Mobile internet in the Caravan (Avtex)

DSB
DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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edited April 25 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Several of the new caravans are produced with the Avtex Wi-Fi internet system.  Have any of you used this equipment/ device?  I'd be interested to hear people's views...

David

Comments

  • Lyke Wake Man
    Lyke Wake Man Forum Participant Posts: 238
    edited May 18 #2

    I have a satgear one, it was less than half the price of avtex and I have had no problems with it

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 19 #3

    David - I don't know whether it was on here - or on CaravanTalk - but I read recently about someone who had had the Avtex system fitted and it was rubbish. I appreciate that's only one person's experience, but I was surprised.

    I use a TP LInk router, a Poynting aerial on a 10' mast attached to the jockey wheel with the usual aerial bracket and bring the lead in through a window set to 'fresh air' - avoiding having to drill a hole in the roof.  Not as neat as the Avtex but only takes a few minutes to set up and it works really well.  Cost was about £200 when I bought the kit. I use an EE sim card - now £60 from Argos for 120Gb of data and it lasts me the best part of a year - on the basis that we use it for at least a week and sometimes two weeks every month.  I regularly get 20-30 Mbps download and sometimes as high as 50-80 and I've used it all over the country. Much more effective than tethering to a phone.

    Edit - see the discussion on "wifi that won't break the bank" on this forum, David.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 19 #4

    Thanks both.  I've always managed by tethering to the phone before, to be honest, but the new van already has the Avtex systen fitted.  I'll take a look at the other thread too, David - thanks.

    David

     

  • GEandGJE
    GEandGJE Forum Participant Posts: 507
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    edited May 19 #5

    I have used a Netgear Nighthawk M2 for the last 4 years and not had a single issue. Also it's small enough to slip into a rucksack if you are out and about and need a signal. Have also used it at home when BT Internet was down for three days.

  • Dunclair
    Dunclair Forum Participant Posts: 127
    edited August 29 #6

    One of the few advantages of living in the South East of England is that we have good mobile connections. As a result, about 4 years ago I decided to bin the broadband and simply use tethering to my phone for my world-wide connections. HERSELF, being a farmer's daughter was full of negative comments at the start, but it works and saves us a load of money.

    We have succesfully used our phone conections all over England, France and Wales. We even had good connections in Barcelona. Unlike what you would expect, we have sometimes had a bit of a problem in city centres but never on a caravan site. Amusingly, if we go to Dover our phones connect to the French network without us doing a thing.

    Because I asked, we have now got unlimited data, calls and texts. My contract costs £23 per month and because I introduced herself and we pay as a family, her cost is £2 less.

    We are with EE and have been for many years.

  • Baileyperson
    Baileyperson Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited October 10 #7

    I'm with Tesco for mobile and have 30gb per month for £11. I tether my phone to my laptop, tablet for navigating, and my wife's' tablet for reading etc.

    All worked fine in Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. 

    I don't think we were ever without a signal

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 10 #8

    I started off with a pay monthly data sim - but the only problem with that is that you're paying for something you're not using most of the time and it seems a bit of a waste of money.  Ok - not a massive amount, I agree. The 120Gb EE data sim - given our usage - costs about half the amount of a monthly plan and is cheap internet - especially as Amazon have started selling them again at the original price of £50.

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