My son bought a camper and is going to live in it. He needs Wi-Fi and I was wondering how I could get this for him? He will be parking at his brother’s house.
— Jill in Montana
Let’s level up your internet camper options. For starters, the personal hotspot feature on his phone could be the Wi-Fi source in the camper. Plans generally cost between $30 to $60 a month.
The amount of data depends on the plan. You get unlimited data in some cases, while others limit you to a certain amount. Usually, if you go over, you get hit with a fee.
If his cell coverage is spotty, I’d consider satellite internet like Starlink. The gear is a bit of an investment ($599), and it runs around $150 a month for the mobile plan that’s best for RVs. It includes unlimited data.
Don’t forget about cybersecurity
Back in the day, you could only see what was on your network by logging in to your router using a browser. That still works, but most wireless providers now let you do this via an app.
Go to your provider’s website to find the official app, add it to your smartphone and log in with your ISP’s credentials.
They all have slightly different capabilities. For example, the Cox Panoramic Wi-Fi App lets you review and organize devices, change your Wi-Fi name and password, troubleshoot connection issues and more.
Another great feature: You can block internet connection to specific devices from anywhere — whether that’s a strange device you don’t recognize or the kids up late playing video games.
Use your router’s online interface
If there’s no app or you don’t want to bother, this simple way shows who and what is using your network. Log into your router to see the most up-to-date information about which devices are connected. Most models will support this as it’s a universal feature.
- First, you’ll need your computer’s IP address. This is how to find it.
- Once you have it, type the IP address into your browser’s address bar. You can then log in with your router’s custom username and password — or the default information if you never set one.
- Once you’re in, check for a list that says DHCP Client or Connected Devices. From there, you’ll see a list of devices currently using your network.
Pro tip: See something you don’t recognize? Change your Wi-Fi password and reconnect only the devices you trust. It’s a lengthy process, but one worth doing. You can also manually remove individual devices from the list of connected gadgets. Look for the command to delete, block or remove.
Remove these devices, too
While you certainly want to boot strangers from your network, you should also look closer to home:
- Remove the devices you’re no longer using: Old phones, speakers, laptops, gaming consoles and tablets.
- Boot any guests you haven’t had over in a while. And next time you have people over, let them connect to your guest network rather than your main one. Tap or click here and scroll to number four to learn how to set this up.
- Sometimes, a technician must access your network to diagnose a problem or set up a new system or device. For example, a tech may need to access your Wi-Fi to set up the sprinkler zones. Once they’re finished with the job, remove their device.
- If you go through a breakup, remove all your ex’s devices and any shared ones just to be safe.
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