RV Wi-Fi Portable Wifi Internet for Caravans & Motorhomes Router Installation Guide

Installation Guide and User Manual
Australian V5

Welcome

Congratulations on your purchase of an RV Wi-Fi Router.

This purchase will give you greater freedom to enjoy your traveling without sacrificing the lifestyle that the internet provides.
The great features that are included in this unit are:

• Wi-Fi for your RV;
• Specially designed software for Recreational Vehicles;
• 12-volt power connection;
• Enhanced reception with our optional external antenna;
• Easy installation;
• Industrial Grade 3G/4G capability;
• Optimized for Telstra but will also work with most Australian Data providers.
• A built-in media center, allowing you to insert a hard drive (tested to 1Tb), or USB and share movies, images, or music over multiple devices, Data free;
• Works on Mobile, Pre-Paid Plans, and Data Share SIMS;
• Lets you set your own  Wi-Fi password;
• Improved Wi-Fi performance with two Wi-Fi antennae;
• 3G and 4G antennas for greater mobile coverage;
• Wi-Fi access for the family whilst towing your caravan;
• A ‘Hot Spot’ that stays  with the caravan when your phone moves away;
• Access the internet from multiple devices.
• 3G Antenna – 4dB
• 4G Antenna – 4dB
• Draws 1A

The following steps are designed to get you started and on the road with ease.

What makes up your RV Wi-Fi+?
There are six components:
What makes up your RV Wi-Fi+?
There are six components:

How to Activate the Telstra Pre Paid SIM

The Telstra satchel contains your Sim Card. You need to activate this and add credit to it to finish the setup stage of your RV Wi-Fi unit.
We strongly advise you to do this in-store to make sure the activation has been confirmed.
You MUST use a Nano-sized sim card inside the sim card adapter provided.

Activate your Telstra Sim Card

1. Have your driver’s license handy
2. Use the Service Number located on the rear bottom space of the Telstra Satchel.
3. Open your browser and go to www.telstra.com/activate
4. Follow the Telstra prompts for activation.
5. Once complete, turn off your router and then turn it on again to reboot the system.

For providers other than Telstra please look on their packaging for instructions to activate.
Below are links to Optus, Vodafone, and Virgin.
Optus can be activated by going to www.optus.com.au/customercentre/activateprepaid
Vodafone can be activated by going to www.vodafone.com.au/activate
Virgin can be activated by going to www.virginmobile.com.au/activate
For other providers, please see your Sim card documentation.

Warranty Registration
Please complete your Warranty Registration by going to: www.rvwifi.com.au /warranty-registration.
Your serial number for your RV Wi-Fi unit is located on the outside of the box and on the rear of your RV Wi-Fi unit.

Using the SIM CARD ADAPTER

1. In your pack, you will have received a SIM card adapter.
2. There are three in the pack, please remove the middle one.
3. Break your sim card down to the smallest size – ‘Nano’, the same size you would put into your phone.
4. Insert the activated and data credited Nano-sim into the middle sim card adapter.
5. Insert the SIM/Adapter into the sim card slot (making sure the sim stays in the recess of the adapter), with the router turned: OFF
6. Turn the router: On and wait 5 minutes for it to boot up
7. You are now ready to connect your RV WIFI to your devices.
8. Please note, that you do need to do this step, failure to use the adapter will result in connection issues.

Installing your RV Wi-Fi+

In most cases, your manufacturer will install your RV WiFi for you. But if you are looking at installing it yourself, please follow the steps below.
There are two methods available:

• With an external antenna fitted to the outside of the RV.
• No external antenna.

