Best Caravan WIFI System

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Best Caravan WIFI Systems in Australia – How To Stay Connected

Have you ever thought about getting a caravan WIFI router?

These days everybody uses the internet all of the time. While many people go on vacation to escape the realities of everyday life, the truth is that the internet is an incredibly useful tool.

Maybe you have to check your work emails now and then while you’re on holiday. Perhaps you want to keep the kids entertained on a rainy day or you don’t want to miss the big football game.

Whatever your reason, you’ll need some kind of caravan wifi booster or modem. These devices are specially designed to meet the needs of campers all over Australia. But where do you start?

Let’s look at some different options so that you can stay connected while you’re on the move.

 

RV WIFI+4GX Portable Caravan WIFI Internet

NCE Travel Wifi Modem Kit V2

Sphere Mobile Wi-Fi Router with Int Antenna, ZT-4G

Wineguard WiFi Connect 2.0


Our pick
RV WIFI+4GX Portable Caravan WIFI Internet
NCE Travel Wifi Modem Kit V2
Best Value
Sphere Mobile Wi-Fi Router with Int Antenna, ZT-4G
Wineguard WiFi Connect 2.0

*Using coupon CRCSAVE20

3G/4G/Wi-Fi

3G/4G

4G/Wi-Fi

4G/Wi-Fi

50 m

40 m

100 m

2.4 km

12V

12V

12V

12V

Password protection

Security lock and password protection

GPS location tracking

Password protection

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

1 year

1 year

1 year

2 years for parts/1 year for labour

Best Caravan WIFI Australia

RV WIFI+4GX Portable Caravan WIFI Internet

RV WIFI+4GX Portable Caravan WIFI Internet

Our Pick

Pros
  • Specially designed for camping vehicles
  • Choice of provider (although optimised for Telstra networks)
  • 2 x Wi-Fi antennas for enhanced connectivity
  • USB and hard drive compatible
  • 50 metres of coverage
  • One year warranty
Cons
  • Some other routers have a larger signal range

According to the manufacturer, RV Wi-Fi software is specifically designed for the Australian market.

They want to provide the best caravan Wi-Fi possible. That’s why this router comes with all of the bells and whistles. It’s technologically supreme with four internal antennas and two external antennas.

This allows for enhanced connectivity with a range of 50m. You can choose between 3G or 4G prepaid data plans. It’s possible to use any network although bear in mind that RV Wi-Fi is optimised for the Telstra network.

Another great feature is that multiple devices can connect while travelling. As a result, you can keep the children quiet in the back seat. You’ll never hear ‘Are we there yet?” again!

Meanwhile, this caravan router has a built-in media centre allowing you to plug in USBs or external hard drives. You can share movies, videos and songs across multiple devices at the same time. It’s perfect for travelling.

Like most caravan routers, it requires a 12V power source.

All in all, there aren’t many faults with this product. Sure, some routers have a wider range but 50m isn’t bad. Meanwhile, it retails at around $500 and comes with a 1 year warranty which is fair.

NCE Travel Wifi Modem Kit V2

NCE Travel Wifi Modem Kit V2

Honourable Mention

Pros
  • Easy installation
  • 3G and 4G compatible
  • Open to any network and internet provider
  • Password protection system
  • Works with both dongles and sims
  • The high gain antenna enhances signal
  • One year warranty
Cons
  • Comparatively short maximum reception range

The NCE Travel Wi-Fi Modem Kit is another great caravan internet router. It has several features that help it to stand out in a crowded market.

Firstly, it’s 3G and 4G compatible. A lot of newer routers are forgoing the former as technology develops. But it’s nice to have the option to work with 3G even if it’s not as fast as 4G.

Another great point in its favour is that it works with both dongles and sims. Most routers and caravan wi-fi boosters only accept the latter. This gives you more flexibility to find the best caravan wifi possible.

It’s also one of the most secure caravan routers you’ll find. Internet security is crucial because you don’t want anybody accessing your passwords or financial details. As well as being password-protected, this wi-fi modem has a special lock system.

The main issue with this wifi modem is that it only has a maximum reception range of 40m. This is comparatively short and a bit restricting when compared to every other caravan Wi-Fi booster in this guide.

At about $450 it’s slightly cheaper than the RV Wi-Fi modem but comes with the same one-year warranty. It’s a toss up between which one is the best caravan wi-fi router because it depends on your needs as they both have unique aspects.

