Fisherman
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ZTE is a well known highly regarded brand, it’s been compared with the 5G Netgear in terms of performance. It’s now being used by most dealerships when rebranded by Motorhome Wi-Fi.
Internet Solutions for your Motorhome
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alwaysared
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Like you said I think it depends on what you need it for, I know loads of people who get by with using the hotspot on their mobile phones but if you have ethernet equipment then a hotspot or mifi won't do you any good
So as they say "Horses for courses"Regards,
Del
wildebus
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I think as said, it is all down to what you are looking to do.
Do you NEED 5G speeds? Very very unlikely unless you are properly working on-line all the time and working on IT stuff supporting kit, managing servers, etc. - and even then if you have the right kind of setup (remote terminal configurations), high speed is not critical.
There are of course some activities that need fast Upload speeds - YouTube creators and others who might need to transfer high volumes of files from their local computer to a remote one, but for the average typical motorhomer, it is a matter of is the connection speed fast enough to stream TV or Movies and browse the internet at the same time - and you don't need 5G or even 4G speeds for that.
It's not about speed, it is about connectivity.
Will 5G give you better connectivity? no idea.
Is it worth paying extra for? depends how much really surely? If it was an extra £30, yes you would go for it. Extra £50? Maybe. Extra £100? Extra £150? £200?
But then people like to buy the muskrats Starlink and pay £99 every month to use it. To some it is worth it, but I think you really do want to have a reason to spend over £1000 per year for something that for 99% of folk will deliver no noticeable benefit or advantage. (Probably more a disadvantage as you have to setup the dishy every time you stop).
For myself, I have a 5G ready antenna fixed on the roof and a 4G router. Do I care it is not a 5G Router? Not really as 4G is fast enough for any needs I have. By the time 5G is established sufficiently to actually make it a better (better in that it delivers tangible benefits to ME over 4G), 5G routers will be a) a lot cheaper than they are at the moment and b) will almost certainly be better than they are now. And when that time comes and I still have my current setup I can just swap the router over and my antenna will be ready already.
And in my setup, I am connected 24/7 with Victrons VRM, control/monitor/configure the motorhome kit remotely, stream TV/movies/Sky, lots of web browsing and email but never lacking speed.
Obviously others have different needs and may/will have a different opinion, but evaluate your needs before deciding you must have the latest & greatest just because you can (and sometimes "because you can" is sufficient reason!)
Do you NEED 5G speeds? Very very unlikely unless you are properly working on-line all the time and working on IT stuff supporting kit, managing servers, etc. - and even then if you have the right kind of setup (remote terminal configurations), high speed is not critical.
There are of course some activities that need fast Upload speeds - YouTube creators and others who might need to transfer high volumes of files from their local computer to a remote one, but for the average typical motorhomer, it is a matter of is the connection speed fast enough to stream TV or Movies and browse the internet at the same time - and you don't need 5G or even 4G speeds for that.
It's not about speed, it is about connectivity.
Will 5G give you better connectivity? no idea.
Is it worth paying extra for? depends how much really surely? If it was an extra £30, yes you would go for it. Extra £50? Maybe. Extra £100? Extra £150? £200?
But then people like to buy the muskrats Starlink and pay £99 every month to use it. To some it is worth it, but I think you really do want to have a reason to spend over £1000 per year for something that for 99% of folk will deliver no noticeable benefit or advantage. (Probably more a disadvantage as you have to setup the dishy every time you stop).
For myself, I have a 5G ready antenna fixed on the roof and a 4G router. Do I care it is not a 5G Router? Not really as 4G is fast enough for any needs I have. By the time 5G is established sufficiently to actually make it a better (better in that it delivers tangible benefits to ME over 4G), 5G routers will be a) a lot cheaper than they are at the moment and b) will almost certainly be better than they are now. And when that time comes and I still have my current setup I can just swap the router over and my antenna will be ready already.
And in my setup, I am connected 24/7 with Victrons VRM, control/monitor/configure the motorhome kit remotely, stream TV/movies/Sky, lots of web browsing and email but never lacking speed.
Obviously others have different needs and may/will have a different opinion, but evaluate your needs before deciding you must have the latest & greatest just because you can (and sometimes "because you can" is sufficient reason!)
alcam
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Admin
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Yes, an antenna with a high gain and four internal antennas could be able to connect to cell sites when your phone has no service at all.
Many phones now can connect to telephone services (voice and text) through WiFi, which means your phone would also work.
I work online and must have high-speed Internet access 24/7. If a website goes down, I need to be able to download and upload large amounts of data quickly. Tethering my MacBook to my phone limits my data speed to the speed of my WiFi connection. With the RUTX50 I can connect an ethernet cable to use the 5G or 4G Cat20 data speeds.
My Wife is ill, and I need to be reachable at all times.
I watch all my entertainment content online.
Nabsim
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I didn’t say ZTE wasn’t a known/decent brand, the router I use at home is a reconditioned ZTE unit. It’s £300 for a new one that I am avoiding, second hand is always a risk, I prefer recon if going that route unless history known.
