geeksontour
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Posts posted by geeksontour
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Let's not confuse the 2 wireless technologies here.
All wireless data uses Radio Frequencies. Just like any other radio, more power and a better antenna will give you better connectivity. Remember, it is a 2-way radio connection. Transmit *and* Receive.
Public WiFi like you find in RV parks and McDonalds, etc. is set up to provide shared Internet access. It is "hot-spot" technology and uses 2.4 GHz radio frequencies. The signal does not generally go farther than 300 feet and is very susceptible to degradation from metal objects and moisture.
WiFi adapters built in to computers are not very powerful. There are no "boosters" for the built in adapters. There are, however, higher powered replacement adapters that will increase the effective distance. These are typically connected via USB and you should turn off the internal adapter when using them.
Another, even better (for distance) solution is a WiFi bridge. That is what Brett is using. A bridge takes the WiFi signal and changes it to a wired network signal that can be connected directly to a computer or an internal access point, effectively creating another local hotspot.
Cellular data uses different frequencies than WiFi. The antennas are not compatible. There are many amplifiers and antenna solutions for cellular communications. They extend the distance from the cell tower to your devices, both voice and data.
We have a tremendous amount of free information on our websites. Links from Geeks On Tour.
We will also be presenting our computer seminars at RV rallies in Louisville, Redmond FMCA, Elkhart, and Goshen this summer.
Jim and Chris Guld
www.geeksontour.com
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There are three ways to be connected to the Internet wirelessly. Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Satellite. Any of these connections can be used to connect a Local Area Network to the Internet. Having a LAN enables you to share files and printers locally.
Here is a link to our seminar handout on "Get Away, Stay Connected"
Geeks On Tour - Education for Travelers
Much depends on how much you need the Internet. Cellular has become the most popular way to stay connected. Cellular is the only one that works going down the road. You can enhance your connectivity with signal amplifiers and external antennas.
You can learn a lot by attending an FMCA Convention. The next big one is in Redmond, OR. in August. Stop by and say hi.
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The Droid tethered is indeed a wonderful way to stay connected.
There is no single way that works for everyone all the time.
We use whatever is the fastest reliable connection available where we are. Sometimes that is a pay-for WiFi.
Lots more information at www.wifisavvy.com. It's not just about WiFi. It addresses all the connectivity options.
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You *can* tether the iPhone, but you need to "jail-break" the phone. This will void your warranty, so you need to weigh the benefits vs. drawbacks. Use this link to find out more: http://www.junefabrics.com/iphone/index.php.
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You are correct that it can cost a lot to use your cell phone down here. Same for US citizens heading up north or down to Mexico.
Base your decision on how many minutes you need per day or month.
I like the idea of Magic Jack, too. However, that ties you to a computer and requires a fast Internet connection.
Skype is another alternative that enables you to make free calls from your computer to another Skype user anywhere in the world. You can also call land-line phones inexpensively.
If you need a cell phone, there are plenty of inexpensive pay-as-you-go phones. These do not tie you into a contract. All the major cellular providers have some kind of plan. Boost Mobile is 10 cents a minute to Canada. http://plans.boostmobile.com/paygo.aspx#
Jim Guld
www.geeksontour.com
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I'm in my RV for four months each summer. While some campgrounds offer Wi-Fi, I find the service to be sketchy at best. I'm trying to figure out how I can carry my own Wi-Fi connection (cellular or satellite) for the four months I need it without paying for it for the whole year. It seems that the services that I've talked to want a year or two-year contract and that just doesn't work for me. Any ideas out there that might solve my dilemma?Hi Vidcity,
Yes, that 2 year contract is often a dealbreaker for part-time travelers. Ask your provider what their policy is on 'vacations' ... meaning, you can suspend the service when you're not using it. Another thing some folks have done is to get rid of their home land line and use the cell phone / internet service year round.
For temporary Internet service from your cellular provider - we use the 'tethered cell phone' method. There's no separate contract involved, it's just a feature that you can add to your phone service. It's $50/mo thru Verizon, but you can turn it on and off whenever you want. We've turned it on Friday and off the following Friday and our bill was prorated for the time we used it.
The phone tethers to your computer. If you have more than one computer that needs to be online at the same time, you need to get a router like the Cradlepoint. Then the phone tethers to the router, and the router creates the hotspot.
The last option is www.walkinghotspot.com which turns a smart phone, with it's own data service into a wifi hotspot. Way cool - but only available for certain phones and it is not supported on Verizon.
More detail is included in the links already provided. You can also watch our video on tethered cell phones.
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I have not tried that.
Connectors can be tricky and hard to get right.
Coax cable is not the same for all applications, with many sizes and signal loss characteristics.
For a short run, it may work, but I recommend getting cable already fabricated with the proper ends.
Jim Guld
www.geeksontour.com
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I too would like to hear from someone with 1st hand experience with this. It all sounds good, until you look at the price.
You can get all the same functionality for a lot less money.
Winegard has bundled a cellular router, antennas, amplifier and cellular service.
So much depends on how and where you travel.
