A rainy afternoon on a campsite can quickly make internet access feel more important than you expected. Perhaps the children want to watch a film, you need to check tomorrow’s route or you want to find somewhere nearby for dinner. Portable WiFi for motorhomes can be useful, but that does not mean everyone needs it.
For many motorhome holidays, the mobile data already available on your phone may be perfectly adequate. Portable WiFi starts to make more sense when several people want to connect at once, you are travelling for longer or you would rather not rely on one person’s phone throughout the trip.
What Is Portable WiFi for a Motorhome?
Portable WiFi usually comes from a small rechargeable device, often called a MiFi device, which uses a mobile data SIM to create its own WiFi network. Phones, tablets and laptops can then connect to it much as they would connect to WiFi at home.
The important thing to understand is that portable WiFi still relies on a mobile phone network. It does not create an internet connection independently. If there is little or no mobile signal where you are staying, a portable WiFi device may struggle too.
The alternative is to use your phone as a personal hotspot. This allows other devices to share your phone’s mobile data connection without buying another piece of equipment.
For occasional internet use on a short motorhome holiday, that can be all you need.
When Is Portable WiFi Actually Useful?
The biggest advantage is being able to connect several devices without depending on one person’s phone.
That can be particularly handy on a family holiday. One person might be checking tomorrow’s weather while somebody else uses a tablet or streams something in the evening. Everyone can connect to the same device rather than repeatedly asking someone to switch their hotspot on.
It can also be useful on a longer touring holiday where you are changing campsites regularly. Instead of connecting every device to a different campsite network each night, your own WiFi connection travels with you.
There are plenty of smaller reasons it can be handy too. Checking attraction opening times, finding somewhere to eat, looking at walking routes, checking campsite information or changing a booking are all things we now tend to do online without thinking much about them.
If you are hiring a motorhome for the first time, having easy access to maps and booking information can be reassuring. It does not mean you need to stay connected throughout the holiday.
Could You Just Use Your Phone Instead?
For many people, yes.
If you already have a reasonable mobile data allowance and only need internet occasionally, using your phone as a hotspot is probably the simplest option. There is nothing extra to buy, charge or remember to pack.
The downside becomes more noticeable when several people are using the connection. Hotspot use can drain your phone battery more quickly, and everyone loses the connection if the phone is taken elsewhere.
That makes the choice fairly straightforward.
For a couple taking a short break and occasionally connecting a tablet, a phone hotspot may be plenty. For a family with several devices or a longer trip where internet access will be used regularly, a separate portable WiFi device becomes more convenient.
What About Campsite WiFi?
Many campsites offer WiFi, so it is worth checking what is available before spending money on another option.
Sometimes it works brilliantly. At other sites, the connection can be much slower once everyone returns to their pitches in the evening and starts using it at the same time. Coverage can also vary across a large campsite, so a good connection near reception does not necessarily mean the signal will be as strong at your pitch.
If you only want to check messages and look something up occasionally, campsite WiFi may be perfectly adequate.
If internet access matters more to you, having your own mobile connection means you are not entirely dependent on whatever the campsite provides.
Mobile Signal Is the Biggest Limitation
A more expensive WiFi device cannot guarantee a better connection if the underlying mobile signal is poor.
In towns, larger holiday parks and areas close to major roads, mobile coverage may be excellent. Head into a remote valley, onto the coast or further into the countryside and the situation can change considerably.
Different mobile networks can perform differently in the same location too. If connectivity is particularly important during your holiday, it is worth checking coverage for the places where you plan to stay.
Coverage maps are useful, but they are still only a guide. Hills, valleys and the location of your pitch can all affect the connection you actually receive.
This is also why offline maps are worth downloading before you leave. You do not want to discover that the one moment you need directions is also the moment your phone has no signal.
How Much Data Will You Actually Use?
It depends much more on what you do online than how long you are away.
Checking weather forecasts, looking at maps, reading emails and finding local information generally uses relatively little data. Streaming films and television, making long video calls and uploading lots of photographs or videos can use considerably more.
If you know the children will want films or programmes during the holiday, download some at home before you leave. The same applies to music, podcasts and anything else you know you are likely to use.
It is also worth checking your normal mobile data usage before buying a separate data package. If you rarely get anywhere near your existing allowance, you may find that you already have everything you need.
If you do buy a separate SIM or data package, check the allowance and any fair-use restrictions before travelling. Anyone taking a motorhome outside the UK should also check roaming rules rather than assuming their normal allowance will work in exactly the same way abroad.
Choosing Between a Phone Hotspot and Portable WiFi
There is no need to make the setup complicated.
A phone hotspot is likely to suit you if internet access will only be occasional, there are only one or two people connecting and your existing mobile plan provides enough data.
Portable WiFi becomes more worthwhile when several people regularly want to connect, you are travelling for a longer period or you do not want everyone’s connection tied to one person’s phone.
If you decide to buy a portable device, look for good battery life, straightforward USB charging and compatibility with the mobile network you plan to use. You do not necessarily need the most expensive model available for an ordinary motorhome holiday.
For a one-off motorhome hire, keeping things simple usually makes more sense than investing in a complicated connectivity setup.
Set Everything Up Before You Leave
Whatever option you choose, get it working before the holiday.
If you are taking a portable WiFi device, charge it, set up the SIM and connect the phones or tablets you intend to use. Make sure everyone knows the password so you are not trying to find it underneath the device after arriving at the campsite.
If you are relying on a phone hotspot, make sure you know how to switch it on and check whether your mobile plan has any restrictions that could affect its use.
Download offline maps for the areas you are visiting too. You may never need them, but they are useful when mobile coverage disappears unexpectedly.
The same preparation works well for entertainment. Downloading a couple of films before leaving home means a wet evening does not suddenly depend on having a strong mobile connection.
So, Is Portable WiFi for Motorhomes Worth It?
For a short motorhome holiday, probably not if you already have a good mobile data allowance and only expect to use the internet occasionally. A phone hotspot is usually the easier option.
For families, longer touring holidays or trips where several devices will regularly need internet access, portable WiFi can be a genuinely useful extra. Everyone can connect to the same network and you are not constantly relying on one person’s phone.
Just remember that portable WiFi cannot solve every connectivity problem. It still needs mobile coverage, and some of the best places for a motorhome holiday happen to be places where the signal is not particularly strong.
Prepare the things you really need before leaving, keep offline maps available and treat internet access as a useful convenience rather than something the whole holiday depends on. Then if the signal does disappear for an evening, there is always the view outside the window.