When driving your RV for long distances, it is likely you will drive through areas with little to no internet service. To avoid a bad internet connection, there are a few types of products that are made to help this situation that you can take with you on your RV adventures.
To get internet on an RV, products such as internet jetpacks and RV cellular signal boosters give passengers WiFi while on the road. These WiFi devices can connect to laptops, phones, tablets, etc., but some products will have a limit on how many devices can be connected at once.
There are different ways to get an internet or WiFi connection while driving an RV out on long roads, so read below for products and prices.
Jetpack vs. RV WiFi Router
Generally, there are two types of products that will work best for an RV. You can purchase a Jetpack from your cellular company, or you can get a WiFi router from another company. WiFi routers for RVs are bigger, have to be mounted to the wall, and require an antenna to be mounted to the roof of the RV. Routers have a lot more parts and can have a higher monthly cost, but it works better for some people.
A Jetpack is a portable hotspot that can connect 7-15 devices on it, and it is small and can fit in your hand easily. A jetpack can be used in multiple situations. You can use it on the road, in the car, in an RV, and anywhere you need. If you are working from a coffee shop, you can use your jetpack there too. It is more versatile than a WiFi router and is likely cheaper depending on the product you choose.
Both products will need a service provider and will have monthly costs. Both products enhance the signal you are getting, it is not creating its own internet signal. If you have a low connection, it makes it stronger. If you have no connection, these products won’t help you. Only a telephone tower can create a signal, these products make the connection stronger. So, depending on how much you will use one product over the other, you can decide which is best for you.
Read below for more specific products that match the descriptions mentioned.
T-Mobile Hotspot
This is a product made by T-Mobile to bring WiFi with you on your long road trips, or anywhere you need an internet connection. Driving and camping in an RV are fun, and kids enjoy it too, but keeping people entertained for hours on end is hard. Especially if there are kids in the RV. So, streaming a movie on a tablet can be a good idea, but it will be interrupted when you drive through patches of little to no service. So, how can you avoid that?
Depending on who your service provider is, you can likely find a mobile hotspot or jetpack sold by them. A hotspot is like portable WiFi, and this one by T-Mobile can connect up to 15 devices. This will help you stream movies and shows without interruption. There are different versions of this product for a variety of different network providers, making it easy to find one that works for you! (Source)
Verizon Mobile Hot Spot
This product is great and highly raved about. Verizon sells Pro plan for gaming and movies, this is an affordable option. Verizon Airspeed Mobile Hot Spot is comparable to a Jetpack, but it has different inner workings. It costs about $60, and it can be used in RVs, or you can even just use it in your car on road trips.
This product has fast speed, long battery life, and can connect up to 10 different devices at a time. So, if dad is driving and using his phone for navigation, and mom is using her phone while the kids are all using their devices to watch a movie, then it works well. It can get everyone covered at once, and it has more applications than routers specifically made for RVs.
Jetpack Verizon MiFi
Verizon makes many different Jetpack options. This product specifically is their MiFi version, which is more expensive than the Hot Spot product by Verizon. Jetpack Version MiFi costs about $150 on Amazon, and it can connect up to 15 devices.
So, you can tell that this is stronger than the other Verizon product above by the number of devices it can connect to. It has a long-lasting battery life and it is great for on the road. Your internet provider likely makes their own Jetpack products and you can call and ask them about what they offer. But, Verizon is more known for their Jetpacks and they have more of those products than other companies.
Talk to your internet provider and ask about what the monthly cost of adding a Jetpack might be for you. Also, you should see if getting the product from your provider is cheaper or more expensive. Definitely ask about the number of devices it can connect to and what the connection is like.
If it is consistent with strong connections, then it is a product worth getting. But, compare the options of your provider against other providers and see if you can find the best product for you.
Dish for RV TravelFi
This is another product made specifically for an RV. It is secure, has great coverage, has large data plans, and has no contract commitments. You can pay as you go and not worry about this product hurting your wallet.
Dish for RV TravelFi combines Virtual SIM Technology with Internet Hotspot to give you fast internet and amazing coverage. They have different monthly plans that get more expensive as the gigabytes increase. The lowest plan is $19/month for 2GB whereas the most expensive plan is $199/month for 800GB.
