What mobile router do you use when travelling in the car and when camping, and how does it work for you.................

Hi George we use a TP–Link 4G router nice and small just a little bigger than the old lion matchbox and has worked very well for us. Been using it for the last 4 years even use it at home. Every where we have been I also have a small battery backup with USB ports for when we had load shedding. That was was the only real issue we had as when there was load shedding even though the portable router continued to work if the battery backup at the tower went down, then so did our signal. Hoping that Starlink gets here soon.

We also take the router with us when we go out anywhere so we always have internet, however after four years of continuous use the routers battery now only lasts about three to four hours compared to eight when it was new, so its time to replace it before our next tour in which starts in Jan\Feb. 

Our data is via Afrihost – uncapped for R697\m

We using a small Huawei which we got from vodacom, however every where we go the signal is never great..... Brian would you have a pic of that router,

.

I use a RAIN router which I was given second hand.  It uses 12V but is much larger than the credit card sized ones, about 9X9X20 cm but much more powerful.  In the past I used generic ones like TP Link with the external antennas but found that the Rain one gave a stronger signal and thus a higher LAN speed. I use the RAIN everywhere we camp besides at home.

I also bought an Alcatel modem/router as standby that proved equally effective.  It is a bit more compact as the RAIN. 

George wrote:

We using a small Huawei which we got from vodacom, however every where we go the signal is never great..... Brian would you have a pic of that router,

.

TP–LINK 7350 but I assume by now there is a newer model. So small I just slide it into my pocket when we go out.

I‘m hoping that by Jan when I get a new one that the 5G model is available.

Takealot has the M7350 for R1299  Link

Forgot to tell you, set the modem and control settings via an app on the phone.

Hi Brian

I am in the process to replace the wifi at home as we are preparing for the long camping and travels shortly.

I looked at the link you provided and think that that is the way to go.  We use the wifi mostly to contact the kids and watch Youtube and Netflix.  So I would like to get uncapped data.  If I go to Afrihost do they supply the simcard or how does it work? 

Must I go to Vodacom or MTN? Any other advice from anyone will be appreciated.

Leon, ons gebruik 'n D-Link router in die huis, die ene met 4 antennatjies. Ons het by Cell-C 'n simkaart gekoop waarop jy dan volgens jou keuse data-pakkette kan laai.

Ons ry met vakansies dit sommer saam, asook 'n skootrekenaar om kontak te maak met alles. Aangesien beide min krag benodig, is dit selfs bruikbaar dmv 'n omsetter vanaf die batterye/sonpanele. 

Leon wrote:

Hi Brian

I am in the process to replace the wifi at home as we are preparing for the long camping and travels shortly.

I looked at the link you provided and think that that is the way to go.  We use the wifi mostly to contact the kids and watch Youtube and Netflix.  So I would like to get uncapped data.  If I go to Afrihost do they supply the simcard or how does it work? 

Must I go to Vodacom or MTN? Any other advice from anyone will be appreciated.

Leon originally we just purchased a pay as you go MTN card however if you don't load airtime on the sim card and use it MTN switch the card off after two months and you have to stat over.

Afrihost then supplied the sim card and they ensure that it stays active on their system.

Customer service from Afrihost is excellent. We still use the same system now for many years and take the modem with us wherever we go as it's nice and small with its own battery. We have upgraded to the TP-Link M7650 as the battery on the original eventually gave up.

Thank you Brian and Wessel.  I have a D-link at home. Must check if it has a Sim card slot.  Even got a back up power bank for it in case of load shedding.

The beauty of the mobile router is being so small with the battery you can take it absolutely anywhere you go. You are then always on your private secure network no need to join any public networks. Goes in the car when we travel can keep it charged with the USB port in the car. 

Not sure of the model D-link and SIM card  you have, it could possibly be tied to one tower you need to check that. 

I also use the router from Vodacom. Portable and goes with us when camping. Excellent coverage (well, up to now ....) so no problems. 

My main issue is ...... (don't laugh!) ..... after my fitting/attaching the TV screen and the extras in my caravan (refer previous posts where I converted a laptop screen to accept TV, had to fit external speakers etc. etc.), going to the trouble of setting up the dish etc. etc. crickey!!!! ....... I now find it far easier to just stream the programs we wish to see! My Vodacom internet gives me 2 Tb per month, so we are quite comfortable with that.

Now to find a gadget to link the laptop (TV) screen to my laptop ....... things never end, do they?

