Mobile WiFi also called MiFi
I am looking to install mobile WiFi into my caravan for use in France.
Has anyone done this and if so what system did you use?
I’m looking for something that connects to the local 4or5G network which is why I called it MiFi.
I’m not interested in Starlink as it is too expensive for the amount of time I spend abroad. Your help in this’s would be much appreciated.
Answers
-
Check out the Parts & Accessories section as there have been lots of discussions on this over the years.
0 -
My phone has 5Gb of use abroad for the £5 a month with Lebara, but I wanted something for my tablet when in the Loire last year.
I bought a TP-Link 4G router last year:- TP-Link M7350 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi Router
I used a Smarty Data only SIM with it that is non contract. You are limited to 12GB fair useage per month, so no use in buying bigger. £9 for 15Gb is the option to go for. You could buy two though I guess. The month starts as soon as you activate it, not when you buy it. All plans | SMARTY
I found it a bit fiddly to set up, taking me an hour and a couple of free phone calls, but I'm a ludite.
It worked well and I'll be doing the same this summer.
Colin
1 -
I use an unlocked Huawei B535-232 GSM router. This can work on 12v from the Caravan (with a suitable lead), but it should come with it's own mains power supply. This is only a 4G router. I recently "upgraded" to a ZTE 801A 5G router…
However - the ZTE will not work on 12v from the caravan (even though it runs on it's own 12v supply! Experimentation showed that it will work between 10.0v and 12.0v! (not the 13.8v the caravan runs at when connected to mains!). I made a diode dropper cable to lose 2.2v!
BUT as I found out recently - the ZTE DOES NOT work in Europe - apparently it's a Firmware issue! It will not connect….. and I had left my Huawei at home! - So I had to use a "spare" Mobile phone sharing it's data connection. There does not appear to be any support for the ZTE - Not so convenient! I regret buying it.
I have tried adding the "aerials" supplied with either router - not really any difference. I have tried using an External aerial (on a pole) - Can't say that makes much difference either!
The Huawei B535 is not fussy about 12v power and roams Europe with no problems. You will find these on Ebay. just make sure whatever you buy is "unlocked" (can use any network SIM). A friend of mine uses a Huawei 525 (older). Next year, I will take the B535 to Europe & just use the ZTE for UK. to have access to 5G (if available!)
I use 1P mobile for my data (runs on EE network in the UK) 1P mobile is "pay as you go" - but you need to spend at least £10 every 3 months to remain connected. They will bill you up to £10 every 3 months if you do not meet this minimum spend.
1P do not charge a roaming fee and costs the same in Europe as at home. However 1P offer "bundles" for both calls and data. Whilst they have a "fair" usage policy of 14GB whilst roaming europe - they consider it "fair" that if you buy smaller bundles (say 10Gb for £7) you can buy more when that runs out, This is considered "Fair" because you have not bought a large Discounted data bundle. Or - you could pay £9 for 25Gb - but then you could only use 14Gb of this in Europe - Bundles last 30 days. If you exceed fair usage, then you will be charged 1p per MB!
If you do try 1P mobile here is a link that will get you (and me!) £5.00 credit:
https://www.1pmobile.com/?friend=H115667T
Tony
0 -
Of course if you already have mobile phone(s) there is the possibility of using you UK allowances at no extra charge and it is very easy to link other devices to them. In our case we have one phone on O2 which allows 25 giga bytes a month and another on EE which gives us another 24. Those allowances plus the often good inclusive site or Aire Wifi are certainly sufficient for us, allowing face time and occasional TV streaming as well as the normal browsing / emails.
0
