Internet provided by campground - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Paul and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Internet provided by campground

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Get an air card,you won't regret it.Campground wi-fi is sporadic at best .Sometimes good sometime bad.In 6 months now we have only had 1 place without internet from our Verizon Card and that was in the middle of a forest in a national park.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm afraid that the reality of campground wifi is a very variable thing. Some are very good, some are bad, some you will have to be near the office for it to work, and still too many, don't have any at all.

Probably the cheapest reliable alternative is a Verizon air card or smart phone. I'm sure some of the internet gurus will weigh in on this.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

As everyone says, CG internet is a total crap shoot. Most systems are not robust enough to handle an entire park. Our solution was to get an aircard. If the park wifi is decent (and free) then we use that, but when it isn't up to snuff we use our aircard. There are some alternatives to boosting a weak wifi signal, but that won't help if bandwidth is the problem.

Other options include cell phones that can be tethered to your computer, or the MotoSat system to use with satellite internet and TV using a Bird On a Wire (BOW). While I have seen portable MotoSat setups, most are mounted on the roof of your rig, and that means trees will obstruct the sat view.

I wanted to mention that if the park wifi is not using any encryption or password to access the wifi you should mention your problem to the park manager/owner. It's possible that non-guests of the park are piggybacking on their wifi and "stealing" bandwidth from the park guests.

-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Thursday 23rd of September 2010 09:39:29 PM

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'd go with the aircard. Even though we're not yet fulltime, we've traveled extensively over the past 3 years and there have only been 2 times when our Sprint aircard hasn't worked. Both have been in Arkansas -- go figure. Right now we're about 20 miles north of Texarkana in Arkansas. The aircard connects but won't hold the connection. Having the same issue with cell phones. Currently shopping for antennas and an amp and that should take care of the problem.

TXRVr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Paul> Permit me to put the bandwidth issue in perspective by asking this question: How many cars are on the freeway in a metropolitan area at 8 am and 5 pm? It is not an “excuse” that it is a bandwidth issue. That is true. Not only are all of your fellow campers trying to use it at the same time, so is the rest of the city. Meaning that you are going to be in bumper to bumper internet traffic….slow.

Satellite Internet works well, but it is cumbersome, expensive to buy, and pay a monthly fee for. Not to mention having the associated equipment to get it directed properly at a sat. The air card suggestion is the most reasonable alternative, but you need to do your homework on costs and equipment. The monthly cost of a USB air card is the same as a newer MI-FI card. Both do the same in bringing in a cell wi-fi connection, but the MI-FI card allows you to connect up to five computers at once. If your cell carrier is Verizon then know that they are running a special on Palm Pre cell fones whereby you buy the fone and pay $30/mo for the 5 computer WI-FI hookup. That’s half price over any other system on the market.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

TXRVr: Been told the free wifi hotspot is no longer available from Verizon on the Palm Pre and Pixi Plus phones. Be glad you got it when it was free.

Paul and Jo: We have both a Hughes.net tripod for internet and a Verizon aircard. The aircard works decently in many of the places we go but hasn't caused us to give up the tripod. We have had the tripod since July 2003 and the aircard since March 2008 and we do have an external antenna and amplifier for the aircard.

Right now the best deal is the Virgin Mobile pay and you go internet. A USB aircard is about $75 at Wal-Mart or Radio Shack or you can get a MiFi wireless router for $150. These are both one time expenses and the devices only work with Virgin Mobile. The pay as you go price is $40 a month and Virgin Mobile is unlimited and uses the Sprint network. I have been thinking of getting the USB aircard since this service will fill in about 2/3rds of the Verizon coverage holes for us.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Friday 24th of September 2010 10:08:20 AM

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Paul:

We have and recommend a Verizon air-card. Based on a lot of travel experience around the US including Alaska, Verizon has proven to provide the best overall coverage and available bandwidth IMO.

While not always necessary, the ability to connect an outside antenna directly to the air-card, possibly along with an amplifier, will significantly improve your range and bandwidth assuming the bandwidth is available at the tower. (Signal strength matters as to “throughput” or bandwidth. That’s a discussion in itself and is also true for Wi-Fi.)

A few years ago satellite was sometimes the better option. But now, unless you are really in the “middle of nowhere,” the air-card seems to be the best overall cost vs. performance solution for the RV based on our experience. It's also a bit less "trouble" to set up than the tripod system. also in our experience.

Safe travels

Bill

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have Verizon aircards for those times when the campground WiFi is spotty.

To help improve the reception of the free WiFi, there are antennas you can hook up to your laptop or computer. They help to make sure you receive the strongest signal possible.

In one campground the signal strength went from 2 bars to maximum when I plugged in our external WiFi antenna. We had lost the signal a couple of times before I use the antenna, once the antenna was plugged in the signal never dropped.

I know the antenna won't fix the bandwidth problem, but it eliminates any issues caused by poor signal strength.

In addition, with the antenna we are able to pick up signals from other WiFi sources in the area. So if the campground is near several free WiFi hotspots (from Hotels, Starbucks or McDonalds) you may be able to grab a signal. We can see seven different WiFi from our currnet RV park. 2 are free and one is fee based. The others appear to be private WiFi sources.

