Whether you’re a full-time or part-time RVer, having some kind of connection to the internet while you’re out having fun is a real bonus. Between cozy campfires, relaxing hikes and RV happy hours what better way to share the joy than logging in and posting a little teaser pic on Facebook? Or sending a few e-mails to friends? For some of you, having internet might even be a “must-have” especially if you need to work on the road.
Luckily in this day and age there are many ways to stay connected. Which way you choose depends very much on how much internet you need plus where and how often you travel. There are masses of options and the “perfect” solution may well be different for each person, so I’ll just cover a few. Here’s four easy tips to get you started:
1/ Park WiFi – Anyone who’s traveled extensively by RV knows that Park WiFi can be hit or miss. Most private parks offer at least some kind of connectivity, sometimes for free, sometimes for a small fee (e.g. through Tengo). Most of the time it’s usable for e-mail and Facebook, but sometimes it’s so poor it can become frustrating, especially in the evening when everyone logs on the system. If you travel part-time and don’t mind working around this, then using Park WiFi can usually suffice. However, if internet is a “must-have” it’s really not reliable as a source.
2/ Hotspot or Tethering On Your Smartphone – If you own a smartphone with a data plan, more than likely your phone will have a feature that allows you to turn on a “hotspot” so that you can share that data plan with your other devices. By turning on this feature, your phone becomes a WiFi source which your computer and other devices can connect to. Not all cell phone providers offer this (e.g. Straight Talk doesn’t allow “tethering” as they call it), and some require a fee (e.g. Sprint), so you’ll have to call and check with your provider. But if your phone can do it, it’s a great, easy way to get some connectivity without having to buy any additional devices. The other nice thing about this method is that you can turn it off when you don’t need it. (Note/ Hotspot is included for free in all Verizon & AT&T “shared” data plans).
3/ Mobile HotSpot & MiFi’s – Another way to get data on the road is to buy a device called a mobile hotspot or MiFi. These little portable devices, often no bigger than a stack of cards, create a WiFi source that you can take anywhere and share between multiple devices (usually between 5-10 devices, depending on which one you get). Almost every major carrier offers something like this, plus a bunch of third-party guys do too. Before you buy, make sure to check that the carrier you’re choosing covers the major areas you plan to travel. Verizon has the broadest nationwide coverage, followed by AT&T with the other carriers far behind. Typically you’ll have to buy the device followed by a data plan and costs will vary depending on how much data you want and what carrier it’s riding on. For light or part-time users, Walmart offers their “Straight Talk WiFi HotSpot” (runs on Verizon 3G) where you can buy buckets of data (e.g. $15 for 1GB) as you need them. Verizonand AT&Toffers both contract and pre-paid options with various-sized data buckets, and may make the most sense if you already have a contract with them. For heavy users, Millenicom has one of the best deals around offering a 20GB/mo plan for $89.99 (runs on Verizon).
4/ Free WiFi – If you’re just looking for WiFi every now and then, grabbing onto a free signal, say at a Starbucks, or a local library might be just the ticket. For those with smartphones, FreeZone(for Android) and Free WiFi Finder (for iOS) are great little apps to help you find the nearest free WiFi source in your area. On the desktop, WeFi offers a similar database. Even if you don’t use this method all the time, it’s great to have as a backup.
These are just a few, short ideas covering the easiest and most inexpensive ways to stay on-line while on the road. There are many other options out there including satellite (for those that really need connectivity everywhere) and cell phone signal boosters (which help enhance your signal), but hopefully this list plus some of my extra links below will get you started. Now, go and post that campfire pic, won’t you? 🙂
Other Resources:
- Checking The Signal – You can’t connect if there’s no cell phone signal. Coverage? (for iOS) is a great little app which can show you what the signal might be like at your next destination. It has interactive maps for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile & Sprint. We use it all the time.
- Boosting Your Signal – This free page written by full-time RVer Jack Mayer has excellent info on cell phone-based boosters. Well worth the read.
- Covering All The Options – The Mobile Internet Handbook, written by another set of fulltime RV’ers. has detailed info on all the options out there including satellite, HAM, cable, boosting, managing bandwidth and more. If you want deeper info, this is definitely the book to get.
Nina Fussing is a blogger, writer of tales, animal lover, outdoor enthusiast and photographer. Together with her hubby they both left stressful jobs in the semiconductor industry for the dream of becoming full-time RVers and leading an alternative life. Join them in their travels with RV tips and tales at http://wheelingit.us/
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Thank for info
Keep sharing
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Nice Info
Thanks
Speedway Auto Loan
Nice Info
Thanks
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Thanks for an informative article! I just got my dream job – part time tech support completely from home or wherever I have good connectivity. The links you've given will be helpful.