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Caravan WIFI

Caravan WIFI

Need caravan WIFi but don’t have a phone line? Find out how to get a fast internet connection in your caravan at a competitive price without a Landline.

As the internet continues to integrate further into our daily lives, the significance of Caravan WIFI has grown immensely. There could be various motives bringing you here—perhaps your existing onsite WIFI lacks performance, or you might lack an internet connection entirely. Regardless of the scenario, there’s promising news. Caravan WIFI has seen a surge in availability and affordability across the UK in recent times.

Within this blog, we will outline the process of establishing a WIFI connection for your caravan. We’ll detail the necessary purchases, guide you through the setup procedure, and provide an overview of the costs associated with purchasing a caravan WIFI router.

PLUG & Play WIFI for Caravans: If you would like to skip these steps and let Caravan Things take care of it all for you with one of our Plug & Play kits. Static Caravan Pug and play kit

It has become a necessity to be connected to the internet these days. The problem is this usually requires a phone line. Some Caravan sites get around this issue by providing onsite WIFI, however this can be slow and unreliable. Basically the more people that connect to the onsite WIFI the slower your caravan WIFI becomes.

There’s also those who have no Caravan WIFI connection at all and are finding it an ever growing problem.

The solution to this comes from the utilization of the 4G network. The 4G network is the same network your mobile phone utilizes to connect to the internet. However, we are able to overcome issues you may have with signal strength in your area by utilizing made for purpose 4G routers and if required external antenna kits.

4G caravan WIFI Network

Caravan WIFI Service Providers
Caravan WIFI Service Providers

You may be thinking that 4G internet for your caravan wont work for you. Maybe you have poor signal on your mobile phone? or lack of signal all together?

If your mobile phone has a poor signal this can be due to many reasons. Most of the UK now has 4G coverage provided to it by at least one service provider. In many cases you can ensure signal strength for your Caravan WIFI simply by selecting the correct network.

If you want to understand the best network service provider at your location then full signal surveys are available. We would recommend a Full signal survey provided by our friends at OffGridWIFI.co.uk. They provide you a full signal survey on all networks, including mast locations.

4G signal strength

Full 4G/5G signal strength and mast locations check

lack of signal can be caused by interference. Caravan Site interference can a be caused by surrounding buildings and the close proximity of other caravans. Added to this, 4G signal doesn’t tend to pass through caravans too well. This is mainly due to the material they are constructed from (including foil insulation).

Site WIFI Interference

Other issues such as onsite WIFI and interference from electrical devices, surrounding vegetation/trees and the general landscape can also play a big part in signal strength.

Download speeds and service reliability are directly related to how strong a signal you receive. Therefore selecting the network with strongest signal in your area is the most important first step in receiving fast and reliable Caravan WIFI.

4G Caravan WIFI Network Service providers

There are 4 main network service providers in the UK. These are Vodafone, EE, Three & O2. There are also providers that piggy back onto the main service providers network, These include the likes of GIFFGAFF & SKYMOBILE.

4G Signal Strength

For the more technically inclined the best way to choose the correct service provider is to run Signal checks. There are many ways to do this. You can visit each service providers website , or even contact them individually via phone and ask them to run signal checks at your location. They should be also able to a suggest your expected data speeds and signal strength.

Another method would be to ask friends and neighbours in your area about their mobile phone signal experience . It is likely they have varying levels of experience with differing suppliers. Choose the best amongst them. But do note that some of the issues they face may be hardware related rather than the signal itself.

Caravan-things can also run 4G signal checks on your behalf. Use our contact form including your Post code where requested and we will feedback within 24hrs Click here

4G Internet Cost

Another important factor in selecting the best service provider is cost. If you intend to go with a SIM only contract then each service provider is relatively equal in terms of what they cost. For example on a unlimited Data package the price range between the major Suppliers is from £32-£35 a month.

If like many of our readers you don’t use your Caravan all year round, the last thing you want is to be stuck to a contract and paying each month even when you aren’t there. Fortunately caravan-Things has found as solution to this.

GIFFGAFF Non-Contract Network

GIFFGAFF offer a pay as you go deals that with unlimited data for the same price as a contract. They offer this in bundles known as “GOODYBAGS”.

When you purchase a “GOODYBAG” you receive a set amount of data that will last 1 month, exactly like a contract deal. However there is no requirement to top up each month. Therefore if you only stay at your caravan 50% of the year, you will only pay for that time.

Get a free giffgaff Sim

How much data you need for caravan WIFI is completely dependant on your expected usage.