TxYellowRose · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Paul,

That's a question I struggled with as we prepared to hit the road.

You can see an article I wrote about our experiences with HughesNet / satellite on a tripod at Is Satellite Internet Right for You?.

Good luck with your decision!

Howdy to Jo!

Cheers!

Paul and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Two items:

1) I bought a Verizon aircard and a cradlepoint router. I'm a happy camper now!

2) I'd like to thank everyone who posted a response/advice on this thread.

Paul

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm beginning to feel like I'm the only one out there with a Sprint aircard cry

Oh well. So far it's working great for us.

Glad you guys got hooked up. The aircard is SO much nicer than relying on campground wifi.

Just a heads up to start researching your next related purchase... Antenna and possibly amp. For the first time in 3 years we've found ourselves in an area where our cell signal from Sprint is a bit iffy. And since we'll be there a while, it's off to the 3G Store for the antenna/amp/repeater set up!

Paul and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ckerr wrote:
Just a heads up to start researching your next related purchase... Antenna and possibly amp. For the first time in 3 years we've found ourselves in an area where our cell signal from Sprint is a bit iffy. And since we'll be there a while, it's off to the 3G Store for the antenna/amp/repeater set up!

Okay ... I'll take the bait!

What is the current opinion regarding the addition of an antenna / amp for my internet connection via the cradlepoint CTR500 I just bought to go with the Verizon aircard?

Paul

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I use the Sprint aircard and have not found myself in an area where I couldn't get a signal. I have been in area's where I got a 1x connection and I always figured that was because of the Sprint coverage in that area and nothing to do with signal strength. Bottom line is I always have a signal, be it 1x or roaming, I get a connection. Unless that changes I won't be in the market for a antenna.

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

From what I've seen and heard, most fulltimers who put a priority on stable internet access and cell service end up adding an antenna and possibly an amp at some point along the way.

When I compare coverage maps between Verizon and Sprint there really doesn't seem to be an appreciable difference. So since internet appears to be as important to you guys as it is to us, I suspect you will find a need to add it at some point. Especially if you end up in more rural areas. The nice thing about the router/aircard set up is that you can add an external antenna. Not sure how easy that is to do with the mifi.

In my opinion, I would wait until I found I needed it, but in the meantime, I'd do all the research!

alexsian · RV-Dreams Family Member

Paul and Jo wrote:
Okay ... I'll take the bait! What is the current opinion regarding the addition of an antenna / amp for my internet connection via the cradlepoint CTR500 I just bought to go with the Verizon aircard? Paul

Having hung out on many RV forums, I've answered many questions similar to what you've asked. To make things easier, I've decided to put some pages up on my blog that I can point to, rather than retyping the same answer in every forum.

Here's the first of those pages, on the subject of the usefulness of high-gain antennas and signal amplifiers: http://j.mp/lxsn-amps

Paul/Jo -- keep in mind that any cellular antenna/amp you get, would not make a connection 'via the cradlepoint' -- the antenna/amp would improve signal to the verizon modem.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Points of information from both my RV perspective and professional communications experience:

The air-card is physically where the outside / external antenna connects, not the router. It doesn’t matter if you have an air-card router or not. The air-card has to have the antenna connector on it for best results. Many cards do not. I would make sure the card anyone selects has that capability even if you don’t use it - yet.

The installation of an outside antenna, possible amplifier and the appropriate cable is somewhat different for every rig. You don’t “run down to Radio Shack” and get what you need when you discover you need it. So you may want to give this some pre-thought and research so you know pretty much what you will be able to get, and where, when you need it. Just my suggestion.

Finally, and this is from professional communications experience: Sprint is fine. But Verizon’s overall US coverage, for usable air-card / cell service, has proven to be somewhat better. For those who love Sprint and it has worked for them, that’s great. Some see this as a "Ford or Chevy" thing. I just provide the information based on a somewhat larger database of information should it be helpful.

Safe travels

Bill

Paul and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

alexsian wrote:

Paul/Jo -- keep in mind that any cellular antenna/amp you get, would not make a connection 'via the cradlepoint' -- the antenna/amp would improve signal to the verizon modem.

THANKS! THANKS!

I will be in touch again though.

Paul

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Glad to hear Sprint has worked well for you Dan. If we didn't currently find ourselves in a long term assignment at a location where both the phone and aircard service is spotty we would probably not worry about the antenna and amp based on our experience to date. But since we're stuck on a hill in Arkansas I guess we'll bite the bullet and invest in the antenna and amp. Now off to Alex's posts to figure out which one!

3Gstore_Matt · RV-Dreams Family Member

For those of you that are interested in picking up WiFi at the campground a popular network adapter is our Pepwave Surf Mini. This device allows you to pick up wireless signals then rebroadcast them.

It can be configured as a repeater, receiver or both. With our Hi-Gain Hawking antenna you can even pick up WiFi from up to 3/4 of a mile away (assuming you have line of sight).

You can check out the Pepwave here - Pepwave Surf Mini