Hello everyone,
I am sure this has been asked before, but what is the best / cheapest device that can give us great internet coverage and speed while we are miles from anywhere. We don't want to pay stupid money for something like starlink., we will only be using it about two weeks every month, maybe longer in the summer months..
Thank you
Using an existing smartphone is probably the cheapest although you may need to add sims for the other 2 networks besides the one it's on - you can set up a hotspot to link to a tablet or laptop.
Even on both Club sites, that offer Wi-Fi, we’ve never got a reliable service, so we’re usually using mobile data. And if there’s a Not-Spot with no signal, no land-based kit will conjure it up. Best bet, for catching up on emails, is probably a supermarket.
Wild camping (in Scotland) legally only covers camping without using a vehicle, but it sounds more exciting than saying you’ll be sleeping in a car park.
We use a 4g mobile router. You pop in a SIM card for the network that has the best signal in the area where you are, and off you go. However, if an area has poor or no signal, it doesn’t matter what kit you have, it won’t work. For example, I am just back from 9 nights on a CL site on the Welsh/English border and there was no signal at all on either Vodafone or EE which are the two networks we have a SIM for. Luckily the site had great wifi so we were able to connect to it but if the site hadn’t had any wifi, we would have had to just do without and travel to the nearest town to pick up a signal or go to a coffee shop with wifi etc. I think starlink is your only option if you want to have a guaranteed signal no matter where you are.
There are still pockets of mobile signal black holes where there is no signal of any kind.
None of the 4 network providers is providing 100% coverage for the whole of UK as far as I am aware.
Be prepared to drive/walk to more build-up areas where the signals would be better.
Use one of the free mobile signal checkers to check the areas you have in mind before setting off.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I’ve tried a few cheap LTE routers which accept external antennae and they’ve been rubbish. Finally splurged on a (discounted) Netgear Nighthawk and although it has some annoying foibles it’s been very good. Doubles up as failover WAN for home broadband too.
Quote: Originally posted by spiritburner on 24/8/2026
How do you power a router wild camping?
Batteries ?
Inverter if there is a vehicle? Power bank?
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Wild camping is travelling by foot or bicycle.
To me travelling in such a manner means going as light as possible, not lugging loads of unnecessary equipment around.
Parking up in layby's, etc with a vehicle is generally regarded as dirty camping.
Quote: Originally posted by spiritburner on 24/8/2026
Quote: Originally posted by Dave and Cyn on 24/8/2026
Parking up in layby's, etc with a vehicle is generally regarded as dirty camping.
Why?
Mainly because of the historical amount of mess left behind as is often complained about on the NC500, not only litter but also people emptying toilets at the roadside and in hedgerows.
True wild campers leave only footprints and take only pictures.
Non of that behaviour relates to me. I'm not interested in virtue signalling but always leave places at least as tidy as found.
Footprints & pictures - When proper wild camping in the hills I've buried feaces well away from water courses & with fire risk carry toilet paper out instead of burning it.
Thank you to all those that have given helpful advice , we appreciate it. Even the two that said about " wild camping " .we need our mobiles for personal reasons , and we do park up and go for long walks and then sleep overnight in a small tent, so yes we are wild camping
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets