Connectivity madness is now a recognized mental disorder
Meggie said
09:12 PM Jul 13, 2013
Truthfully, I am about to lose my mind over resolving the connectivity we will set up. We are researching the setup, and system to buy now and I have gone around in circles so many times that I don't think I even understand the language anymore. If I may, let me just ask a few questions...
1. My research seems to be indicating that the most reliable internet is going to be provided through Satellite but it would appear when I read through the forum here, that most full-timers go with WiFi so I am trying to get a better understanding of why that is. Is it just the huge additional cost with Satellite? Or is there something else to it?
2. Do most of you have one system set up, or is it more an issue of having a system and then back-up's? I ask this because I read information from some people who describe a veritable stockpile of equipment, piece after piece, after piece, and I am trying to get my head around why that is.
3. For any of you using Satellite, do you find you need a bunch of back up equipment? Setting up Satellite is much more expensive so I am hoping this supposed "best of the best" option will not require much more in the way of equipment and/or services.
4. With any system, an unlimited Wi-Fi access service seems to me to be a smart back-up. Have any of you used Boingo? Especially considering it's nearly no money, it seems to be a good idea.
This will be continued I am sure, but I will start here.
Thanks!
Meggie
Technomadia said
09:49 PM Jul 13, 2013
I'd actually say that many full timers go with cellular as a strong component of their arsenal, with public WiFi hotspots being a bonus complement when they are available and work. At least, those of us who consider internet a fairly essential component of our mobility.
Satellite can be a worthwhile contender if you're planning to be out of cellular tower access a lot and need 'nearly everywhere' access. A lot of folks who used to depend on satellite have been dropping it because 1) cellular has gotten so much better over the years 2) mobile satellite opens are limited and haven't improved much and 3) the major RV support for satellite (Motosat) went out of business earlier this year.
What is best for you really depends on your needs - how reliable you need your setup, how much bandwidth you need and your style of travel. Internet is essential for us to work remotely, so yes - multiple pipelines online is key for us. We have two cellular providers, cellular boosting equipment, WiFi boosting equipment and a satellite dish we can deploy if needed.. and sometimes that's still not enough options.
It's a very complex topic with no easy answers, which is why it took 85 pages for us to explain it all. :) If you haven't already, I'd really recommend picking up a copy of our book, The Mobile Internet Handbook (linked in our signature). And I don't just say that because we wrote it.. we wrote it to answer questions like this that come up all the time.
- Cherie
Meggie said
10:08 PM Jul 13, 2013
Hey Technomadia,
We will be in a similar position in that we have a huge need for the connectivity. I have run a small business for 10 + years and can run it remotely but it requires staying connected 24/7. Having said the over-used "24/7", if I had brief down-time here and there I would be alright but anything more than brief could cause me great problems with my clients. We will also being operating 3 other online projects while on the road, so the connectivity issue is a very important one for us.
Keeping that need in mind, we need to accomplish it on a reasonable budget. I know "reasonable" is relative but suffice to say, I would rather not spend $ thousands and still have to just keep my fingers crossed. That leads me to what my first question probably should have been. Is there any such thing as wicked reliable internet service on the road?
GENECOP said
10:22 PM Jul 13, 2013
I might be wrong but I was always under the assumption that having a Dish on your roof dedicated to Internet was the most reliable system...you need a clear line of sight to the sattelitte so the dish along with some kind of cell phone hot spot should give you the best consistent service....That's what I always thought but more knowledgable members here can shed some more light I am sure...
Meggie said
10:33 PM Jul 13, 2013
Hey Gene,
This is my impression as well. However, there are, of course downsides to the Satellites. I also need to decide if Satellite is so superior that the cost is justified. I think I change my mind on this every hour. :)
Terry and Jo said
10:42 PM Jul 13, 2013
Many of the others have so much more knowledge about this topic than I do. While I used to manage a store for a "major, national electronics chain," I've since fallen off of the technology wagon. I'm doing good to turn on my laptop and Verizon MiFi.
