There are four main ways to get the internet in your van.
You can hotspot off your phone
You can install a router and roof aerial
You sign up to Starlink (new for 2022)
Or
You can use a dedicated MiFi box and sim card to provide mobile internet to all your devices, whether on the road or at home.
I’ve been using a 4g Huawei MiFi box in combination with an unlimited data plan sim from Smarty and I’ve been impressed by the reliability of the signal, even in some rural areas.
In fact, I’ve been using this MiFi box since the first UK covid lockdown in March 2020 when I cancelled my home broadband service and started to use this instead.
It’s been more than fast enough to stream Netflix, upload YouTube videos and have video calls and Zoom.
What is a MiFi box?
A MiFi box is a mini router which connects to the internet with a sim card.
You then connect your devices to this box the same way you’d log onto your home router.
In fact, up to 16 devices can be connected to one Huawei MiFi, so that’s your phones, tablets, laptops, Echo dot (“Alexa – play vanlife playlist!”) and TVs all sorted.
Battery life and charging.
The unit has a 1500mAh battery and the official battery life is 6 hours on a single charge.
Personally, I’ve found that to be a little less, maybe 4 to 5 hours before it needs to recharge and recently, after using the unit for two years, I’ve found it to be closer to 4 hours.
This is to be expected over time as batteries can only be recharged for a number of cycles before they start to degrade and do not hold power for as long.
Personally, I tend to leave it plugged into a USB port almost all the time, either in the van or one of my laptop USB ports as it uses so little power it’s hardly noticeable.
The fact that I’ve been able to use this unit constantly over the past two years before this has happened is a credit to the manufacturer and when I come to replace it I’ll be buying another Huawei unit.
Reception strength
The wireless types of this unit are 802.11n, 802.11b and 802.11g
These wifi standards basically describe the speed of the unit.
802.11n supports a theoretical speed of up to 600 Mbps.
802.11b supports a theoretical speed of up to 11 Mbps.
802.11g supports a theoretical speed of up to 54 Mbps.
If you’re looking for a faster unit, then look for wifi 5 (802.11ac and 1500Mbps) or wifi 6 (802.11ax and 10Gbps)
When I installed by USB charging ports in my van I put them near the battery (to save wire!) but the battery is at the rear of the van.
Because the unit gets a better signal if it has a clear view of the sky it needs to be unplugged from charging and placed on the dashboard or near an open door if we’re parked up for the evening.
Clearly the weaker the 4g coverage of an area, the more likely it is that the unit will need some help and be moved.
It’s probably a good place to mention that the unit does not have any ports to attach an external aerial (which would improve the signal reception). This is certainly a feature I’ll be looking for when I upgrade my unit.
Network coverage
The Huawei MiFi unit comes unlocked to all networks so you can pop in your sim card of choice (Micro size).
I use Smarty which works on the Three network and I’ve no complaints at all. At the moment (September 2022) their unlimited plan is £20 per month, no contract required. So even if you’re just going on holiday it’s worth getting for the few weeks that you’re away without being tied into any contracts.
I’ve used it all over Wales whilst travelling and rural Wales is known for its lack of mobile coverage but apart from the really remote areas or travelling at the bottom of valleys, it’s been working well.
Click to check UK coverage for your own provider.
Upgrade for 2022
As the battery in mine is starting to degrade it may well be time to upgrade. So what would I buy?
I’ve been more than happy with Huawei as a brand so I’m definitely going to look at the new MiFi units that they make.
I’d really like to get one with an option to add an external aerial, just to remove the necessity of moving the unit closer to a window in areas of poor network coverage.
So it looks like the following might tick all the boxes for me when it’s time to upgrade.
10 reasons you need wifi in your campervan.
- 1. Staying connected to family and friends while on the road.
- 2. Finding places to stay or camp while travelling.
- 3. Access to online maps and navigation to help you get to your destination.
- 4. Sharing your experiences and memories with others online.
- 5. Being able to stream music, movies, or TV shows while on the road.
- 6. Being able to work remotely while on the road.
- 7. Access to online resources like recipes, weather forecasts, and travel information.
- 8. Shopping online for supplies or items that you need while travelling.
- 9. Being able to make online reservations or bookings for accommodation and activities.
- 10. Having access to emergency services and contact information in case of an emergency.
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