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Topic: External 4g / 5g antenna

Shaino

via mobile 28/10/2024 at 8:02pm
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Hi,

Has anyone used an external 4g / 5g antenna to get all mobile signal bars for 4g / 5g?
In the UK and France/Spain.

I'm considering getting an omnidirectional one (to be fit on a pole) but not sure if i should just get a smaller one

dk168

29/10/2024 at 8:12am
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC

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My own experience with my allegedly super duper 5G roof-mounted antenna from Motorhome WiFi is that, it cannot boost a signal when there is none, and there are still plenty of mobile phone signal blackholes in UK and EU!

I carry a spare phone and PAYG SIMs for the other 2 networks so that I have all 4 networks covered - my phone is with EE and the 5G router is with Smarty which is 3.

DK

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Shaino

29/10/2024 at 10:51am
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Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 29/10/2024
it cannot boost a signal when there is none

Yep that makes sense, but quite often you get 1-2 bars in various places on site, which means the signal is there. Just need a long pole to reach to it :)

MrWez

29/10/2024 at 4:52pm
Location: Wessex
Outfit: Dethleffs Trend T675

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Our current moho came with the Motorhome WiFi external aerial fitted, we've always managed to get a signal and WiFi coverage wherever we've been even if we couldn't get a phone signal ourselves.

We used it all the time in France this year, never once had to resort to external (e.g. campsite/aire) WiFi, we're impressed with it.

We use a Popit SIM which is aligned to the EE network in our MiFi device.

Fiona W

via mobile 30/10/2024 at 10:39pm
Location: Ayrshire
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You’ll need satellite technology to get Wi-Fi in some rural areas where mountains block the signals from masts. We had 3 days without email in NW Scotland for that reason so we used several supermarkets’ Wi-Fi. You might get good mobile signal from one provider but zero from another: some advertise what % population they cover, others what % geographical area.

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dk168

31/10/2024 at 2:08am
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC

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At C&CC Cheddar Mendip Height where I stayed in June 2024, I had zero mobile phone cover for EE and Smarty/3; and the site Wi-Fi at my pitch was not strong or reliable, to the extent that I cut my trip short and went home as I needed to be continuously contactable for work.

According to the site wardens, only 1 out of the 4 providers worked at that site, either O2 or Vodafone.

Hence I carry SIMs for O2 and Vodafone as well as a spare phone after that trip.

I also check mobile phone signal coverage for the big 4 networks as part of my due diligence when searching for new to me campsites.

DK

Pixie_Hez

31/10/2024 at 8:39am
Location: Liverpool
Outfit: Swift Challenger 560

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It’s amazing how different the signal can be between providers. I am with EE and the site we are currently on is giving me 4 bars but only a speed of 5mbps. My husband is with Vodafone and has a 3 bar signal but because Vodafone have 5G in this area, he is getting 300mbps

We use a TP Link 4g router and so far we have got a decent signal with just the two small antenna. When we first got it, we thought about an external antenna but decided to hold off and see how it went without one and so far, it has been fine everywhere. However, when we were thinking about it, the Poynting antennae seemed to get good reviews.

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SamP

03/11/2024 at 6:06pm
Location: S Wales The Badland
Outfit: Swift Challenger 530

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For use in the van I have a small TP-Link 4g router without an external aerial.

I usually balance it just inside the roof vent to get a better signal (on the principle that higher is better, which seems to work).

If the signal strength was really poor I might stick it on a pole to get it even higher off the ground. The router's wifi signal will easily reach into the van.
I'd make due allowance for weather-proofing (i.e. stick in in a plastic bag).

A tad Heath-Robinson, but a lot cheaper than paying for one of those fancy external antennas, and it doesn't involve drilling holes in the van's roof.

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MrWez

04/11/2024 at 6:26am
Location: Wessex
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SamP,

Your solution is certainly effective, having the aerial (router in your case), on or above the roof would give you the best reception.

The telephone signals are line of sight transmissions from the masts to the receiver so on the roof where the signals aren't disrupted works best, the further you are away from these obstructions (e.g. the higher), the better.

Our current moho came with the MotorhomeWiFi fitted thanks to the previous owners, it was professionally fitted the dealers and appears properly sealed so I'm quite happy and would have similar with a future moho.

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