However, I did do a bit of reading on Boingo. They speak of WiFi and having 7000 hotspots in the U.S. and 13000 international ones. I would suspect that we can ignore the international ones unless one plans to ship their RV elsewhere. So, with the 7000 U.S. locations, where are they located? They mention hotels and airports and such, but are those hotspots going to be anywhere within range of one's equipment?
Even if they are cheap, if they are unusable, they wouldn't benefit many people except those that travel using commercial "vehicles" and stay in commercial places like hotels and motels.
Terry
Technomadia said
10:44 PM Jul 13, 2013
Satellite does give you the 'nearly everywhere' connectivity.
But some of the downsides are:
- Latency - which may or may not be a problem, depending on what you need to be doing online.
- Bandwidth caps and FAPing
- Cost and maintenance of equipment - those auto aiming units have a high failure rate
- Needing to park with an open sky, which can counteract a desire to want to park in the cooler shade sometimes (assuming roof mount)
- Fairly slow speeds (as compared to say, HSPA+ and LTE).
We have used satellite as one of our back-up routes - and weren't impressed with it enough to consider it a primary solution and proceed with investing in a roof mount system. If we're out in the boonies, the slow speeds and latency are tolerable for the view and isolation for a short time. And it's super awesome to be able to still work while we're on the playa at Burning Man.
But if we had to depend on it all the time, I'd go crazy. I have more important things to do than twiddle my thumbs while waiting for a page to load, or uploading a file, or FTPing in to my servers, etc. And there's only so much wine I can drink to pass the time.
If there was such a thing as a wicked reliable mobile internet option that was fast, responsible, cheap and everywhere - I don't think there would be so many threads on this topic :D
- Cherie
PS. Posting this from our Millenicom Hotspot plan thru Verizon. Ask me tomorrow, and I might be on my AT&T tethered iPhone. Ask me on Monday, and I'll be posting via the WiFi hotspot provided at the diesel shop we're at getting repairs.
Meggie said
11:56 PM Jul 13, 2013
I knew this conversation would help me and it is. The more I listen, the more I realize that it is a combination of systems that will work best. It took a short time today to get turned off of Satellite again. I just don't think it will work well as a primary because of several reasons but it just frankly seems a little to sensitive for me. If I need to be worried about clear cover, or too many trees, etc. that is just not something I will have a lot of patience for I think.
Technomadia, it's not that I am "expecting" wicked reliable service. I wanted to know if there is such a thing. And I certainly don't need it to be cheap. Effectively running my business is important to me so I have no issue with investing in it. My point was that I simply wont spend thousands on this and still not have reliable connectivity. So, I don't see this as me expecting "fast, reliable, everywhere and cheap"; it's me expecting to get what I pay for. If I am not ever going to get more than "this" much, I am not going to pay "THIS" much. What I am hoping to gain here is a competent enough understanding of this to use a large budget for it wisely.
GENECOP said
12:44 AM Jul 14, 2013
I really do not have the technical knowledge to begin to understand most of the terms that Cherie and Chris use, I can only talk in VERY SIMPLE Laymans terms.....Connectivity is coming in only a few ways, Cell Towers or Sattelitte and public connections that you your Computer finds....
1- Cell Towers are as dependable as your coverage area that your provider covers...if you have cell phone service, you have Internet. Depending on your provider and your location you will have coverage between 60 and 70 % of the time
2- Sattelitte if you are not in the deep woods or blocked by tall buildings you will have service.. This is always in our control based on where we decide to stop....if there is a day that service is needed and you have no other options park in the open and you have it.
3- Public, a few categories here, Campgrounds that have it will vary greatly in quality, dependability is not guaranteed. Then you have public acess, Starbucks, Truckstops, Restaurants, Etc....often more reliable than campgrounds, many of these businesses offer WIFI as a major draw and use this to keep people there eating, drinking, and surfing so it is an important part of the business model. While campgrounds look at Wifi as one of the many amenities and often do not count on it for a main aspect of there draw and revenue.