This product can get expensive fast. You pay an initial $229 for the product, then you pay monthly for the product through your carrier. You can keep your cost lower, but depending on your wants for the product, you can pay a lot more than you originally thought. It may be worth it for you, or it may not. It is a great product but definitely weigh your options and see what works best for you.
Camping World Mobile WiFi Hotspot
This is a product that is also made for the outdoors. It is made to work with your traveling and to cover all your devices used in your RV. Camping World Mobile WiFi hotspot costs $169.99 but can often be purchased on sale. This product is made to work inside a home and uses a Hotspot for connection.
If you don’t already know, a Hotspot is a feature you can use on your phone to give another device a signal when they don’t have one. It uses cellular data to transfer signals to connected devices and these products that use Hotspot to give signals work great. It is like carrying around extra data that you can connect to receive a stronger connection.
This Camping World Mobile WiFi Hotspot can be assigned to your internet provider and is great for on the road. If you need a product to make sure you have a consistent connection while on the road where there is a weak signal, then this is a great product to look into.
Simple Mobile No-Contract Mobile Hotspot
This product is exactly as it sounds. It is simple to use, has no contract, and uses Hotspot connection to bring you internet while out and about. Simple Mobile No-Contract Mobile hotspot is cheaper than the many options above. It costs $49.99 and can connect up to 16 devices. It works great and is highly rated.
The product gives you 4G speed and the product itself has a long-lasting battery life. So, you can charge it up before a big trip and then have it ready for your connectivity needs. There are different monthly plans for your coverage and they range from $30-$60 per month.
One thing that can help you decide if any of these products are a good idea is to compare the monthly cost and determine if you will use it enough to make the cost justified. Then, you can find a product like this Simple Mobile product that has estimated monthly costs and allows you to determine what price is best for you.
We Boost Connect RV WiFi
This is another product specifically made for an RV, but it is more expensive than the product above. The We Boost Connect RV WiFi costs about $650, and it has been designed to work for you. The product can work with any carrier, like Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and Us Cellular. Plus, it was made to give you fast internet with great range.
The package you get comes with a 25′ telephone pole, a directional antenna, a wall mount panel antenna, wall mount brackets, a 30′ cable, a 15′ cable, an AC/DC power supply, a connection booster, and a 12-volt DC fused hardwire power supply. The setup takes 10 minutes or less, and you can have strong coverage when out in the middle of nowhere.
All of these products offer stronger signals than what is around you, but if there is no signal in your area then you will not get any internet. These products connect to telephone towers and without those nearby, you cannot have internet. Basically, these products cannot create internet, only give you access to a stronger signal.
WiFi Routers for your RV Life:
Google Nest
Getting a Google Nest can be great for your RV. The WiFi signal can reach up to 1,500 square feet, and it can fully cover any van or RV. It only costs $99.99, and you can download an app with it that can help you control the Google Nest.
The Google Nest also updates itself automatically, so you can have updated features as soon as they are out. This also helps to get rid of any glitches that can occur with technology. It will improve and fix problems without your effort. This product is normally used at home as the sole WiFi source or as an extender for the WiFi. It is an affordable option to test it out and see if it works for you.
Orbi WiFi
This product has great reviews, and it has amazing coverage and fast speed. The Orbi Wifi is more expensive, and it is about $400. It covers 2,500 square feet, which is a lot more than an RV needs, but it can be convenient. If you are sitting in a camping chair outside your RV, then you can still be connected to WiFi, which is a nice perk.
This is also made to have a bigger router inside it that allows for high speed and large distance. If you are unsure that this will or will not work for you, then call and talk to your internet provider or call the company of the product you want to buy and ask if it will work for your needs. Then, you can find out about any hidden costs as well and see if you have to pay a monthly fee or not.
Conclusion
These products are all great options with the list ranging from low costs to high costs. So, many of these products will fit your budget no matter how big or small. You can definitely research these products more and call your provider about them to see if they are compatible with your carrier. This can give you the most information about what options you have before buying the product.
You can use the products to extend the signal in your own home or use it in your RV. Just make sure that you know it will work for you in your RV before buying. Call the company and ask what the applications of the WiFi product are. If it can work inside your specific RV, then it is a product worth considering.