Hi everyone. We have an autistic son who, whilst happy to come away with us in our ageing Swift Archway, but only if theres reliable internet/ phone coverage (no judgement please) so he can have his gaming time at the end of the day. It is becoming more and more difficult finding sites that have reliable internet so are seriously thinking of buying a starlink mini and would welcome your thoughts. It would only be used for when we are away in the caravan and wouldnt need it at home so wondered if theres any cheaper alternatives?
Starlink
- Thread starter clairey
- Start date
- Sep 4, 2011
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We have a 3 wireless hub at home, that we take with us in the Caravan since getting rid of landline. But before that when we had the landline we bought a TP Link and put a SIM in it, and got good signal strength over all parts of the UK, again using a 3 SIM card. You can get them just PAYG,or on Annual contract. We had PAYG and just topped up when going away.
- Nov 30, 2022
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Rather than lashing out on Starlink why not investigate using your mobile phone (or buy another cheap one just for this) as a WIfi hotspot. You simply buy a PAYG data only sim card (they come in all sorts of capacity up to 100 gb (which is a LOT of data)
We have unlimited data on our mobiles so tether our smart TV to either phone to watch TV whilst away. Works a treat.
See here
We have unlimited data on our mobiles so tether our smart TV to either phone to watch TV whilst away. Works a treat.
See here
This doesnt work if theres no phone signal which often happens to us whilst away in our caravan so are looking another alternative. If theres phone signal we dont have a problem .
Sorry for being a bit thick but whats the difference between just having a sim in your phone to using a TP link? My husband and I are real techno phobes so need it explaining if possible.
When you take your 3wireless hub away in your caravan, how do you connect it to the internet? We already have an EE hub that we could take away but dont understand how this could work? Thanks for your help
- Jul 18, 2017
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We are with Three and simply use our phones. We have never had an issue with phone signal and we used a lot of CLs.
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- Nov 11, 2009
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We have always had our phones on different providers as one means of obtaining a signal if one signal is weak. However these days you need to check which companies are using a common provider as the budget companies ride on the networks of the mainstream providers. Currently we use IDmobile and Tesco mobile. ID and Smarty offer very cheap rates compared to the mainstream providers. ID mobile uses Three, SMARTY uses Three, Tesco uses O2 and another budget provider Lebaro uses Vodaphone, so plenty of options. Although Three have recently merged with Vodaphone so their network will come together no doubt.
Basically we're limited to only Three Mobile Network operators. EE, O2 and Vodafone/Three.
Other virtual providers such as Smarty, iDmobile, 1pMobile (MVNOs) etc run on the back of these. However they may not get the same coverage and service as the MNOs.
One thing I've noticed is that Band 20 gives good long distance coverage which is useful in rural areas but this band is not always available to some MNVOs in some areas.
Other virtual providers such as Smarty, iDmobile, 1pMobile (MVNOs) etc run on the back of these. However they may not get the same coverage and service as the MNOs.
One thing I've noticed is that Band 20 gives good long distance coverage which is useful in rural areas but this band is not always available to some MNVOs in some areas.
- Mar 14, 2005
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It is a well known fact that phone/data signals can be easily interrupted in localised situations. Sometimes even just moving a metre can significantly change the available signal strength. But it is also the case that some of the best caravan sites are not served well by any of the network providers, and unfortunately it may be just the pitch you have set up on that might suffer the poor signal quality. Until there is some way of having all pitches measured for signal strength and made available for prospective users, you are in the lap of the gods.
If guaranteed network access in all places is essential, then your needs may cost more than simply relying on the normal terrestrial bound systems, and at present the only system that can offer such access is Starlink, becasue it is satellite based, and as long as you have an uninterrupted view of the sky, you have a much greater chance of receiving a usable signal.
As for the cost, only you can decide if its worth it or not, but if you need such a service guaranteed then you have to consider Starlink.
Why (edit) not consider cancelling your home terrestrial internet and moving over to Starlink, and simply bring the hub with you on holiday?
If guaranteed network access in all places is essential, then your needs may cost more than simply relying on the normal terrestrial bound systems, and at present the only system that can offer such access is Starlink, becasue it is satellite based, and as long as you have an uninterrupted view of the sky, you have a much greater chance of receiving a usable signal.
As for the cost, only you can decide if its worth it or not, but if you need such a service guaranteed then you have to consider Starlink.
