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01-29-2015, 06:36 PM
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#1
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New Member
2015 25' Flying Cloud
Joliet
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 4
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WiFi on the road
We are taking our maiden voyage and have a wifi question. I do not
Iike to use public wifi.. Any suggestions?
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01-29-2015, 06:46 PM
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#2
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Airstreamer in Training
2014 30' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 92
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A cellular hotspot.
I use the AT&T Unite Pro, but many folks prefer Verizon for better coverage.
__________________
2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 30' Recliner: Base weight 6422, GVWR 8800
2013 Cadillac Escalade Tow Vehicle: 6.2L, 403hp, 417 ft-lb., 4x2, 3.42 axle ratio, Max Payload 1573, Max Towing 8300.
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01-29-2015, 06:46 PM
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#3
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,153
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We use a FoxFI hotspot on our Verizon phones.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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01-29-2015, 07:09 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1968 22' Safari
Buda
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 612
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We use the Verizon Mifi, buy as you go, that way we pay only when want to use.
__________________
DFlores
David & Diana
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01-29-2015, 07:09 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,051
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Verizon MiFi.
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
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01-29-2015, 07:13 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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Verizon MIFI
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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01-29-2015, 07:28 PM
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#7
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,401
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Verizon MiFi.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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01-29-2015, 07:38 PM
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#8
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Moderator
Vintage Kin Owner
...
, ...
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
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Verizon Hotspot from iPhone or iPad.
__________________
"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."
William C. Swinney
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01-29-2015, 08:38 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Verizon MiFi. Had it for years, works in most places, and in lots of obscure places in the northwest that you would never guess you can get Net services.
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01-29-2015, 09:21 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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Can those who are using mifi describe how it works? It seems like it provides a dedicated wifi network for multiple devices in your trailer - but does it have to connect to the campground's wifi (usually bad) or is it connecting somewhere else - and if so - does it provide a more consistent connection/better bandwidth/something else? What's the advantage other than a mini local network? Thanks muchly!
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01-29-2015, 09:25 PM
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#11
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Airstreamer in Training
2014 30' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 92
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It creates a wifi network for you to connect your devices to. It then connects to the cellular network to give your network Internet access. It doesn't connect or need the campground network, but it does need a good connection to the cellular network (Verizon, AT&T, etc) in order to give you good internet access.
The advantage is that you have your own mini wifi network and access to the Internet.
__________________
2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 30' Recliner: Base weight 6422, GVWR 8800
2013 Cadillac Escalade Tow Vehicle: 6.2L, 403hp, 417 ft-lb., 4x2, 3.42 axle ratio, Max Payload 1573, Max Towing 8300.
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01-29-2015, 09:54 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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For Internet access the MiFi uses the same cellular data connection as your phone. It creates a wifi network to which you may connect any wifi capable device (laptop, printer/scanner, Apple TV etc.).
A note of caution....
If you use the MiFi to connect your printer/scanner or a video streaming device such as Apple TV or connect to Netflix, it uses the data allowance on your data plan. We used half of our data plan in one evening scanning paper work we wanted to digitize.
To avoid this problem we only use the MiFi when we want to connect to the Internet. To create a wifi network to print, scan, or stream photos or video to the Apple TV we use a Netgear 3G Broadband Wireless Router MBR624GU. Runs on 12v or 110 and creates a wifi network without having to be connected to the Internet. This router was designed to use an Air Card for Internet access.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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01-29-2015, 10:00 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Z boater has it right. I use an external antenna on mine often, but then I travel in remote areas a lot. Usually all you need is the MiFi itself which is cell phone size. It can run for a few hours on it's own internal battery, or use a 120 volt or a 12 volt adaptor.
The Verizon one works on Verizon network and in a few places on partner networks. The ATT one works on their network. They do not work on each others. Most think that Verizon has the best coverage. I know I get reception virtually everywhere (but my home...lol, we have no cell of any kind which works where I live)
Cost is about $60 a month for 5 gb of service. No movie downloads, not enough bandwidth. The main limit is bandwidth. That is how much data per month you can transfer.
They have a pre pay system too, slightly more expensive but you can shut it off when you are not using it. I use mine enough year around so I pay the higher cost of always on service. BTW, works in motels too, if they don't have wifi or if it costs or if it is poor quality.
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01-30-2015, 02:16 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
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Verizon MiFi. Converted from Millenicom, so we get 20Gb for $99.99.
As an aside, did anyone ever figure out what happened to Millenicom? I think Verizon shut down several small resellers around the same time as the Millenicom conversion fiasco.
