RV Hotspot : What equipment & Installation process

[JEVLTV]

I want to install a hotspot in our RV for internet access and streaming for grand children. Normally we connect with Starlink Mini but in many national or provincial park, the tree cover in the campsites is so thick, no signal can be accessed. But normally, we get 1 or 2 bars cell tower LTE. I'm installing WeBoost to help getting a stronger signal. My problem is not sharing my cell connection with others in the RV but getting my Smart TV to recognize a proper Wifi hotspot. So this additional equipment which use the eSIM of Public Mobile must be compatible with the smart TVs or laptop, iPAD etc. I have seen some at Bestbuy such as the Solis but I'm not sure I understand everything about it, it seems I would need something else to work. Anybody know all this logistic ?

[JEVLTV]

the TVs are brand new LG connexx 2024. Once activate/reactivate sharing connection on the iPhone, I was seeing me in the WiFi networks available on the TVs. But I need a solution where my iPhone is not required to stay in the RV. I’m going to try a cellular hotspot and see how it goes. I was hoping not to get into expenses in order to see if it could work but I think this is the simplest way at this point 

[softech]

@JEVLTV 

I wonder if the issue is your TV is an older device and does not see the 5Ghz channel you are using on iPhone to share Wifi.  Did you try to lock it to 2.4Ghz for hotspot?  

iPhone by default use 5Ghz for hotspot,  you can enable "Maximize Compatibility" to switch to 2.4 GHz. This setting ensures that devices with older Wi-Fi standards to connect to the hotspot. 

[JEVLTV]

Yes it works and BTW, only if you deactivate connection sharing on the iPhone and reactivate so the smartTVs will see it. But too limited for my problem. I’ll try a mobile cellular hotspot and cancel if not working 

[JEVLTV]

After looking at their plan, it seems right what we need. As usual though, (almost) impossible to speak to a human to confirm some points. I'll have to go to their store to clear few things out. And I agree with you, since it is my plan B (Starlink Mini is plan A), I don't see us using it that much but under tree cover in our national/provincial parks, no satellite signal. And not only that but I have few sensors and switch, controls I want to check out while being away on a bike/walk ride. If no satellite, I cannot access my tech stuff. Security camera also needs a permanent connection. I thought that Cell router would be ideal if on-demand monthly plan only even if it is a bit more expensive, at least I save maybe 10 or 9 months fees/yr. 

[Chalupa_Batman]

Honestly, I assume this is just a summer thing? This may create more of a headache for you than anything. My buddy has a cabin somewhere and uses Wireless Internet through a different provider than under the Telus umbrella. What I can say, look into this link as Koodo has Wireless Internet and may be a better idea for your RV.

https://www.koodomobile.com/en/shop/subscriptions/internet

It's $86 per month however, I received a text from Public Mobile offering a discount code which drops it to $60 for Unlimited Internet at 100mbps. To me, that is more than enough for all three of you to be streaming your own stuff at the same time. And you'd only need it for the RV months and can cancel it after RV'ing is done. Not sure if you got that text but if you didn't and need the code, let me know and I'll send it to your message box. This is not a referral code and I make nothing. It's just a text from Public Mobile I'm sharing. Just wanted to point it out in case someone thinks I'm breaking any rules here. 🙂

[JEVLTV]

I have the iPhone 16 pro max and when you have the 2 iPAD (wife & grandchildren) streaming on 1 bar LTE, I cannot do any internet browsing on the iPhone. But mostly, the smart TVs do not "see" my iPhone shared connection but sees Starlink Wifi. When the RV is parked in our driveway, they also see the WiFi from my house. The WeBoost will take care of additional bandwidth to be usable but I think my only solution would be to add a WiFi hotspot based on cells. Not counting that when I'm going for a walk or eBikes ride with my wife, the grandchildren won't be able to stream whatever they are watching. Am I right ? I can also leave an old iPhone with the SIM but the cost comparison would be the same.

[Chalupa_Batman]

---

@JEVLTV wrote:

I want to install a hotspot in our RV for internet access and streaming for grand children. Normally we connect with Starlink Mini but in many national or provincial park, the tree cover in the campsites is so thick, no signal can be accessed. But normally, we get 1 or 2 bars cell tower LTE. I'm installing WeBoost to help getting a stronger signal. My problem is not sharing my cell connection with others in the RV but getting my Smart TV to recognize a proper Wifi hotspot. So this additional equipment which use the eSIM of Public Mobile must be compatible with the smart TVs or laptop, iPAD etc. I have seen some at Bestbuy such as the Solis but I'm not sure I understand everything about it, it seems I would need something else to work. Anybody know all this logistic ?

---

Well, depending on your phone, you can just turn on your Hotspot, set a password and when others or your TV searches under WiFi, the phone will show and you just enter your password. Pretty much that easy. Give it a go.