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Guide to Caravan and RV WiFi in Australia

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Whether you’re working from your caravan or rv, want to watch Netflix or just want to be able to check social media, having access to wifi while on the road is becoming increasingly important.

Some people make do just using their phone and its internet connection. But, what if you want to use a laptop when a phone screen just won’t cut it; or need better signal when exploring the more remote parts of Australia?

Well that’s were this helpful caravan and rv wifi guide comes in, and we will take you through the best ways to get online!

The option you decide on is mostly going to come down to your budget and how reliable you need the internet to be. The more expensive the service gets, the better signal and faster your internet will be. This is going to be important if you work remotely and need reliable internet, but if it is just a comfort, you will be able to get away with the cheaper and easier options.

This is the case with carriers in Australia also. Telstra has the best coverage and are who we recommend, however they are priced accordingly. If you don’t need the best, Optus is the next best and has better pricing. This isn’t the case everywhere as sometimes we had Optus signal and not Telstra but in general Telstra covers more of Australia.

Mobile phone hotspot

The easiest and cheapest option is likely going to be using your current smartphone to supply internet to the rest of your van. All modern smartphones have the ability to hotspot, and it is easy to turn it on and get connected.

Don’t stress, we will show you how to turn it on in just a bit!

You will need to make sure you have a data plan has enough data for how much you are going to use your phones internet. If you don’t know, make sure you check beforehand before you get hit with a nasty bill. In general Netflix and YouTube will use 500MB – 1GB of data per hour.

It also heavily drains your phones battery so keep that in mind. This option does nothing to boost your signal so it will only be reliable in towns, or places with good service. We have relied on our phones hotspot before and Australia has better coverage then you might expect, but there was more then one occasion a phone ended up on the roof in an attempt to get a better connection because we needed internet.

Roaming on Rubber - Guide to caravan and rv wifi

How to turn on your mobile hotspot:

Samsung

  1. Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot.
  2. Tap the switch next to Off/On to enable or disable your hotspot.
  3. Take note of the password listed under ‘Password’. This will be what you use to connect your device.

iPhone

  1. Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot or Settings > Mobile Data > Personal Hotspot
  2. Tap the switch next to ‘Allow Others to Join’
  3. Take note of the password listed under ‘Wi-Fi Password’. This will be what you use to connect your device.

Hotspot from Telstra/Optus

Telstra Prepaid 4GX Wifi Plus

Optus Prepaid WiFi Modem + 15GB Data

This is like your phone in that it is unlikely to boost your signal strength, but it is a cheap option to give you a separate device and separate data plan to access the internet.

You can pick these up from Telstra or Optus for as little as $50, with more expensive ones allowing for greater maximum speeds. However unless you are spending a lot of time in major cities this will unlikely benefit you.

They are very mobile, smaller than a phone, with a few hours of battery life allowing you to take them with you should you want to take your internet away from your caravan or rv.

Both providers have large data plans available these days (we have 400gb with Telstra) so you should be able to get something suitable to your needs.

Some even come with the ability to add an external antenna to boost your signal, however if this is part of your plan, you might be better off going with one of the next few options for a more robust solution.

The wireless modules inside them aren’t great to so if you have a lot of devices or need to communicate between devices (mostly for working professionals) you will also want to look at one of our next options.

This is primarily what we have used in the past and worked across Australia with just a mobile hotspot. It was tough at times and often we would sometimes have to move around until we found an acceptable connection for work but at the time we were unable to afford something better.

RV WI-FI

RV WiFi

The RV WI-FI is an all in one, set and forget solution to provide your caravan or rv with internet. It comes with a 4G router, 12v power supply, external antenna, and a SIM card to get you up and going straight out of the box.

Because it comes with an external antenna you can expect a better signal then a mobile phone/hotspot. This not only boosts your 4G signal, but also your Wi-Fi allowing access up to 40 metres away, while being able to leave the router inside.

It comes with a pre-paid SIM card to get you up and going. However, a SIM from any carrier will work, so it will likely be a better option for you to get a SIM on a plan from your provider of choice. If you use the internet sporadically, you may be able to get away with pre-paid.

This is the easiest way to get a capable router with an external antenna and our recommended option if you need something more reliable than a hotspot due to its simplicity.

There is also an optional high gain antenna to increase your service even more in low coverage areas.

Teltonika with antenna

Caravan 4G Internet kit

The next step up is very similar to the RV WIFI, however, has a lot more flexibility. Teltonika are a leading creator in 4G routers and well trusted in the industry for making high quality products. This is better for those that like a bit more customization with their router or would like to attach a higher gain antenna. Most kits that bundle a router and antenna will come with a Teltonika RUT360, however for those seeking the best performance they make a range of models, and some (Like the RUTX11) come with dual SIM slots allowing you to have two carriers connected for redundancy.

You can also fit a wide range of antennas for whatever your needs or mounting requirements are. For example, if you want a bulbar mounted antenna, you will be able to get a rugged higher gain antenna then most small ‘puck’ type ones that mount easily to the roof.

