Keeping in touch
Online on the road - you have options
By By Jerry (RiverGuy) Brown
Oct 11, 2005, 15:55

RVers have many reasons to use the Internet while on the road. Besides email for staying in touch, the net can provide weather forecasts, access to banking and investments, route planning, reserving ahead for campsites and other attractions, and even telecommuting. Getting online away from home has become a lot easier in recent years. In this article we’ll review current options and point out how they differ.

Besides old fashioned dial-up service, today’s travelers have cell-based, wireless (wifi) and satellite services to choose from. Each has differing costs and particular advantages, but satellite internet service is the only option that works from virtually anywhere.

Manual tripod dish

Dial-up service may suffice for those who only go online occasionally and who don’t need higher speed service. Many campgrounds provide phone connections along with other hookups. However, to avoid long distance charges, you will need to ensure that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers toll free or local access phone numbers for the area where you are staying.

Cell-based Internet service is relatively new. It’s typically not a high speed service, but it may provide connectivity from anywhere within range of your cell service plan. It's also the only option that works in motion. National plans are available as are unlimited usage plans. But investigate thoroughly and understand the limitations of the services your provider offers. Besides the

Automated roof-mount

service, you will have to purchase either a phone cable or a cell modem card for your computer.

Wireless Internet is growing in popularity. Many campgrounds, including some state parks, now offer wifi access, as do some truck stops. Wireless is a relatively high speed service, significantly faster than either dial-up or cell-based. Most newer laptops include a built-in wireless adapter and add on adapters are fairly inexpensive. Some campgrounds include wifi in their base site rental while others charge extra. National wifi service plans are available, but there is no guarantee that your plan will be honored at any particular location. Another consideration: quality of service can vary depending upon your distance from the site access point or antenna.

Satellite internet service is relatively high speed and available nearly everywhere. It’s not cheap: equipment outlay runs from $1000 to $5000 and monthly charges from $60 to $100. The higher costs are for fully automatic, roof-mounted systems, others must be manually set up and pointed at each camp site. Service availability is limited only by the “footprint” of your assigned satellite, something to check when signing up. Typical footprints cover major areas of the US and beyond. You also need line-of-site to your assigned “bird.”Iin some cases this will mean finding a “hole in the trees;” manual tripod systems offer more flexibility in that regard.

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