That is my very basic understanding of what our choices are, I am sure Technically there is a lot more to it but for me I need the basics, all the other details simply add to my confusion. One more thing to consider, this is rapidly changing technology depending on your launch date there may be a whole new set of options.....
socoguy said
01:42 AM Jul 14, 2013
Nice post simple and informative.. There are so many choices I think being informed but keeping it simple is a good approach. Thanks
Meggie said
04:34 AM Jul 14, 2013
Hey Gene...well said, this is exactly how I understand it. I think what I am discovering now is that the best way to tackle this thing might just be to have a couple of roads to connectivity. I think I will probably give up the idea of Satellite for Internet but will go with a little bit of everything else.
bjoyce said
04:50 AM Jul 14, 2013
I had satellite internet from 2003 to 2011 from Hughes.net (Direcway), about the most common system for RVers. In 2008 we added a Verizon USB modem (aircard) plus a wireless router to share the modem. We dropped satellite in 2011 because it was not behaving as well as before, plus we now had a 20GB Millenicom plan on Verizon. We also have an AT&T hotspot device to give us 5GB per month when Verizon has lousy or no service and AT&T has good service.
But I don't give advice out like I used to since Technomadia's, The Mobile Internet Handbook, does a better job.
Terry and Jo said
07:04 AM Jul 14, 2013
Since I'm still learning all this as well, I have another question with regards to WiFi provided by campgrounds, RV parks, and local businesses. Are those systems fairly secure? I do know that we can "secure" our Verizon MiFi, but I wondered if there are precautions one can take when using a WiFi system of someone else.
Terry
Ckerr said
02:49 PM Jul 14, 2013
Terry and Jo wrote:
Since I'm still learning all this as well, I have another question with regards to WiFi provided by campgrounds, RV parks, and local businesses. Are those systems fairly secure? I do know that we can "secure" our Verizon MiFi, but I wondered if there are precautions one can take when using a WiFi system of someone else.
Terry
Security buffer between the "
I use a wifi Ranger Pro to connect to park Internet. It does 2 things as I understand it... Boosts the wifi signal and provides a secure connection between the "public" system and my computers.
WestWardHo said
03:21 PM Jul 14, 2013
Maggie,
We second Cherie and Bill's recommendation to purchase and download The Mobile Internet Handbook. It addresses most of your questions.
Now I'll add one, does anyone here consult with RV'ers for a fee to provide guidance and product recommendations and start up tech support for Internet communication systems?
Sherry
Technomadia said
04:36 PM Jul 14, 2013
We've been considering offering that service, Sherry. But we haven't decided yet how we'd go about it.
Meggie said
04:58 PM Jul 14, 2013
Hi WestWardHo, yes that would probably be a great service as this does seem to be everyone's nemesis :)
and bjoyce, that sounds like a system we are leaning toward.
This forum has been so wonderful on this and many issues as it gives everyone a chance to see the experience many people have had with it. So I have have just taken in all the great insight from you all. I think ultimately, I'll need to jump in with what makes the best sense for us and then modify as we need to.
I'm just grateful to have found RV-Dreams and this forum...what a huge help!
Howard said
05:37 PM Jul 14, 2013
We are one of the few full-timers left that have a combination of satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi. Most have given up their satellite internet or are on the verge of doing so.
The ONLY reason to have satellite is if you park in remote areas where there is no cell coverage and absolutely have to have internet AT YOUR SITE. Linda accuses me of using the Verizon coverage map and planning our travels around the white areas where there is no service.
And yes, that is why we got satellite internet in the first place and still have it. However, the reliability isn't as good as it once was, the speed has never been great, and the increased cellular coverage makes it really hard to justify the upfront costs and monthly expense.
If business dictates having a 24/7 internet connection, you can certainly do that with cellular, but you may have to avoid the more remote areas of the country for parking and take day trips into those wilderness areas OR rely on private campground Wi-Fi. Even then, you will find a wide range of cellular connections and speed. You will certainly want the best cellular boosting equipment you can get.