Installing your RV Wi-Fi+ using the external antenna

Set up for use with external antenna

1| Choose a position for RV WI-FI+ Router adjacent to a single 12v PowerPoint, remembering to leave access for the SIM
insertion;
2| Prewire external antenna and mount on a roof using the bracket provided;
3| Screw into place on the router: 4G/LTE antenna cable into ‘4G/External point:
4| Screw into place on the router: 3G antenna cable into ‘3G/External’ point;
5| Screw into place on the router: Wi-Fi antenna cable into ‘Wi-Fi/External’ point;
6| Attach single  2.4 antennae to the router into the ‘Internal Wi-Fi’ point – the remaining black antenna are now spared;
7| Remove the middle Sim adapter from the pack. Insert an activated and credit-loaded Nano SIM into the adapter and
place it in the SIM card slot. Failure to use this adapter will result in connection issues.
8| Plug the power adapter into the power jack of the RV Wi-Fi+ Router;
9| Place the power cord into the single 12v PowerPoint and turn it on. Sim must be inserted prior to turning on or a reboot will be required;
10| Ensure the ‘Power’ light is on.

Installing your RV Wi-Fi+ without the external antenna

Set up for use with NO external antenna

1| Choose a position for RV WI-FI+ Router adjacent to a single 12v powerpoint;
2| Screw the four black antenna into the four points – Wi-Fi/ 4G/ 3G/ Wi-Fi. 2.4 labeled into the WIFI ports and 4.0/LTE labeled into the 3G/4G ports
3| Plug the power adapter into the power jack of the RV WI-FI+ Router;
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| Remove the middle Sim adapter from the pack. Insert an activated and credit-loaded Nano SIM into the middle adapter in the pack and place it in the SIM card slot. Failure to use this adapter will result in connection issues.
Place the power cord into the 12v power point and turn it on. Sim must be inserted prior to turning on or a reboot will be required.
Ensure the ‘Power’ light is on.

Insert the middle adapter from the adapter pack with a Nano-sized sim into the sim card slot.

Turning on your RV Wi-Fi+ Router

1| Turn on the device/s (phone/laptop etc.), that you wish to connect to the Internet
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2| Click on: ‘Settings’ or the equivalent page on your device
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| Click on: the ‘Wi-Fi’ heading and choose the wifi network: RV WIFI abc123 NOTE: “abc123” varies on each unique router.
Click the: ‘Connect Automatically’ Box
Click: ‘Connect’,
When prompted enter the Wi-Fi password/network security key: rvwifi1234 (please note this is case sensitive and some devices will auto capitilize the first letter).

One of the great features of RV Wi-Fi is the security it provides whilst using the internet. This next section provides step-by-step instructions on setting your Wi-Fi password.

1. Open the web/internet browser on your device and enter the address http://10.0.1.1 into the ‘search’ bar.

2. The RV WI-FI home page will appear.

3. You are about to enter the username and password. You MUST enter the username “admin” and the password “admin”. Failure to do so will result in the router requiring
   resetting. The ‘admin’ password CAN NOT be changed.

4. Select/click on the following tab:
   1. Network.
   

5. Select/click on the dropdown box:
   1. WiFi/Wireless

6. Select/Click on the ‘Edit’ box
   

7. Go to the ‘Interface Configuration’ Section.
   • Click on the ‘Wireless Security’ tab.
   

8. Next to the ‘Key’ drop-down box, click on the matrix. This shows what the current WiFi password is set to.
   • Delete the password, by backspacing or using the delete button.
   • In the Key box, type your new Wifi password – your choice!
   (Your password must be a minimum of 8 characters, and it is case sensitive).

9. Click on the ‘Save and Apply button. The screen will indicate that it is ‘waiting for configuration to apply’.
   • Wait for this to apply. Do not turn off your device during this time.

10.  The next screen will give you two options. Click on ‘Apply unchecked’
    NOTE: if this screen DOES NOT appear, please do the following. 1. go to setting on your device (phone/laptop etc)
    2. Go to wifi.
    3. Click on: RV WIFI to reconnect and wait for connection confirmation
    4. . Go back to the web page you were working on to continue.
    

11. You will now receive the ‘ Device Unreachable’, message. This has appeared as you have changed your WIFI password and the two devices no longer recognize each other.
    

