Aug 106 min read

Internet access in the van during the trip ?

In this digital world, and given its practical side, I needed access to the internet.

As I'm equipped with a phone, tablet and laptop, I might as well try to have a small personal Wi-Fi network so that I can communicate with you, find paths or roads, get relevant information about the situation in a particular area or country, and also watch a series in the evening when the mood strikes me.

Many nomads have told me that the Wi-Fi networks they encounter on the road are slow, sometimes of average quality, and not very secure.

On motorways, the Wi-Fi signal is rarely there.

I haven't had anything installed in the van yet, but the departure is coming up and I need to look into this.

I have several options:

Hotspot mobile

Description: I use my smartphone to create a hotspot and use my Belgian bundle to access the Internet.

Outside Europe, I can use another smartphone using a data card purchased in the country I'm visiting, or I can use e-cards, which I'll explain later.

Advantage(s):

no external device required

Disadvantage(s):

the battery of my smartphone will be heavily impacted
I'm limited by the number of gigabytes I can use, depending on the operator (generally 17 to 50 GB)
it only works if there is mobile coverage

Best for: nomads who have little need for the Internet when they're on the move and who don't travel abroad for more than 3 or 4 months a year.

How does it work?

In my phone settings, I indicate that I want to activate the mobile hotspot. This allows me to set up an internet connection with my phone, which then "transfers" the mobile data from my subscription to the internet used via this external connection. In this way, I "extend" my internet subscription to a device other than my own phone.

Create a hotspot with an iPhone?

All I have to do is go to "Settings", then "cellular data", "connection sharing" and check that this feature is activated. I then check the Wi-Fi password and the name of the phone.

Creating a hotspot with an Android?

It's slightly different, you need to open the smartphone settings and select "Tethering and Mobile hotspot". Choose the "Configure a Wi-Fi hotspot" option to give the personal connection a name and set a password so that other people don't have easy access to my internet. Activate and it's all done.

If it doesn't work?

You need to restart the device, check that the latest iOS or Android version is installed, switch on and restart the other device that wants to connect, check that the hotspot is activated and restore the network settings.

How much does a mobile hotspot cost?

There are no costs involved in setting up a mobile hotspot. The only costs I have to bear are those of my subscription, because the Internet I use comes from the package included in my subscription.

Wi-Fi or Mi-Fi router

Description: I can install a local mobile SIM card with data in a device that sends a Wi-Fi signal and to which I connect my phone, tablet and laptop.

Advantage(s):

stable, fast connection, better performance
possibility of connecting several devices
unlimited internet depending on destination

Disadvantage(s):

it's not always easy to buy a data sim card abroad
depends on the internet signal available, if the location only has 3G, the internet will be slower than in a location with 4G

Best for: nomads who use a lot of data, such as watching TV or preparing their YouTube film.

Using my own SIM card or an additional SIM card?

I can use my Belgian SIM card or buy an additional prepaid SIM card in the destination country. The advantage of the additional SIM card is that I don't have to insert my own SIM card into the Mi-Fi router and I can still be reached by phone.

Abroad, I can buy a SIM card with unlimited data and I don't have to worry about using mine fairly. Prepayment also means I'm not tied to contract expiry dates, and I can top up my credit easily online or in a shop.

How much does a SIM card cost abroad?

Costs and options vary from country to country, but you should expect to pay between €20 and €50 abroad for a month's unlimited data. Not all European countries offer unlimited data, but buying a data SIM card can be cheaper than temporarily upgrading my own subscription to a holiday package.

To compare data cards around the world --> Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki | Fandom

Here's some information I've extracted from it and which has been passed on to me by nomads:

Germany 999 Go 4 weeks O2 Germany 74.99 €

Austria 30 Go 4 weeks Magenta Telekom 45 €

Spain 150 Go 28 days Vodaphone 40 €

France 200 Go 30 days SFR France 40 €

Italy 100 Go 30 days Tim Italy 14.99 €

Portugal 30 Go 20 days Vodaphone 25 €

Switzerland unlimited per day Salt 1.99 CHF

I'll let you know the costs of SIM cards by country as I visit.

Advice on buying a foreign prepaid SIM card:

take your identity card or passport with you when you buy the SIM card
check that you have no obligations or links
check that the operator allows several devices to be connected and that national coverage is good
check that the term unlimited really means unlimited, as the small print may indicate that after xx GB, the speed is reduced.

Which router should I buy and what are the prices?

I need to pay attention to a number of points.

download speed
networks supported by the router (4G/5G)
ability to stream TV
edit photos
upload videos
number of devices supported

Three models are regularly mentioned:

Netgear
TP-Link
Huawei

I'll give you the prices below.

Satellite

Description : a special satellite dish picks up the signal from a satellite in space and converts it into Internet access.

Benefit(s):

Internet access anywhere in the world, even in remote locations
fast and reliable

Disadvantage(s):

slow start-up
some countries or areas are not covered
very high subscription fees

Best for : ideal for nomads who travel to very remote locations and/or outside Europe.

How much does a satellite cost?

STARLINK is one of the best known. Coverage is good in Europe, but not always for the rest of the world.

The roaming model includes :

unlimited domestic mobile data
portability
service pause
<10 mph (16 km/h) on the move

Monthly fee €59

Purchase of equipment €349

Shipping and handling €23

Wifi Hotspots

Description: use free or paid Internet hotspots offered by campsites, restaurants, libraries, yacht clubs, airports, ....

Advantage(s):

relatively easy way to access the internet
in some cases, the internet is completely free

Disadvantage(s):

not always easy to access
quality not always guaranteed
confidentiality not guaranteed
not very secure

Best for: nomads who spend a lot of time at campsites. I would recommend a Wi-Fi amplifier and a VPN.

I'll be doing a specific blog on VPNs and another on comparing e-sim's in the future.

How much does a signal amplifier cost?

This device is only used to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal. If I don't get a good signal or if the Internet is slow, it won't make the Internet any faster. The basic requirement is that the Internet should be of good quality.

One model is mentioned in particular: the ALFA Wi-Fi Camp Pro2v2.