Sphere Mobile Wi-Fi Router with Int Antenna, ZT-4G

Sphere Mobile Wi-Fi Router with Int Antenna, ZT-4G

Best Value

Pros
  • Cheaper than competitors
  • +100m maximum range
  • Security tracking system
  • USB sharing system
  • Four LAN ports
  • One year warranty
Cons
  • Doesn’t work with 3G

There are several reasons why the Sphere Mobile Wi-Fi Router might be the best of its kind in Australia today.

For a start, it’s substantially cheaper than its competitors. You might look at the $355 and think that there is something wrong, but the reality is that this is a great caravan wi-fi booster.

Like the RV caravan wi-fi router, it has a USB sharing system. Everybody can enjoy the same movies and TV shows at the same time from their own devices. This can make connectivity more convenient when you’re on the move.

Even if the connection is patchy, Sphere has you covered with four LAN ports. Simply plug in to maximise your internet’s reliability. It’s great that their router has this feature because a lot of brands overlook this.

Furthermore, you would expect the cheaper pricetag to mean that it has a lower range. However, Sphere claims that it has a maximum range of over one hundred metres. This might make it the best caravan van wi-fi router you can find today.

Sphere is also a leader when it comes to security. As well as regular password protection, this caravan wi-fi router has a security tracking system allowing you to locate the vehicle wherever it goes!

On the downside, it’s only compatible with 4G sim cards. However, this shouldn’t be an issue as connectivity continues to improve across Australia. It also comes with a one-year warranty.

Wineguard WiFi Connect 2.0

Wineguard WiFi Connect 2.0

Honourable Mention

Pros
  • The maximum range is 2.4km
  • Strong wireless security
  • Compatible with all networks and devices
  • Three wi-fi antennas
  • Two-year parts warranty/one-year labour warranty
Cons
  • Very expensive
  • Not compatible with 3G

The Wineguard wi-fi booster extends your internet signal and maximises it to full effect. It can be mounted on top of your camping vehicle or placed inside.

One of the most eye-catching features is the amazing maximum range of 1.5 miles (2.4km). I’m not entirely sure why you need this or how it works, but it’s incredible!

Like the other caravan routers and boosters in this guide, the Wineguard model is compatible with different devices and networks. It’s easy to install so you can get started quickly. However, it doesn’t work with 3G.

Wineguard boasts about its strong wireless security. It has double firewall protection, denial of service attack prevention and advanced wi-fi protected access. This makes it one of the safest in its class.

The main issue is that it’s very expensive. At almost $670 it’s almost twice the price of the Sphere Mobile Wi-Fi Router. Its specifications may make it the best caravan wi-fi booster. But some potential customers might prefer cheaper options.

Finally, Wineguard provides some of the best customer service in the business. You’ll benefit from a two-year parts warranty and a one-year labour warranty. This is one area where they beat all of their competitors.

Things To Consider When Purchasing A Caravan WIFI System

Don't forget to consider these before locking in a purchase:

Security

It’s important to stay safe while you’re online. Nobody wants to receive a phone call from their bank saying that there has been a suspicious transaction. The best caravan wifi routers and boosters have great security features.

WPA password protection should be the bare minimum.

Some products offer even more than this. Wineguard ranks particularly strongly when it comes to firewall protection and DOS prevention. NCE Travel WIFI and Sphere both have useful security features too.

Don’t skimp on the security because it could save you a lot of money and stress in the long term.

3G vs. 4G

Of course, 4G is better than 3G but the reality of life in Australia is that it’s not always available. If you’re going out into regional areas, you might struggle to find the strongest 4G connection.

That’s why it’s useful to have a caravan wi-fi router that will pick up both connections. Both the RV Wi-Fi modem and the NCE Travel modem work with both signals.

Telstra said that they will shut down 3G networks by 2024 so there is still a way to go before then. It’s nice to have the flexibility but it’s not the end of the world.

Additional Features

The best caravan wi-fi boosters and routers have additional features that make them useful in different ways.

Some of them allow for cross-platform viewing. This is great when you’re travelling long distances and want to share a visual experience.

Sphere’s caravan security tracking feature is brilliant because it provides peace of mind. If you’re ever in a horrible situation where your caravan or RV is stolen, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to track it down.

Depending on the router or modem, there may be varying numbers of USB and ethernet ports. The latter can improve your internet connection when you have a weaker wi-fi signal.

How to Maximise Your Caravan WIFI Connection

Several factors will affect your wi-fi connection. Let’s look at these now.

Number of Users

Your caravan internet may slow down if there are multiple users. A couple of people will enjoy twice the speed and bandwidth of four users. This is something to bear in mind if you’re trying to watch live sports or TV online.

