50 to £60, last time I looked. Still cheap internet, though.

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 5 #16

    We are currently in France using our TP Link 4g Router and SMARTY data only SIM card for Wi-fi. It cost £9 for 15 gig of data. You are capped at 12 gig of data so no use in buying a bigger card.It was a bit of a pain to set up as had to reconfigure a few things and I'm not really tech savvy, but now all working well.I cannot see any reason why you could not buy several cards and swap over as/when your data runs out. Give them a call for advice.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 10 #17

    I've no idea what it's like, but apparently, this is designed particularly for motorhome/ caravanning....

    https://helloiq.co.uk/

    David

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