How Do I Improve Wi-Fi Reception in My RV?
by Anonymous
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How to Improve RV WiFi Reception
ConnecT 2.0 4G2 WiFi Extender
WINEGARD ConnecT 4G1 WIFI Extender
When we go to our campground membership resort, we have poor reception or signal in our trailer. Is there anything we can do to make it better or to buy? It is quite frustrating as I have set up a computer with recipes I want to use camping, and I can't see...
Important Update From RVing Al: Since I answered this question 2 new WiFi Boosters Have been released by Winegard the first one is called the WINEGARD ConnecT 4G1 WIFI Extender (Pictured at the top of this page) has been released. This WiFi Extender has 5 exterior antennas that do an excellent job of improving WiFi reception in RV parks and resorts. This unit also allows you to purchase 4G LTE data so you can use it going down the road or use it at campgrounds that do not have WiFi. For more information on this new product, you can read my WINEGARD ConnecT 4G1 WIFI Extender Review.
the second new unit is called the Winegard ConnecT 2.0 WiFi Extender. This is a dome unit (pictured above) that also does an excellent job of improving WiFi reception in your RV. It's available in two models, one that boosts the RV Park WiFi and the second that also boosts the RV park WiFi and has the option of using 4G2 to access the internet. You can read my review on it here: ConnecT 2.0 4G2 WiFi Extender Review.
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ANSWER: Hi, I feel your pain, and so do a lot of other RVers. Staying at a campground that provides free Wi-Fi is great except when you are too far away from the Wi-Fi transmitter. First, you need to understand that Wi-Fi is nothing more than a low-powered radio station that sends and receives your data via radio waves, just like the ones used by Radio and TV Stations, Except they are transmitted at a lot lower power.
Because the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) regulations require Wi-Fi signals to be transmitted at low power, receiving WiFi signals can be a challenge. On average, a Wi-Fi
signal can travel 300 feet line of sight outdoors if you use 802.11b or 802.11g with the stock antenna built into your laptop. If your computer uses 802.11n to connect via WiFi, then your range can more than double.
Now add in the fact that these Wi-Fi radio signals can be stopped from reaching you by objects such as walls, buildings, trees, etc., also consider the fact that you are sitting in a big metal box (your RV) trying to receive these faint Wi-Fi Radio signals with a tiny antenna built into your laptop. Even if the RV Park has a lot of WI-Fi Repeaters (range extenders) throughout the park, you still may not receive a good enough signal to swiftly browse your
Camping Recipes.
The SolutionBelieve it or not there is a relatively simple and cost effective way to greatly improve the Wi-Fi reception in your RV by using a
Wi-Fi Reception Booster
such as the
Etekcity High Power 300M USB Wireless 1000mw Wifi Network Adapter with Dual Antenna
(pictured at the top of this page). The Etekcity uses two antennas and an amplifier to receive and improve the Wi-Fi signals your computer receives. It plugs into and is powered by your computers USB port. It is highly rated by it's users and the even better news is that this unit costs less than $20.00.
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Just hook it up to your laptop or desktop computer and install the drivers on the included CD Rom, and your off and running. The best place to put the Etekcity unit in your RV is in a window facing the Wi-Fi Transmitter at the RV Park. The unit comes with about a 3 foot USB cable so you may want to buy a
USB Extension Cable so you can put the antenna in an ideal location and have your computer where you want it.
I hope this helps.
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Happy RVing
and Repeater from TechnoRV. It boosts the campgrounds Wifi and sends it to either your 