I have seen 5G router on Amazon and EBay for under £100, even under £50 brand new from China. These are what I am avoiding at least until i see a lot of genuine positive reviews for one.
I paid quite a bit for me Teltonika router and that with a 5G SIM will do me nicely until the price is right
barryd
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Is still support a handful of clients now and again, it pays for these trips. On the odd occasion I have to do anything for them I have them all on Google remote desktop. It's really good. Firstly it's free and secondly it seems very low bandwidth. I've used it on a connection that's been like 1mb.
However I just use my mobile hot spot. When I'm searching out a CL first thing I do is check the mobile reception for Vodafone or EE. If it's crap I won't go there. I dunno how people survive on a trip without the internet.
I start to get the shakes if I've not been online for more than an hour. Joking apart it's like losing your right arm now. We use it for everything.I want that kit Phil has though. Just too tight to pay for it.
wildebus
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Remote Desktop/Thin Client is definately a good idea for that
I cannot deny I like to be connected but I would not go so far as choosing a location based on mobile reception! I work on the assumption it WILL be available and if not, meh, so be it.However I just use my mobile hot spot. When I'm searching out a CL first thing I do is check the mobile reception for Vodafone or EE. If it's crap I won't go there. I dunno how people survive on a trip without the internet.
I don't think Phil's kit is that pricey for what it provides (on the basis that someone buying it DOES need what it provides, as Phil does).
I was quite impressed with the setup these guys have - but I would not be wanting to spend a tenth of what they have though!
barryd
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Remote Desktop/Thin Client is definately a good idea for that
I cannot deny I like to be connected but I would not go so far as choosing a location based on mobile reception! I work on the assumption it WILL be available and if not, meh, so be it.
I don't think Phil's kit is that pricey for what it provides (on the basis that someone buying it DOES need what it provides, as Phil does).
I was quite impressed with the setup these guys have - but I would not be wanting to spend a tenth of what they have though!
I never got away with remote desktop. Tried it for a while when logmein started charging but settled on Google remote desktop as it's really good and I can access stuff 24/7 without an end user present. And it's free of course.
I agree about Phil's kit and I would have it in a heartbeat if what I had didnt work. I could do with some 5g right now. Need to refresh our trip entertainment downloads
RSD7a
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Ah yes. Work. I remember that now you come to mention it.Totally understand the no phone signal
Unfortunately some of us still have to work
Robmac
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I'm seriously thinking of scrapping, Sky, BT landline and Broadband at home at the moment, our service is terrible. Sky blame BT, BT blame Sky and nothing gets done. At present, our landline isn't working and an engineer isn't coming out until Friday. Internet connection fails several times a day and Sky programs falter and freeze on an hourly basis and we have to reset the box each time!
We are the only part of our village which doesn't have fibre installed and there is apparently no plan to do so in the near future.
I really need to speak to the people at Solwise!
We are the only part of our village which doesn't have fibre installed and there is apparently no plan to do so in the near future.
I really need to speak to the people at Solwise!
guerdeval
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I use a RUT850 and a £30 puck mimo on roof,all in about £70,I will not upgrade to 5G as it’s unlikely a 5G transmitter will be anywhere near my parking spots, I have disabled 5G on my iphone as it’s so hit and miss outside cities I prefer reliability ,I cann’t keep up with the speed I get now so anything faster would be wasted,I connect 2 phones,wife’s macbook,ipad and firestick without a problem, I use SKY pays as I can roll data and have about 300gb to use up,horses for courses as they say.
Okta
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The Coverage App I have been using has been retired and the maps published by the mobile phone companies lack detail. Have you got a good source for the information please?
Okta
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Work???? I think it might have had something to do with my pension so it was probably a good idea at the time.Ah yes. Work. I remember that now you come to mention it.
barryd
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Our home bt broadband is a bit naff also. Maybe 10mb down and 1.5 up if we are lucky. No plans for fibre.
I'm also wondering if some of this kit would work in the home. Vodafone is the only game in town though and it's only going to be 4g I reckon.
mistericeman
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Happy with our Teltonika rut 950 and external antenna on the lift up TV pole ...
EE Data sim ...
Rut 950 was £80 used from ebay
Poynting Antenna £35 used off ebay
4g BUT most of the places we head to currently have no 5g anyway ...
And frankly in other places as more people jump on 5g ...
The 4g is often faster anyway .
EE Data sim ...
Rut 950 was £80 used from ebay
Poynting Antenna £35 used off ebay
4g BUT most of the places we head to currently have no 5g anyway ...
And frankly in other places as more people jump on 5g ...
The 4g is often faster anyway .
Nabsim
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I haven’t seen that myself. Wherever I can get 5G on my phone it has been considerably quicker than 4G. Was surprised at some of the places get 5G as well, some quite small places in Scotland have it for some reason. Still not that common though but getting better.
I run the RUT240 with puck antenna in the van so 4G and has been very good most spots even running on a 3SIM. Changing that to an EE SIM from Scancom soon so expect it to be better in the odd places the 3 SIM isn’t too hot
st3v3
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