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 Topic: No internet reception
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04/6/2012 at 6:42pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Speedbird 2003
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Hi
We've just had a fab weekend away, but on a site where my dongles could only pick up a very weak signal. (I have a 3 one and a vodafone).
I have an android phone which also had very little signal.
Is there anything I can buy that would increase my chances of picking up wifi? I've seen a long range antenna??
When I did a scan for wi-fi I kept coming up with different caravans wifi - how do they do that? Do they have a hub?
Thanks in advance.
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Gail
March - Bamburgh
Easter - Low Park Wood CC Kendal
May - Yellowcraigs CC North Berwick
June - Wharfedale CC Grassington
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04/6/2012 at 8:25pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche
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It was probably a few laptops that had the WiFi still turned on you could see. There are apps for Android that allow you to tether to the internet through then, either by USB or wireless.
I am with T-Mobile and while they tell you it won't work, it actually does and with unlimited internet usage on the phone it is cheap too.
Apparently some networks can detect if you are tethering and ramp the charges up accordingly, but I have never had a problem with T-Mobile doing this and I was using it for quite a while when my broadband was down at home.
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04/6/2012 at 9:17pm
Location: Bury Lancashire
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Quote: Originally posted by DaveCoaches on 04/6/2012
It was probably a few laptops that had the WiFi still turned on you could see. There are apps for Android that allow you to tether to the internet through then, either by USB or wireless.
I am with T-Mobile and while they tell you it won't work, it actually does and with unlimited internet usage on the phone it is cheap too.
Apparently some networks can detect if you are tethering and ramp the charges up accordingly, but I have never had a problem with T-Mobile doing this and I was using it for quite a while when my broadband was down at home.
Quote: Originally posted by Gailk on 04/6/2012
I have an android phone which also had very little signal.
If the OP has very little mobile signal, WiFi tethering to their mobile data really isn't going to do much.
Also, scanning for a WiFi network won't bring up hardware with active WiFi cards, only actual wireless networks broadcasting their SSID. It's possible other site users had set up their own WiFi hotspots though, using either a mobile or a "MiFi" type device.
Gail, if you do find yourself in a decent signal area and have unlimited data, most current/fairly recent android phones will be on Android version 2.2 or later, so will support tethering without the need for additional apps. Simply follow the instructions
here
Personally, I'm not aware of any widely available accessories that can reliably boost a 3G signal or wireless dongle that don't require some sort of piggybacking on a fixed internet connection anyway.
Hope this helps.
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04/6/2012 at 9:27pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Speedbird 2003
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Thank you both for your help. I do have an android phone with the later version on, and didn't know it could be used as a hotspot, so that is helpful.
What is "mifi"?
Thanks
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Gail
March - Bamburgh
Easter - Low Park Wood CC Kendal
May - Yellowcraigs CC North Berwick
June - Wharfedale CC Grassington
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04/6/2012 at 10:15pm
Location: Bury Lancashire
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MiFi is a term used to describe a type of wireless broadband router that works like a hybrid between a traditional home broadband wireless router and your 3G dongles.
Like the dongles, it relies on a mobile carrier signal to supply the internet connection, but rather than being plugged straight into one laptop, it acts like a wireless router so that upto 5 devices can connect to it at once.
"Three" have the UK copyright on the term "MiFi", but other carriers do have their own versions by Novatel.
If you plan on using your mobile as a portable hotspot, just be sure to check your tariff has sufficient data allowance or you could end up with a very nasty bill.
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04/6/2012 at 11:23pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: http: www.arcsystems.biz
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I was near Robin Hoods bay last week and the 3 signal was very flaky on site, luckily, 'Bay Broadband' had justed wired up the site I was the first customer, it cost me a tenner for the week for around 2meg download, not bad I thought
.............
Regards using T-Mobile phone to run broadband on the laptop, I bought a contract through CPW and specifically ask if this was ok, no problem was the answer.
Well it worked for a day or two and then nothing, rang T-Mobile and they said it was not allowed...unless I paid another fiver a month!!, that was on top of CPW headline cost of the contract being plus VAT so now two hidden extra costs to pay!
They got one year out of me, cheeky sods!!!
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05/6/2012 at 8:21am
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Outfit: Swift Speedbird 2003
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Thank you - I really appreciate your replies.
It appears that if I don't have a signal with a dongle, mifi wouldn't help?
So really, if I don't have a signal, nothing will help....?
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Gail
March - Bamburgh
Easter - Low Park Wood CC Kendal
May - Yellowcraigs CC North Berwick
June - Wharfedale CC Grassington
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05/6/2012 at 9:27am
Location: Cambs
Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent
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I have a 25ft fibreglass pole that I use in areass of poor reception. Simply tape the dongle to the pole and connect to the pc via a couple of 10m USB cables with usb signal boosters build in to them. Generaly I only ever need to use about 15ft of pole to get a signal. I think a lot of it is to do with getting thhe dongle away from the faraday cage effect of the caravan and providing a less obstructed path to the nearest phone mast. This week I have seen a few others doing the same thing using their flagpoles that seem to be all the fashion these days. My pole is simply an old 1970's style fishing pole that I had gaathering dust in the garage. Hope the above is some help.
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'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
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05/6/2012 at 9:30am
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Only twice have i had a weak 3 signal when i then plugged in 2 meter lead and hung from heki roof-light and gave me 5 signal strength.
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05/6/2012 at 9:57am
Location: Huddersfield
Outfit: swift conqueror 645+jeep commander
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I have a short extention usb lead which i dangle from caravan window handle but i can only get 3g when close to a big town/city (Vodaphone)In the middle of nowhere i get that edge which is rubbish
But i will try cd idea next week...
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05/6/2012 at 4:16pm
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Outfit: Swift Speedbird 2003
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Thanks.
Have ordered a usb extension so I can raise the dongle and will try the cd.
Thank you all.
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Gail
March - Bamburgh
Easter - Low Park Wood CC Kendal
May - Yellowcraigs CC North Berwick
June - Wharfedale CC Grassington
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05/6/2012 at 8:30pm
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birder99 has the answer, your signal will be greatly reduced inside a caravan, even more so when you close the foil backed blinds, a usb extension and the dongle outside the van is the way to go.
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alpiner
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