12. On your device (laptop/ipad/phone).
    1. Go to Settings,
    2. Click on Wifi,
    3. Wait for RV WIFI to come up on the list. Click on this,
    4. Your device will now tell you that your WiFi password is incorrect (that is because you have just changed it),
    5. Type in the ‘new’ WIFI/Security Key’ password that you just set,
    6. Wait for your device to let you know that you are connected,
    7. You are now ready to access the internet your RV WIFI
    For help with your RV Wi-Fi unit please go to: [email protected] and a service agent will be in touch.

Factory Reset

WARNING: This procedure will reset all of the settings applied to this router, back to original factory settings, and your passwords will be forgotten. Use this procedure if errors are occurring that may be related to unknown settings. Once you have followed the steps below, please follow the User Manual to set up a new password. A downloadable version of this can be found on our website: www.rvwifi.com.au. Please note, that this does not impact any data usage or activation. Follow these steps below to return your RV Wi-Fi router to the factory settings.

1. Locate on the side of our router, the ‘Reset’ button.
2. Using a pointed instrument – like a pen, depress and hold the button until the Wi-Fi button on the front of the router begins to ‘flash’ quickly.
3. Release the ‘Reset’ button.
4. The lights on the front of the router will all light up and after 2 minutes the unit will have ‘reset’ to factory settings.
5. Turn the router off, wait 30 seconds, turn the router on and wait 4 minutes for it to boot up.

Optional High Gain Antenna

An addition to the 3 in 1 and stick antenna that are included in the pack, is our High Gain Antenna.

• Operation: Manual lever for raising and lowering on the hinged joint.
• Made from Marine Grade Polymer and Stainless Steel
• Must be used in conjunction with the 3 in 1 3G/4G/WIFI antenna supplied with RV  WIFI+4gx or internal antenna.
• Recommended for Marine applications and low coverage areas.
• Simply remove either the 4G or the 4G (3 in 1 antenna cables) OR the 4.0 stick antenna and replace it with the high gain antenna cable.
• Go to www.rvwifi.com.au for more information

How to connect to RV Wi-Fi+ Media using VLC

This guide is to help you watch your stored images and movies from your USB or portable hard drive and share them amongst your digital devices.
Go to the app store on your device and search for ‘VLC’.
The icon looks like this
VLC is a free multimedia player that plays most multimedia files. It’s simple, fast, and powerful. Once installed on your device, follow these simple steps to access your stored files.

1. Connect to RV Wi-Fi (if you aren’t already)
   • Go to ‘settings’;
   • Click on ‘Wi-Fi’;
   • Locate and click on ‘RV WiFI1234 (yours will show a different series of numbers – each unit is unique;
   • Wait for the tick to appear next to RV WIFI1234 – as shown in your user guide’
   • Go back to your home screen and scroll on pages until you find the VLC icon.

2. Open VLC by clicking on the icon and following the prompts on the images below.
   

Frequently asked questions

SIM CARDS
What size SIM card should l use?
Always use a Nano sim in the Nosey Sim adapter. Use the middle adapter in the pack.
What if l inserts the wrong sized SIM card?
You will know that the wrong sized SIM card has been inserted if once it is inserted it can no longer be seen. If inserted correctly, approximately 3mm should be visible out of the end of your RV WIFI router.
You will need to return the router to our factory for retrieval of the sim card. Inserting something into the sim card slot to retrieve will result in the voiding of the warranty.
Damage to the sim card slot results in replacement of the chipset – whole router replacement.
Do l need a SIM card to operate the WIFI?
If you are using the Media center to stream from an inserted USB or External Hard Drive, then you do not need to have a SIM card inserted. If you are sending information to a WIFI device, like a printer, then you do not need to have a SIM card inserted.
Always turn your router off and on again after doing any adjustments to the SIM card. The router needs to re-read the SIM card once it has been inserted, so turning it off and on again will enable it to do this.

**RESETTING

**

If you are having issues with your router, please turn it off and on.
Reset your device by turning it off and on again. Resetting re-establishes the connection and can help correct issues. To know the reset has been completed, the following lights will appear one solid blue light, one solid red light, and one flashing blue light.
Factory reset

The factory reset will put the router software back to the configuration, it left the factory in.

