How to get WiFi in a caravan
There are 365,000 static caravans in the UK, which makes for a lot of people needing fast, reliable WiFi. But whether you’re a caravan owner, renter, or site owner, you’ve no doubt experienced problems getting WiFi installed or working effectively. Traditional fixed line ADSL broadband is rarely an option because the majority of caravans are in rural locations where there aren’t any cables to send the signal down. If there are cables, the signal is often poor due to being so far away from the exchange.
So what are the alternatives? If you’re stuck wondering how to get WiFi in a caravan, or how to improve an existing connection, here are your options laid out.
Invest in a WiFi booster
If you own or are renting a static caravan, then you’ll probably find that there is already WiFi available on site. The issue, however, is that the signal can be poor or even inaccessible in certain areas of a caravan park. This can be a huge problem if you live in your caravan, with many aspects of day-to-day life being affected by the lack of a reliable connection.
The easiest way around this is to get a WiFi booster, which does exactly what it sounds like. The WiFi booster has a directional antenna that will pick up the existing WiFi signal and reproduce it within the caravan itself, resulting in a much stronger connection for you and your family. In a large caravan, you might need more than one booster unit to achieve reliable internet in every corner. The other minor downside is that, as WiFi boosters work in conjunction with the main router, some setting up is usually required by an engineer.
Tether to your mobile
Perhaps the simplest option for getting internet in a caravan is to tether your devices to your existing mobile network. If you have a bit of work to get done, you can use your mobile internet via your laptop and should have fast enough speeds to check a few emails.
However, this is only really a short-term solution and while it might be good for an hour or two’s work, it’s not suitable for the whole family streaming movies, browsing the internet, and posting to social media. It also relies on you having enough mobile data and reliable signal which, as we all know, is definitely not a given in rural areas!
Use a MiFi device
Aside from your mobile phone itself, the most portable option is a MiFi device. Battery-powered and wireless, they use a SIM card to connect to a specific network and offer 3G, 4G and 5G internet, essentially creating a personal hotspot. They can be useful if you’re on an inconsistent or prepaid data plan, as they only use data when needed. But the technology is fairly old, and while strength and speed are usually better than a mobile phone, they’re still not as good as some of the other options.
Get a 4G router
Mobile broadband routers work in a similar way to MiFi devices, but normally provide access to all of the major networks so you’re not limited to just one provider’s area of coverage. They are a lot larger and are fixed in place, being powered by a socket as opposed to a battery. This makes them less portable than MiFi devices, but it also makes them stronger, able to cover a larger area and provide internet to multiple devices at once. Data plans for rural 4G can be purchased to suit the user’s needs – from a casual holidaymaker wanting to check their emails, to regular lodgers seeking fast internet access 24/7.
Look into wireless broadband
Lack of proper infrastructure when it comes to phone lines is one of the key issues faced when looking to install WiFi in a caravan. Line of sight broadband uses no wires and, instead, allows the signal to be beamed from nearby masts to an antenna on the caravan. This is then beamed into the caravan, where it is converted into accessible WiFi by a router. All that is required is a clear line of sight between the masts and antenna, which isn’t usually a problem in rural areas where few buildings stand in the way.
This type of wireless broadband is a great option for caravans, offering high speeds and unlimited data plans in otherwise hard-to-reach areas. Connection is reliable and there are usually flexible packages on offer, so you can often work with a provider to design a bespoke agreement.
What is the best WiFi for a caravan?
The best WiFi for a caravan depends entirely on the individual situation. If there’s already WiFi on site, you can check the speed and if needed, a WiFi booster is a simple way of improving your connectivity. If you’re opening up a new caravan park in a rural location and are looking for an alternative to fixed line ADSL, then wireless broadband could be the perfect solution.
Whatever your needs, Wave Internet is here to offer expert advice free of charge. To find out more about caravan WiFi, call our team on 01254 377373 for a no-obligation chat. Alternatively, fill in the form below and one of the team will get in touch with you.
