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communication:internet [2025/03/24 22:35]
frater_secessus [Connecting to WiFi] |
communication:internet [2025/09/27 00:25] (current)
frater_secessus [Connecting to WiFi] |
| {{ :communication:starlink-mini-and-puppy.jpeg?nolink&400|}} | {{ :communication:starlink-mini-and-puppy.jpeg?nolink&400|}} |
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| The receivers vary in size from the size of a laptop (Mini Dishy) to about the size of an Xtra-Large pizza box (HP In-Motion Dishy), and can take a lot of power (50-150w continuous draw, depending on the dish and weather conditions). The less expensive receivers aren't designed for the sort of vibration and forces imparted when driving, so the majority of Starlink users keep the dish inside the van with them and only deploy it when they're stopped somewhere for an extended period of time. See one user's experience here: https://www.tuckstruck.net/truck-and-kit/geekery/starlink-for-overlanders/. The in-motion $2,500 receiver //is// designed to mounted to the roof of vehicles and be operable while moving, but for most van dwellers the costs is not worth it. | The receivers vary in size from the size of a laptop (Mini Dishy) to about the size of an Xtra-Large pizza box (HP In-Motion Dishy), and can take a lot of power (50-150w continuous draw, depending on the dish and weather conditions). The less expensive receivers aren't designed for the sort of vibration and forces imparted when driving, so the majority of Starlink users keep the dish inside the van with them and only deploy it when they're stopped somewhere for an extended period of time. See one user's experience [[https://www.tuckstruck.net/truck-and-kit/geekery/starlink-for-overlanders/|here]]. The in-motion $2,500 receiver //is// designed to mounted to the roof of vehicles and be operable while moving, but for most van dwellers the costs is not worth it. |
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| Sometimes having the portable (non-vehicle-mounted) dish is preferable. You can park in the shade, and run the dish out into a clearing (it's weatherproof). | Sometimes having the portable (non-vehicle-mounted) dish is preferable. You can park in the shade, and run the dish out into a clearing (it's weatherproof). |
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| Perhaps counterintuitively, having a non-Verizon carrier can actually be desirable at RV [[camping:social|meetups]], since everyone else is likely to be hammering the Verizon towers. | Perhaps counterintuitively, having a non-Verizon carrier can actually be desirable at RV [[camping:social|meetups]], since everyone else is likely to be hammering the Verizon towers. |
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| | === eSIM providers === |
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| | Provisioning [[communication:internet:esims|an eSIM plan]] can be a good way to get short-term service in an area where your main carrier is falling short. |
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| ==== Hardware ==== | ==== Hardware ==== |
| Wifi extenders/repeaters/routers work by hopping a wifi signal from some further access point. They are //multiple-device solutions//; all your devices will leverage the repeated wifi. | Wifi extenders/repeaters/routers work by hopping a wifi signal from some further access point. They are //multiple-device solutions//; all your devices will leverage the repeated wifi. |
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| * //Relaying//((sometimes called routing)) takes the Taco Bell Wifi and replays it as MyVanWiFi or whatever in your van. While slightly more complex to set up, this is the ideal solution. | * //Repeating//((sometimes called relaying)) takes the Taco Bell Wifi and replays it as MyVanWiFi or whatever in your van. While slightly more complex to set up, this is the ideal solution. {The [[https://youtu.be/CM4_soLf9fw?si=HUZ-g0I3L1UEsWtc&t=67|GL-iNet repeater interface]] makes it nearly Grandma-proof. These are available for as little as $25 -- secessus } |
| * Relaying works by having two separate WiFi devices connected back-to-back; One WiFi device acts as the "receiver", and connects to the host SSID (The Taco Bell WiFi). While the other WiFi device acts as your personal "transmitter" and broadcasts your local in-van network. | * Repeating works by having two separate WiFi devices connected back-to-back; One WiFi device acts as the "receiver", and connects to the host SSID (The Taco Bell WiFi). While the other WiFi device acts as your personal "transmitter" and broadcasts your local in-van network. |
| * There are products out there that attempt to do this in a single device, with varying degrees of success. However by using a receiver such as a Ubiquiti Nanostation Loco as a "receiver", and then plugged it into the WAN port whatever off-the-shelf Best Buy router you have laying around, you can accomplish this for less than $100. | * There are products out there that attempt to do this in a single device, with varying degrees of success. However by using a receiver such as a Ubiquiti Nanostation Loco as a "receiver", and then plugged it into the WAN port whatever off-the-shelf Best Buy router you have laying around, you can accomplish this for less than $100. |
| * Many commercial products such as the above-mentioned Cradlepoint routers support this setup with the term "WiFi-as-WAN". Usually you'll use one of the cellular radios (the 2.4GHz or 5GHz) to connect to the Taco Bell Wifi, and then the other radio will broadcast MyVanWiFi. Tri-band routers (which typically have two 5ghz radios and one 2.4ghz radio) are great for this as they give a lot of flexibility. | * Many commercial products such as the above-mentioned Cradlepoint routers support this setup with the term "WiFi-as-WAN". Usually you'll use one of the WiFi bands (the 2.4GHz or 5GHz) to connect to the Taco Bell Wifi, and then the other radio will broadcast MyVanWiFi. Tri-band routers (which typically have two 5ghz radios and one 2.4ghz radio) are great for this as they give a lot of flexibility. |
| * //Extending//((sometimes called "repeating")) takes the signal (Taco Bell Wifi, for example) and makes it available as Taco Bell Wifi in your van. The Taco Bell Wifi signal is //extended// beyond its original design. | * //Extending//((sometimes called "repeating")) takes the signal (Taco Bell Wifi, for example) and makes it available as Taco Bell Wifi in your van. The Taco Bell Wifi signal is //extended// beyond its original design. |
| * **Notes from a professional wireless network engineer:** These things are //terrible// and should be avoided in all but the rarest of circumstances. Because they're adding a repeating station to an already large collision domain, every WiFi repeater that is connected to a network **reduces the speed of the entire wireless network by 75%**. The best analogy is that they're the WiFi equivalent of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_microphone|The People's Megaphone]], and like the people's megaphone they make all types of communication //vastly// slower. Using one of these might make more bars appear on your phone, but as a result you are crapping all over the WiFi for everyone else who is connected to it. | * **Notes from a professional wireless network engineer:** These things are //terrible// and should be avoided in all but the rarest of circumstances. Because they're adding a repeating station to an already large collision domain, every WiFi repeater that is connected to a network **reduces the speed of the entire wireless network by 75%**. The best analogy is that they're the WiFi equivalent of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_microphone|The People's Megaphone]], and like the people's megaphone they make all types of communication //vastly// slower. Using one of these might make more bars appear on your phone, but as a result you are crapping all over the WiFi for everyone else who is connected to it. |
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| [[https://amzn.to/2GWOaCG|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31LsBv9brZL._SY90_.jpg}}]]Low-end and hobbyist units are inexpensive and can work okay, depending on your usage and technical ability. | [[https://amzn.to/2GWOaCG|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31LsBv9brZL._SY90_.jpg}}]]Low-end and hobbyist units are inexpensive and can work okay, depending on your usage and technical ability. |