And you will want Wi-Fi capability and the best Wi-Fi boosting equipment you can get. As mentioned, Wi-Fi is notoriously inconsistent, but on those occasions when it is your ONLY option or it is available and faster than your cellular connection, then you want to be able to take advantage of it. My opinion on things like Boingo, etc. is that if you are in areas where those hotspots are available, you will also have good cellular access which will likely be as good if not better.
Summary
We bought our satellite internet equipment (entry level, consumer version) in 2005 when cellular wasn't nearly as widespread and that was our ONLY internet other than occasional Wi-Fi for our first four years on the road. However, I can't recommend it now. If it is a necessity, be prepared to spend twice the amount upfront (over $10,000) and in monthly service bills for commercial grade equipment and service, and you still won't get close to 4g speeds. I certainly wouldn't buy just the consumer grade equipment and service now.
Now we have satellite just for those times we are in remote places where there still is no cellular coverage or only 2G service. And even then it's not as reliable as it used to be and more frustrating now than it ever was before. We just can't let go of that miniscule additional freedom it allows, but we're getting closer.
We run a business online and while we don't need an internet connection 24/7, we still need to be online every day AND we still like to park in places where there is no cell service or Wi-Fi service. But, if we are parked in trees or our satellite internet is down for whatever reason, then I can usually find cellular service somewhere within ten miles of where we are camped and I'll load up my laptop and cellular boosting equipment and drive a little to set up a mobile office for a couple of hours - not convenient, but it's still better than letting the "connectivity madness" dictate where we park our home.
My recommendation for business out of your RV:
1. Cellular plan with high data limit and top notch boosting equipment (However, may have to be conscious of coverage maps and where you park).
2. Back that up with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi boosting equipment (May require parking at private campgrounds rather than public campgrounds, especially where there is no cell service AND be prepared for inconsistent connectivity and speed)
3. And this is a very distant third. Only if you have money to burn, want to park in the remote reaches of the U.S. and absolutely have to have internet at your site, add satellite internet (And I would go with commercial equipment and service IF your business income can easily absorb the costs)
Also, be prepared to continually change equipment as technology changes. The equipment I might recommend today may be obsolete next year, next month, next week, or even tomorrow.
And buy Technomadia's book.
Meggie said
05:57 PM Jul 14, 2013
Wow! Howard, this is fantastic!
First let me say that you positively cracked me up with "planning our travels around the white areas..." What a hoot!
I think your summary here was the nail in the coffin for me when it comes to Satellite. I don't mind spending some money on this but it seems absolutely clear that the expense with Satellite just doesn't pay off.
You really made your experience with this so clear, thank you. I'm going with 1 & 2 on your business recommendations here!
Thanks again Howard.
Meg
bjoyce said
06:50 PM Jul 14, 2013
Meggie: I noticed in your original post that you thought WiFi was the main way fulltimers get on the internet. With 10 years experience as a fulltimer and knowing many of them, I can tell you that cellular internet is the main way fulltimers get on the internet and campground/coffee shop/whatever WiFi is their secondary method. Where the confusion comes from is most turn their cellular internet into WiFi for their own use, so they use WiFi all the time and talk about it. Many are also using routers from WiFiRanger, Cradlepoint (we use an MBR95) or Pepwave, that can provide a WiFi signal with a consistent name and password from cellular, campground WiFi, or even a DSL, cable or satellite modem. That way all their WiFi devices, including tablets and wireless printers, only have to know one WiFi network name (SSID). The router also allows them to use Ethernet (wired internet) from a WiFi or cellular source.
Right now we are using campground WiFi via our Cradlepoint MBR95 router. This WiFi is limited to 500MB in 12 hours, so I have set a limit of 1000MB (1GB) per day which will switch to our Millenicom modem if it is exceeded. (The router will also switch to the modem if the campground WiFi gets slow or unreliable, which would happen if we exceed the 500MB in 12 hours). This is one of our best campground WiFi experiences and we only stay here 2 weeks a year. We know all the places we are staying into early October and none have reliable WiFi and most do not have WiFi at all.
