Using Wi Fi

[maria]

We only rv once a year right now, but are thinking of having access to our laptop, while on vacation. I understand we have to load a wi fi thingy (is that a word?) into the laptop, but do we have to pay a fee to use the laptop in campgrounds? Or is wi fi free and paid for by the campground? Any help appreciated.

[stagecoach]

We only rv once a year right now, but are thinking of having access to our laptop, while on vacation. I understand we have to load a wi fi thingy (is that a word?) into the laptop, but do we have to pay a fee to use the laptop in campgrounds? Or is wi fi free and paid for by the campground? Any help appreciated.
HI, from Texas or should I say Kinder, LA. I writing to you from our laptop from Coushatta's Luxury RV Resort.Their WiFi service is free, however we have stayed at some campgrounds where it was a $1 a day and some as high as $5a day for their WIFI service. Last Oct. I brought a Linksys wireless card for $50 which comes with software. When I have WiFi service I just plugged the card in and access the service. I have since brought a new laptop with the WIFI card built in and all I have to do is turn the computer on and it hunts and connects to the authorized WIFI service. I find it a great way to keep in touch with friends and family via email while on the road or connect to a great site like myRVspace.com. If I can do it, anyone can, that’s how easy it is.

Have a great day,
Stagecoach, Lumberton,TX

[ghostrider49]

I agree with Stagecoach. My wireless card was already installed, but I did purchase(later) a modem card from my wireless phone company so as long as I have cell phone service I can get on the internet. Sometimes it's slower than others but what else do I have to do. My wife and I fulltime and a computer and internet are essential to every day life. Some camp grounds will also offer free hookup/dial-up in lets say the recreation room.
Happy camping!!!!
Ghostrider49 on the road

[whodo]

Like ghostrider49, my computer came with the wi-fi already installed (wi-fi is not always available) so I also purchased a EVDO air card from a cell phone company. I also purchased a outside antenna. I have found that I will have Internet on my aircard when I don't have cell phone coverage, (outside antenna works wonders). When in an area that has EvDo RevA coverage I can get faster download/upload speeds than our Internet Sat. Dish (hughes tripod on 99W). When in marginal areas for coverage (1rxtt area) I still get download/upload speeds 2-3 times faster than dial-up.

[rvspace]

Who do you have coverage with?
Thanks, new toallthis;)

[whodo]

Our internet Air-Card is from Sprint. Our internet Sat. sys. is Hughes.
We hardly use the Satellite system since we got the Air-Card. The places we have been stopping at all seem to be with in range of a cell system.
One item that I want to mention, Sprint and Altell have a joint roaming agreement, if you have service from Sprint you can use Altell's system just like you would Sprints. This makes for a very large coverage area.

[2inabox]

Pretty much agree with all. We have the Verizon air-card and have good service and coverage.

We are curious about what kind of external antennas folks use to boost signal?

[whodo]

I have found that most people use "Wilson" http://www.wilsoncellular.com/

There are many places to buy them. http://www.3gStore.com/ truck stops etc.

Now I am not saying that Wilson is the best antenna, they are far from the best, but for the PRICE and general use they are hard to beat.
If you want to get into specific use antenna's and don't mind spending the money, I can give you links to some excellent antennas.
Keep in mind that you have to know what you are doing when setting up a specific use antenna, they are not like OMNI antennas that the majority of people use.

[geriatricgypsy]

We will be RV'ing this summer and taking our lap top and WIFI for the first time and after reading all your great tips for using it, we wonder if any Canadians are here to answer questions. What air card works in Canda? Do you use an antennae or just depend on the campground for service? If we use our cell phone service to access the internet on the computer, any tips on that?
;)
Last time we depended on libraries for email, but this time we want the convenience of internet access at our fingertips.
Any ideas much appreciated.:D
Barb and Dave

[larryb]

We have found that a lot of campgrounds now have wi-fi readily available. We have also found that the quality of the wi-fi varies considerably. Many campgrounds now have free wi-fi. In other words, just turn on your computer, check for wireless networks, and you are on the internet.

Some of the camgrounds require that you pay for wi-fi internet connections, the prices seem to vary from $5.00 per day (24 hours) to $30.00 per month. It's interesting that the best internet connections we have had at camgrounds have been the free ones.

When we have not had wi-fi at a campground, we have used T-Mobile at Starbucks, wi-fi at nearby motels (with permission of course), and sometimes free wi-fi a local libraries. T-Mobile costs about $10.00 for 24 hours but has always been a great connection.

There are lots of options. With many people using the internet for banking and other financial transactions, as well as checking out campgrounds, road conditions, and communicating with friends and family, wi-fi is a great way to go. It might not solve all you problems but it will certainly be a great help.