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01-30-2015, 05:34 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
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Mine is a little complicated, my son set it up, he is an IT person for a major corp. But it works and is as secure as it gets. When we travel all our banking and bill paying is on line, so no public connections.
He set up a VPN in his home for his own use and now we connect to that VPN through our Android Tablet which he configured. Then we use that hot spot for our laptop to connect to where my wife has all the banking information and bill paying. We could use the tablet, but we prefer the LapTop for these transactions and as stated connect through the VPN.
To have a VPN one needs a server in the home, ie a computer which is always running and then a person (or yourself) to set it up. As long as we have a cell signal we can now connect to the VPN and surf, do banking, check the forums etc all securely.
Bud
__________________
2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
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01-30-2015, 06:32 AM
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#16
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Full Time Adventurer
2007 27' International CCD FB
Nomadic
, USA
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,748
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You can get a VPN with a service like Private Internet, or you can set one up on your own computer. Don't need a separate computer, FYI.
Verizon MiFi is the best.
__________________
Family of 5 exploring the USA with a Ram Power Wagon & Airstream in tow.
OUR BLOG | INSTAGRAM
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01-30-2015, 06:58 AM
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#17
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,153
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We travel extensively in our Airstream all over the country, and have done so for the last nine years. We also run an Internet business from the Airstream while traveling. Regular Internet access is a necessity in our case as we need to review and print order invoices and confirm receipt and shipment. We have found that campground Internet access is generally terrible, and we rarely use it. We have gotten to the point that we don't even waste our time checking out the campground Wifi.
What we have found that works for us is using SuEllyn's Verizon Smartphone as an Internet hotspot. We create our own private Internet hotspot using an Android application called FoxFi. Using this method, we do not incur any additional charge from Verizon. We are very fortunate in that SuEllyn's phone is under an old service plan and has unlimited data. My phone, on the other hand, has a 2GB data limit. I do use my phone occasionally as an Internet hotspot, but carefully monitor my data use.
We have found that we get cell service in almost all of the areas that we travel in. This includes the back country of Maine and the Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. We sometimes use a cell phone range extender to make our Internet connection. It has been our experience that if we have one bar of signal, we can get usable Internet access.
Our main concern is getting Internet access to conduct our business while out in the Airstream. We dot not generally use our Internet connection to stream video, but we do web surf regularly.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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01-30-2015, 07:07 AM
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#18
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Airstreamer in Training
2014 30' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 92
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An important point to consider is data usage. As a previous poster mentioned, it is easy to eat up the monthly data allowance.
Generally speaking, if you do email, blogging, Facebook, and browsing, it's easy to stay within the allowance. When you start streaming music and especially video, you can easily spend your monthly allowance in one day.
I have a 30GB plan and use the Internet a lot, but I never stream music or video through my cellular. I never go over. Different people of course have different needs. Pictures and scanned images use a lot of data.
I like my Unite Pro hotspot device because aside from being small, portable, and having a large battery, it has a screen that tells me how much of my 30GB plan I've consumed. It comes in handy when I'm nearing the end of the month and I have 25GB left. I may choose to go YouTube crazy for a little bit.
I've been looking at some signal booster options. I have similar challenges with my boat and marinas having poor wifi service. If you plan on using a cellular hotspot, you just need to be aware of your internet usage needs and how much your carrier charges for overages so you can manage your expenses accordingly.
__________________
2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 30' Recliner: Base weight 6422, GVWR 8800
2013 Cadillac Escalade Tow Vehicle: 6.2L, 403hp, 417 ft-lb., 4x2, 3.42 axle ratio, Max Payload 1573, Max Towing 8300.
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01-30-2015, 07:23 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BoldAdventure
You can get a VPN with a service like Private Internet, or you can set one up on your own computer. Don't need a separate computer, FYI.
Verizon MiFi is the best.
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Did not know that, paid for my sons college and extra and simply say this is what we do, this is what I would like and he sets it up. His basement looks like a server farm as he "gives" a lot of server time to medical research. I don't understand, don't know and at this point don't want to know. All I need to know is I turn it on, connect and it works.
My Best
Bud
__________________
2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
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01-30-2015, 07:53 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2015 25' Flying Cloud
Bend
, Oregon
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 761
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I am still working all this out. Here is what I have and what I think of it:
2x high gain antennas on the roof.
Wilson 4G booster
Pep wave surf on the go
verizon 4G usb stick.
It all works pretty well. The 4G stick plugs into the Pepwave and shares the signal to all the devices. If there is free wifi then we can get a good signal on that with one of the antennas.
I have to say I would like to change the pepwave out, my work laptop (some crappy DELL) does not like staying its network and I just do not get good wifi speeds through the WLAN...
So, still working it out
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