Antennae or booster

[DC_MC]

We spent a lot of the summer where we got no cell service and the park had free WiFi in certain areas or we could buy WiFi. Anyway we noticed a bunch of people that had little portable antennae things sitting out. They were white with a flat face about 12” square. I figured they were some kind of booster but now that we’ve left there and I tried looking them up on internet I can’t find them. Wish I would have knocked on a door and asked. Lol. Anyone know what they might be. We might go back next summer and I would love to get better cell and/or WiFi

[ktmrfs]

cyberham wrote:
I successfully set up wifi calling. Let's see how this works now.

Added: Wifi Calling seems to be working fine. Apparently, this also saves mobile battery since wifi access requires lower transmit signal level since the local wifi access point is near.

yup. the lower your cell phone signal level is the more transmit power your phone needs, the shorter the battery life. So wifi calling with a stronger signal is a win. One downside is if you move out of wifi range call gets dropped if the phone can't switch to a cell tower.

[cyberham]

I successfully set up wifi calling. Let's see how this works now.

Added: Wifi Calling seems to be working fine. Apparently, this also saves mobile battery since wifi access requires lower transmit signal level since the local wifi access point is near.

[ktmrfs]

cyberham wrote:
We also have poor unusable cell service in our park but excellent wifi. For phoning, just download skype or What's App to your mobile phone. You can then do skype-to-skype calls (free) or skype-to-phone calls (low minute-based fee). I like What's App the best since its connections are encrypted and you can call for free any phone that also has the What's App installed on their mobile.

Using wifi, you can stream TV from the Internet or from services like amazon or Netflix.

or simpler just enable wifi calling from your phone.

[2oldman]

coming back?

[Housted]

It could be a Ubiquiti NanoStation loco M5, which is what I use. It really helps with CG wifi except where bandwidth is the problem. If the bandwidth is not enough you are out of luck anyway!!

Housted

[LouLawrence]

If the flat part of the square antenna is pointing toward the sky then these are Starlink antennas for high speed satellite internet.

[johnhicks]

https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/

[Lwiddis]

A stronger signal from a booster is rarely the cure. Bandwidth, or lack there of, is the problem.

[theoldwizard1]

DC&MC wrote:
Anyway we noticed a bunch of people that had little portable antennae things sitting out. They were white with a flat face about 12” square.

They could be an Over-The-Air TV antenna.

The BEST WiFi "hot spot" (capture cell phone signal and convert it to WiFi for Internet) have 2 connectors for antennas to receive cell phone signals and possibly 2 more for transmitting WiFi signals. Many different style of antenna and if they are portable, they don't have to cost an arm and a leg.

[valhalla360]

Sounds like starlink. White rectangular maybe 1ft x 6in?

It's a new satellite internet service. They provide internet. Unlike cell or older satellite service, they provided unlimited data. Speeds are supposed to be in the 100-300mb range.

Equipment is around $600 and an RV plan is $130/m.

Currently limited to continental US and up a bit into Canada or we would be looking at picking up a system. They are still expanding.

[WNYBob]

You described a Starlink antenna.

[cyberham]

We also have poor unusable cell service in our park but excellent wifi. For phoning, just download skype or What's App to your mobile phone. You can then do skype-to-skype calls (free) or skype-to-phone calls (low minute-based fee). I like What's App the best since its connections are encrypted and you can call for free any phone that also has the What's App installed on their mobile.

Using wifi, you can stream TV from the Internet or from services like amazon or Netflix.

[2oldman]

Square, or rectangular?