1. Depress and hold the small black recessed
   button on the left side of the router (just above
   the power cord). A pen, toothpick, and small screwdriver is easily inserted into the hole.

2. Hold this recessed button for 10 seconds

3. You will notice the lights begin to flicker

4. Release the button

5. All lights on the router will illuminate

6. Wait 5 minutes

7. Turn the router off, wait 1 minute

8. Turn the router on, and wait 5 minutes.

9. Go to: settings on your device

10. Go to wifi

11. Wait for RV WIFI to come up in the list of WIFI options. Click on: RV WIFI

12. When asked for a password/security key, type in: rvwifi1234

13. Click on: connect

14. Wait for confirmation of connection

OPERATIONAL ISSUES

Why can’t l get onto the internet?
There are a couple of reasons this could occur.

1. The wrong size SIM card has been inserted. Check that the SIM card is visible in the SIM card slot. If not follow the steps on how to retrieve it. (Sim card section).

2. You are not using the Nosey SIM Card Adapter. Break your sim into the smallest size and place it in the middle adapter from the pack. Insert into the router, turn it off and on again.

3. The SIM card has not been activated. The best way to check if the SIM card has been activated by the provider is to try it on another device. Remove the Nano-SIM and place it in another device, for example, a phone. Go to: Settings, then: WIFI.
   Turn WIFI to OFF. This way it will be making sure you are using the SIM card inserted and not another WIFI network. If it does not work, see your data provider.

4. The SIM card has run out of data. To check data credit, contact the service provider.

5. The SIM card has expired. To check expiry, contact the service provider.

6. There is a fault with the modem.

To establish if it is a SIM card issue or a router issue, follow these steps

1. Turn on your RV WIFI router
2. On the device (phone/laptop/tablet), go to: settings
3. Go to Wi-Fi
4. Wait for RVWIFI123abc (each router will have its own unique series of numbers and letters following RV WIFI), to come up on the list of possible WIFI options.
5. Click on: RV WIFI123abc
6. If the device has already been connected to the RV WIFI router, it will recognize it and connect automatically. However, if this is the first time it is connecting to it, it will ask for the WIFI password.
7. Type in the factory set WIFI password: rvwifi1234 (all lower case)
8. Wait for the device to indicate that it is connected. If at this point you cannot connect, then perform a factory reset and then start the process again.
9. Open up a new web page on the device that is now connected via WIFI
10. Type in: http://10.0.1.1 (where you would normally type in www.google.com.au
11. This is a website on the actual router NOT on the web.
12. Type in: admin for both the username and the password
13. Click on: log in
14. This is now the home page. Check to see what the software version is. The current version is 3.07.
15. 2/3rds of the way down the page is a heading IPV4. To the right of this will have information that either says it is ‘3G connected’ or ‘not connected’. If the IPV4 indicates that it is not connected, then ask the customer to test their SIM card on another device. If once this has occurred and the SIM card works in another device, then there is a fault with the router and it needs to be returned to head office.

What do I do if I can’t connect to the Wi-Fi?

There are a couple of causes that may have made this happen.

1. The Wi-Fi may have been accidentally deleted during the set-up phase. You will need to do a factory reset. See the factory reset section.
2. You have entered your own password into ‘setting the Wi-Fi password’ point 2, instead of entering ‘admin’ in both boxes. You will need to do a factory reset. See the factory reset section.

Can l change the ADMIN password?
This setting cannot be changed.
If you are concerned with security be assured that as the website: http://10.0.1.1 is located on the router, it can only be accessed by knowing the WIFI password is set by you.
We recommend that you set your WIFI password upon receiving your router and keep the password information secure.

My WIFI password is not being accepted

1. You will need to do a factory reset.
2. Your Wi-Fi password is case-sensitive and must be a minimum of 8 characters.
3. When setting your WIFI password, the router will automatically capitalize your first letter. Check that this is what you want.