Wilson makes the best cellular antennas and amplifiers.
Cradlepoint makes the best cellular routers.
Verizon is generally regarded as having the best overall service for RV travelers.
We have a video on "get away - stay connected" on our website www.geeksontour.com.
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By Wireless Key, I assume you are refering to a USB Cellular Data device.
In our FMCA Internet seminar, we always ask the audience what they are using and how they like it. Verizon gets the best response, but AT&T is coming on strong. It really depends on how and where you travel.
The best one is the one that works for you.
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There's another new way to create a wireless hotspot in your RV using your Verizon data service. It's a device called the MiFi and it is like a card and a router all in one. It looks pretty cool. Check it out at Verizon.
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We just gave our 'High Speed Internet on the Road' seminar here at the Escapade. We always take a poll on what people are using. We're seeing fewer satellite users - although there have never been very many - and more cellular users. And, pretty much everyone uses Wi-Fi from time to time.
The people in the audience who used AT&T expressed disappointment in the coverage. Although we spoke with someone else outside of the seminar who said they had AT&T coverage everywhere they went. I guess these folks just don't travel in the same circles. Generally, happy Verizon users are the great majority.
I agree completely that, if you need the Internet, and you need it *everywhere*, you will use all three technologies. The satellite dish is the ultimate - we have the Datastorm. But that doesn't work in deep forests. Cellular is the only way to get online while you're driving. Wi-Fi, when it's good, is the best connection you can get.
You can get a cellular router and connect it to multiple data cards - one from each provider. Now you're talking!
There is also a new thing out there called Walkinghotspot.com which is quite magical. If you have the right kind of smart phone (Verizon not supported) with an unlimited data plan, you can download this software and your phone becomes a wireless router. You don't even have to tether it. Just run the walkinghotspot software and it will show up to your computer as a wireless network!
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Rodney and Shirley,
I hope you saw the reply on the FMCA Geek page. I will put a copy of it here.
Wayne,
They are asking about Internet access, not TV, a much more expensive thing altogether.
We have one urgent need with regard to RVing that we would like to resolve soon. We are looking for the best way to get internet access when on the road. Or, more accurately, when parked while travelling.Rodney and Shirley
Hello, Rodney.
Congratulations on your plans to travel to Canada, United States and Mexico. Sounds wonderful.
I agree that if you need Internet wherever you go in those places, satellite is the best option. We have been using the Datastorm automatic roof mount since 2003 and love it. We also know plenty of people who use the manual, tripod mount.
Satellite Internet is getting less popular due to the proliferation of good cellular Internet connections, but satellite is still the best option for Canada and Mexico. Even if you can get a cell signal in those countries, you will probably be assessed hefty roaming charges.
I am biased toward the automatic roof mount. It’s just so much easier to push a button inside your coach and be online within minutes, as opposed to pulling the tripod and dish out of a storage compartment and spending 30 minutes setting it up. It all depends on how you travel. If you like to make tracks daily, or even weekly, you will get quite tired of the manual setup. On the other hand, if you go to a destination and stay for a month or two – the manual setup is not a problem.
With the extreme north-south range you mention, you may need to change satellites to get a good signal. This can be an important difference with the automatic roof mount vs. the tripod mount.
Your actual Internet service most likely will come from Hughes. With an automatic roof mount like the Datastorm, you will be supported by Motosat. Motosat will handle switching your service from one satellite covering northern latitudes to another satellite covering the southern latitudes. If you have the manual, tripod mount, your service contract is directly with Hughes. And Hughes does not like switching satellites for you! They think satellite dishes should be stationery on residential property, and although it’s not illegal to put them on a tripod and move them (like some people used to think), it is not well-supported.
Hope that helps.
We have a Satellite Internet FAQ page on our website at http://geeksontour.com/satellite.cfm. For more users' input, go to www.datastormusers.com
— Jim and Chris
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This looks like a powerful (500 mW) WiFi adapter. I looked at the specs and they don't mention Vista. Do you know for sure that it has Vista drivers?
I wrote an article that includes a couple other sample USB Wi-Fi adapters. The engenius is especially nice because you can take off the little antenna that comes with it, and plug in an even better one if you want.
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It is amazing how happy people are with their cellular broadband connections to the Internet while traveling. Other than the occasional black hole with no service signal, the only drawback seems to be that you need a separate 2 year contract at $60/mo for service with an aircard.
We are using our cell phone, tethered to our computer for our Internet access when good Wi-Fi is not available. This is still a $60/mo chage, but since it is just a 'feature' on our cell phone contract, we can turn it off any time we want and just get charged a pro-rated $2/day.
What Is The Best Way To Stay Connected Online?
in RV Internet to Go/Staying in Touch
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O' ye of little faith, Bill.
It may not be to that time frame, but 4G is here. Can 5G be far behind?
When we started this adventure seven years ago, cellular Internet was not an option. Satellite was the only way to be connected reliably. It still is. But, cellular is the way to go for most travelers today. Verizon is still the best choice for best overall coverage, based on our unscientific polls.