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Installing Wireless Internet in Your RV-Tips and Tricks

Installing Wireless Internet in Your RV-Tips and Tricks

As a full-time RVer, having a reliable internet connection while on the road or camping is very important. Not just for staying connected to the rest of the world but also for work, homeschooling the kids, entertainment, and as a safety measure.

There are two major ways I stay connected while on the road, using cellular data or my Nomad Internet router. But I find Nomad Internet more convenient for my family and me as it offers faster speeds. If you are an RVer in America, you want the Nomad Internet router. 

What’s RV Wi-Fi?

For RV newbies wondering what RV Wi-Fi is, I’d tell you.

RV Wi-Fi is not a special kind of Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi in your RV works the same way as Wi-Fi in your home—To connect you to the internet via your laptops, smart televisions, phones, and other internet-dependent devices. But, there’s a difference.

The difference lies in where the original signal comes from, which is more complicated than internet solutions for stationary spaces like homes or offices.

The RV is always on the move; thus, getting a signal can be quite tricky. This is why you must be careful when choosing Wi-Fi for your RV. I will always recommend the Nomad Internet Travel Router for RVers, as it's portable and convenient to move around.

Tips to get the right Wi-Fi for your RV

internet in RV

Getting the right Wi-Fi for your RV depends on a lot of factors.

For example:

Your internet needs: To determine the right RV Wi-Fi or provider for you means that you have to consider your internet needs. What would you be using the internet for? Are you sending emails, video conferencing, streaming, or gaming?
If you occasionally use the internet, you can survive with cellular data or campground Wi-Fi depending on where you camp. But be ready to experience some crappy campground internet. I’ve had my fair share of using public and campground Wi-Fi. It never ends well.

However, if you are a big internet consumer—streaming, gaming, and video conferencing, you’d need more than mobile data.

These days, I have taken on podcasting as a hobby. In addition to my kids' online schooling and video conferencing, watching TV shows, and gaming, I’m talking about over 150 gigabytes of data usage every month. And so far, I’ve been able to do all these with my Nomad Internet.

Nomad modem gray

Location: You also need to consider where you’ll be camping, as your Wi-Fi needs will vary depending on if you’re staying at campgrounds or boondocking.

As I mentioned, I’m a full-time RVer in America. And so far, thanks to the Nomad Internet router, it’s not been difficult staying connected while on the road. Even in the most remote areas of America, My Nomad Internet Wi-Fi router receives maximum signals.

    Tips for Installing RV Wi-Fi 

    Get professional help: From my personal experience, I’d advise you to get your Wi-Fi installed by a professional. Well, unless you install Wi-Fi for a living or you have successfully installed Wi-Fi’s a couple of times in an RV, leave the installation to the professionals.

    You may argue that self-installation would save you some money, but the question is, is it worth the possibility of doing it wrong and having to go a few days without any internet?

    If you still insist on installing it yourself, make sure you read the manufacturer’s installation guide and have all the necessary tools and accessories.

    electrician installing cable lines

    Seal all holes: You’d need to attach your router and antennae to the roof so that your rig gets the maximum signal. This means that you’d need to run a cable from the roof inside your rig, you’d need screws, and you’d be drilling some holes into your RV roof.

      To ensure that the holes are sealed with a manufacturer-approved sealant. You don’t want moisture leaking into your RV.

      Be cautious of mounting locations: Always read the manufacturer's installation manual, as different providers may recommend different mounting locations on the roof.

      However, when you mount your antenna, make sure there’s a clear line of sight to minimize the possibility of obstructions between your antenna and the broadcast towers it is receiving signals from. Any obstruction can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal.

       Telecommunications antenna radio television telephone

        Conclusion

        Wi-Fi and the internet is a big deal for my family and me. It makes traveling more fun, keeps me connected, and the kids need the internet for education and cartoons. As full-time RVers, we are adamant about ensuring we have a good internet connection while on the road. Nomad Internet has solved all our internet needs.

        11 comments
        • HA
          Hasan Guller

          I plan to install Wi-Fi in my van myself. Although they write in the article and in the comments that it is better not to do this, I still think that a man should be able to do such a job and I am sure that I will cope with it well. Thank you for the valuable clarifications about the sealant!

        • AL
          Alexandra Yakovleva

          I really love Country Nomad Blog precisely because a lot of attention is paid to beginners and for people like me explain various little things that seasoned travelers miss in their tips. I had the idea to install it myself, but both the article and the comments warn against this and perhaps I will listen. About the choice… Definitely Nomad Internet Travel Router!

        • AN
          Ana Rys

          Wireless internet is a great idea no matter whether it’s for your RV or home. However, the very process of installing this technology may prove to be challenging. That’s why I agree with the author that you’d better use professional help rather than doing it on your own. I also find the first part of the article very useful – indeed, before getting the wi-fi you should consider many factors, such as usage of the internet, the amount of traffic and the purpose of the internet. Overall, I find this article very informative, because it contains useful tips about installing wi-fi.

        • MU
          Muslim

          I found the article on installing wireless internet in your RV to be incredibly helpful. As someone who loves to hit the road in their RV and travel the country, I know firsthand how important it is to stay connected to the outside world. This article provides clear, concise, and easy-to-follow tips and tricks for setting up wireless internet in your RV, which I found to be extremely valuable. It’s great to see a resource like this available for RVers, as it makes the process of setting up internet on the road much easier and less intimidating.

        • ZL
          Zlatika Cherar

          I can’t even imagine how I can work, getting the Internet through mobile data. Although once it was my reality)) I completely agree with you that it is better not to take over the installation of a Wi-Fi router, but to entrust it to professionals in their field. This is not the amount of money saving, because of which it is worth risking difficulties in the future if you do something wrong and then you still have to redo it.

        • ST
          Stacy Haze

          That’s pretty informative! Thank you for these pieces of advice! I learnt many useful things that can help those who don’t understand much in how both the Internet and wi-fi actually work. At least now I can understand what the worker is actually doing and not to annoy him with obviously silly questions. Once I even got shouted at, it was funny and awkward at the same time.

        • CH
          chuck fiebelkorn

          So for camping having trees at your campsite is a bad thing since you need to have a direct line to the towers that you can not see cause the trees around the campsite are blocking them.

        • TE
          Terri jo colby-Phillips

          I stay in an Rv and need internet 24/7

        • BO
          Bob

          The Wifi works great in our RV. Router is sitting by small window on bunk over the cab inside our Class C. Internet and streaming Netflix from our Dish works great. No issues.

        • JE
          Jess Lewis

          I noticed that the routers have antennae but mounting on the roof of an RV doesn’t seem practical (seems like something you’d want to keep inside). Since the article mentions an antenna outside – do you all offer or recommend an external antenna?

        • PA
          Pamela

          I’m concerned about the installation then I don’t want to keep it because frankly, I’ve been disappointed every time with claims of “you’ll never have another problem connecting”
          Can the installation happen after we’ve tried it out?

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