I am looking forward to traveling in my RV, either parttime or fulltime. I also enjoy surfing the internet and about all my financial stuff is handled online. I know there are satellite systems and other ways to get onto the internet out there, but I am curious as to what kind of ISP(Internet Service Provider) fulltimers and travelers are using?

I have a cable modem at home and use Roadrunner. I haven't looked into it yet, but I wonder if Roadrunner can be used with the satellite systems? If you haven't noticed yet, I tend to be a little challenged when it comes to high tech.

 

I am going to start this and I am sure that others will add.

The method of internet connection would be to your ISP. If you used satellite, from Motosat or Hughes, they would be your ISP.

Road Runner, part of Time Warner cable, is a LAND based ISP. You must be connected to a cable system serviced by Road Runner, normally from a fixed location, in order to use RoadRunner. If you use dial up, perhaps Verizon, then they would be your ISP.

There are a variety of wireless data solutions, although some may not be ready for prime time. Usually, you need to be within digital cell phone range for them to work. Most use the same towers as they do for cell phones.

I have used a cable modem ( like Road Runner ) since it was available in our area, perhaps 10 years or a little longer. However, as of next Wednesday our connection will via Motosat and Hughes and a satellite dish. Speeds will not be as fast but adequate if you aren't a game player or don't download movies. I appreciate not being tied to a single location.

Regarding email: if you have a RR.com email address, that will probably go away, as well as cox.net and comcast and so on when you change ISP . I have three email addresses to ease that dependency. One is from my own domain, mike@mikeway.net, one is from hughes mikeway@hughes.net, and the last is from google and free. I have tended not to depend on the ISP provided email addresses for a long time.


I that helps, great, if not I will be glad to be more specific. There are many situations.

As always, your mileage may vary.

Mike

Of course if your at a internet cafe, then your using their ISP, same with the WiFi at RV parks. We have AOL/MSN/YAHOO/VERIZON but most of the time I just click on the big { e } thats on most computer screens (sans Apple) and surf the web that way. I can even check my AOL email from anywhere I can get a connection. I believe AOL will be a free email service by the years end also. For the longest time I used to think you had to have some kind of monthly account to access the internet, when really all you need is a connection. Correct me if I am wrong ?

We do not have an ISP. LIke others have noted, we use wifi, or our Verizon cell. They act as the ISP. Wifi is not prevelent enough that I am dropping Pocketmail.

On the email thing. We have a "permanent" address with Escapees. I also have a gmail address and a hotmail address. The SKP address is the one I give out to friends.I use the others for business stuff that requires an address.

The SKP address can forward to any other provider. Email providers change - I do not want to have to change my address for the newest "gmail" that comes along. I've been using the SKP address for 7 years - forwarded through lots of different providers. At the moment I harvest directly with OUtlook.

Option 1) Email addresses at places like Google's Gmail me@gmail.com, Microsoft's Hotmail me@hotmail.com and the like are ISP independant. That is Google/MS provide the actual email box. Not your ISP. Such addresses can be "permanent" in that you never need to change them when you change ISP providers. They are also accessible anyplace you have a browser. You are always known as me@gmail.com regardless of if you even have an ISP or not. These arrangements typically have size limitations (when free) and you are at the mercy of Google/MS on their email policies/privacy. However, these limits are typically far above the typical email user.

Option 2) Using you ISP's email addresses like me@AOL.com, me@verizon.net etc. means if you change ISP then so will your email address need to change. And, you need to keep telling your friends your new email address. These addresses typically have higher limits and may not have the same privacy issues as the above. Most also provide a way to read the email using only a browser in addition to using software on your PC like Outlook et. al.

Option 3) Many colleges and some other organizations offer something typically called  "email forwarding" where they give you (free) an email address like me@alumni.mycollege.edu which you then "point" to your "real" email box (be it an ISP's or Google/MS). The beauty of these "email forwards" is that as you change ISPs (say from AOL to Hughes) or even change email boxes (Hotmail to Google) you NEVER need to keep telling your friends of this change. They keep sending to your "email forwarding" address and you simply change where to forward the emails and read them there however you normally read them. The "email forwards" can be forwarded to any "real" mailbox be it a Gmail type or an ISP type of mailbox. These forwards simplify your friend's lives as they don't have to keep updating your email address - they know it's always going to be me@alumni.mycollege.edu or whatever and they simplify your life as your address never changes when you register at various web sites. You also get to boast your alma matter or civic association's banner in your email address.

Using these email forwards is something to consider if you make frequent mailbox changes. Your friends will never know you changed mailboxes again. Ask at your college or civic association if they have this capability if interested.

Hey thanks all, once again a lot of great information.

Rvdude, were you ever a teacher?

Jack, how does this Pocketmail thing work? Does it require a connection?

Pocketmail is intended to allow access to email from anywhere. PM provides an address, and a web interface for access. It also provides a dedicated email device - it's form factor is like a Sharp Wizard. It consists of a modem (acoustic coupler type) that you put against the earpiece to transfer email messages. It is not a PC, thus not subject to virus, etc. You can not send attachments of any type.

It is great when there is no other access. You can find out more here

Before we started Full-Time travel, I was conneted to Clearwire.net.  I used a Yahoo e-mail address and also one at clearwire.net.  With my Clearwire Internet Service provider I actually used an e-mail program I purchased called Incredimail.  I really liked the features it offered.  My e-mail addres was OneLuckyGuy@clearwire.net.  and the mail would come in to the Incredimail mailbox.
I cancelled my clearwire account when we started traveling and have used Yahoo with a WiFi connection for the first year of travel.  We have now subscribed to Alltel's wireless program using an EVDO USB modem.
I am confused (not unusual), by the different WiFi connections.  With some, I could send mail with my Incredimail program but not receive mail.  With most I could not send or receive.  Why do you not have to set up some account name when you use a different WiFi connection?
Now that I am primarily using Alltel, I would like to set my Incredimail Program up to  be able to send and receive all the time, but do not know how to do that. There seems to be no name to use for the service provider the same as with WiFi, but when I was connected with the Clearwire wireless program, my address was @clearwire.net
Any help is much appreciated.  I know the Internet inside and out, but when it comes to my computer it's a different story.

Thanks,  LIKENIT

I have been using an e-mail forwarding service since about 1989 called bigfoot.com. I have had the same address since then and simply foreward it to other accounts as they change with providers. they offer a free service and have some options that they charge for Thom