5 year RV nomad looking for better mobile solutions.

[aphazia]

Greetings all! I have been poking around here for a bit now reading up on all the various and sundry modems, routers, plans, and more than you are all using. There's a lot of data to consume, and I'm hoping that by laying out my current equipments and needs, some of you who are more well versed will be able to save me some time and more importantly some money figuring out which way to go.

About us: We're a married couple who work from home in a 40ft fifth wheel toyhauler. She is a PHD who needs connectivity without failures for Zoom conferencing and Ignyte document databasing. I an an IT support veteran who also does some graphic design, and is also a gamer (PC primarily, also some PS4). We use a lot of data. As RV nomads, our cellular connectivity is our internet for business.

What we currently have:

- Novatel 8800L running a Verizon gUDP - old school actual unlimited.

- MR1100 Nighthawk with an unlimited AT&T plan through OTR mobile. (Currently seeing the AT&T proxy disconnects, running VPN on the PC's to offset this with 95% success.)

- 2 iPhones on a normal VZW plan that we do not use as internet connectivity for the house.

- A Galaxy S8 with a Visible plan I picked up to test - slow pings generally make me think I will end up dropping the service.

- WifiRanger GoAC router - the external Wifi antennae router isn't on the roof, as using RV park wifi has generally proved useless. Connected to the GoAC on our internal network are:
2 PCs (hers for work, mine for work and gaming), a PS4, 4 Alexa units, 2 Roku TVs, a Gardyn hydroponic system, an iPad, and 2 phones. Also, a Lippert One Control setup that I've got on the LAN, but it won't communicate to the internet (this is a system that can control the RV temp, awnings, levelling system, lights, etc.).

We also have a NordVPN subscription I just picked up - when the PC's are running on AT&T I have the VPN going on the PC's and it helps to deter the AT&T proxy lockups 90% effectively - instead of resetting daily, it's now weekly.

We switch between VZW and AT&T as our primary connections based on where we are and the service in that location. Whichever gets the better connectivity, generally, is plugged into the GoAC. I will sometimes run my PC direct to the VZW hotspot if I am gaming, since the AT&T network isn't great for UPNP/NAT setup on multiplayer games.

COVID means much more throughput and congestion on towers, generally, as we've seen the difference in speeds while we've been stationary for the last 8 months in Orlando instead of moving ever 2-3 months all across the US as per out usual. So - I'm looking to determine what the best play here is for us to upgrade. We generally use a total of anywhere from 300-600 gigs of data a month.

I would love to bond connections, though I know that might not work well for gaming. I'm also looking at the possibility that the grandfathered VZW gUDP may not be eligible for 5G as it's being rolled out more realistically now. I am hoping that in another 6-12 months, Starlink may be an option, or we'll be able to run 5G at reasonable cost.

So - hit me. We can spend the money needed to make our situation better since it is literally our livelihood and quality of life. That doesn't mean we can drop $10,000 on hardware, and keeping the monthly costs on plans as low as possible is also preferable, but we're not shy about spending money for quality. I have been waiting to see how the T-Mobile/Sprint merger and 5g rollout goes, but expect we'll also end up wanting to grab a plan there, if only for even more redundancy just in case.

I've looked at Speedify/Connectify Raspberry pi set ups, building my own router with LTe cards, and getting a VPS to use MPTCProuter is also interesting. I am by no means a 'network specialist' or guru, but I absolutely know my way around hardware and software and am not afraid to fiddle and get my hands dirty with more techy solutions.

Thanks for the long read, and I look forward to hearing the pros and cons of any potential setups we could move to - or hearing that maybe what we have is the best bet in the current market until we see more 5G options and if Starlink will fly.

[MattB29]

Based on your experience and requirements I think you have maxed out what you can reasonably expect using work arounds like consumer phone plans sims in routers. About the only thing I could suggest is you go to the business sections of the wireless company world and see what they might have for unlimited business offerings.

[Dr-BroadBand]

First I need to say I am jealous, a RV lifestyle with +Cash Flow!
There are two new units from NetGear that just came out or not out yet.

