Just a quick post today;

To complement both my caravan WiFi router, (which I use to re-distribute the WiFi signal provided at caravan sites) and also my 3G router (which I use for mobile based internet access on sites where there is no WiFi availability) I have ordered a Yagi antenna on Ebay.

I hope that this antenna will work for both WiFi and 3G signals, although it is optimised for 3G frequencies. As this is a highly sensitive, high-gain antenna that is extremely directional, I am hopeful that I can connect it to either my WiFi router, or 3G router, depending on requirements, and pull in a signal which standard omni-directional antennas simply cannot. This should operate over hundred of feet, or a number of miles in ideal conditions (certainly for 3G as it is 3G optimised).

If I am situated a long way from the WiFi antenna on a caravan site, and my router cannot pick up the signal with it’s on-board omni antenna, I should be able to mount this Yagi antenna on my external TV aerial pole, and hopefully pull in the signal by pointing the arm directly at the source.

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I haven’t yet thought of a neat solution for isolating the 12v battery, so at present the lid needs to be removed to connect and disconnect the inverter, as and when required. It would be nice to seal the box and house a battery isolator on the outside, so that removing the lid is never necessary, but it is heavy duty cable that feeds the inverter, so this wouldn’t be all that easy.

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I blogged a few months ago about a DD-WRT router I have installed in the caravan, which enables me to redistribute a WiFi signal around my caravan and devices (a WiFi signal which has been provided by the caravan site). This has been tested a number of times and has been extremely successful, but often a caravan site doesn’t offer WiFi, or the only pitches available are well out of range. In these circumstances I need to rely on 3G mobile data.

It has to be said, 3G is often so reliable that it isn’t even necessary to use site WiFi, but increasingly I find that I want to stream catch-up TV, Children’s videos, and make face time calls, and in the often rural locations caravan sites occupy, getting any phone service, let alone 3G service, can be a challenge!

My experience with the WiFi router has shown me that having a decent antenna makes a very significant difference to the routers ability to pick up a weak or distant WiFi signal. When I have used my WiFi repeater I have virtually always been unable to see the site WiFi network on my iPhone or iPad due to the primitive internal antenna, yet my router in client mode is able to see the network, and connect.  The same is sadly true for 3G. Often I am unable to get any phone service in the caravan, but I bet if I had a good quality antenna, I could receive service. Having a choice of networks would also be ideal, as just because my operator (three) don’t cover an area, other networks might.

I have decided to sell my trusty Huwaei My Fi on ebay, and upgrade to a newer model with an external 28dbi antenna. The unit is unlocked, so it will accept any SIM. I have also purchased a selection of 99p pay as you go SIM cards for a variety of UK networks, in the hope that if Three dont cover a particular location, I can try each SIM until I get good service, and then top-up that SIM to get some data for a few days.  I’ve bought a few SIM adapters too, in case the SIM’s are all different sizes. I have a three pre-pay SIM just in case, as well as EE (Orange and T-Mobile 3G), Vodafone, O2 and GifGaff. All bases covered ! Continue Reading

Last weekend I decided to take the caravan away for a couple of nights with the family, primarily as our son hasn’t been away with us many times this year, and I wanted to get him a little more familiar before the colder weather sets in. I’ve also wanted to try a site without electric hookup for some time, as having bought the various things I need to achieve this, I badly wanted to try it all out!

I searched the caravan club website for sites in the local area, as there was no need (or time) to go too far for this trip. The caravan club offers “CL” sites, which are “Certified Locations”. Certified locations are basic sites, privately owned, offering fantastic locations and value for money. The site I chose was Old Bridge End, just outside Durham, near Witton Gilbert. This is the site here

The site offered fantastic views of the Durham valley for £8 per night. This was £8 for a caravan and awning, irrespective of the number of occupants. A bargain!  The site was ran by a very friendly couple who even offered me a glass of wine on arrival! The site provided a tap for drinking water, a drain-away for grey water, and chemical waste disposal. There were also fresh eggs for sale!

As per my previous post, I have been interested in building a portable power unit, and I have purchased a few of the key components required for this, which I tested this weekend;

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