Newby Wifi advice please

I always use my mobile hot spot wherever we are, the UK and Europe. . My provider is Sky mobile and I have a good data allowance which I don’t otherwise use much. Unused data allowance is auto rolled over every month. 
we can connect our caravan TV, iPad, or laptop to the hotspot with acceptable speed provided the mobile phone signal is adequate. 
Never needed anything else, even for streaming. 

I think the kit you have should work well, although I only have experience of mobile internet in the UK. I use a TP Link router connected to a Poynting external aerial which sits on a 10' mast attached to the jockey wheel - the leads coming in through a window set to 'fresh air' - so no need to drill through the caravan roof. I use an EE sim card which I have found gives the best coverage in this country.

Using an external aerial is the key factor - pulls in a much stronger signal than a mobile phone inside the van. I regularly get 50+Mbps and even got 85 at the Wharfedale club site - which is in a fairly remote area.

I think it might depend what you want to do with the WiFi? If you are a heavy users of data hungry applications like streaming TV then perhaps a WiFi antenna might be worthwhile. On the other hand if you just want to catch up with the news and banking apps and perhaps social media then tethering you phone might be a simpler answer? It might be an idea to check out the 4/5G signal for where you are staying. Like Cartledge we use our phones as hot spots. My wife is on a different network so we can swap networks if needed.

David

We also use our mobiles and tether, one on O2 the other EE, which gives good coverage in the UK. It doesn’t really matter in Europe, as when roaming we have only very rarely not had a good signal on both. It does depend on what you use them for, we have generous data allowances, but these would soon get gobbled up if we did much streaming, however for our usage are adequate. Although there are no restrictions here,  I believe most UK contracts put restrictions on free usage when roaming however high your data plan.

I do not have much data allowance on my iphone to use it as a hotspot so I need to set up a mobile wifi unit  in the caravan to enable me to connect my new smart tv to wifi so I can watch netflix etc ; anyone got any suggestions on suitable units?

Lack of data need not stop you. Why not simply get a bigger plan for your phone instead of buying a mifi unit and feeding that with data?

I'm on a Pay As You Go mobile contract, as my wife is the main phone user. After a bit of research some months ago I came across two solutions.

UK - My home broadband is up for renewal soon so I'm probably going to change it to 4G with 3. When I go away in the UK I can take the router with me and it will already be linked with my tablet, wife's phone, firestick for Netflix etc. Cost £22 a month for unlimited broadband with current deal having first 6 months at 1/2 price https://www.three.co.uk/broadband/home-broadband?bundle=HBBDevice

https://broadbandsavvy.com/three-4g-hub-review/

Europe - As the above router is locked to 3 I'd need another. I'd probably get the TP Link M7350. https://www.johnlewis.com/tp-link-m7350-4g-lte-mobile-wi-fi-router/p3129652 This is often reduced by £10. I'd use it with this EE card which I'm advised is not available from EE shops, but from Argos. I believe usage is capped at 12GB per month when abroad. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2152310?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=ec80e37c-7084-4de4-acaa-75978d50b2af&istItemId=plpqqaqqm&istBid=t&_$ja=tsid:72555|acid:F112KUG6|cid:391050570|agid:1190771646076321|tid:pla-4578022864865691|crid:74423319000671|nw:search|dvc:c|st:ee%20120gb%20pay%20as%20you%20go%20data%20only%20sim%20card|mt:be|loc:&cmpid=BPLA01&utm_source=Microsoft_Ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=391050570&utm_term=default&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=1190771646076321&utm_custom2=F112KUG6&gclid=08937e16cba01daf845b1b52766d7eff&gclsrc=3p.ds&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:804-627-9544|cid:391050570|agid:1190771646076321|tid:pla-4578022864865691|crid:|nw:o|rnd:|dvc:c|adp:|mt:e|loc:&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=391050570&utm_term=2152310&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=1190771646076321&utm_custom2=804-627-9544&msclkid=08937e16cba01daf845b1b52766d7eff

If I did not have to renew my home broadband I would go this route for the UK.

Colin

thanks but if i didn't want to use my phone what kit would I need ? cost?

Check the links provided by EM above. Basically you would only need a router, and there are lots available, and a sim to feed it data. Check Amazon as well. There is no need to add a booster/antennae unless you find you need one. But, as I said, your phone will do the job.

The set up I described above will cost you about £75 for the router (there are cheaper alternatives available).  The Poynting aerial was about the same amount and the mast and bracket about £25. As Tinny says, the external aerial isn't essential - other than in poorer signal areas and then it does make a massive difference and doing it my way means you don't have to drill any holes in the van. I have tried various alternatives re the sim card.  A monthly contract is OK but you are then paying for something and not using it most of the time.  I find the 120Gb EE data sim for £50, the best solution - valid for a year and I find that's about how long it lasts me - excellent coverage and a cheap solution for mobile internet.