LBR20-Orbi LTE Tri-band WiFi Router
LTE Category 18
https://www.netgear.com/Orbi/LBR20.aspx


NIGHTHAWK® M5 MOBILE ROUTER (MR5200)
5G WiFi-6 Supports LTE CAT 22, LTE Advanced, 4x4 MIMO, 256QAM
https://www.netgear.com/home/products/m ... r5200.aspx
NOTE most plans HATE this thing since it's a mobile Hotspot

For Data See https://www.nolimitdata.net
900 GB Data $110

[Dr-BroadBand]

If you like building things take a look here
WG1608V2 5G Ready Cellular Gigabit Router With Dual Band (2.4GHz-5.8GHz) WiFi

https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/routers/lte-rou ... 8ghz-wifi/

[Dr-BroadBand]

Peplink makes some high end modems with Redundant SIM slots with automatic switching for reliable network.

https://www.peplink.com/products/max-si ... ent-router

https://www.mobilemusthave.com

[aphazia]

Thanks, guys! Any other thoughts or input out there?

I hesitate to think that we're really using the most efficient options here, given how I need to reset the AT&T device, we have no external antenna solutions, etc.

If we wanted to up the antenna game here, what would be our best route in that direction- any means by which to have one set working for both hotspots? Or am I going to need a set for each SIM?

I'm still looking to see if a T-Mobile plan worth investing in exists yet so we can test it out. I hear Starlink's beta program started e-mailing folks Monday. Our mailing address is in Florida, so I suspect it'll be a while before we hear from them.

[Dr-BroadBand]

Not sure what your question is?

Step-1 is finding a SIM/Plan what works for you. If you have time you can try the iPad SIM trick and play with TTL settings.
If you want something to just work you will need to spend a little money.

I have had luck with No Limit Data, 900Gig of data a month there are many companies like this. Most have a "membership" fee so do your homework and choose wisely. They all fell a little sketchy.

With your two modems you could get a high end router and feed the two modems into it.
Could load balance or have it set for fail over, that would automatically switch to the modem that was getting data.

https://www.nolimitdata.net

[tvecell]

You may want to look at the Calyx Institute Hotspot option. They're a non-profit focused on internet privacy (I run their CalyxOS on my phone) and they have membership plans that include a hotspot with truly unlimited data, the "catch" being that it's on sprint. So it's not going to replace your other offerings but when you are in an area that has sprint coverage, there you go. The reason they can offer that is that they can access unlimited service that is only for no-profits. Of course who knows what is going to happen due to the merger, but so far it works...

[aphazia]

As an update here:

I grabbed a T-Mobile Home Internet setup even though my current location's ZIP doesn't allow for it... I'm uh. Moving. Yeah. So they shipped it to me here. It's fast and working great.

I also grabbed a Raspberry Pi 4 8gb. It's got Speedify running on it.

I've now got a Verizon gUDP in an 8800L tethered to it via USB, an OTR AT&T unlimited in an MR1100 also tethered via USB, and the T-Mobile Home Internet connected via ethernet port - all to the RPI w/ Speedify. The RPI is sharing connectivity to the rest of the house via WiFi while I test.

It's phenomenally effective. I am still seeing some disconnects on the Speedify service, and am generating logs to mail over to them now. I originally tried this without the T-Mobile and using Windows as the 'host' PC, and it was good but had too many random Speedify disconnects. Using the RPI, it's way more stable. Not perfect yet - but stable enough. I'm going to upgrade the router in the house (probably to an ORBI w/ 1 satellite) and set it up so that the RPI isn't using it's WiFi at all. Just hoping Speedify can clue me in on the disconnects.

MPTCProuter also looks interesting, but Speedify has servers all over the US. As nomads, we'll be travelling once COVID is less an issue, so having servers in multiple locations feels like a smarter option for us than me setting up MPTCP w/ a single location VPS I configure.

At any rate - thanks for the feedback, y'all. Slow improvements.... by the time I have it perfected, I'm sure Starlink will be available and crush all my work.

[aphazia]

Update: Orbi setup added, as well as a USB-Ethernet dongle for the T-Mobile Home Internet. This is amazing and requires almost no maintenance/fiddling. I'm still fine tuning, but think this is absolutely going to be the best option for my needs here. 8800L and Nighthawk tethered VIA USB, TMobile via the USB/Ethernet dongle, stock ethernet out on the Pi to the Orbi.

[BDF1234]

Hi - I'm still a newb, but learning fast. I would like to ask some really basic questions. Is the Pi functioning as a router? What operating system is the Pi running (sorry, I've never used one)? Could you offer some guidance on how I could set that up?

I currently have a Mofi 4500 Sim 7, but I'm looking to expand my capabilities. I don't mind spending a reasonable amount of money. The idea of channel bonding for speed increase sounds like something I should consider.

[Didneywhorl]

Most openWRT based routers like the MOFI are basically little Linux computers with specific hardware on it. The raspberryPi is a small Linux computer and thus some people have figured out how to set the RaspberryPi to run the openWRT firmware (like an OS) which turns it into a router basically.

Like a router the Pi has USB and ethernet and wifi interfaces.

[BDF1234]

So I bought a Pi 3B+. Neat little device. I'm running Rooter/Goldenorb and it works really well, just tethering for now while I test it out. I don't understand how you run Speedify with OpenWRT or Goldenorb as the operating system.

[Didneywhorl]

Never messed with speedify. Maybe just use the speedify app on the devices themselves?

[mcol2512]

Would I be correct in assuming you didn't add anything in terms of antennas?

[learjetta]

I grabbed a T-Mobile Home Internet setup even though my current location's ZIP doesn't allow for it... I'm uh. Moving. Yeah. So they shipped it to me here. It's fast and working great.

Fellow full time RVer here: I'm curious how your T-Mobile Home is working these days... any issues with moving around? We spoke with a rep at a local store who did warn us that the unit has GPS in, so I'm curious if T-Mobile has given you a problem? We'd love to upgrade to that from our 100GB plan.

[Dr-BroadBand]

Just did a 1,500 road trip Texas to Arkansas the T-Mobile Home Internet work in the mini van with no problems no external antenna
https://www.t-mobile.com/isp

[DonJuane]

@aphazia I was going to say to try one of the home Internet cell services. That is what most Baja full-timers have gone to using Telcel home Internet. You'll get to stop the cat and mouse games with all the phone and hotspot trickery and the loss of service from doing such.

@mcol2512 I am running Pi3b and I drilled into my passive case for a R-SMA antenna jack but after buying a PCB microscope and tiny board soldering equipment and tying into the circuit board I would not suggest adding an external antenna, while it is not for the non brain surgeons among us and big chance of ruining the PC board. Plus I spent more for the microscope and all the soldering equipment than I would have on a modem router model. Mine works OK but 5Ghz wifi off the Pi is very dismal and doesn't go much further than before I added the extra antenna. One room or two (about 40 feet is as far as it will go). I didn't try the 2.4Ghz because band is too crowded here. The Pi OS, otherwise is top of the line.

[DonJuane]

@aphazia What is a "AT&T proxy lockup"? thank you.

[kz333]

Antennas are the most important investment. Most routers are absolute garbage so I rolled my own "router" by hooking up my LTE USB modem to my PC which runs Linux and KDE. KDE networkmanager has a built-in internet connection sharing feature which distributes my internet connections wifi (in AP mode) and ethernet port connected devices.

I added a systemd device hotplug rule for my LTE USB modem so I never have to worry about TTL being set. The rule runs when I plug my USB modem in. Finally, MBIM mode is the best mode to use for connecting to your PC. You need to install libmbim and related packages on Linux. In Windows it should work out of the box. MBIM mode is by far the simplest protocol to set up as an end user.

/etc/systemd/system/iptables-ttl-64-wwp0s20f0u2i4.service

Code: Select all

[Unit]
Description=iptables set modem outgoing ttl to 64
BindsTo=sys-subsystem-net-devices-wwp0s20f0u2i4.device
After=sys-subsystem-net-devices-wwp0s20f0u2i4.device

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o wwp0s20f0u2i4 -j TTL --ttl-set 64

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target sys-subsystem-net-devices-wwp0s20f0u2i4.device

Bonus:

To chit chat with your modem in Linux with AT commands, use socat

Code: Select all

sudo socat - /dev/ttyUSB3,crlf