Most fulltimers use Verizon's network for data, either directly or via Millenicom, and the rest use AT&T. Very few who try to use Sprint for internet stay with them and I do not remember anyone staying with T-Mobile. Hardcore internet users like us use both Verizon and AT&T. We tried to use Sprint as a secondary over Verizon and it rarely helped us out. AT&T is much better as secondary to Verizon.
NWescapee said
03:27 AM Jul 15, 2013
I have to agree with Bill, we use our WiFi Ranger to boost the cellular coverage. We can use the Verizon 4G hotspot or my Sprint MiFi, when we combine it using it through the WiFi Ranger, our speed increases greatly.
Right now we have Verizon and Sprint (my full time job pays for Sprint) and needless to say we use Verizon MUCH more often than Sprint. We are just starting to realize how much data we use both for my full time corporate job I've taken on the road with me and the small business Dale has and the amount of connectivity that requires. So, we will not be able to stay in places without cellular coverage (except when we are on vacation and then, like Howard, we love to look for the "white spaces"). I am on the phone 4-9 hours per day so satellite is not an option, I would need both satellite phone and Internet and that cost just doesn't justify itself when much of my work and the art shows my hubby does are in metropolitan areas.
So we've gone with the Maximum Signal and WiFi Ranger products to boost connectivity and so far are finding that our online needs are being met. That being said, get the biggest data plan you can afford, we were amazed at how much data we can use in one of my "busy" business days when I am collaborating in virtual rooms for most of the days. Wow, really had no idea that I could burn through 500+ MB in less than 12 hours. OK, so that was on a really busy day, but I do have those really, really busy weeks and sometimes it turns into a month or two.
Truthfully, I am about to lose my mind over resolving the connectivity we will set up. We are researching the setup, and system to buy now and I have gone around in circles so many times that I don't think I even understand the language anymore. If I may, let me just ask a few questions...
1. My research seems to be indicating that the most reliable internet is going to be provided through Satellite but it would appear when I read through the forum here, that most full-timers go with WiFi so I am trying to get a better understanding of why that is. Is it just the huge additional cost with Satellite? Or is there something else to it?
2. Do most of you have one system set up, or is it more an issue of having a system and then back-up's? I ask this because I read information from some people who describe a veritable stockpile of equipment, piece after piece, after piece, and I am trying to get my head around why that is.
3. For any of you using Satellite, do you find you need a bunch of back up equipment? Setting up Satellite is much more expensive so I am hoping this supposed "best of the best" option will not require much more in the way of equipment and/or services.
4. With any system, an unlimited Wi-Fi access service seems to me to be a smart back-up. Have any of you used Boingo? Especially considering it's nearly no money, it seems to be a good idea.
This will be continued I am sure, but I will start here.
Thanks!
Meggie
Satellite can be a worthwhile contender if you're planning to be out of cellular tower access a lot and need 'nearly everywhere' access. A lot of folks who used to depend on satellite have been dropping it because 1) cellular has gotten so much better over the years 2) mobile satellite opens are limited and haven't improved much and 3) the major RV support for satellite (Motosat) went out of business earlier this year.
What is best for you really depends on your needs - how reliable you need your setup, how much bandwidth you need and your style of travel. Internet is essential for us to work remotely, so yes - multiple pipelines online is key for us. We have two cellular providers, cellular boosting equipment, WiFi boosting equipment and a satellite dish we can deploy if needed.. and sometimes that's still not enough options.
It's a very complex topic with no easy answers, which is why it took 85 pages for us to explain it all. :) If you haven't already, I'd really recommend picking up a copy of our book, The Mobile Internet Handbook (linked in our signature). And I don't just say that because we wrote it.. we wrote it to answer questions like this that come up all the time.
