This is Part 1 of a three part series
- Part 1: Triple your download speed (This Article)
- Overview: In part 1 you connected your laptop via ethernet to the client router to connect to the internet.
- Part 2: RV Wireless
- Overview: In part 2 we connected a wireless router in place of your laptop so we could get back to wireless freedom but keep the download speed.
- Part 3: Reducing cellular data dependance (living on 20GB but using 500GB of data)
- Overview: In part 3 we will add a network storage device to start hosting and serving our Movies, TV Shows and Music so we can reduce our cellular data usage
What problem am I solving in this article? Im solving the issue to where you can have best most reliable internet while traveling.
What will I get out of this article? You will get an understanding of what it takes to make the WiFi better in your RV.
Why should I read this article? You should read it you are having trouble with WiFi while traveling
Can I actually put all of this together? Im fairly certain that most can if there is adequate motivation. Better internet is usually a good motivator.
Why not just do this as a video? Thats a good question. I am in the process of building this into a video.
Proof is in the screenshot. As in the screenshot below. This was two speed tests one connected inside the RV with no client router. The second was sitting in the same spot but connected to the client router.
Yep. That is correct. The speed difference is great. That is a four times speed increase. That can change a conversation from “Really its buffering again” to “This is a great movie”.
Problem / Solution / Cliff’s Notes:
Problem: Your laptop connects better to the RV parks WiFi when outside but if its raining or night time its nice to browse the internet from inside your RV. The problem is that the connection isn’t very good.
Solution: I solved the problem by placing another device (Client Router) outside the RV and connected my laptop to it using an ethernet cord.
Hardware Used: Engenius ENS202EXT
What is all of this talk about “Client Router”? I’ve heard of “Bridge” or “Client Bridge” whats the difference?
Thats a good question and in reality there is quite a bit. But the simple answer is that a client router hides your devices from the network you are connecting. In other words the other network only sees your client router so your devices stay safe and secure. Client Router mode is the correct way to go when using unknown networks like RV Parks, Parks, Rest Stops, etc…
Amazon: Engenius ENS202EXT Wireless Router
From this point on we are going to get into the weeds of Wireless technology. Please feel free to bail out here. I’ll post the step by step guide soon.
Before I get too much further let me offer a few definitions:
- Ferrite Cage – This is a literal cage that is used to contain Radio Frequency signals it has lead lined walls
- RF – This stands for Radio Frequency
- RF Signals – This means the radio frequency used by our wireless devices to communicate with Access Points and other devices
All of our wireless devices like our phone, laptop, computer, TV, etc.. use Wireless and Wireless runs on Radio Frequencies. So to make Wireless work efficiently we need to understand what makes Radio Frequencies run efficiently.
For the 2.4 GHz band (802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11N, 802.11AC) and 5 GHz band (802.11A, 802.11AC, and 802.11N) the signal is moving very fast. If you were to look at the signal in a oscilloscope (instrument used to measure radio waves) radio frequency look like waves as in the following:
Except for the above is showing 50Mhz
The image below is what 2.4Ghz might look like notice how the waves get closer and closer together:
Then 5.0Ghz looks like the following where the waves are so close its hard to see the space in between each one:
This fast frequency allows the wireless signal to carry more data and thus push into the 1GB plus transfer rates realm for data delivery. But this means that the signal must not collide with another object or it will fragment / explode even if the smallest object is in the line of sight.
When fragmentation occurs the Access Point or the Laptop or Cell phone will have to resend the data that was fragemented. Newer equipment can reassemble fragmented signals but it takes time so the more fragmentation the more the AP has to work to reassemble.
So how do you get around / mitigate fragmentation? Well you do that by having a clear line of sight between the client and the Access Point.
If you can’t see the Access Point then your signals are hitting objects and fragmenting. Think of a satellite dish and trying to connect with a tree in the way. Its the same technology.
So what does the above have to do with RVPark wireless internet. Well its because our RV’s are full of metal, wood, fiberglass, etc… that blocks the wireless signal.
So imagine you have 20 clients constantly talking to one Access point and all of them are having to retransmit over and over again. In other words the Access Point has to constantly keep repeating itself.
*Please note that Glass does not obstruct or interfere with wireless signals.
So I setup a test to show if gaining line of sight would improve the wireless throughput or not.
First Test:
1.Park Motorhome in front of house
2. Sit on couch in Motorhome with big side window toward the house where Access Point was located
3. Connect directly to Access Point from laptop
4. Perform speed test
Results 3.5 MB per second
Second Test:
1.Park Motorhome in front of house
2. Sit on couch in Motorhome with big side window toward the house where Access Point was located
3. Connect to a Client Router via Ethernet
4. Connect Client Router to Access Point
5. Place Client Router outside the RV
4. Perform speed test
Results: 14 MB per second
Conclusion: Client router improved download speed over four times.
I utilized a client router so I could get the signal out side of the RV to reduce the collisions of the signal with the structure of the RV. Below are the results of my speed tests.
My download speed comparison is 3.5Mbps to 14.61Mbps and the upload speed doubled. So in essence you can see I quadrupled my download speed and doubled my upload speed with the purchase of a $75.00 wireless client router. The one I purchased from Amazon is below:
Amazon: Engenius ENS202EXT Wireless Router
I would recommend that you get one that supports Power over Ethernet (POE). This allows you to power the device using the ethernet cable instead of having to run ethernet and power to your device. You can use suction cups to attach this to your Windshield or a side window.
If you would like me to go into detail as to how I configured everything please let me know in the comments.
*Please note that this will not cause issues for RVPark Access Points. The process I described above makes the wireless transmission more efficient. If anything it helps because you will be one less client needing to have everything repeated.
Below are pictures showing my setup at a campground in Lewisville, TX
I climbed up on the roof and stood in front of my Client Router / Wireless bridge to show the Access Point that I was connected to:
I hope this article provided some value and clarifications that might help to make RV’ing better for you.