Internet setup - RV-Dreams Community Forum

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

Internet setup

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

The MBR 1000 will not allow a wi-fi connection, only cellular or WAN.

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ah...didn't realize that Bill. Thanks.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

The MBR-1000 is now over three years old and MBR95 is its replacement. Our setup is close to what they are recommending and has worked well for three years, with an MBR-1000. We use wifi to four computers, mixed Windows and Linux, so it should work for you. It sounds like you have a Millenicom 760 to get 20GB and it works well. There are places, like here in Ilwaco, WA, where Verizon is extended network and you only get 1X speeds, but most places are 3G.

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Bill J...yes I have the Millenicom 760 and so far it is pretty good. It has dropped my connection a few times though.

On thing I need to look into is in Matt's review of the MBR95 he said it does not support an external antenna. I assume that I would be plugging the antenna into my modem, though.

-- Edited by The Hensons on Tuesday 5th of July 2011 12:47:36 PM

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes, the external antenna that is lacking for the MBR95 is for bringing in distant WiFi signals and not cellular. I find most campground WiFi is not worth dealing with and the good ones seem to have good coverage in the campground and don't need boosting with antennas or amps.

Dropping connections is unfortunately common in some locations no matter who you got the USB modem from. It happens with phones also in those same locations, and is worse during events when the local cellular population increases. We have been using a Virgin Mobile USB modem while in a location where Sprint has a tower but Verizon does not (Sprint owns Virgin Mobile and we are grandfathered into the $40 a month for 5GB plan). During the holiday weekend we had dropped connections but today with most everyone gone we are running solid. Eleven months of the year Verizon is quite reliable in Quartzsite, AZ, but in January it can be terrible with the large influx of people and only a few cell towers.

3Gstore_Matt · RV-Dreams Family Member

That is the big downside of the MBR95 (for WiFi as WAN) and the plus of the WiFi Ranger. The problem is the WiFi Ranger doesn't offer much choice with wireless modems so you may find it hard to get a supported modem down the road.

Technically you can use our WFR Boost with the MBR95, but it's not a simple setup and would be a DIY unsupported deal more than likely. I've thought about doing a video on how to do, I just haven't had a chance to yet. The nice thing about the WiFi Ranger is that it does it all for you, which is why many really like that particular project.

I'm not sure if you've investigated things but another combo could be the MBR95 and Pepwave Surf Mini ( http://3gstore.com/mini ), which would still be a lower price point than the WiFi Ranger Pro + WFR Boost and offer you the ability to connect to park WiFi. Again it won't be quite as powerful as the WFR Boost mounted outside or have automatic ranging features, but does offer an external antenna solution.

-- Edited by 3Gstore_Matt on Tuesday 5th of July 2011 04:40:17 PM

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

3Gstore_Matt wrote:
offer you the ability to connect to park WiFi.

Matt,

are you saying the 95 doesn't have this ability..or it's just not boosted?

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

You might want to take a look at my website (in the sig line) and look in the Communications section. There is a downloadable file there that will instruct you on how to build your own Boost, or connect a CPE (which is what the Boost is) to any router. Including a 95. The download is in the Resources section at the top of the Communications page.

-- Edited by Jack Mayer on Wednesday 6th of July 2011 09:16:45 AM

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Jack...I will do that. I already use your site as a point of reference by the way...really appreciate the information you have put together.

The other thing I am trying to do is boost my cell phone signal for calling. Would I be able to add a repeater to the MBR95 later?

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Routers cannot boost a cellular signal. You would need a separate antenna (amp optional) with a direct connection to the cell phones antenna port.

3Gstore_Matt · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Hensons wrote:
3Gstore_Matt wrote:
offer you the ability to connect to park WiFi.

Matt,
are you saying the 95 doesn't have this ability..or it's just not boosted?

The MBR95 does offer WiFi as WAN and will connect to any park WiFi. What I was saying is you can't add an external antenna, which means it's not as versital as the WiFi Ranger in "WiFi as WAN".

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for clarifying...sounds like the MBR95 is the right choice for me then.