Looking for a router for use in a caravan.

[Rorymax]

(I think I made my last post rather over complicated and poorly explained, can I try again?)


Hi,

I'm looking for a mans powered 230\240v router that I can use in a caravan (basically an aluminium box) that I can attach an externally mounted antenna to.

I already have SIM with unlimited data.

Can I have any recommendations please, ideally under £100 for the router and externaly mounted antenna.

I am more than happy to receive advice as I readily admit that my knowledge of such devices is limited.

Many thanks,
Rorymax

 

[Rorymax]

Static or mobile caravan ?
Static caravan there's also the option
Of looking to see if you have a local
fixed wifi provider
They usually provide you a router
And external antenna
Actually still have the POE antenna they provided
Laying around somewhere

Oops, my bad.

It is a mobile\touring caravan Mcnumpty2323.

 

[Rorymax]

Your budget is too low

Caged,

I was looking at items like the ones below, and that is where I took my indicative costings from.

I am not familiar with reliable brands for such products, that is the reason why I came on here looking for recommendations.

If I am missing out on something obvious in terms of pricing and\or equipment then please advise, all advice is appreciated and I obviously wish to become more informed than I am.

Cheers.
Router

External Antenna

 

[Rorymax]

You don't say if your Antenna requirements are Directional or Omnidirectional, how far will the masts be... how many masts are available at what distance?

Hi,

I'm guessing I need Omnidirectional, the antenna will be mounted at high level on the side of the caravan ( this sort of thing ).

I have no idea how far away any transmitting masts will be as I will be travelling to various locations around the country.

Cheers for the reply.

 

[Rorymax]

What kind of expectation do you have regarding speed? If you just want something to work and get you around 40-50mbps - whatever came free with the sim (or would have come free if you opted for it) should do fine.

Are we looking at 4G or 5G?

What's the externally mounted antenna for, do you have low signal?

Hi Bug One,

Ideally speed to be sufficient to stream Netflix etc. to smart TV and for viewing Prime etc.
I have Smart SIM unlimited data.
4G is likely to be the most available to me, I won't be staying in built up areas as a general rule.

The external antenna is to improve signal strength as I will be inside what can be described as an aluminium box having a few acrylic windows, I was thinking along the lines of this for an external antenna.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Rorymax]

The huawei b535 4g router
Seems to get some good reviews
Around £80 new
Or £40--50 used on ebay
As for external antenna
2 types of connectors rp-sma same as standard
Router
Or ts9
Though should be able to get an adapter
Are really cheap antennas any good
Is another question
Second hand poynting omni around £40--50 on ebay

There's a motor section of the forums
Not sure if that has a section for caravans/motor homes
Since you're kind of bridging networking and caravans/motor home
There may be people in motors who could help too

Lived in a few static caravans
So yeah basically a Faraday box except for the windows
Does make external antenna more necessary

Thank you, I will look at your suggestions, cheers.

 

[Rorymax]

Soryy I thought you was being serious.... search for 285029975527

Hi Ad_Augendae:,

I don't know what you mean by "Soryy I thought you was being serious...", can you explain please.

Your search item 285029975527 take me to the same router that I linked to in post #6, are you recommending said router?

Cheers.

 

[Rorymax]

I think I am going to go for the Huawei b535 4g router (thanks for the suggestions given on here folks).

Next is the omnidirectional Antenna, I am unsure what to buy as the Huwawei has 2 SMA antenna connections and I see some antennas that have only one connector.

I will look for a used Poynting if I can find one, do they have 1 or 2 connecting terminals?

 

[Rorymax]

Yeah could just slide it up/down
The pole
Like caged said while driving I guess

Another option
If you're good at DIY
Make yourself a 4g biquad/double biquad antenna
Still got one in here somewhere that was for 2.4ghz
From when I lived in Victorian house
Where every wall was solid brick
Something like 14dbi it was fantastic at picking up
Distant WiFi

I know nothing about the subject as you can tell, I found this absolutly fascinating and referenced this link , if this is what you have in mind then yes I could make that, it is something I would
very much enjoy making. And if I do it correctly and it works then I would be over the moon with it.

Thank you so very much for this, I love this sort of thing

 

[Rorymax]

Yep that's it exactly in your link
I then connected the biquad to an
Alfa AWUS036H usb with 5m usb cable
To allow positioning it in the best reception place
Literally picked up wifi from people hundreds of feet away
That was in a built up area too
Have seen people remove the lnb from satellite dish
And mount the biquad there for extreme distances

Same principle would apply for 2.4ghz, 5ghz, 4g
Still a biquad or double biquad
Just the elements have to be resized according to
The wavelength you want to deal with

Recently connected the biquad to my router
Even though single rp sma on my biquad
And router has 2 x rp sma it still worked
So 2 options really
If you camp somewhere with site wifi
Connecting via a more modern alfa usb
You will get a much better signal
Or connecting the biquad to the mentioned 4g router
You should get a much better 4g signal

Hi Mcnumpty,
Would it be possible for you to tell me how to connect the 4g biquad/double biquad antenna to a USB, if it is not too much trouble then it would be very much appreciated.
Or if you prefer then please message me.
Do you have a link for a more modern Alfa USB, I don't know anything about such things.
Many thanks.

 

[Rorymax]

I have used mobile router in our caravan for 4 years.

This year I wanted to improve the signal strength and speed and did a lot of research, bought loads of sim cards from different providers, a Pointing Omni Directional Aerial and different routers. (Netgear, Huawei, TP-Link and ZTE)

For me I discovered that the external aerial made almost no difference to using the rabbit ears aerials. I tried a few different routers and have kept a Huawei B535 (also I see mentioned earlier too). This gives me reasonable speeds and a solid connection. Bought from a well known secondhand high street store for £65.

I'm know 5G routers offer faster speeds but my caravan is not in a 5G area so pointless for now.

I run several devices through the B535 and watch Netflix and Prime with no problem at all.

On a related note as part of trying different routers for the caravan I have a friend living on an isolated farm with no broadband. Again I found the B535 gave a strong signal albeit in her case using the external aerial boosted strength by one signal bar.

That is really helpful, thank you for this.

 

[Rorymax]

Did the link you gave earlier
Show him attaching the cable?
And rp sma connector?
The alfa usbs have detachable rp sma antenna
Just unscrew
Then screw on the biquad
Couple different ways you could do that
Either make your biquad using a longer length
Of coaxial cable
Or the way I did short coaxial cable
But long usb cable
Alfas European site

ALFA Wi-Fi USB Adapters | alfa-network.eu

Genuine Alfa Network USB Wi-Fi Adapters always in Stock. Fast delivery all over Europe.

alfa-network.eu

Once again, very helpful, thank you.

 

[Rorymax]

Should say
Doesn't necessarily have to be alfa
Any make with detachable rp sma antenna
Would do
Reason I used the alfa
Was because it used a specific realtek rtl8×××
Chip in it
My original use of the biquad needed that
As it worked great with Linux
And I had a neighbour from hell
And have to confess I used Linux and the biquad
To do some long range havoc
On his wifi network
Naughty of me I know But he shouldn't have
Been a #### to start with lol

LOL, I get that, and i concur with your actions, nice one.