UPGRADE - Mobile Internet

We have been using a simple AT&T Hotspot to supply our mobile internet up until now. To allow all our remote telemetry devices, like our SensorPush Outdoor and Indoor temperature sensors and our Blink inside and outside cameras, to connect to the internet. While this has worked well, I decided to upgrade and we selected a Winegard Connect 2.0 solution...

The Winegard "ConnecT" 2.0 is both a 4G LTE and WIFI Extender if you order model WF2-435 (model WF2-335 is a version with WIFI Extender only). The "ConnecT" mounts outside on the roof of your RV and has a single power cable that has to be connected to your RV's 12 VDC power source.

Advantages the Winegard "ConnecT" will provide us;

- Single permanent WAP (WIFI Access Point) to connect all our telemetry devices

- Extend weak "campground" WIFI access points to the ConnecT WAP

- LTE 4G modem for true mobile connectivity where cellular signals are available

- Supports AT&T or Verizon networks

We have it installed and tested on our Tripper RV here at our home location. So far, here at home, the WAP extender appears to work very well. We normally pick up 2 or 3 WAPs, 2 of them being our WAP's in our own home. The "Connect" found 10 WIFI devices including our Samsung TV in the house! And my laptop actually picks up the "ConnecT" WAP INSIDE our home and connects to the RV parked 60 feet away outside, and then the "ConnecT" reaches the internet from our normal WAP back inside our home! And we get great connectivity and speeds while performance testing from inside our house using the "ConnecT" out on the RV! So we know the "ConnecT" WAP sends out a strong signal! The 4G LTE connected to our AT&T plan also works in this same situation when we switch the "ConnecT" over to use 4G LTE service.

Hopefully we will report how well it works out in the real world after our next major trip to "field test" the Winegard ConnecT 2.0 in our Tripper RV!

One more thing...

I had some difficulty getting the "ConnecT" initially connected to our AT&T service using 4G LTE. A quick google search reveals many have had the same issue. Finding anything on the internet detailing a successful installation of the Winegard Connect 2.0 using AT&T service was difficult to find, so I am adding the procedure here...

Procedure - Switch Winegard Connect 2.0 over to AT&T service;

1) As I wanted to retain my existing AT&T Hotspot for now, I visited my local AT&T store to add a second hotspot as a BYOD. I had the Winegard ConnecT owners manual with me so they could issue a new SIM using the IMEI number for my "ConnecT" device.

2) Next step was to power off the "ConnecT", remove the Winegard supplied SIM, and install my new AT&T SIM. And then power up the "ConnecT"

Following the procedure in the "ConnecT" owners manual, I accessed the "Change Provider" screen and it had apparently on startup detected the AT&T SIM and displayed both the "Cellular Provider" and the "Cellular APN" as shown here;

IMPORTANT POINT - As the "ConnecT" shipped with a Winegard SIM, we now know the "ConnecT" successfully read our SIM card as it detected it as issued by AT&T!

3) Click on "Change Provider" and the cellular modem will reboot and configure itself for the AT&T network.

4) Next, and this is optional, select on the main screen the "Scan for 4G" to have the "ConnecT" scan for local cell towers. This will confirm that we have connectivity to actual cell towers for our "Operator".

At this point, one would assume we are connected and our "ConnecT" should have access to 4G LGE network. Like any other "Hotspot" you have ever used. I BELIEVE this is where many that have attempted to configure a Winegard "ConnecT" and report "it does not work".

Here's what the main screen looks like at this point..

Notice the confusing "4G/LTE SIGNAL" showing "No signal until connected". Giving the impression we are not able to connect to our AT&T network. And then we drop off into a endless unsuccessful troubleshooting loop.

The real truth? It's all configured and READY to work, if only we understood the next item...

The missing link? The "ConnecT" does not automatically connect to 4G LTE like EVERY OTHER DEVICE I HAVE EVER USED! You have to SWITCH over using the "INTERNET ACCESS" AND "SELECT" buttons on the main screen, to have the "ConnecT" actually attempt to connect to the AT&T cell service (I assume it's the same if you are trying to connect to a Verizon network).

5) So the last, and critical step, is to select "4G/LTE" under "Internet Access" and then use the SELECT button to actually CONNECT to the cellular network! It will take a few moments to connect and then you should find...

Here you can see the "4G/LTE SIGNAL" showing 98% confirming we successfully connected to our AT&T network! SUCCESS!

The design of the Winegard "Connect" is that it's only connected to either a WAP OR 4G/LTE at any one moment. Or "No Internet" if you select that option. No automatic switching or failover. So that's why you actually have to switch it to "4G/LTE" before it will even attempt to connect on your initial configuration!

There is a single brief sentence in the procedure in the owners manual that made me discover this after many hours of troubleshooting. I think if the behavior of the "ConnecT" was better described in the Owners Manual, it would be easy to be successful on connecting your Winegard "ConnecT" to your cellular provider plan on your first attempt. Assuming you are on the supported AT&T or Verizon networks!