Winegard is an RV-focused company that builds and sells various RV-related gear, including connectivity gear. Winegard has extensive relationships with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers), which results in Winegard gear being factory-installed on many RVs.
WiFiRanger was a small business brand that focused on mobile connectivity hardware specifically for the RV market. In 2020, it was bought by Winegard. We have been tracking products developed by both companies.
WiFiRanger's products are now sold on the Winegard website without any distinct WiFiRanger branding. Despite this change, these are still WiFiRanger products with firmware and features that are different from Winegard routers and products.
In 2022, they introduced their first combined product, and we expect more in the future.
It's important to note, however, that WiFiRanger and Winegard products do utilize different firmware and have different features.
RV Focused
Winegard (including WiFiRanger) specifically designs their equipment and features with the RVer in mind. The combined company covers new RVs and after-market modifications for connectivity.
Historically (prior to acquiring WiFiRanger), Winegard focused on rooftop connectivity solutions, which were usually installed at the RV factory or dealership and were not as well suited for after-market installations.
WiFiRanger's products focus on a modular mix of outdoor (rooftop) units and indoor mobile routers. They were designed to be used as standalone devices or connected together to create a more capable system by pairing an outdoor unit with an indoor router, letting the components work together.
Today, Winegard sells "packs" that combine popular WiFiRanger products and Winegard connectivity gear.
WiFiRanger Product Shortage
Beginning in June 2023, WiFiRanger started moving its product manufacturing. The WiFiRanger store is also merging with the Winegard Store (Winegard acquired WiFiranger in 2020). This has caused a WiFiRanger product shortage during this transition. It's not clear when production and availability of products at the online store will resume.
Winegard and WiFiRanger Product Lineup
Winegard Products
Winegard has rooftop antenna solutions for TV, cellular, and Wi-Fi.
Their AIR 360+ is a product designed to offer an amplified TV antenna for RV manufacturers to build onto new RVs. It also has an easy router upgrade path that allows RV owners to add cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity without needing to drill any additional holes or pull additional wires to tap into the antennas on the roof.
Winegard's other rooftop combo solution is the ConnecT 2.0. This is a rooftop cellular antenna, router, and Wi-Fi Antenna. Some units are WiFi only, and some have TV, FM, and AM antennas.
Winegard also offers two gateway routers - the Gateway 4G and Gateway 5G - and a RangePro cellular booster.
WiFiRanger Products
The WiFiRanger products currently offered by Wingard are two outdoor routers - the Denali and Everest, which both come bundled with the Spruce indoor router. They also offer two other indoor routers - the Poplar and Aspen.
Once paired, the outdoor and indoor units are controlled through a single user interface - with the interior router remotely controlling the long-range roof hardware. This allows the WiFiRanger roof unit to focus on pulling in Wi-Fi, cellular, and other connections while the indoor router makes a private local wired and wireless network for all your devices.
In 2022, Winegard & WiFiRanger introduced its first router-antenna combo, the WiFiRanger Osprey router, specifically designed to pair with Winegard's external dome antenna, the Air 360+. For more information on the Osprey, see the Winegard Air 360+ Gear Center review.
All of WiFiRanger's original products can act as independent routers and include Wi-Fi-extending features. Several products offer integrated cellular modems as options.
The other Winegard and WiFiRanger-specific products in their current lineup that we cover are presented below. Click through to get more in-depth information on the specifications, features, and a review of each:
News, Videos & Status
We've received several Winegard & WiFiRanger Converge products for testing and evaluation:
- Denali (Rooftop Unit) with a Cat-6 modem - Received October 2019
- Aspen (Indoor Unit) with a Cat-6 modem - Received October 2020
- Everest (Rooftop Unit) with a single Cat-12 modem and Spruce (Indoor Unit) - Received April 2021
- Everest (Rooftop Unit) with a single Cat-6 modem and Spruce (Indoor Unit) - Received June 2021
- Spruce (Indoor Router) - Received October 2019
- ConnecT 2.0 - (Rooftop Unit) - Received 2018
- Air 360+ & WiFiRanger Osprey - Received January 2022
- Air360+ 5G and Gateway 5G Router - Received December 2022
We've done initial testing on all these products and continue periodically testing them as conditions warrant.
Members can track our impressions and testing data here:
- Everest / Aspen Testing Forum Notes
- Denali / Spruce Testing Forum Notes
- [Testing Lab Report] Pepwave MAX Transit Duo vs WiFiRanger Converge, MIMO Antennas (Fall/Winter 2019/2020)
- WiFiRanger Osprey and Air360+ Testing Forum Notes
Additionally, we have extensive experience with retired products that are no longer for sale.
First Look Video:
Other Related Videos:
Related News Center Articles
This Review Contains Additional Member Exclusive Content!
We are Honored to be Member Funded! No ads, no sponsors, no selling (but may contain affiliate links)
Our members fund our in-depth independent reviews.
This entry may contain additional member exclusive content such as testing notes, field testing data, user interface tours, comparisons to alternatives, analysis, tips, videos and discounts.
Members also get interactive guidance, alerts, classroom and more.
Are you a member? Please log in above to access your member exclusive content!
Member Exclusive Content Below
- Thoughts & Analysis
- Favorite Features & Potential Downsides
- Deep Dive
- WiFiRanger Product Overview
- WiFiRanger User Interface & Firmware
- Winegard User Interface & Firmware
- WiFiRanger Specific Features
- Retired Products
- Summary: Should You Consider Winegard or WiFiRanger?
Purchasing Options
Purchasing Links & Disclaimer
We don't sell stuff, we are primarily member funded. Some links below may be affiliate links (see our disclaimer), which also helps fund MIRC.
The vendors displayed below provide larger discounts to our MIAs that we have negotiated instead of displaying affiliate links while they are logged in.
MIA Discounts - Learn & Save!
Our Mobile Internet Aficionados (MIA) get special discounts from the below vendors. Members please check for discount codes before ordering. With savings up to 11% off, you could save more than your membership cost!
WiFiRanger Product Shortage
Beginning in June 2023, WiFiRanger started moving its product manufacturing. The WiFiRanger store is also merging with the Winegard Store (Winegard acquired WiFiranger in 2020). This has caused a WiFiRanger product shortage during this transition. It's not clear when production and availability of products at the online store will resume.
Routers can serve as a central conductor of your local area network in your RV and boat. Mobile routers are different from residential routers in that they typically support multiple internet sources like cellular and Wi-Fi, can be powered off of 12v or AC and support external antenna for better receiving signal.
But you might not need a router in your setup. Here's a quick video overview the variety that routers come in:
Mobile Internet Resource Center (dba Two Steps Beyond LLC) is founded by Chris & Cherie of