Wi Fi

[LynandJim]

We are picking up our California in three weeks time. I might sound a bit thick but we've paid extra to have wi fi fitted. We have got our home wifi with plusnet. How do I get the wifi in the van to work with my ipad and imac?
Do I have to get a SIM card from a phone provider. I'm with EE for my mobile?
I can see it's going to take my ages to get everything set up with Bluetooth etc!!!

 

[holliers]

Hi

Yes, you'll need to buy a SIM card that slots into the router in the glovebox. There are a number of threads on here about the best deals etc, but you can usually get a £0 SIM and then just top up when needed.

In terms of connecting your devices, you will see a new wireless access point appear on your iPad. Connect using the password suppled (the router comes with a little card if I remember, just like your PlusNet router)

You'll then be connected to the router, and to the internet via the mobile phone network.

Hope that helps
Mark

 

[LynandJim]

Thanks a lot Mark, that makes sense now, I'll check out the threads re SIM cards

 

[Calicliff]

I have discovered that the best network for areas away from towns is 3.
Next is EE and then O2, last by a long way is Vodafone.

 

[Calicliff]

I use a MiFi sat in the sunglasses pocket, works a treat.

 

[splitmike]

I too use a mifi I even use it at home got a great deal from EE its worked great for me. Just put it in the van when we go away.

 

[Skylark2.0]

We like our wifi. It worked greatnon a tmobile card in Germany. I checked coverage and would go for Vodafone by preference.

 

[Gavinskii]

My wife has an I-phone 6 with 4g and unlimited data. It is really simple to create a hotspot and connect a tablet (or whatever to it). What does a MiFi do that a hotspot doesn't?

 

[pjm-84]

+1 for the hotspot.

 

[cozmo1589]

My wife has an I-phone 6 with 4g and unlimited data. It is really simple to create a hotspot and connect a tablet (or whatever to it). What does a MiFi do that a hotspot doesn't?

I was about to say the same. I personally have unlimited everything on 3 Network with a Sony Xperia Z3 phone and so just create a hot spot on my phone and tether it to my laptop, Ipad etc etc.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

[yanathem]

Doesn't a mi-fi create a wi-fi network when there is poor or no 3g/4g signal???

 

[cozmo1589]

Doesn't a mi-fi create a wi-fi network when there is poor or no 3g/4g signal???

You still need a mobile phone signal so your stuffed if you haven't got one regardless of whether your on a phone or dedicated WiFi thingy

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

[WelshGas]

The problem is that campsites in rural areas often have free WiFi , but over a landline Broadband connection and often very poor mobile phone signal, so then you are dependant on the campsite WiFi, which may only be broadcast in the vicinity of the Reception building.
Everyone is then clustered around Reception.
With my iBoost system and active aerial I can pick this signal up from my California, or a free Fon signal. Otherwise, if there is a mobile signal then the EE Buzzard, a MiFi, can be used.

 

[skinnywhippet]

A MiFi is useful abroad on 3 as they don't allow tethering in their feel-at-home destinations (France, Austria, Spain, Italy etc.).

 

[Dottie]

Mifi is great and I'll be out working tomorrow at a site I know gets 3G, so I'll get good connection with work. However, I had poor reception in Devon so it wouldn't work or if it did, I could get emails, but no Skype or Google and certainly useless for work connections. Now considering iboost and fon, but I think in Devon that broadband is an issue anywhere so I'm probably wasting my time.
I used Three pay as you go which worked well last summer, but now have a O2 contract (with a 4g Mifi supplied free) - more data & 4g, and can cancel after 6 months so will give it a bash over this summer.

 

[shudycamps]

We are picking up our California in three weeks time. I might sound a bit thick but we've paid extra to have wi fi fitted. We have got our home wifi with plusnet. How do I get the wifi in the van to work with my ipad and imac?
Do I have to get a SIM card from a phone provider. I'm with EE for my mobile?
I can see it's going to take my ages to get everything set up with Bluetooth etc!!!

 

[shudycamps]

We have a 2015 Cali and are days away from the big off to Spain. I debated long and hard regarding connectivity during our wanderings through France/Spain to the final destination. I was with EE, in fact, since Tmobile came into existence in the early 90

We are picking up our California in three weeks time. I might sound a bit thick but we've paid extra to have wi fi fitted. We have got our home wifi with plusnet. How do I get the wifi in the van to work with my ipad and imac?
Do I have to get a SIM card from a phone provider. I'm with EE for my mobile?
I can see it's going to take my ages to get everything set up with Bluetooth etc!!!

 

[shudycamps]

I thought long and hard regarding connectivity. Having been with EE and the rare times I had connectivity where we lived, I recently switched over to 3. I can state that during a recent trip to Spain that 3 does what it says: free calls to and from England and free Internet according to one's contract with 3. Now, it would NOT let me port to another device; however, I trotted into their store in Newmarket for the way forward. I bought the little WIFI unit (£45) with a sim card for £15 per month. One needs to give them 30 days notice to make the account dormant in advance of when you do not require this WIFI. SInce we have both our accounts with 3, we got a £1 reduction in monthly costs during activity. Oh yes, and it is for 10GB per month. So this little Huawei unit will provide WIFI in the house as well. So I can port to my laptop when necessary. So far with my experience of using my smartphone in Spain and surfing it has been great.

 

[MattBW]

I use a Three 3g mifi dongle, very good and they don't deserve their bad signal reputation. I think I may £5 a month for 2gig data, I don't need much more than that on holiday as generally we are busy.

My iphone 6 now has unlimited data and can be a hotspot but I generally find 4g rare and can't really tell the difference in speed anyway.

Funny really how wifi only really came available our homes from 2000, we didn't really have the web until mid 90s and yet we seem unable to function without it now, even when in our vans on our holidays

 

[MCh1777]

Be careful about your iPad setup. If you have it set to automatic app updates all your monthly data allowance on the Cali wifi sim could be used on day one. I have just had a look at my updates pending and there is at least 2gb of data just waiting to be downloaded. So I will turn on the updates at home using my land-line wifi with unlimited data, then hopefully remember to turn the auto updates off again before getting in the van.
I also found that listening to the radio via the Cali wifi sim is not a great idea!