Caravan WiFi

[ITGURU]

I go to a caravan park which has zero mobile/data signal, however they have a free WiFi network on-site for WiFi, which runs at a download speed of approx 4-6 meg from inside the van. I can see the wifi points located outside but not quite line of sight.

What would be the best solution to mount on the outside of the van to extend the wifi inside to a switch and get a better signal?

Thinking some kind of Ubiquiti kit to repeat the signal and /or provide a higher gain signal to get the signal from outside to inside to improve it?

 

I tried a huawei 4g router and external antenna without success at getting a decent signal.

[3s-gtech]

Shouldn't need a repeater - just an AP set to bridge. Should be able to get a decent enough one, with external aerial then fitted, without breaking the bank.

[ITGURU]

Shouldn't need a repeater - just an AP set to bridge. Should be able to get a decent enough one, with external aerial then fitted, without breaking the bank.

 

Any recommendations on which AP? there's several to choose from!

[3s-gtech]

I'd probably say go with your instincts on the Unifi kit, either with an outdoor AP or one with an aerial port (if they do one). You'll get good value and a decent product - much of the consumer stuff will not be much cheaper really.

[sted]

out of curiosity have you tried connecting to it with a device closer to the ap that speed might be all the ap is giving out so spending money wont achieve anything

[HarryMonkey]

I've stayed on a few parks where they offer site-wide free wifi but only at a low speed, to get a faster speed you need to sign up for the paid for option so, as someone has already said, spending money on hardware may not improve your speed.

[PotNoodleTech]

Yeh that's the one thing to check - it may be their bog standard BT connection 1 mile from the exchange is only actually going to get 5Mb/s so you can fit all the £1000 Cisco access points you like and would still get 4Mb/s

 

Only way of finding out for sure if to plug into their router with an Ethernet cable and then do a speedtest!

[mikeprice]

Yeh that's the one thing to check - it may be their bog standard BT connection 1 mile from the exchange is only actually going to get 5Mb/s so you can fit all the £1000 Cisco access points you like and would still get 4Mb/s

 

Only way of finding out for sure if to plug into their router with an Ethernet cable and then do a speedtest!

 

So basically - put on black boots, black trousers, and a black hoody with the hood up

crawl stealthily up to the AP at midnight (or later - depends on the type of caravan park)

 

take the cable out and plug it into your laptop - which must be in a lightproof box

 

measure speed

 

reconnect AP and crawl back to your caravan

 

removed muddy clothes - probably AFTER entering caravan - but again that depends on the type of caravan park (I say this after finding out what the LSAS place down the road from my MIL's house meant)

 

go back to bed after reporting result on EduGeek