Setting up portable in-car wifi

[Chevauxza]

Hey everyone - so I'm wanting to buy/install a permanent 3G hotspot into my car - ideally it would be something which goes straight into a 12V port in the boot, takes a SIM card and switches on and off with the car.

Has anyone else set this up for themselves? The closest I can think of right now would be one of those Afrihost-esque 3G routers connected to a USB charger. Don't think that would switch off with the car though but could connect it by glueing Velcro to the back of it then attaching to the inside of the boot.

 

[DominionZA]

Hey everyone - so I'm wanting to buy/install a permanent 3G hotspot into my car - ideally it would be something which goes straight into a 12V port in the boot, takes a SIM card and switches on and off with the car.

Has anyone else set this up for themselves? The closest I can think of right now would be one of those Afrihost-esque 3G routers connected to a USB charger. Don't think that would switch off with the car though but could connect it by glueing Velcro to the back of it then attaching to the inside of the boot.

I use the AH mifi. Lives in my car and works great.
Got a dual USB socket goody to power it. It's nice and flat and non-intrusive.
It goes beyond just an internet connection in the car. When we go on holiday, I run Plex on my phone in offline mode (sync content from home server), and the family steam from my phone to their tablets via the MiFi.

Well worth it to get one.

 

[bwana]

Hey everyone - so I'm wanting to buy/install a permanent 3G hotspot into my car - ideally it would be something which goes straight into a 12V port in the boot, takes a SIM card and switches on and off with the car.

Has anyone else set this up for themselves? The closest I can think of right now would be one of those Afrihost-esque 3G routers connected to a USB charger. Don't think that would switch off with the car though but could connect it by glueing Velcro to the back of it then attaching to the inside of the boot.

My Aifrihost Mifi lives in the car - it's currently connected to one of the always live 12v ports so it's always on.

 

[MickeyD]

I also use a MiFi device. Always on. Works well in my seven-seater

 

[bwana]

I also use a MiFi device. Always on. Works well in my seven-seater

We've also got a seven seater but don't let guests connect. With my family's phones and ipads thats almost all the devices it can handle (max of 8).

 

[MickeyD]

We've also got a seven seater but don't let guests connect. With my family's phones and ipads that's almost all the devices it can handle (max of 8).

Same here... password protection.

BTW :twisted:

 

[Chevauxza]

Thanks everyone - sounds like the AH one is the way to go. Will give it a shot.

 

[DominionZA]

To add a kicker.... Our Dec holiday included the 2 girls boyfriends. So 7 of us (don't have a grandad 7 seater ). We took 2 cars down the coast and my wife travelled a safe distance behind me. As long as she did not drop too far behind (which happened), the occupants of her car shared the MiFi in my car.

IE: This thing kicks ass!

 

[rodga]

Does it have a removable battery? If it does, does it still work if plugged in and the battery removed?

I used to have tplink setup in my boot but for the life of me I cannot find the unit, so need to get another one.

 

[DominionZA]

Does it have a removable battery? If it does, does it still work if plugged in and the battery removed?

I used to have tplink setup in my boot but for the life of me I cannot find the unit, so need to get another one.

Has a removable battery - yes. Never checked if it works with the battery removed and plugged in though. Will have a look just now when I head down to my office.

 

[bwana]

To add a kicker.... Our Dec holiday included the 2 girls boyfriends. So 7 of us (don't have a grandad 7 seater ). We took 2 cars down the coast and my wife travelled a safe distance behind me. As long as she did not drop too far behind (which happened), the occupants of her car shared the MiFi in my car.

IE: This thing kicks ass!

Granddad? It's a captiva with those two seats in the cargo area that only get put up when the missus is doing her carpooling duty.

Does it have a removable battery? If it does, does it still work if plugged in and the battery removed?

I used to have tplink setup in my boot but for the life of me I cannot find the unit, so need to get another one.

It does have a battery but it doesnt work without it.

 

[rodga]

It does have a battery but it doesnt work without it.

Ah OK, same as the tplink then

Has a removable battery - yes. Never checked if it works with the battery removed and plugged in though. Will have a look just now when I head down to my office.

thanks anyway


Gonna do a quick search this week to try and hopefully find my tplink. Not sure if it's packed away from the move or of it went missing at car wash or service. If I still can't find it, I'll have a look at the mifi.