Why (edit) not consider cancelling your home terrestrial internet and moving over to Starlink, and simply bring the hub with you on holiday?
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Vodafone/Three isn't a complete merger of networks - generally only direct customers of Vodafone and Three get access to the expanded joint network - customers of brands which piggyback Vodafone or Three can only access the same network as before.
- Nov 11, 2009
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That’s not what IDMOBILE have told me.
- Dec 27, 2022
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Someone better explain that to my Smarty SIM as it connects to Voda masts when they are stronger than 3. 😱
As an example I used to get rubbish signal in the car wash in town as the 3 mast is up the hill near my house, now the signal is superb as the Voda mast is at the football club just down from the car wash.
Yes I did check the tower ID to see which mast I was connected to.
I believe that while the Voda Three network allows users to connect to either service it's not universal. I.E it depends on the area and masts.
- Nov 11, 2009
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That’s understandable but they will be further integrated as the merger matures.
- Dec 27, 2022
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What is happening is that Voda3 are downgrading masts depending on location. On my local 3 mast 300 metres from home which is my primary source of internet the speed has noticeably decreased since the merger from 260mbps to about 80mbps, still the same signal strength and still usable but the decrease is there. This is on both 3 and Smarty.
VAnt work out the reason, whether it's to try and avoid co channel interference between masts or due to a sudden influx of Voda users I just don't know.
VAnt work out the reason, whether it's to try and avoid co channel interference between masts or due to a sudden influx of Voda users I just don't know.
That's my perception of you, Buckman. Always prepared to be litigious.
I use to be on the EE network using 1pmobile and had a very good service in just about every where I went.
About 9 months ago I switched to 3 using Smarty. Firstly to get a better deal for data and to have a second provider. Mrs V uses EE.
Everywhere I've been since then doesn't get the same service as I had on EE. Currently we're in North Yorkshire and when I go out with my daughters who use EE, they get a good signal in places where I get none.
I'll be going back to EE in a couple of months time.
Mileage of course does vary
About 9 months ago I switched to 3 using Smarty. Firstly to get a better deal for data and to have a second provider. Mrs V uses EE.
Everywhere I've been since then doesn't get the same service as I had on EE. Currently we're in North Yorkshire and when I go out with my daughters who use EE, they get a good signal in places where I get none.
I'll be going back to EE in a couple of months time.
Mileage of course does vary
- Jun 20, 2005
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Prof summed it up perfectly.
I have been beaten by the sat dish. Trees or mountains have obscured the sat Sky signal.
We have used our mobiles , EE, for tethering with some success and failure. Totally dependent on a strong signal. Plenty of sites we have used have poor mobile reception.
Starlink gets good reviews. Unlike Sky it uses numerous satellites to maintain strong reception. Not at all cheap but probably in your situation the best bet.
I have been beaten by the sat dish. Trees or mountains have obscured the sat Sky signal.
We have used our mobiles , EE, for tethering with some success and failure. Totally dependent on a strong signal. Plenty of sites we have used have poor mobile reception.
Starlink gets good reviews. Unlike Sky it uses numerous satellites to maintain strong reception. Not at all cheap but probably in your situation the best bet.
- Jul 18, 2017
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Initially we had a sat dome on our caravan, but struggled with reception in southern Spain. We then changed the dome for a Oyster 85 sat dish and no more issues with trees and even buildings. Once when parked up outside ALDE workshop, the sat dish picked up the signal from the wall. the dis was facing opposite SE away from the sat signal.
- Sep 4, 2011
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It is wireless. We just unplug from mains when leaving home. When on a site on mains hookup just plug in one of the Caravans mains sockets and in a couple of minutes is auto set up.
- Nov 30, 2022
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- Jun 20, 2005
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- Nov 11, 2009
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Could be similar to a MIFI which picks up mobile data using SIM card. But other than Starlink no device that requires a mobile network signal can give Tye OP the assurance she requires for her son’s end of day gaming time. No mobile signal can be guaranteed as we often find ourselves in areas with zero or very weak signal. Even our dogs tracker with its dual SIMs regularly fails to record her location, even on the Salisbury Plain MTA with clear lines of sight for many miles. Our phones struggle there too. But notwithstanding off there tomorrow to visit Imber before MOD close it again until Easter.
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