If you intend to stream videos using the likes of NETLFIX or AMAZON Prime you will likely require Unlimited data costing approximately £35 per month.

If using your caravan WIFI for general web surfing, reading the news etc… Then you may only require as little as 10GB of data and expect to pay as little as £10 a month.

For more information on caravan internet service providers take a look at our other Blogs below

4G Caravan Router

Caravan WIFI 4G Router
Caravan WIFI 4G Router

Once you have selected your network the next step is to choose your 4G router.

4G routers are similar to that of the router you have at home but they don’t require a landline. Instead 4G routers allow you to insert the sim card provided by your network supplier and use the same network you mobile phone utilizes.

When picking your 4G router for your Caravan WIFI there are some basic features we would suggest you look for.

4G ROUTER CAT

First we would recommend at least a CAT4 router. these routers are capable of 150Mbps which is more than adequate for Caravan WIFI. The higher the category number of the router the faster and more capable the router tends to be. You will find information on what category the router is in its normal description.

Tourer or static caravan WIFI

Touring caravan WIFI

If you are looking for WIFI for your Touring caravan you may want a router with its own battery source that can be charged and used when not hooked up to the grid. These routers tend not to have antennas so you may find it more difficult to receive a strong signal. However, there are variants available that have antenna ports which allow you to connect an external antenna to help boost signal.

As static caravans tend to have a 240V power available. You can take advantage of the same 4G routers you could use at any normal home. These offer the benefit of having substantial antennas that will increase signal strength significantly. Many of these routers also tend to have removable antennas which allows you to quickly upgrade to a 4G external antenna

Caravan 4G antennas

Caravan WIFI 4G Antenna
Caravan WIFI 4G Antenna

If you are in a poor signal area or you want to get the best speeds and most reliable caravan WIFI possible then external antennas offer you a solution.

Many 4G routers allow you to remove their standard antennas and connect an external antenna instead. Your caravans WIFI will improve quite substantially with the use of an external antenna for two reasons.

Caravan WIFI interference

The first reason being that the caravans structure can block a significant amount of signal and add interference. Installing an external antenna means the signal does not have to pass through the caravan structure and is not subject to internal interference caused by other electrical devices and the routers own WIFI transmission.

External antenna signal boost

The second reason an external antenna will increase your broadband speed is because its so much larger and more sensitive than the standard antenna. In fact using such an antenna internally would still significantly increase you signal.

There are many antenna types to choose from. Our favourite due to its great results on previous projects is the Poynting XPOL 2 5G ready antenna.

POIYNTING 4G antenna for caravans

The Poynting XPOL 1 V2 is ideal for caravan WIFI as it can be both pole mounted and suction cup mounted.

The antenna can be pole mounted on a new antenna mast or share your existing TV aerial mast making it ideal for static caravans.

The antenna can also be mounted temporarily on a flat surface using its suction cups. This makes it also ideal for Touring caravans and Campers.

The antenna is omni directional so does not require accurate location or pointing at the nearest mast, although doing so will increase signal strength. This antenna is compatible with both the Suggested routers above.

These antennas are more than worth the outlay and this particular model is also 5G ready meaning it will be suitable for routers years from now.

For more on Caravan WIFI check out some of our other posts. Or contact us for further guidance

PLUG AND PLAY Caravan WIFI

If you would like to skip all the above described steps, take a look at our PLUG AND PLAY KITS

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Caravan Broadband Internet Guide

Caravan Broadband Internet Guide help

Caravan broadband Internet has become ever more vital to ensure you can stay connected and complete every day tasks when staying in your caravan, Motorhome or Camper. The good news is it’s never been easier to get connected. Find out how here.

Its simple to get connected, you need just two things. A 4G router and a data subscription.

The easy way to get broadband internet for your caravan

PLUG AND PLAY KIT: Before you read on. We understand that people have different levels of Tech ability. With this in mind if the below information gets a little bit too much to take in, then don’t worry. Caravan-Things.com has put together some plug and play solutions for you.

Simply select either the static caravan or Touring caravan broadband solutions below. We set everything up for you. you simply receive the item in the post, Press the power button and you’re up and running. The data plan is pre-loaded with £15 of credit and we provide you a simple step by step guide of how to top up your credit further.

We also provide a simple guide of how to connect your smart devices to the Broadband router & if that’s not enough we’re always happy to help you further. Just use our contact form to ask for help if you get stuck.