- Cherie
Hey Technomadia,
We will be in a similar position in that we have a huge need for the connectivity. I have run a small business for 10 + years and can run it remotely but it requires staying connected 24/7. Having said the over-used "24/7", if I had brief down-time here and there I would be alright but anything more than brief could cause me great problems with my clients. We will also being operating 3 other online projects while on the road, so the connectivity issue is a very important one for us.
Keeping that need in mind, we need to accomplish it on a reasonable budget. I know "reasonable" is relative but suffice to say, I would rather not spend $ thousands and still have to just keep my fingers crossed. That leads me to what my first question probably should have been. Is there any such thing as wicked reliable internet service on the road?
Hey Gene,
This is my impression as well. However, there are, of course downsides to the Satellites. I also need to decide if Satellite is so superior that the cost is justified. I think I change my mind on this every hour. :)
Many of the others have so much more knowledge about this topic than I do. While I used to manage a store for a "major, national electronics chain," I've since fallen off of the technology wagon. I'm doing good to turn on my laptop and Verizon MiFi.
However, I did do a bit of reading on Boingo. They speak of WiFi and having 7000 hotspots in the U.S. and 13000 international ones. I would suspect that we can ignore the international ones unless one plans to ship their RV elsewhere. So, with the 7000 U.S. locations, where are they located? They mention hotels and airports and such, but are those hotspots going to be anywhere within range of one's equipment?
Even if they are cheap, if they are unusable, they wouldn't benefit many people except those that travel using commercial "vehicles" and stay in commercial places like hotels and motels.
Terry
But some of the downsides are:
- Latency - which may or may not be a problem, depending on what you need to be doing online.
- Bandwidth caps and FAPing
- Cost and maintenance of equipment - those auto aiming units have a high failure rate
- Needing to park with an open sky, which can counteract a desire to want to park in the cooler shade sometimes (assuming roof mount)
- Fairly slow speeds (as compared to say, HSPA+ and LTE).
We have used satellite as one of our back-up routes - and weren't impressed with it enough to consider it a primary solution and proceed with investing in a roof mount system. If we're out in the boonies, the slow speeds and latency are tolerable for the view and isolation for a short time. And it's super awesome to be able to still work while we're on the playa at Burning Man.
But if we had to depend on it all the time, I'd go crazy. I have more important things to do than twiddle my thumbs while waiting for a page to load, or uploading a file, or FTPing in to my servers, etc. And there's only so much wine I can drink to pass the time.
If there was such a thing as a wicked reliable mobile internet option that was fast, responsible, cheap and everywhere - I don't think there would be so many threads on this topic :D
- Cherie
PS. Posting this from our Millenicom Hotspot plan thru Verizon. Ask me tomorrow, and I might be on my AT&T tethered iPhone. Ask me on Monday, and I'll be posting via the WiFi hotspot provided at the diesel shop we're at getting repairs.
I knew this conversation would help me and it is. The more I listen, the more I realize that it is a combination of systems that will work best. It took a short time today to get turned off of Satellite again. I just don't think it will work well as a primary because of several reasons but it just frankly seems a little to sensitive for me. If I need to be worried about clear cover, or too many trees, etc. that is just not something I will have a lot of patience for I think.
Technomadia, it's not that I am "expecting" wicked reliable service. I wanted to know if there is such a thing. And I certainly don't need it to be cheap. Effectively running my business is important to me so I have no issue with investing in it. My point was that I simply wont spend thousands on this and still not have reliable connectivity. So, I don't see this as me expecting "fast, reliable, everywhere and cheap"; it's me expecting to get what I pay for. If I am not ever going to get more than "this" much, I am not going to pay "THIS" much. What I am hoping to gain here is a competent enough understanding of this to use a large budget for it wisely.
1- Cell Towers are as dependable as your coverage area that your provider covers...if you have cell phone service, you have Internet. Depending on your provider and your location you will have coverage between 60 and 70 % of the time
2- Sattelitte if you are not in the deep woods or blocked by tall buildings you will have service.. This is always in our control based on where we decide to stop....if there is a day that service is needed and you have no other options park in the open and you have it.
