A guide to caravan Wi-Fi

Have you got a caravan? Maybe you’re thinking of hiring one for a holiday? Either way, caravans are great for discovering the UK in a new, exciting way. 

Caravanning has become particularly popular in recent years, with people looking to explore places that are right on our doorstep. 

But whether you’re planning a short getaway or something a bit longer, there’s probably a question you’re itching to ask - what do you do when it comes to getting Wi-Fi in your motorhome or caravan?

There’s no shame in needing a connection. Spending time in a caravan is all fun and games until it’s 9pm and it’s time to stream Love Island. Or when you realise that you’ve missed an important work meeting because of connectivity issues.  

Thankfully, there are plenty of solutions when it comes to getting caravan Wi-Fi and establishing a connection in your caravan or motorhome.

Here are the main ways you can enjoy motorhome or caravan Wi-Fi:

• Using a personal hotspot as Wi-Fi
• Using public Wi-Fi
• Using a MiFi device

A personal hotspot is an excellent option for motorhome or caravan Wi-Fi. A personal hotspot allows you to turn your 5G smartphone or tablet into a mobile Wi-Fi outlet, complete with a unique password for added security. 

When you’re connected to a personal hotspot, you can enjoy your Netflix shows, make work calls, post social media updates and do everything you want. All with a fast and reliable mobile Wi-Fi connection. Put simply, a hotspot is a simple and convenient form of caravan Wi-Fi - if you have an unlimited data allowance on your mobile device, you can enjoy unlimited internet for your caravan. 

How do personal hotspots work? The techy explanation is that you’re leveraging your phone’s reception to the nearest tower and turning it into a mini router. This then enables other devices to connect to your phone. 

Hotspotting comes with a lot of positives, but it also has some drawbacks. The performance level won’t be quite as good as a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) because those hubs use antennas to access more power. Also, only a limited number of devices will be able to connect. 

That said, it offers a great caravan Wi-Fi option. And that’s why we’ve made it easy for you to upgrade to a contract that gives you more or tap into data add-ons on the go.

To set up a hotspot, take a look at our detailed guide on how to use a personal hotspot.

Most places offer free public Wi-Fi these days: shopping centres, cafés, airports or - in the case of caravanning - holiday parks. Free Wi-Fi is an affordable caravan Wi-Fi option that allows you to save money on data charges while doing internet related activities on the go. 

There are downsides with public Wi-Fi though: sometimes reliability, low speeds and poor security are sometimes a problem. 

For starters, public connections go down a lot because they can’t support heavy user loads, which makes them unreliable. Holiday parks might be okay, but if there are lots of people in one area all connecting to the same signal, that can affect usability. Public Wi-Fi is notorious for operating at slower speeds. Too many users on the network results in a loss of bandwidth which leads to a slow connection.

Security can also be an issue. Because of how many people could be using a network in one area, public Wi-Fi is also more susceptible to attacks. If your device doesn’t have a strong firewall at the time of access, then you’re putting yourself at risk, especially if you’re sending out confidential information.  

MiFi is a wireless router that acts as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, and this is the perfect solution for many people seeking caravan Wi-Fi. 

MiFi or MiFi dongles create a localised, portable signal whenever you can connect to a Wi-Fi signal.  You can also connect multiple devices with MiFi. It taps into 4G and 5G mobile phone networks, and this connection can be shared between laptops, tablets, smartphones, and some gaming consoles. Basically, you and your crew can stream and download on the road without a hitch.

Wireless dongles and mobile broadband dongles are compatible with SD cards if you need more storage. And another big advantage with MiFi, is that it requires very little setup - you can get online in a matter of seconds. Expect high speeds, the ability to connect multiple devices, and no need for software download during set up.

Mobile broadband, MiFi devices or dongles are all great Wi-Fi options for travelling around the UK in a motorhome or caravan. It’s really up to you to choose which option is right for your situation, but for most people, Mifi is the best choice.

If you’re travelling with family, then choose one of our mobile broadband options that allows you to add data when you need it. Take advantage of our 4G Plus MiFi, currently at 6 months half price on 12 and 24 month contracts with unlimited data, perfect for the upcoming holidays. 

Or upgrade your existing plan to one of our options that will give you enough data to stream shows and connect multiple devices.