[maria]

posted this question a while ago, before our trip to the Carolinas, but have just checked for a response. Thank you all for your great info -- it will be very helpful. Our laptop is a few years old, so maybe we'll bite the bullet and get a new one which will have all the components included for wi-fi. Happy Camping.

[bigben]

We only rv once a year right now, but are thinking of having access to our laptop, while on vacation. I understand we have to load a wi fi thingy (is that a word?) into the laptop, but do we have to pay a fee to use the laptop in campgrounds? Or is wi fi free and paid for by the campground? Any help appreciated.

If you are just going out for vacations I would not buy an air card. If you lap top is not set up for WiFi, go to Walmart and buy a Link System Antenna. They include a CD that you will install on you computer. Cost about $20. If you have a cell phone check to see if it is compatible with a Mobile office hook up. Then you can hook up with out getting involed with another contract.

[maria]

That's interesting- will look into it- Thanks

[mrsgeek]

Just to clarify - when people talk about Wi-Fi, and aircards - they're talking about 2 very different things.

In general there are 3 different ways to connect to high-speed (broadband) internet while traveling:
1. Wi-Fi: this is the only one that requires NO commitment on your part. If you are within range of a WiFi hotspot and your computer is Wi-Fi enabled, you can use it. It may be free, it may cost $1-8/day

2. Cellular aircards: for this, you must sign up with a cellular company. Usually a 1 or 2 year contract at $60/mo. Now, you can get on the Internet when you're in range of a participating cellular tower.

3. Satellite: for this you need a dish (either automatic, roof-mount $5,000 or manual, tripod mount $1,500) plus a contract for service from Hughes or other satellite ISP. This is the only one where you can get Internet *anywhere* as long as you have a view of the southern sky.

If you don't care about high-speed you can always use the park's phone connection to access a dial-up service, or some cell phones have 'mobile office kits' to use the phone like a modem.

I've written several other articles (http://www.geeksontour.com/articles.cfm)on this topic.

Chris
Full-time in our 30' Safari Class C with Datastorm
www.geeksontour.com

[maria]

Chris,
What an interesting website. I bookmarked it and will draw on your knowledge as needed. Thanks for your input.

[whodo]

Chris
Very nice and informative web site. I like the fact that you left things non-brand specific when ever possible.

[carol43]

Those mobile office kits can be used only with certain Verizon phones and won't be available after May.
Just found that out. I use mobile office when camping and really like it. Also, Alltell doesn't share anything with Verizon. Couldn't use my cell phone for 4 days while in Virginia.

[granet]

We will be RV'ing this summer and taking our lap top and WIFI for the first time and after reading all your great tips for using it, we wonder if any Canadians are here to answer questions. What air card works in Canda? Do you use an antennae or just depend on the campground for service? If we use our cell phone service to access the internet on the computer, any tips on that?
;)
Last time we depended on libraries for email, but this time we want the convenience of internet access at our fingertips.
Any ideas much appreciated.:D
Barb and Dave

gypsy-In the west (Canada) At&t and sprint have become one under the Rogers Banner you can buy their cards at any rogers store across western Canada in the east I still believe Bell is the major carrier when you cross
check to see if there are any Bell or Rogers stores their cards will work in the states as well!
Regards
Granet

[whodo]

granet
Am I understanding correctly that AT&T as well as Sprint have a roaming agreement with Rogers in Canada?

[southpaw]

Our internet Air-Card is from Sprint. Our internet Sat. sys. is Hughes.
We hardly use the Satellite system since we got the Air-Card. The places we have been stopping at all seem to be with in range of a cell system.
One item that I want to mention, Sprint and Altell have a joint roaming agreement, if you have service from Sprint you can use Altell's system just like you would Sprints. This makes for a very large coverage area.


Howdy there whodo! :) I have service with sprint and have the air card, but I didn't know about the agreement with Altell. Do you have the roaming plan or just the regular $59.99 monthly plan with sprint? Inquiring minds would like to know. :p We have the regular plan and find that it works pretty well wherever we go, except when we get on some back roads that don't have any cell towers nearby. :eek:

[granet]

granet
Am I understanding correctly that AT&T as well as Sprint have a roaming agreement with Rogers in Canada?

as far as it was explained to me by a rogers rep yes-cause rogers is atandt in western canada

[whodo]

Thank you for the info.
I know that Sprint & Alltel have a roaming agreement here in the states. If Sprint has a roaming agreement with Rogers, that would be fantastic. We are planning on touring part of Western Canada in July/Aug. and it would be wonderful to be able to use our air card.