3- Public, a few categories here, Campgrounds that have it will vary greatly in quality, dependability is not guaranteed. Then you have public acess, Starbucks, Truckstops, Restaurants, Etc....often more reliable than campgrounds, many of these businesses offer WIFI as a major draw and use this to keep people there eating, drinking, and surfing so it is an important part of the business model. While campgrounds look at Wifi as one of the many amenities and often do not count on it for a main aspect of there draw and revenue.
That is my very basic understanding of what our choices are, I am sure Technically there is a lot more to it but for me I need the basics, all the other details simply add to my confusion. One more thing to consider, this is rapidly changing technology depending on your launch date there may be a whole new set of options.....
Hey Gene...well said, this is exactly how I understand it. I think what I am discovering now is that the best way to tackle this thing might just be to have a couple of roads to connectivity. I think I will probably give up the idea of Satellite for Internet but will go with a little bit of everything else.
I had satellite internet from 2003 to 2011 from Hughes.net (Direcway), about the most common system for RVers. In 2008 we added a Verizon USB modem (aircard) plus a wireless router to share the modem. We dropped satellite in 2011 because it was not behaving as well as before, plus we now had a 20GB Millenicom plan on Verizon. We also have an AT&T hotspot device to give us 5GB per month when Verizon has lousy or no service and AT&T has good service.
But I don't give advice out like I used to since Technomadia's, The Mobile Internet Handbook, does a better job.
Since I'm still learning all this as well, I have another question with regards to WiFi provided by campgrounds, RV parks, and local businesses. Are those systems fairly secure? I do know that we can "secure" our Verizon MiFi, but I wondered if there are precautions one can take when using a WiFi system of someone else.
Terry
Security buffer between the "
I use a wifi Ranger Pro to connect to park Internet. It does 2 things as I understand it... Boosts the wifi signal and provides a secure connection between the "public" system and my computers.
We second Cherie and Bill's recommendation to purchase and download The Mobile Internet Handbook. It addresses most of your questions.
Now I'll add one, does anyone here consult with RV'ers for a fee to provide guidance and product recommendations and start up tech support for Internet communication systems?
Sherry
Hi WestWardHo, yes that would probably be a great service as this does seem to be everyone's nemesis :)
and bjoyce, that sounds like a system we are leaning toward.
This forum has been so wonderful on this and many issues as it gives everyone a chance to see the experience many people have had with it. So I have have just taken in all the great insight from you all. I think ultimately, I'll need to jump in with what makes the best sense for us and then modify as we need to.
I'm just grateful to have found RV-Dreams and this forum...what a huge help!
We are one of the few full-timers left that have a combination of satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi. Most have given up their satellite internet or are on the verge of doing so.
The ONLY reason to have satellite is if you park in remote areas where there is no cell coverage and absolutely have to have internet AT YOUR SITE. Linda accuses me of using the Verizon coverage map and planning our travels around the white areas where there is no service.
And yes, that is why we got satellite internet in the first place and still have it. However, the reliability isn't as good as it once was, the speed has never been great, and the increased cellular coverage makes it really hard to justify the upfront costs and monthly expense.
If business dictates having a 24/7 internet connection, you can certainly do that with cellular, but you may have to avoid the more remote areas of the country for parking and take day trips into those wilderness areas OR rely on private campground Wi-Fi. Even then, you will find a wide range of cellular connections and speed. You will certainly want the best cellular boosting equipment you can get.
And you will want Wi-Fi capability and the best Wi-Fi boosting equipment you can get. As mentioned, Wi-Fi is notoriously inconsistent, but on those occasions when it is your ONLY option or it is available and faster than your cellular connection, then you want to be able to take advantage of it. My opinion on things like Boingo, etc. is that if you are in areas where those hotspots are available, you will also have good cellular access which will likely be as good if not better.
