Wi-fi question

[concretebox]

I have several wi-fi devices in my van (ChromeCast Roku, XBOX 360, Tablet, phone and computer). I've seen the thread about getting wi-fi in your van using an external parabolic antenna, but all of those seem to run directly into one device (usually a laptop).

Is there a way to use an external antenna to "pull in" a wi-fi signal for use on all my devices. I have a wi-fi range extender, but my understanding is that can only be used when I have admin access to the wi-fi signal, so it wouldn't work in a situation where I was trying to "snipe" wi-fi from a business that offers free wi-fi to customers or in a campground where the wi-fi signal is weak at my spot.

 

[RVTravel]

You need a wifi router that has a USB input like those sold by Cradlepoint. I'd imagine that is how the parabolic antenna plugs in.

 

[Lucky mike]

you are going to find that Wifi is useless in campgrounds and places where itis free to use it for streaming.......as far as an outside parabolic or yagi....I use one alot and feed it into my rig thru a laptop that I set up as a hotspot and it works well....but I dont stream movies and programs......goodluck!!

 

[rinella]

I think this does what you want, but it's not affordable: https://www.wifiranger.com/solutions-mobileti/rv-wifi-mobileti

 

[offroad]

Agree with all the comments. Wifi is useless in campgrounds to do any video streaming. You need 1.5 Mbps minimum and most of these can't handle that on bulk from users. Some wifi systems are such crap that am surprised they are offered. Alternatives are:

1). Buy an unlimited 4glte plan for AT&T or VERIZON. These are on sale from third parties, not direct from companies. Very expensive but worth it to stream movies. And they are a gamble about being shut off.

2). Use a download service at STARBUCKS. Get your movies downloaded. And watch them during the week.

3). Rent DVDs or borrow from the library. Or even buy them. You can resell them after you watch them.

 

[Lucky mike]

I transfer all my movies to a portable harddrive......plenty of them there and have friends that also do it , makes for a super collection of movies and can transfer files back and forth with others during down times!!!!!......alot of these movies I have down loaded at the library!!!

 

[offroad]

Lucky - that's exactly what I did. I also have a travel router. You can plug a hard drive into it. It will Serve the movies for you to watch with iPad or Android tablet. I use the HOOTOO HT-TM01

 

[concretebox]

I have a lot of tv and movies on my hard drive and a friend is joining me up with more. However I'm about half way though a re-watch of the StarGate series and my friend dosen't have it. I'll look at the thrift stores for used copies of the dvds. Maybe I'll meet someone at the RTR that can trade?

 

[LeeRevell]

A bit off-topic, but on the idea of getting DVDs.....
What about public libraries? If you will be in town awhile, get a library card. In this day of electronics doing everything, do the libraries loan out DVDs like they do books? Watch it then return it before you leave town.
Of course there is also Red Box.

 

[RogueRV2]

Look up simplewifi.com I've used it for over a year now. Works good!