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Old 12-09-2019, 12:18 PM   #1
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Converge anyone?

Anyone have the relatively new WiFiRanger Converge system?

I’m looking at the Denali variant with ext cell and wifi antenna, built in load balancing for multiple sources, source prioritization capability, and a dual band router.

Im very close to pulling the trigger on this vice the AS Connected system and would like any real world experiences.
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Old 12-10-2019, 08:40 PM   #2
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Here’s a link to our DIY install.
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Old 12-10-2019, 10:35 PM   #3
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The Converge is certainly a sophisticated system from a company that knows what they are doing. The advantage of the Airstream system is really the unlimited data plan, not the electronics.
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Old 12-11-2019, 06:09 AM   #4
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WiFiRanger is a great company with a long history of supporting the products. The new Converge platform will be around for a long time with its modular design. The ability to add devices and change out the “trays” allow the system to be upgraded without swapping the entire device. This will save money in equipment and installation cost.
WiFi Ranger also now provides a Siamese cable to the rooftop antenna. Both data and 12 volt power cables. Older devices were powered via PoE, which relied on smaller wires to power your devices. With the addition of a separate power cable WiFi Ranger has ensured reliable power to the roof allowing more devises to be powered without issue.
I’ve dug pretty deep into the hardware side of this system and I can vouch for its design and solid engineering. If the software side is anything close, (which WiFiRanger has a history of), then there is no reason not to expect great things from the Converge platforms.
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Old 12-11-2019, 06:20 AM   #5
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I have an older WiFi Ranger where everything is outside, no cables to the interior. Does Converge require a CAT5 or 6 cable to an interior router? My unit is on a pole at the front of my trailer(removed for travel) with a POE cable that goes to a small power supply in the battery box. Then wireless to all devices in the trailer. They stopped making this configuration some time ago so I have missed out on technology upgrades, unfortunately. It still gives me a great boost for WiFi signals, but there is no LTE capability.

Larry
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Old 12-11-2019, 06:29 AM   #6
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I have an older WiFi Ranger where everything is outside, no cables to the interior. Does Converge require a CAT5 or 6 cable to an interior router?

Short answer is NO. The Converge system does not require an internal router. The internal router is optional. It does however require a 12 volt power source which I obtained by tapping inside and adding a switch.
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Old 12-11-2019, 06:30 AM   #7
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Interesting...I need to look at this because I have 12v in my empty battery box and my pole mount is adjacent.
Thanks
Larry
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Old 12-11-2019, 07:12 AM   #8
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I just finished studying the literature available. It does not look like the unit could be pole mounted, way too big. I do not want to roof mount and then have to find a way to get 12vdc to it. Looks like a good OEM option. I just wish there was a good pole mount WiFi/LTE external router unit out there.
Larry
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Old 12-11-2019, 07:15 AM   #9
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Hi

I have a stack of replacement power supplies for my WiFi Ranger here. No idea why my unit keeps eating power supplies, but it does ..... Their customer service is fine. Each time I blow one, they send me another.

Bob
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Old 12-11-2019, 08:30 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by lsbrodsky View Post
I just finished studying the literature available. It does not look like the unit could be pole mounted, way too big. I do not want to roof mount and then have to find a way to get 12vdc to it. Looks like a good OEM option. I just wish there was a good pole mount WiFi/LTE external router unit out there.
Larry
You could pole mount even though it was not designed for that.
Here’s how. You would need to make an aluminum L bracket mounted to an aluminum base plate the matched the bottom profile of the Converge system and then you could use U bolts to Mount the unit to your pole.

Would not be hard to do. Just would need a 1/8” aluminum plate larger than the Converge base that could be cut to size and then a 2” Wide piece of angle aluminum for the L-bracket.
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Old 12-11-2019, 08:49 AM   #11
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No offense to the WiFi Ranger folks, but. There are other options out there for true high speed internet. I found this and have been kicking it around. It seems to be a very good option for High speed internet and after the initial $ for hardware $60.00 per mo is pretty inexpensive for what you can do with it.

https://www.vehicledwelling.com/fast...-internet.html

-Dennis
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Old 12-11-2019, 09:20 AM   #12
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You could pole mount even though it was not designed for that.
Here’s how. You would need to make an aluminum L bracket mounted to an aluminum base plate the matched the bottom profile of the Converge system and then you could use U bolts to Mount the unit to your pole.

Would not be hard to do. Just would need a 1/8” aluminum plate larger than the Converge base that could be cut to size and then a 2” Wide piece of angle aluminum for the L-bracket.
What do you think the Converge weighed? Seems rather large for the top of a pole..
Larry
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Old 12-11-2019, 04:23 PM   #13
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What do you think the Converge weighed? Seems rather large for the top of a pole..
Larry
Around 1.5 lbs
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Old 12-11-2019, 04:59 PM   #14
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What do they charge for bandwidth access? I still have not found anything that beats Airstream Connected @ $360 a year.
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Old 12-11-2019, 05:57 PM   #15
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What do they charge for bandwidth access? I still have not found anything that beats Airstream Connected @ $360 a year.
Converge is $25 for 5GB and you can cancel any time. So if I don’t travel all months of the year it could be more cost effective asI can only pay those months. No doubt $30/month unlimited is a great deal.

After a bit of study it seems to me the WiFiRanger hardware solution is superior and more user controllable. As someone said, they have a history of successful HW and SW solutions where AS seems to have designed a decent system with some limitations but a great data deal. I was looking for folks to confirm or disagree.
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Old 12-12-2019, 01:31 PM   #16
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Around 1.5 lbs
Unfortunately tech support tells me 4 lbs. I think that is too much weight on top of a 10-12 ft pole made of 1 inch aluminum. Not sure it makes any sense for me to spend the money and try it.
Larry
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Old 12-12-2019, 04:26 PM   #17
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Unfortunately tech support tells me 4 lbs. I think that is too much weight on top of a 10-12 ft pole made of 1 inch aluminum. Not sure it makes any sense for me to spend the money and try it.
Larry
Haha. I guess I don’t know my own strength


Any who. Anyone looking to purchase can use discount code BOLT10 to save 10% off your order.

I will be doing another video in late January of the “Tray Swap”, upgrading from the Denali to the Everest system.
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Old 12-12-2019, 05:13 PM   #18
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What do they charge for bandwidth access? I still have not found anything that beats Airstream Connected @ $360 a year.


Yup which is why I just installed the system.
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Old 12-13-2019, 07:45 AM   #19
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Too heavy

OK, I went out and strapped a jug of water at the appropriate weight to my 1 inch aluminum WiFi antenna mast to simulate the weight of a Converge. Way too heavy! The first zephyr would bend my pole in half. Nice technology if you can live with a roof mount but I want something I can erect when I get to the campsite, will plug in to my 12vdc at the battery box, and will provide cell and wifi. I have been happy with my WiFi Ranger, but no cell capability.
Larry
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