We have also just released our latest package for caravan owners in areas with a weak phone signal. For more information click here

Caravan Broadband Internet kit PLUG AND PLAY
Caravan WIFI Plug and Play

If You’d still like to go it alone, then read on we have all the information you need to set your caravan up with broadband internet. We also have further guides and information in our Caravan & Camper WIFI Guides Page

4G Routers for caravans

Mobile broadband routers are routers that utilize networks usually adopted by your smart phone.

Mobile internet connectivity that is available to caravans has taken huge leaps in recent years. 3G, 4G, and now 5G connectivity offer off the grid internet speeds comparable to that of your telephone line at home. They offer speeds that are more than adequate to stream all the latest box sets and movies via your Netflix, Amazon Prime, Youtube & Google streaming services. With technologies such as smart speakers reliant upon having a WiFi broadband router available to them, Mobile broadband routers have become vital to sustain a modern way of life in your caravan when off the grid

Choosing the right Caravan Broadband Router

So lets keep things simple. There’s only a few things you need to consider when purchasing a caravan broadband internet 4G router.

Firstly do you have mains 240v power available? If the answer is no then don’t worry there’s still an option available to you. WIFI Hot Spot Routers exist that utilize batteries much like your smart phone. These are perfect for camper vans, camping and off grid touring caravans. They are available in 3G and 4G format. If unsure what this means its simple 4G offers faster connectivity than 3G. There’s a lot of choice but be careful not to just choose the cheapest as the higher end models tend to offer increased reliability and connectivity for more devices.

If you are lucky enough to have 240v/Mains power available then all of the above applies except you have larger selection of broadband routers available to you. These routers are known as 4G or LTE routers. Look for a minimum of a CAT4 Router to ensure you achieve good broadband speeds. You can find the Cat number included in the title or the product or description. Also look for routers with removable 4G antennas. This will allow you to replace with an external antenna if required or desired.

To learn more about Touring caravan routers click here

Caravan Broadband Internet router

If you’re looking to buy a static caravan 4G router, we have an ideal model available right here. it has all the specifications you need for static caravan and holiday home usage. Our kit Includes duel high gain antennas, 300Mbps speeds and is unlocked to any network. Click here to find out more

External antenna for poor signal areas

Caravan 4G antenna setup
Caravan 4G antenna setup

Installing an external antenna and connecting it to your compatible 4G router can greatly increase your signal strength in poor signal areas.

A good quality 4G external antenna will also boost signal speeds and reliability in even strong signal areas , making it a sound investment for all Caravan owners

Your Caravan’s or Motorhome’s construction does not lend itself well to caravan broadband internet 4G signals passing through it. Couple this with interference from surrounding electronics, buildings and vegetation and you can decrease signal strength significantly.

The 4G external antenna clears the signal blockers, gives better line of sight to the transmitting mast and filters out interference. Caravan-Things.com offer Caravan Broadband internet kits including high quality external antennas take a look by clicking the below.

Static Caravan broadband internet Kit & Antenna
Static Caravan 4G kit with antenna

Its important to choose the correct antenna for your requirement for more information on Caravan WIFI click here

A basic rule is to avoid cheap Chinese 4G antennas. We have inspected many of these to find they are simply printed circuit boards with some copper strip applied. These offer very little in the way of signal gain. In fact by the time the cable has stretched to the router you will have lost more signal than you started with.

You should look to pay between £100 and £200 for a good quality external antenna. This seems expensive but is well worth the investment to ensure a reliable and fast internet connection.

Broadband data plans for your caravan

As with your internet at home you will require a service provider in order to achieve caravan broadband internet. In this case the service providers are the same used for your Smart Phone. Major suppliers being EE, 3, Vodafone, o2 etc…

You have two options when choosing a service provider. you can go down the “Pay As You Go” route which allows you to top up your credit as you use it, or you can take the monthly subscription/contract route, which you pay an agreed amount dependant on the amount of data you would like to use per month.

Don’t be put off by this. We would suggest that you start with the “Pay As You Go” route as this will allow you to build a sense of how much data you use on average. This will mean if you decide to go down the subscription/contract route in the future you will know exactly which plan you require.

caravan internet service provider

We would recommend giffgaff as a service provider for your caravan broadband internet . they offer contract level deals on a pay as you go basis. for example you can pay £25 for unlimited data for 1 month. meaning you can stream movies, play games and surf the internet without a worry in the world.

Better still the sim cards are completely free, next day delivery and if you click the link below you will receive an additional £5 credit when you top up . order one here at GiffGaffs website.