Is a dedicated hotspot better than using my phone?

A dedicated hotspot is more reliable for long sessions and multiple devices, while phone tethering works well for light or occasional use. Many van lifers use both so they have redundancy.

Do I need an external antenna or router?

External antennas and routers help in fringe or weak-signal areas but do not create signal where none exists. They are most useful once you already have a stable baseline connection.

Should I have more than one carrier?

Yes. Coverage varies by region. Having access to two carriers greatly increases reliability when traveling between urban, rural, and remote areas.

What’s the biggest mistake people make with van life internet?

Relying on a single connection with no backup. When that signal drops or gets throttled, work, navigation, and communication stop at the same time.

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What’s the Best Internet Setup for Van Life?

The “best” van life internet is the one that stays usable when signal is mediocre and your power budget is tight. Most people buy hardware first and end up with complexity that doesn’t fix the real problem: weak coverage, bad placement, or no fallback plan.

Direct answer:

For most people, the best starting setup is a phone hotspot with a second carrier fallback or a plan that can switch networks, plus a simple placement routine. Upgrade to a dedicated router + external antenna only if you’ve confirmed weak-signal locations are a frequent constraint and you need more stable, shareable connectivity for work devices.

Start Here Baseline Setup Internet Tiers When to Upgrade Placement Routine Power Discipline Common Mistakes Next Pages FAQ

Decision

The Real Goal: Usable Internet on Bad Days

The best internet setup isn’t the fastest speed test. It’s the setup that stays usable when you’re parked in a marginal spot, the tower is congested, or you’re trying to conserve power.

Coverage beats hardware: if the carrier has weak coverage, gear can’t invent signal.
Fallback beats optimization: a second option saves you when the primary fails.
Placement beats most upgrades: moving 50 feet can outperform expensive equipment.

Build your system like power: primary + backup + simple routine.

Baseline Setup

The Baseline That Works for Most People

Part	What It Is	Why It Matters
Primary internet	Phone hotspot (or dedicated hotspot device)	Fastest path to “working internet” with minimal complexity
Fallback	Second carrier or a plan that can switch networks	Fixes the biggest failure: the primary carrier has no coverage here
Placement routine	Simple process to find best signal spot	Often improves performance more than buying hardware
Power discipline	Charging plan + low-power habits	Prevents “internet dies because device dies”

This baseline is boring, cheap relative to complex builds, and recoverable when something breaks.

Internet Tiers

Choose a Tier Based on Your Real Needs

Tier	Best For	What You Use	Main Tradeoff
Tier 1: Minimal	Casual use, light work, simple navigation	Phone hotspot + basic plan	Can struggle in congestion or weak areas
Tier 2: Reliable	Work calls, uploads, daily productivity	Hotspot + second carrier fallback	More cost (but dramatically more coverage options)
Tier 3: Work-Grade	Multi-device work, stable home-base internet	Router + external antenna + data plan	More complexity, install decisions, power use

Most van lifers need Tier 2. Tier 3 is only worth it if you can justify it with real constraints.

Upgrade

When You Should Upgrade to a Router

A router is useful when you need stable multi-device connectivity and you’re ready for hardware choices. If your primary problem is coverage, start with a second carrier first.

You work daily and need consistent reliability.
You run multiple devices (laptop, tablet, camera, etc.).
You need better signal handling than a phone hotspot can provide.
You can support the power draw and setup.

Upgrade when you can name the failure you’re solving.

Upgrade

When an External Antenna Actually Helps

Antennas help when signal is weak but present. They do not help when there is no signal. They are a “pull more signal” tool, not a “create signal” tool.

Frequent weak-signal locations (rural, fringe coverage).
Signal exists but is unstable or slow.
You have a device that can actually use external antennas.

Carrier coverage + placement usually beats hardware spending first.

Placement Routine

The 5-Minute “Find the Best Signal” Routine

Test inside the van in two spots (front vs rear).
Test near windows and away from metal walls.
Raise the device (higher placement can help).
Try a small relocation (even 50–200 feet can change everything).
Lock the spot and stop fiddling once it’s “good enough.”

Most people waste money trying to fix a placement problem with hardware.

Power

Power Discipline Keeps Internet Alive

If your internet depends on devices that die, your internet is not reliable. Build around charging reality.

Charge phone/hotspot before it’s low.
Use airplane mode + Wi-Fi when parked if it saves battery.
Reduce screen brightness and background apps.
Have a charging fallback for bad-weather days.

Reliability includes power, not just signal.

Power

Don’t Build a Fragile Setup

Complexity creates failure points. A simple system that works beats a complicated system you can’t troubleshoot under stress.

Start simple (hotspot + fallback).
Upgrade only when the problem is proven.
Keep a “minimum viable” backup (even if it’s slower).

The goal is continuity, not a perfect spec sheet.

Mistakes

Common Internet Mistakes That Waste Money

Buying hardware before fixing coverage (no carrier signal = no solution).
No fallback plan (one carrier means you will fail in some areas).
Overbuilding early (complex systems you can’t maintain).
Ignoring placement (small changes can outperform upgrades).
Forgetting power (devices die, internet dies).

Reliability comes from coverage + fallback + simple routines, not from buying the most gear.

Next internet & comms pages

Use these to improve weak signal, build navigation redundancy, and stay informed when networks degrade.

How Do I Stay Connected When Signal Is Weak? →
What Apps or Tools Actually Help With Van Life Navigation? →
How Do I Stay Informed During Outages or Disasters While Mobile? →

FAQ

What matters more: speed or reliability?

Reliability. A slower connection that stays usable beats “fast” internet that disappears when you move or the signal drops.

Do I need a router right away?

Usually no. Start with a hotspot and a fallback plan. Upgrade to a router when you have a proven need for more stability and multi-device connectivity.

Is a second carrier really necessary?

If you travel or park in mixed coverage areas, yes. A second carrier solves the most common failure: your primary network has no usable service where you are.

Will an external antenna fix dead zones?

No. Antennas help when signal is weak but present. If there is no service, you need a different carrier, a different location, or a different connectivity method.

What’s the simplest “good enough” setup to start?

Phone hotspot, a plan that fits your usage, and a fallback option for coverage failures—plus a simple placement routine.