 (refer previous posts where I converted a laptop screen to accept TV, had to fit external speakers etc. etc.)

Nico will you please bring that thread forward.

mulderpm wrote:

 (refer previous posts where I converted a laptop screen to accept TV, had to fit external speakers etc. etc.)

Nico will you please bring that thread forward.

Haai daar Paul.

Kan nou nie onmiddelik die vorige skrywe opspoor nie, maar in kort is dit:

1. My vrek gesoek na 'n klein skottel vir die TV. Het uiteindelik so 'n skottel (met bykomstige tassie) as geskenk gekry 
2. Die kleinste TV skerm wat ek kon kry was nog te groot vir my (weens beskikbare spasie in "Awol"). Skootrekenaar skerm is verkry en die nodige koppeling aan die dekodeerder bekom.
3. Probleem was egter dat die skerm nie klank kon gee nie
4. Apparaatjie bekom wat wel die nodige klank kon voortbring
5. Bogenoemde het egter 2 luidsprekers benodig, so ek het 2 selfoon luidsprekers (nie 'n "boombox" nie) bekom en geïnstalleer. Elektriese drade en konneksies was woes!
6. Die aanhoudende koppelling van al die "kedoefers" het uiteindelik daartoe gelei dat ek permanente installasie gedoen het. Alles vasgebout!
7.  Maar, soos die Prediker sê - "Alles tevergeefs en na al die moeite op die einde, ... redelik lekker gewerk, maar nou "stream" ek maar!!!

My skootrekenaar se skerm is volgens my kennis nie beskikbaar as n'skerm van n'externe decodeerder nie? Met ander woorde die poorte op die skoot rekenaar (HDMI en miskien VGA) is uitsette. Mens kan wel n'app laai om dan te stream en te kyk op die skerm.

Ek het gekyk na wat genoem word n' HDMI na USB Video Caprure stokkie. Maar ek het hom nog nie probeer nie. Dan behoort ek HDMI van die decoder in die USB poort van die skootrekenaar te kan konekteer en op die skerm te wys.

Hy lyk so. Kos so R250.

George wrote:

We using a small Huawei which we got from vodacom, however every where we go the signal is never great..... Brian would you have a pic of that router,

.

I would add data to my cellphone and activate the Hotspot. As far as sketchy reception you could use an external antenna to try and improve the signal. A bit like the old TV antenna.

You can use your phone to align it in 2 minutes. Available on Takealot or most of the Cell/TV accessory shops.

On your Android phone go to Settings - About Phone - Sim Status - Signal Strength. The lower the -dBm the better. If you get 15 ASU you should be able to use your data. 

Thanks Ken. I do the same. I bought a Cell phone router but never used it. The idea was to buy a home cellular package for it and use it as a stand alone internet connection but using our prepaid cell phone with hotspot is much simpler and much more convenient/flexible. For the price of an uncapped or 1TB home package I can do very similar with my prepaid, when required and available. We also don't realy watch TV much and mostly where we go the cellular signal is weak or non existant. 

Well as mentioned I stopped the fibre network at home due to bad service and download speeds.

Got a TP Link M7350 4G LTE with screen display from Takealot with a Afrihost Vodacom contract 50Mbps uncapped for less than half the cost of the fibre network at R399.

Now I can even take the wifi with everytime we go camping.

Ek is darem nou keel vol vir Metrofibre, RSA Web en WiRuLink. As mens nie sukkel om met die rekenaar te werk nie dan kan jy nie eers Youtube of Netflix iets stream nie.

Ek glo ons gesukkel is nou verby.

Leon wrote:

Well as mentioned I stopped the fibre network at home due to bad service and download speeds.

Got a TP Link M7350 4G LTE with screen display from Takealot with a Afrihost Vodacom contract 50Mbps uncapped for less than half the cost of the fibre network at R399.

Now I can even take the wifi with everytime we go camping.

Ek is darem nou keel vol vir Metrofibre, RSA Web en WiRuLink. As mens nie sukkel om met die rekenaar te werk nie dan kan jy nie eers Youtube of Netflix iets stream nie.

Ek glo ons gesukkel is nou verby.

Leon I'm not sure that is a mobile package. The Sim will be locked to your nearest tower.

If you need to have a mobile package then you needed to take an "Air Mobile" package - data only. These are more expensive than the standard packages which are tower locked.

Maybe check with them that you will still be able to have access if you move around camping.