Onboard WiFi

[Penny13]

We still use our phones for everything but thinking onboard ?
The thing we mostly use is our Apple iPad for TV but thinking of going for a normal TV ?
Be kind we haven’t got a clue
I know a lot of thinking going on

 

[RichardHelen262]

I use a fire stick and a Tesco unlimited sim in my phone for home and abroad, and just tether fire stick and phone,
It has worked faultlessly everywhere we have been

 

[barryd]

Yep. Just set your phone up as an internet hotspot and any iPad or Smart TV or TV with a Firestick type device can connect to it and stream whatever you like assuming you have a good data package and a good signal of course.

 

[alcam]

Apparently new fire sticks will block all the naughty stuff some people are allegedly using them for .

 

[TJBi]

I have an onboard wireless router, but as you can see, others use tethered phones. It can be helpful to give some indication as to intended use, including whether only UK or UK + EU or further afield.

 

[trevskoda]

I just have a 12v tv which i had to fit a voltage step up to unit 13.5v to keep the thing from shuting down sound, cello and cost me £25 from f b market place, step unit top left beside antenna booster.

 

[Sydwal]

We still use our phones for everything but thinking onboard ?
The thing we mostly use is our Apple iPad for TV but thinking of going for a normal TV ?
Be kind we haven’t got a clue
I know a lot of thinking going on

Depends on your needs. Internet download speed and signal availability is important to me as I work remotely - only about 5 hours a week, but it still has to be decent. I bought a router and small rooftop antenna from Motorhome Wi-Fi and I'm getting between 50 and 70 Mbps when there's a good signal which is excellent I think. I use an EE sim, unlimited data. I've even thought about a Starlink (reported to be 160 Mbps +) but the cost is prohibitive. If I encounter too many black spots on my travels I may have to take the plunge. I've never thought about phone tethering to be honest but it seems to work for many people.

 

[wildebus]

We still use our phones for everything but thinking onboard ?
The thing we mostly use is our Apple iPad for TV but thinking of going for a normal TV ?
Be kind we haven’t got a clue
I know a lot of thinking going on

Personally, I prefer using a 'normal' TV for watching TV, or streaming channels, or things like Youtube, etc.
I just prefer the bigger screen and better sound. Combine with a Amazon Firestick and you can stream everything you can on an iPad. (There are other alternatives to the Firestick such as a Now TV stick for example, but Firestick seems to be the most popular. It is what I use).
GMR (I think?) has a very nice 21" Avtex TV for sale which would do very nicely. And you can get a Firestick at a good price at the moment on the Amazon Black Friday sale until Monday.

If you are looking to switch from iPad to TV and streaming, then it is unlikely to affect Data Usage or required speed. If what you have works now and no buffering or speed issues, that should not change.

 

[Boris7]

Netgear Nighthwak every time for mobile WiFi used it all over Europe, faultless.

That said I’ve just bought a ZTE 230AIR, not as good as the Nighthawk but it’s much cheaper.

I use the ZTE simply to allow monitoring of onboard facilities while the vans parked up, and it goes give reasonable download and upload speeds. But the Nighthawk far outpaces it.

 

[Tezza33]

Apparently new fire sticks will block all the naughty stuff some people are allegedly using them for .

That is the new Fire stick 4K Select, it runs on a new operating system, Vega OS, so one to avoid even if you don't want it for 'naughty stuff' , you can still buy Fire stick 4K Max which is a better option for various reasons

 

[Trotter]

That is the new Fire stick 4K Select, it runs on a new operating system, Vega OS, so one to avoid even if you don't want it for 'naughty stuff' , you can still buy Fire stick 4K Max which is a better option for various reasons

Okay Terry, please explain what this Firestick 4Max dubry does what my ancient IPad doesn’t already do.
Pretend you are explaining it to an idiot.
Oh! That would be me.

 

[rugbyken]

there was a black friday deal on starlink 50% off with a pensioners deal making it £25 a month couldn’t find whether that included roaming but certainly getting within range

 

[RoaminRog]

We are experimenting with Starlink, at the moment we have nearly finished a 50gb month but on Dec 2nd our plan will automatically change to Standby Mode, which is £4.50 a month for unlimited data, but at a slightly lower speed. I’m led to believe that it’s quite good enough for checking emails and light browsing. Won’t actually know until after New Year wether it’s good enough or not.

 

[Penny13]

I have an onboard wireless router, but as you can see, others use tethered phones. It can be helpful to give some indication as to intended use, including whether only UK or UK + EU or further afield.