Summary
We bought our satellite internet equipment (entry level, consumer version) in 2005 when cellular wasn't nearly as widespread and that was our ONLY internet other than occasional Wi-Fi for our first four years on the road. However, I can't recommend it now. If it is a necessity, be prepared to spend twice the amount upfront (over $10,000) and in monthly service bills for commercial grade equipment and service, and you still won't get close to 4g speeds. I certainly wouldn't buy just the consumer grade equipment and service now.
Now we have satellite just for those times we are in remote places where there still is no cellular coverage or only 2G service. And even then it's not as reliable as it used to be and more frustrating now than it ever was before. We just can't let go of that miniscule additional freedom it allows, but we're getting closer.
We run a business online and while we don't need an internet connection 24/7, we still need to be online every day AND we still like to park in places where there is no cell service or Wi-Fi service. But, if we are parked in trees or our satellite internet is down for whatever reason, then I can usually find cellular service somewhere within ten miles of where we are camped and I'll load up my laptop and cellular boosting equipment and drive a little to set up a mobile office for a couple of hours - not convenient, but it's still better than letting the "connectivity madness" dictate where we park our home.
My recommendation for business out of your RV:
1. Cellular plan with high data limit and top notch boosting equipment (However, may have to be conscious of coverage maps and where you park).
2. Back that up with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi boosting equipment (May require parking at private campgrounds rather than public campgrounds, especially where there is no cell service AND be prepared for inconsistent connectivity and speed)
3. And this is a very distant third. Only if you have money to burn, want to park in the remote reaches of the U.S. and absolutely have to have internet at your site, add satellite internet (And I would go with commercial equipment and service IF your business income can easily absorb the costs)
Also, be prepared to continually change equipment as technology changes. The equipment I might recommend today may be obsolete next year, next month, next week, or even tomorrow.
And buy Technomadia's book.
Wow! Howard, this is fantastic!
First let me say that you positively cracked me up with "planning our travels around the white areas..." What a hoot!
I think your summary here was the nail in the coffin for me when it comes to Satellite. I don't mind spending some money on this but it seems absolutely clear that the expense with Satellite just doesn't pay off.
You really made your experience with this so clear, thank you. I'm going with 1 & 2 on your business recommendations here!
Thanks again Howard.
Meg
Right now we are using campground WiFi via our Cradlepoint MBR95 router. This WiFi is limited to 500MB in 12 hours, so I have set a limit of 1000MB (1GB) per day which will switch to our Millenicom modem if it is exceeded. (The router will also switch to the modem if the campground WiFi gets slow or unreliable, which would happen if we exceed the 500MB in 12 hours). This is one of our best campground WiFi experiences and we only stay here 2 weeks a year. We know all the places we are staying into early October and none have reliable WiFi and most do not have WiFi at all.
Most fulltimers use Verizon's network for data, either directly or via Millenicom, and the rest use AT&T. Very few who try to use Sprint for internet stay with them and I do not remember anyone staying with T-Mobile. Hardcore internet users like us use both Verizon and AT&T. We tried to use Sprint as a secondary over Verizon and it rarely helped us out. AT&T is much better as secondary to Verizon.
Right now we have Verizon and Sprint (my full time job pays for Sprint) and needless to say we use Verizon MUCH more often than Sprint. We are just starting to realize how much data we use both for my full time corporate job I've taken on the road with me and the small business Dale has and the amount of connectivity that requires. So, we will not be able to stay in places without cellular coverage (except when we are on vacation and then, like Howard, we love to look for the "white spaces"). I am on the phone 4-9 hours per day so satellite is not an option, I would need both satellite phone and Internet and that cost just doesn't justify itself when much of my work and the art shows my hubby does are in metropolitan areas.
So we've gone with the Maximum Signal and WiFi Ranger products to boost connectivity and so far are finding that our online needs are being met. That being said, get the biggest data plan you can afford, we were amazed at how much data we can use in one of my "busy" business days when I am collaborating in virtual rooms for most of the days. Wow, really had no idea that I could burn through 500+ MB in less than 12 hours. OK, so that was on a really busy day, but I do have those really, really busy weeks and sometimes it turns into a month or two.