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Old 06-25-2018, 10:54 AM   #1
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Alternative to WifiRanger

Can anyone suggest an alternate Wifi router? I know the WifiRanger is popular but it just didn't work out for us.

We just came back from our first extended trip with the RV and the first order of business this morning is to return the WifiRanger Pro pack to the manufacturer.

It was supposed to provide Wifi (when available) and use a cell data plan as a backup. Well, neither worked. Prior to our trip, both AT&T and Verizon confirmed that you cannot purchase a monthly or prepaid plan for the particular cell modem in the Ranger; at least not in Texas (i'm not sure about other states).

Anyway, during the trip, the router would freeze and our Ranger hotspot would disappear. The only way to get it working was to turn it off/on. We weren't trying to stream anything so after rebooting for the 3rd time one evening, we just stopped using it and the kids would just switch between free/cell on their phones.

It would be nice to have a router though.

Thanks for any feedback!
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Old 06-25-2018, 11:01 AM   #2
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We use Verizon Jetpacks for our job sites with pretty good luck. We don't need one for our rige because we just turn on our hotspot on our phones. I have not traveled across the country yet but we also don't have a "network" in our View.
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Old 06-25-2018, 12:11 PM   #3
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May I ask where you were traveling? I know that there are areas where service is non-existent no matter what type of equipment. (Like in areas of the Rockies, etc.) We mostly use our cellphones as hotspots when service allows.
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Old 06-25-2018, 12:24 PM   #4
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We were in Nashville and the Washington DC/Capitol KOA campgrounds.

The problem was not with the campground wifi - those were slow. However, I would be browsing facebook on my ipad and my internet connection would suddenly be gone. I look for my wifi hotspot and it's not listed. The campground hotspot would be there but not our Ranger. To get it back, we'd have to reboot the device and wait for it to reappear on the list. After a while it was easier to bypass the ranger and connect directly to the campground wifi.
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Old 06-25-2018, 01:01 PM   #5
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Well, you certainly weren't in a "no service" area. We tried a wifi booster a while back but I can't remember what brand it was. We ended up returning it because it was more of a pain to use and didn't provide any benefit that we could tell.
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Old 06-25-2018, 06:04 PM   #6
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jhodges-

Sorry to hear you the WiFi Ranger didn't work well for you. The product is designed for less-technical folks, and usually works well. Their customer support is supposed to be decent, too. There is a guy ("docj") over on the iRV2 forum who helps users out as an "ambassador" for the WFR.

I own both a WFR and a PepWave Surf SOHO router. I use the PepWave and keep the WFR as backup. I prefer the PepWave because I can configure it more to my liking. The PepWave is a bit more difficult than the WFR to set up and use. It has its better and its worse days, but overall does what it is supposed to do.

For cellular connections, I have a Verizon JetPack (older model MHS291L). I use the Verizon prepaid services, usually 10GB for 60 days (for $100), sometimes less. The JetPack is connected to the PepWave with a USB cable.

The PepWave is configured to use the RV park WiFi first and Verizon second. The only time I flip that around is if the park WiFi is swamped and acting squirrely. I've also set up the PepWave to shut down the JetPack between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.. By doing that I prevent our devices from getting updates over Verizon at night and thereby consuming our prepaid data.
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Old 06-30-2018, 06:57 PM   #7
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I got a Camp Pro kit. Tied the antenna to the boom of my TV antenna so it raises up an extra 30" or so. So far it gave me solid Internet at a campground in Michigan. Without the Camp pro I only got indication there was WiFi but no internet connection available.
If you go this route tell them Tireman sent you.
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Old 06-30-2018, 07:51 PM   #8
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You might consider the WINEGARD ConnecT 2.0. There are two models. One version just boosts the Wi-Fi signal at campgrounds or from other nearby sources. It then fills your RV with a strong signal. The other version supports Verizon or AT&T and provides Internet access via their cellular networks plus being able to dramatically boost campground Wi-Fi if available. Any Winnebago dealer should be able to install one for you. Another alternative to consider is a Wi-Fi Jetpack. Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA.com) has a special $50/month unlimited data deal for its members with a required two-year contract and 1-cent purchase price for the Jetpack. Traveling across the USA and Canada in our coach, my wife and I have generally found the Verizon wireless network to be superior. The Jetpack comes with a charger and a constant-use battery life between 12 and 18 hours before needing another charge.
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Old 07-01-2018, 07:37 PM   #9
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Been using this setup full time for 2yrs. No problems & cost a lot less than WFR at the time & suspecting it’s still cheaper.
https://outsideourbubble.com/secure-...for-under-100/
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