The best communication gadgets for caravans to stay connected

When choosing gadgets for your caravan, you want them to be durable and resistant to the various conditions you encounter on the road. It’s rare for hardware reviewers to be able to test hardware long-term because we usually have to return loaner devices after a few weeks. So it was a good opportunity to try out different devices in real conditions while caravanning in Australia.

I’ve spent a lot of time with the devices I’ve tested on my recent trips. This has given me more time to test them out on the road and see how they perform over time. After three months of using these gadgets on the road to communicate in caravans, here’s what I think about them and whether they’re worth taking on your trip.

Recommended communication gadgets for caravans

In some ways, it’s sad that we want to be connected all the time, and that means fewer people are talking to their travel companions. In another way, communication is key because it allows people like my wife and I to work on the road, communicate with family and friends, watch TV, socialize, book and research destinations, and seek help, whether it’s on YouTube or from an expert.

Here are the caravan communication gadgets I’ve tested recently:

Each product falls into three categories: satellite, mobile phone and radio. Satellite technology will provide 100% coverage in Australia. Mobile coverage will work in most cities and major highways, but only 27% of Australia. The UHF radio will transmit and receive everywhere, but only within a range of about 20 km. I explain these technologies in more detail in my guide to internet connectivity in caravans.

To get the most out of this guide, I recommend reading reviews of the products you are interested in.

Starlink to the Internet anywhere in Australia

Starlink is by far the biggest game changer from a communications perspective of all the products I’ve reviewed. Once switched on, it provides fast broadband internet access anywhere in Australia that has a clear view of the southern sky. It’s portable and affordable, providing internet access in the middle of nowhere.

The good news is that we have download speeds that are on average six times faster than at home in Sydney. You can use this with your smartphone’s Wi-Fi connections to make and receive calls and texts wherever you are. It’s easy to set up. I power my device with a Bluetti portable power station, which I can turn on and off using the Starlink app on my smartphone.

On the other hand, Starlink is power hungry, with mine using between 80 and 120 watts per hour to boot up for normal operation. That’s a lot of battery life if you always leave it on, so I like that I can turn it off at night while lying in bed.

Setup may be simple, which involves setting up the antenna to face south, but compared to my cell phone or my 5G mobile router, which comes with no setup when first installed, it takes a few minutes each time. Having mine in the car means there’s a lot going on. Many people set up Starlink in their caravan, which helps reduce the number of times it needs to be set up.

More and more people are opting to permanently mount their Starlink antenna flat on their vehicle or caravan, which is more convenient, but it is ultimately easier to move the antenna and cable to get around an obstacle, such as a tree branch, than with a caravan.

Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro (MR6550) 5G Mobile Router.

This little router is permanently installed in my dual-cab ute. Whenever there is cellular coverage, it provides a Wi-Fi network that any of my devices can connect to, from phones to computers to my Garmin navigator.

Our Starlink plan doesn’t include internet on the go, as it’s too expensive. Instead, we use a Netgear router. Indeed, we have the router connected via Ethernet to the Starlink, so the internet is delivered on the same Netgear network when the Starlink is powered. This makes it incredibly simple and means we only have one network to connect to when we’re in range of the car. The Netgear draws about 5 watts per hour via the USB cable from our Bluetti, so the power draw is minimal.

The only downside to this product is that when there is no cell reception, there is no internet. The network is still operational, allowing us to access any networked device, such as a caravan battery monitor.

Hi-Gain 5G RFI Antenna

In previous tests, this product, when connected to a Netgear mobile router, extended our range and increased our speeds. The RFI antenna is directional, meaning it needs to be pointed at the nearest cell phone tower, meaning this solution can only be used when you are stationary. I have it in my caravan as part of my gadget kit and I can see lots of people using it, but we haven’t used it with the Starlink.

My advice is that if you don’t have Starlink, definitely invest in this technology. You’ll be connected in many more places where others can’t get coverage.

Boost your mobile SIM card

Telstra has the widest mobile coverage of the three major operators. The new alliance between Optus and Vodaphone will improve things, but Telstra is still the best. However, Telstra plans are the most expensive.