Can l change my SSID?
Yes. The SSID is the router’s name’. This can be changed by:

1. going to the home page of http://10.0.1.1.
2. Scrolling 2/3rds of the page until you see the heading SSID, it will be highlighted.
3. Click on it. Then type in what you would like to call your router.
4. Click on: save and apply
5. Turn the router off and on

ANTENNA

What is the maximum & average gain from the external antenna when in a fringe reception area?
The maximum gain is 5.4db. The average is 3.2 for B28 and impedance is matched to the WIFI router.
There are three antennas inside the external antenna. 1 x 3G, 1 x 4G, 1 x WIFI. Each of the 3G and 4G antennas have a gain of 4dB.
What is an ‘omnidirectional’ antenna?
Our external antenna delivers coverage in a circular horizontal direction.
The WIFI antenna will give you a range of up to 40 meters from the RV.
External antenna dimensions
Height (including bracket): 50mm Diameter:125mm
How long are the external antenna leads?
2 meters each in length.
Can these lengths be adjusted?
They can be adjusted by seeking assistance from an auto electrician.
Can l attach a different external antenna to the RV WIFI router?
Yes, the connector on the router is an SMA Female for 3G/4G connections. You will need to get an adapter that suits you.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Why is the router only showing that I  am connected to 3G when my phone is showing 4G?
This information shown is only a ‘sticker’. The router will find the strongest signal and swap between 3G and 4G accordingly. The ‘sticker’ label showing ‘3G‘ will remain the same.

I seem to be using more data than expected. What might be the cause?
Data usage is very hard to comment on because everyone uses their data differently. The possibilities for unexpected high usage are;

1. Someone has gained access to your WIFI password. Change your WIFI password.

2. Software updates (windows apple or android), turn off automatic updates and select when you want to do them (i.e. when you’re on a public Wi-Fi hotspot and not paying for data)

3. When not using, turn it off, devices might still, be using data even when you have put them down, such as a VPN connection on a laptop has a thing called a heartbeat that
   slowly uses data to maintain the connection, this might slowly use data for many hours.

4. Video conferencing calls can be like steaming video, 1GB per hour as a rule of thumb, even more for High Definition.

5. Consider changing your plan or data provider. There are always new and improved deals being announced.

What coverage can I expect to get?
As we access our data from a range of Data Providers – the coverage is where they are available. Search on the internet for coverage maps. These are normally located on your provider’s website.

Will you be making updates to the software? If so, how can I update my router?

Yes, we are continually looking for new and exciting features and improvements. We will make these available for download on our website.
Follow our Facebook page for notifications and how to apply these updates www.facebook.com/rvwifi

Is there any device in my RV that l should not place the router or antenna near?

1. The external antenna is best placed clear of high objects that will restrict its capacity to receive and send.
2. The router and antenna need to be placed away at least 2 meters from the solar inverter.

How many concurrent Wi-Fi device connections can your product support?
The limit is up to 150 devices at once.

What size external hard drive can be connected?
RV WIFI has been tested up to 1TB.
How is RV WI-FI different from hot-spotting my phone, or a ‘pocket device’?
The RV WI-FI solution has been created for the specific needs of the RV community. The differences are as follows:

• Wired into the 12V supply of the van, so no chargers to look after or lose.
• Superior Wi-Fi Coverage – typically 40 meters from the Caravan/ Motorhome.
• The RV WI-FI router Software has been developed with the traveling holiday in mind, there is no other product like it. No bill shock – no impact to your phone data plan.

SPECIFICATIONS

What is the size of the router?
Height: 32mm Width: 83mm Length: 130mm
How much power does the RV WIFI draw?
250milliamps (mA)
It must be placed in a single power socket
What is the length of the internal antenna’s?
195mm
External antenna dimensions
Height (including bracket): 50mm
Diameter:125mm
How long are the external antenna leads?
2 metres each in length.

References

• Activation
• Caravan WiFi | Portable Internet For Caravans & Motorhomes | RV WiFi
• Warranty Registration - Portable Wireless Internet WiFi For The Caravan & Motorhome
• Activate your SIM card from Telstra - Telstra
• Activate Your New Prepaid SIM | Vodafone Australia

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