Most kits come with the Poynting MIMO-3-12 which is a well regarded antenna and keeps a fairly low profile.

We currently have the Teltonika RUTX11 and are incredibly happy with its performance over our previous hotspot. The piece of mind it offers with failover is great for us since we work on the road and being connected is key.

When selecting your own antenna you need to make sure that it covers the required frequency bands of your carrier and therefore we recommend this route for more experienced buyers or asking a professional from somewhere like RF Shop or Telco Antennas.

Roaming on Rubber guide to caravan and rv wifi

Cel-Fi Go

Cel-fi Go – Telstra Repeater

Cel-fi Go – Optus Repeater

The Cel-Fi Go is different from the rest of the options as all it does is boost your cell signal. This means that it boosts both 4G data and phone call signal. This boosts the signal for any device connecting to 4G (Like your phone), however it doesn’t give you Wi-Fi to connect something like your laptop to.

This means you generally will bundle this with one of the other options giving you the best of both worlds, or just use it to boost your phone signal so you can make calls in lower coverage areas.

When purchasing a Cel-Fi Go, you must purchase the model for the carrier you want to boost the signal for, Telstra, Optus or Vodafone. It will only work with that carrier.

The Cel-Fi Go is one of the more expensive options alone and given you need to combine it with something else the cost goes even greater, but this combination will give you the best coverage when being connected is critical.

Check out some available bundles:

RV WIFI+ and Cel-Fi Go Bundle – Telstra

RV WIFI+ and Cel-Fi Go Bundle – Optus

Caravan 4G Modem and Cel-Fi booster Kit

Our Caravan and RV WiFi Recommendations

For most people you will be fine with using your phone’s hotspot or a cheap hotspot for the carrier you prefer. The best part about this is it is very inexpensive to start with this, and if you find it is not suitable, upgrade later without much investment.

The next step up would be the RV WIFI. This option will provide better signal and coverage for most people outside of professionals working from the road who need the best. Professionals (Or those that just want the best) will be better off with either a Teltonika and higher gain antenna, or a combination with the Cel-Fi Go as the cost is hard to justify otherwise.

Caravan Toilet Guide

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If you are considering having a toilet in your caravan or camper, there are a few things you need to consider prior to purchasing one.  

Do I want it to be permanently installed, or portable? 

Will there be many people will use it?  How long does it need to last?

How often will I need to use it? (For example, will I be staying in caravan parks mostly or not?) 

How much am I willing to spend? 

Do I need to be water, electricity or environment conscious? 

How do I empty it, and how do I clean it? 

What are the benefits of a caravan toilet? 

There are a few very obvious benefits of having a toilet in your caravan or motorhome. The first, and probably most important –convenience, and practicality! Having an onboard toilet means you are less likely to need to stay at a caravan park, increasing the ability to free camp. Depending how many people are using it, you can go days without having to leave to empty your toilet. You also don’t have to use public toilets, and let’s face it, sometimes they are not so nice!  

Another important reason – privacy. Have you ever been in a public toilet and almost walked out because of the smell? Or even worse, the noise? Sometimes it’s nice to know you have this little private sanctuary in your RV.  

So what caravan toilet options are available? 

Cassette Toilet –   

RV Toilet Blog - Motorhome Cassette Toilet

A cassette toilet is a permanent option in your RV or caravan. It is secured in place, and has a waste holding tank underneath.   

Once you flush the toilet, the waste goes down into the cassette and is stored until emptied. The waste holding tanks typically are between 15-20 litres in size. Depending on use and the amount of people, this typically will last a couple of days. A lot of people opt to carry an additional waste tank if they know they will not be near a dump point for some time.  

Most cassettes are accessible from the outside of your motorhome via a small door.   

RV Toilet Blog - Toilet Cassette

The idea is to remove the cassette tank, and empty when needed into a dump point (a specific spot for dumping motor home waste – we have found these to be quite common everywhere in Australia, most RV friendly towns have one available).  Once emptied, you can hose the tank out for a bit of a clean, and reinsert back into your motorhome.  

RV Toilet Blog - Dump point - Shutterstock image for decorative purposes only

The good –   

Easy to find dump spots – readily available in most RV friendly towns. 

Convenience – No need to find a public toilet, or a nice spot on the ground!   

Space saving – some cassette toilets come with a swivel seat which means it can be turned in any direction. This is handy in smaller spaces like ours.   

The bad –   

The smell. Yes, it can smell! 

We use specific toilet chemicals which help to break down the waste, and basically turn it into slush. This is what comes out of your cassette and into the dump point. The first time you dump your waste can be a bit of a shock to see what comes out!  

Some dump points are definitely more cleaner than others. Most have a hose to rinse the dump point when you are finished using it, the ones that don’t tend to be a little smelly!

Inside, the smell is mainly when you open the toilet and you can smell it from underneath.  When closed, it is not as much of an issue.

We have found regularly cleaning the toilet, rinsing it at each dump station, using the chemicals, and a few drops of eucalyptus oil every now and then helps with the smell. 

