The Best Internet Setup for Full-Time Van Life

After years of travelling in camper vans and relying on internet for work, entertainment and communication, I’ve gradually refined what I believe is the ideal setup.

This isn’t necessarily the cheapest setup.

It’s the setup I’d build if I were starting again today.

Core Router

GL.iNet 5G Router with eSIM Support

This router is the ultimate RV/Campervan router. It packs a bunch of features into a tiny box, comes with a mount so you can hide it away in a cupboard and it won’t fall off the first time your drive. It has every connection you need, the ability to connect it to external antennas and a built in battery so if you need to shut off your power to the rest of the camper you don’t have to sacrifice the internet to do this, handy if your watching a video on how to fit a new device…

For full-time travelers, this solves many of the headaches associated with traditional SIM cards. If you spend most of your time in one place, get a physical or e-sim data plan with unlimited data and unrestricted speeds, these are not overly expensive anymore, expect to pay between 20-30EUR a month for a plan like this.

If you move between countries continuously, then search around for e-sim plans, this stops you from physically having to go and get SIM cards just to get back online. If you have a big data plan like the one I mentioned above, check your small print, usually once you go abroad, your data is restricted to around 20GB and after you reach this limit your data is stopped or slowed down to an unusable speed.

So having the e-sim backup is a great option. If you are very conscious with your data and do not need an expensive unlimited plan, it is also useful if you ever find yourself running out or in need of downloading a big update, then being able to quickly add an e-sim to get a good deal on a bunch of data is also a good option to have.

You can:

• Switch networks easily
• Activate local plans
• Manage connections remotely
• Travel between countries with minimal hassle

Roof-Mounted 5G Antenna

A quality external antenna dramatically improves reliability.

Many internet issues aren’t caused by the router.

They’re caused by weak signal reception.

Internal WiFi Network

Once the internet enters the van, I like to create a strong internal network.

The router I recommended above is perfect for this as it supports literarily anything, and gives you complete control of your own network. Van life teaches us to be minimalist, we simply don’t have the space for loads of stuff, this is also true for the tech running the van, if you can fit a machine to run a server, I use the tiny M4 Mac mini, connect some external drives, smart speakers maybe an Apple TV & projector…

You now have everything you need to have a simple to use, always ready smart van. If you want to listen to music, you can stream any of your songs to any speaker inside or outside the van. If you need to work on some large files, you just pull out your laptop and enjoy the fast wifi passing the documents over the internal network, same for watching a movie. If you take the time to set it up correctly, then you can have minimalist but fast and fully functional space to play, work or rest.

This allows:

• Apple TVs
• Laptops
• Smart Speakers
• NAS
• Tablets
• Security cameras
• Home Assistant devices

to connect seamlessly.

Internal Wired Network

If you have enough devices with an ethernet port to reduce the frequencies in your van and add a more stable network, it might be worth installing a network switch, depending on what router you have chosen get one to match the speed 1Gbps or 2.5Gbps are the most likely options, this way if you can hard wire your server machine, NAS, Apple TV etc… you’ll have a very stable network, you’ll also be able to turn the Wifi off at night for example without shutting the rest of your system down.

Starlink (Optional)

This is where opinions differ.

For many people, Starlink isn’t necessary.

For some people, it’s absolutely essential.

If you regularly work from extremely remote locations, Starlink provides a fantastic backup connection. Maybe soon there will be alternative options, maybe you would rather spend the money to have this backup or always have the fastest possible speed, the good news is that you can, it just comes as an initial cost, higher monthly cost and don’t forget if you want the fastest Starlink then it uses a fair amount of power to run, so if you need fast speeds at night or in the evening, you’ll have to back it all up with a big battery bank and a way to re-charge the next day.

Otherwise, a good 5G setup will often be all you need.

For a full comparison, see my complete breakdown:

[Read: Starlink vs 5G for RV Internet →]

My Current Philosophy

Many people chase the most complicated setup possible.

I prefer the simplest solution that reliably works.

For me that means:

• 5G router
• External antenna
• eSIM capability
• Starlink only if genuinely needed

The result is a fast, flexible internet setup that works throughout Europe and supports everything from remote work to streaming and smart van automation.

If you are not based in Europe I hope this still helps you, I am giving my feedback and recommendations based on real world use, as I have only tested many systems around Europe it is where I am comfortable that what I am saying is true. I am sure there are many parts of the world where Starlink is a must or the stronger choice, so please compare your situation to mine before making a decision. And feel free to let me know in the comments what works well for you and if you don’t mind sharing what you pay and what you get for it I am sure myself and others will find it very useful.

If you’re still choosing hardware, start with my router guide:

[Read: Best 5G Router for Camper Vans →]

Hi, I’m Luke.

I’ve personally renovated three camper vans from the ground up, including complete electrical systems, plumbing, solar, networking and smart automation.

This website documents my latest project: building one of Europe’s most advanced smart camper vans.

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