If everybody connects their mobile phone and then adds laptops or tablets, the chances of frustration are substantially higher. It’s worth disconnecting devices if you need a larger bandwidth for streaming.

Obstructions

Even the best caravan wi-fi booster will slow down when there are obstructions. If you’re parked next to tall buildings, under trees or even beside larger RVs, your internet may start lagging.

Multiple users will make this even more of an issue.

Inside the van, try to stay close to the caravan wi-fi router. Even if it claims to work at over 100 metres like the Sphere Mobile or over a mile like the Wineguard, the reality is you should be near the modem for maximum effectiveness.

Do You Really Need It?

Before you spend hundreds of dollars on a caravan router, you should ask yourself if you need the internet on holiday. All of these appliances add up and internet modems aren’t cheap.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where we are overdependent on the internet. Maybe it’s better to keep your children away from their smartphones for a while. If you want to watch the game, maybe stop by the pub instead.

One of the joys of travelling is that you escape from your everyday reality.

In saying that, some people will require a reliable internet connection for work-related reasons or if they’re going on a long trip and need to keep in contact with friends and family.

Perhaps you just want to be able to stream Spotify while on holiday!

Final Thoughts

There is a caravan router for everybody’s needs and budget.

Surprisingly, the cheaper option is a great one. The Sphere Mobile router offers so many features for a lower cost than its rivals. The only thing that it doesn’t have is 3G compatibility but otherwise, it’s the best caravan wi-fi router available.

However, if you want a 3G connection, then take a careful look at the NCE and RV Wi-Fi modems because they are similar products with slight differences.

Finally, the Wineguard caravan wi-fi booster is a more expensive option. It won’t be for everybody but you get what you pay for. This is the most powerful modem and comes with the best security. Meanwhile, their customer service is the best in the business.

If you have any questions about these caravan routers, please leave a comment below!


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Our Testing Process

In creating this article, we have completed a rigorous review process on the best caravan wifi out there, comparing 11 products in total, and reading hundreds of reviews from fellow campers to help form our opinions.

The primary goal of our research is to help figure which product is right for you, the user. We systematically go through all of the available options on the market to determine which ones are worthy of our list.

Here’s a full list of the options we considered for this article. Please note that we have never accepted free products from manufacturers.

Full List Of Considered Products

Cel-Fi Go Optus Repeater, 2 Year Warranty
Cel-Fi Go Telstra Repeater, 2 Year Warranty
NCE Travel Wifi Modem Kit V2, 1 Year Warranty
NCE Wifi Reverse and Security Camera 12VDC, 1 Year Warranty
RV Wifi
RV WIFI+4GX Portable Caravan Wifi + Cel-Fi Go Optus Repeater Bundle, 2
Year Warranty
RV WIFI+4GX Portable Caravan Wifi + Cel-Fi Go Telstra Repeater Bundle, 2
Year Warranty
Sphere Mobile Wi-Fi Router with GPS
Sphere Mobile Wi-Fi Router with GPS & Int Antenna, ZT-4GGPS, 1 Year
Warranty
Sphere Mobile Wi-Fi Router with Int Antenna, ZT-4G, 1 Year Warranty
Winegard Connect 2.0


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Louis

While Louis does most of his trips near his home in south-east Queensland, he has been camping as far afield as South America and Africa. He loves researching, testing and experimenting with camping gear whenever possible.

  • Are you kidding? The sphere modem router and the other two are the same junk routers! $50 routers, openwrt o/s, unreliable, poor download speeds. I have had 2 since Nov 21 and both are faulty. Waiting on a third….. and you will only pay $500 for the pain. The Sphere is included in most Jayco caravans. Oh, the GPS works fine if the router is NOT in the van.

  • I bought a RV WIFI+ about 2 years ago. Couldn’t get it to connect to either 3G or 4G, even in high coverage areas, and using all manner of aerials, both inside and outside the caravan. This is using the same SIM that I have been using in my 5 year old Telstra 4GX hotspot (which connects fine to bot 3G and 4G, even in low coverage areas). I contacted the retailer, walked through troubleshooting. Eventually sent it back and received a replacement. It still won’t connect to anything, anywhere! I’ll keep using my 4GX hotspot. The RV WIFI+ is even too light to act as a paper weight!

  • …also, unless you are a software engineer, don’t expect to be able to configure it. The RV WIFI+ interface is NOT user friendly…they may as well not even give you access.
    Having said all that, if you don’t want internet connection, the WIFI side works great!

  • I’m new to these
    Can I not get same service on my Telstra ph internet.
    Why use a router, dose it have a roof mounted antenna?

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