Uk only

 

[Penny13]

Thank you for answers we are going to try a normal TV from our phones and then move on from that. It’s not for the motorhome it’s for a caravan. Pooh who said caravan

 

[REC]

Thank you for answers we are going to try a normal TV from our phones and then move on from that. It’s not for the motorhome it’s for a caravan. Pooh who said caravan

A caravan is a motorhome without the engine

 

[Tezza33]

Okay Terry, please explain what this Firestick 4Max dubry does what my ancient IPad doesn’t already do.
Pretend you are explaining it to an idiot.
Oh! That would be me.

This is intended for Del; any other idiots are reading it at their own risk
If you have a TV, then a Fire TV Stick gives you more. Personally, for me, a Fire TV Stick or Android TV box is far better, too many things to list, but Google AI will give you an idea
I have a spare Fire TV Stick if you need one, Del, FOC to you

If you don't want to take a TV with you, ignore the rest

From Google AI

The main advantages of a Fire TV Stick over an iPad are its significantly lower cost, dedicated focus as a television streaming device with a remote control, and high portability for use on any HDMI-enabled TV. The iPad, in contrast, is a multi-purpose portable computer.

Cost and Value
The Fire TV Stick is a budget-friendly option designed for a single purpose, while the iPad is a premium, general-purpose tablet.

• Affordability:
• Amazon Fire TV Sticks are available at a wide range of low price points, often heavily discounted during sales events, with some models costing less than a third of the cheapest iPad.
• Dedicated Use: Because of its low cost, you can dedicate a Fire TV Stick to a specific TV or use case, such as a child's playroom or a guest room, without a large investment
• 
  
• Form Factor and Ease of Use
  The Fire TV Stick's design is specifically optimised for viewing content on a large screen television, unlike the iPad, which is a handheld device.
  • Television Integration:
  • The Fire TV Stick plugs directly into a TV's HDMI port, offering a seamless, full-screen, cinema-like experience with 4K resolution and Dolby Vision/Atmos support on compatible TVs. An iPad is a small, portable screen and cannot replicate the integrated, big-screen TV experience.
  • Remote Control:
  • The Fire TV Stick includes a dedicated physical remote control, usually with built-in Alexa voice control, which is much more practical for navigating TV menus from a distance than using an iPad's touchscreen for remote control functions.
  • Portability:
  • The Fire TV Stick's small, dongle design makes it incredibly easy to transport, allowing you to take your streaming platform to different rooms or on holiday to use with other TVs.
  • No Battery Concerns (for the main unit):
  • The Fire TV Stick is powered via a micro-USB port and is generally plugged into a wall outlet or the TV's USB port, so there are no battery life concerns for the main device itself, a common consideration with portable tablets like the iPad.
    
    System Versatility (in a specific way)
    While the iPad has a more powerful processor and a vast App Store, the Fire TV Stick's underlying Fire OS, which is based on Android, offers certain technical flexibilities.
    • Sideloading Apps:
    • The Fire TV Stick is more open to running third-party apps via sideloading (such as Kodi), which is much more difficult and costly on an
      iPad
    • Ecosystem Flexibility:
    • The Fire TV Stick is compatible with a wider range of non-Apple devices for mirroring content compared to the more locked-down Apple ecosystem.
      .
  AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more

 

[Trotter]

Phew! That’s a lot of information.
What I take from that is, I need a TV.

I’ve a Avtec somewhere. I think it’s either steam or coal fired. It came with the van when I bought it. I can’t remember if I’ve ever used it.
Tbh Terry, thanks for the offer, but I rarely watch TV at home. So I’m not the best person to gift it to.For now I’ll make do with the IPad. To give you some idea of how old that is, I bought it with my very first winter fuel allowance. I’m well over 21 now, so it must be around 12 years old now.

 

[Tezza33]

I’ve a Avtec somewhere. I think it’s either steam or coal fired. It came with the van when I bought it. I can’t remember if I’ve ever used it.

I have an Avtex in one of my sheds. It doesn't have an HDMI input, but I use an adapter to connect a Fire TV Stick to it. You can buy a composite/SCART or AV adaptor to fit older TVs

 

[Boris7]

I have an Avtex in one of my sheds. It doesn't have an HDMI input, but I use an adapter to connect a Fire TV Stick to it. You can buy a composite/SCART or AV adaptor to fit older TVs

So just to be sure here, you go to the shed to watch TV