Basic Guide to RV Internet Access for RVers on the Road
Giving up a foundation house for one with wheels, a motorhome, travel trailer or fifth wheel, generally means giving up easy reliable internet access. For most of us it is a matter of getting internet access wherever and however we can. Fortunately, RVers are are a resourceful group and have found creative ways to get access. Wi-Fi, Cellular phones and two-way satellite even make it easy.
Many RV parks have phone lines at each site but usually you have to make arrangements directly with the phone company to have it turned on and the connection fees make it hard to justify unless you plan to stay at least a month.
It's rare to find a park with hot phone lines at each site but it can be nice when you do. A hot phone allows you to drive in to your site and instantly have phone service. The service is almost always restricted to local and toll-fee calls so any long distance call you want to make will require a calling card.
These hot phones are great for internet access if there is a local dial-up number for your ISP. If your ISP has an 800 number, for times when there is no local number, then you're all set.
Usually, though, getting internet access means borrowing a phone line. For many RVers a daily trip to the 'modem hookup' is routine.
Now days most commercial RV parks (but not too many government campgrounds) have a modem hookup. Usually it's in the office but sometimes you'll find it in the activity room or elsewhere. These lines are also restricted to local of 800 number service and the management will often ask that you limit your time.
It's generally good manners to download your mail, disconnect and leave to read and answer your mail off-line then connect again to send any replies. This gives others a chance at the connection. Unless you have important email you can wait until the next day to return to the modem station.
Other sources for hookups are family and friends you may be visiting, internet cafes, libraries and truck stops.
Since you have to take your computer to these places a laptop is almost a necessity.
Cellular Internet Access
Most cell providers offer some sort of internet access but Sprint PCS seems to have the advantage right now in both digital coverage area and cost.
While many RVers are still using a tethered phone to access the internet, it's getting more difficult for new cellphone users to do so. The Cellular providers are slowly discontinuing cellphone models that have the capability in order to switch customers over to 'data plans' that require the use of a cellular PC card or USB adaptor.
Connection kits for some cell phones are still available at cellular phone stores but you should know if one is available for the phone you plan to buy before you buy the kit or the phone. Most any PC laptop will work with the connection kits available but you may want to make sure.
As I said earlier, these days the trend is toward a sperate device, PC card or USB adapter and a accompaning data plan. While this option is more expensive than than the previous described tethered method there is an advantage to the data plans in that they are unlimited use plans that allow you to be connected anytime so no waiting for evenings or weekends. The downside of course is the fee. About $60 per month if you also have a voice plan with the provider.
Wi-Fi Internet Access
Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity. It's also know as 802.11and we Macintosh users call it AirPort. Whatever you call it Wi-Fi is basically a two-way radio with about a 300 ft. range and software that sends and receives standard internet data.
For RVers with older laptops Wi-Fi usually takes the form of a $50 - $100 PC card that plugs into the PC's PCMCIA slot. But manufacturers are building the technology in most new laptops. It has been built into Macintosh laptops for several years now by way of an optional internal card.
Places where internet access is provided by Wi-Fi are often called hotspots and hotspots are being set up in tens of thousands of new places this year. Restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores, hotels, motels, airports, even truck stops. Just about anyplace where people congregate is likely to have a hotspot in the next few years.
There are several pay-for-service hotspot providers and the businesses who host them either find it easier than operating a hotspot themselves or consider it a profit center since the host usually gets a percentage of the income.
Most of these place charge for access and rates vary a lot depending on the provider. They have Pay-As-You-Go as well as
subscription plans. Visit: http://www.t-mobile.com/hotspot/ and http://www.wayport.com/ to get an idea of where to look for hotspots and what they cost. Some provides, like Boingo, ( http://www.boingo.com ) require special software. But I've not used it so I cannot comment.
As I said, the fees of each pay-for-service hotspot provider vary widely but experts think fees will even out in the next year or two while becoming more affordable. Many providers are working now to share each other's networks so that subscribers can use hotspots without worrying about who it belongs to.
Besides pay-for-service you can also find free access. Free hotspots are often offered by public agencies... libraries, schools, parks, etc. In many areas, users themselves are working together to provide free hotspots to the community. Free hotspots are also offered by businesses that feel the service sets them apart from their competition and attracts customers.
Of special interest to RVers is that many RV parks are providing Wi-Fi. As with other hotspots some parks will charge and others will offer wi-fi for free.
Wireless is good but Wi-Fi is also fast so you'll be able to connect and use all the speed of the DSL or broadband cable.
There is more than one Wi-Fi standard... the older 'b' and the current 'g' and the upcoming "N". The 'g' standard offers better security and faster speed but it is backward compatible with the 'b' standard. As I write this (feb 2007) the 'N" standard is only a proposal athough ratification is near. Fact is many manufactures are already shipping "N" campatible gear. Or, at least as compatible as it can be. However unless you buy the same brand your equipment may not be compatible with other 'N" equipment. Once the standard is ratifed manufactures shuld offer firmware updates and at that point "n" gear of different brands should be campatible.
Don't let the different standards bother you too much though. Most hotspots will accept all 802.11 standards for the foreseeable future and any "N" gear you have will work with any "B" or "G" hotspot.
Satellite Internet Access
There are two satellite service providers of interest to Rvers, HughesNet and StarBand, and there are two basic systems to choose from, rooftop auto-pointed and tripod mounted manually pointed.
The auto-pointed systems are available through resellers who install the system and provide value-added service using one of the providers. Cost is between $4,500 and $7,500 for the system and installation. Service is around $90 per month.
The manually pointed tripod systems are sold by installer agents of the providers. The installers the combine the satellite equipment used by the provided of choice and all the necessary equipment to make it a 'mobile' system. These mobile kits very from installer to installer so be sure you get a list of all the parts included and compare. Just as important is the training the installer provides. Again it varies from installer to installer. Make sure you'll get hands-on training and at least some telephone support. Cost for the equipment and training between $1,500 and $2,500. Monthly service is $50 to $60 depending on the provider.
There really isn't a whole lot to distinguish HughesNet from StarBand as far as the kind of service and speed of the connection. The differences are small and subjective. The one thing in StarBand's favor is that they acknowledge and support the use of their systems by RVers while HughesNet does not officially allow mobile use of the systems. That said HughesNet knows the a large percentage of their customers are in fact RVers and chooses to turn a blind eye. They are very happy to take our $60 per month.
Still have questions? email me.
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