Another negative – the waste tank can be heavy when full. To help with this, a lot of cassette waste tanks come with an extendable handle and wheels to roll it along the ground to the dump point.  

Some examples of Cassette toilets –

Portable Toilet –   

RV Toilet Blog - Portable camper toilet

A portable RV toilet is essentially the same as a cassette toilet, however the waste holding tank is attached to the toilet itself, and the whole thing can be moved around as a unit. This is a good idea if you are not wanting a permanent plumbed in toilet, or do not have enough space for a bathroom but want the convenience of a toilet just in case.   

The good –   

Easy to find dump spots – readily available in most RV friendly towns. 

Convenience – No need to find a public toilet, or a nice spot on the ground!   

Space saving – if you cannot have a permanent bathroom, at least you can still carry a toilet around with you.  Most people tuck them away under a bed, or in a cupboard when not in use.  

Typically a lot cheaper than a cassette toilet, so better for those watching their budgets!   

The bad –   

Generally a smaller waste saving tank, so it needs to be emptied more often.   

Not a permanent feature, so needs to be carried around with you.   

The smell! Always the smell haha!  

Some examples of portable toilets are –

Composting Toilet –   

RV Toilet Blog - Motorhome Composting Toilet

Have you ever chucked all of your vegetable and kitchen scraps somewhere and just left it to breakdown?   

That is essentially what a RV composting toilet is.   

It works by separating the liquids from the solids, and an additive such as peat moss, or sawdust helps to break it down.   

After you have used it, it can then be emptied anywhere you would normal compost. It is definitely recommended not to empty the compost around any edible plants, herbs, vegetables, fruits, seeds etc.   

The liquid can be disposed of at a dump spot, or even in a normal toilet as it has no chemicals in it.   

The good –   

It is the most environmentally friendly option. It is a dry toilet and doesn’t require water to use. If needed a quick spray of water from a bottle should do the trick.   

Easy to find dump spots.  

Convenient! 

No chemicals required.  

The bad –   

Typically the most expensive.  

If you need to use toilet paper, it takes much longer to break down than the waste does, so you will be able to see this and would probably need to dispose of at dump stations. Alternatively, you can put your used toilet paper in a bin instead of the toilet.   

There is RV specific toilet paper available. It is generally a lot thinner than regular toilet paper which helps it to breakdown quicker. Downside to this is the cost.  

As it separates solids from liquids, it is not great for anyone who may be sick; sometimes there is an in-between!   

It is recommended for use for only 1-2 people. As there is no large waste holding tank, it is not suitable for families or large groups.  

They require a bit of understanding to be able to be used properly. If used properly, there is typically no issues with smells, or clogs.  

There are not a lot of composting toilets around, however a good example is the Natures Head Composting Toilet.

Gravity Flush –  

If you are going to be staying at a lot of caravan parks, a gravity flush toilet could be the option for you.  

They work using pressurised water and gravity to flush away the contents in a tank located directly underneath – kind of like a pretty long drop toilet!  

As you need pressurised water to clean it, typically you need to be plugged into mains water for this to be effective.  

The tank is then emptied at a designated dump spot, just like a cassette toilet.  

RV Toilet Blog - Dump point for toilet - Shutterstock image for decorative purposes only

The good –  

Simple to use.  

It does not require electricity to work – They are operated by a foot pump. 

Low water usage  

The bad –  

Can smell, just like a casette toilet.  

The toilet has a higher chance of clogging.  

As the toiler needs pressurised water, it is not as good at being able to be used off grid.  

Some examples of gravity flush toilets –

So what did we decide?

After looking at all of the caravan toilet options available, we were tossing up between a cassette toilet, and a composting toilet. We wanted a permanent toilet and both of these fit what we were looking for.  

After watching a clip on YouTube describing the composting toilet, we opted against it. The idea of being sick, or even for a girl during that time of the month and not being able to use the toilet turned us off a little. Not to mention it was more expensive!  

Because of this, we decided on a Dometic CTS 4110 cassette toilet.

Roaming on rubber rv dometic cassette toilet - toyota coaster motorhome conversion

All of the toilets listed require the use of a dump point. Dump points are readily available in most RV friendly towns. We found the easiest way to find them was using the Wikicamps App. Not only does this app help with dump point locations, but also camp sites, information centres, laundromats and more.  

Even though most of them can smell, there are plenty of chemical options such as Thetford Aqua Kem blue, or Porta Pak sachets available to help. You can purchase these at caravan shops, camping shops, some auto shops, and in country places some supermarkets stock them. We tend to use the sachets, as we have found for us they last longer and work better.    

A toilet is definitely a personal preference, and they are all good in different ways. After living in our Toyota Coaster motorhome for quite some time now, we are happy with our decision to put in a toilet and wouldn’t ever build another motorhome without one!  

If you want to see how we installed our toilet, check out our page here –

Toyota Coaster Motorhome Conversion – RV Shower Cubicle and Dometic Toilet Install