Of all Telstra resellers, only Boost Mobile has identical coverage. Others only have a subset. I use the Boost Mobile card for 12 months in our Netgear router, which gives it the best coverage at the best price. If you run out of data, you can top it up or buy another SIM card. We don’t use any of the unlimited voice calls included as the SIM card is only used in the Wi-Fi router.

We have separate SIM cards in our phones, in our case Woolworths, which entitles us to a 10% discount once a month on each SIM. When we’re on the road, we’re likely to be out of Woolworths’ range. However, Wi-Fi calling via the Boost Mobile SIM card in the Netgear router means we can stay connected.

Cel-Fi mobile amplifier

To further increase your cellular coverage on the move, we have the Cel-Fi mobile extender. This product uses a high gain omnidirectional antenna (looks like a UHF antenna) that we mounted on our roof rack. This means it has the best chance of receiving the cell tower signal. The signal is then amplified and retransmitted within a small radius around our car. This means that our smartphones and 5G modem will benefit from this improved signal.

If there is no mobile tower in range, it won’t work, but if there is, it will provide a signal to your devices long after the device itself loses signal from the cell tower.

We think this product is great, especially when trying to stay connected in a remote area. However, our smartphones tend to seek out weak cell phone signals instead of connecting to the Cel-Fi network. This can be fixed by using the My-Wave app, which encourages your phone to use Cel-Fi. You have to remember to use the app.

Uniden Xtrak 80 UHF Radio

Breaker, breaker: I can talk to trucks. In most cases, caravans move slower than trucks. Having a UHF radio means you can communicate with other vehicles, including trucks, assuming they have one too. UHF is also great for communicating with your convoy mates.

Channel 40 is a shared channel and is much safer when you can communicate with a 50-meter road train if it wants to overtake you or you want to overtake it. Wide loads with pilot vehicles are also common. They use radios to alert you to their presence so you can pull off the road and overtake safely.

UHF does not provide long-distance communication, but it can be used to summon help if others are within range. Overall, the Xtrak just works and gives us extra peace of mind on outback roads. The replay feature is great when you miss a radio broadcast.

Uniden MHS157 Dual Band VHF/UHF Two Way Radio

For those travelling by boat, this combined UHF/VHF portable radio means you can talk on both road and marine frequencies with one device. We use this portable to communicate while reversing the caravan, with my wife giving instructions from outside the caravan.

The device comes with a 12V car charger, making it easy to top up the battery. We also use the palmtop in the car to listen to other channels, e.g. Ch18, a welcome channel for caravan riders. If we had a boat, we could use it to record our trips at sea rescue stations.

GME Personal Locator

I hope I never have to use this device, but it accompanies us on every hike. PLB, or Personal Locator Beacon, is an emergency transponder that transmits your location to emergency services. You only activate this device in an emergency situation.

The unit is light. The battery lasts for years, ensuring you can contact help via satellites anywhere in the world. Photo: Angus Jones.

Garmin tread navigator

Garmin Tread is an 8-inch tablet-like device that we usually use in the car for navigation. This product is equipped with a satellite communicator available as part of the Garmin inReach offer. This system allows you to send SOS messages, location updates, weather, and basic two-way text communication.

This service is subscription based and we do not use it as we have other alternatives. However, if you do not have Starlink or PLB, this may be a cost effective way to provide support and communication anywhere in Australia.

The Best Caravan Communication Gadgets you should take

If you are planning a long road trip around Australia or just a week-long road trip, I recommend taking the following devices with you in the order listed:

1. UHF radio for inexpensive communication on the go.

2. Telstra or Boost mobile SIM card in your phone or mobile router to maximize your phone and internet coverage.

3. PLB if you are a tourist or plan to use the roads less traveled.

4. Starlink: If you plan to work on the road, want to stay connected and can’t miss TV shows, then Starlink is a game changer, provided you can afford the initial and monthly fees.

5. Cel-Fi is useful for the travel warrior who wants to maximize phone range. It boosts the signal and lets you talk.

Stay tuned for more caravan gadget recommendations for your adventures on the road less traveled.